§. Sect. 4 The final cau∣ses, subiect, and properties of repentance, the contraries vnto it, and comparisons which illu∣strate it.
The finall causes and ends of it, are first, that God may be glorified in the acknowledgement of thy sinnes, and may be iustified in his righteous∣nesse when he iudgeth, and magnified in his mercies, when being guilty of sinne, and condemned in thy selfe, yea by thy selfe, hee pardoneth all thy sinnes, and iustifieth thee in the righteousnesse and obedience of Iesus Christ. Secondly, when out of the same grace and goodnesse hee freeth thee from, not onely the guilt, but also from the punishment of all thy sinnes, his iustice being satisfied by Christs sufferings and obedience. Thirdly, that being freed from sinne, and become the seruant of righte∣ousnesse, thou shouldest glorifie and please God in the whole course of thy life, by mortifying thy sinnes, and studying to serue him in thy new obedience. Finally, that thou maist hereby be assured of Gods fauour in this life, and of euerlasting happinesse in the life to come, and haue the peace and comfort of both in thine owne conscience. The effects and fruites of thy repentance are the inward purity and sanctity of thee (my soule) from the pollution of sinne in all thy powers and facul∣ties, and thy exercise of these inward graces, in the duties of piety to∣wards God, of righteousnesse and charity towards thy neighbours, and of temperance & sobriety towards thy selfe; and an hearty desire and ear∣nest indeuor to please thy God in all things, both in thought, word and deed, by conforming them in obedience vnto all his Commandements. The subiect or person to whom it onely belongeth, is the elect and faith∣full, the repentance of all others, being like that of Cain, Esau, Ahab, Iudas, and all hypocrites, false and counterfeit. The subiect in which this grace is exercised, is the whole man, and all the powers and parts both of his soule and body; but principally it keepeth its court of residence, and sheweth it chiefe vertue and power in thee (my soule) and aboue all other thy faculties in the change of thy mind and will, thine heart and af∣fections. The obiect of thy repentance is sinne, and that compleat righ∣teousnesse required in Gods Law, that being the thing from which thou fleest; this, that vnto which thou aspirest; that it which thou labourest to mortifie and kill; this, that vnto which thou indeuourest to bee more and more quickened and reuiued. The properties and qualities of it, thou hast before seene in the seuerall parts. The contraries vnto it generally consi∣dered, are impenitency, carnall security, hardnesse of heart, worldlinesse and prophanesse. In the parts of it, the contraries to humiliation and sorrow for sinne, are pride, out of an opinion of our owne righteousnesse; for Christ came not to call such Pharisaicall Iusticiaries, but sinners to re∣pentance, and an hard heart and seared conscience which cannot repent; and on the other hand, worldly sorrow for carnall respects, which causeth death, and hopelesse sorrow, which being voyd of faith, endeth in de∣spaire, and so plungeth those which so repent, with Cain, and Iudas, into hellish condemnation. Now to what wilt thou compare this grace of God, O my soule? It exceedeth all legall vertues in profit and necessity, especially to vs who are imperfect in them, and is exceeded of none, but of faith and loue, the fountaine of this streame, and roots from which it