Motives to holy living, or, Heads for meditation divided into consideratins, counsels, duties : together with some forms of devotion in litanies, collects, doxologies, &c.

IV. Concern∣ing the dif∣ficulty of Repentance.

IV. Next; Concerning Repentance and its Difficulties.

Consider,

1. ¹ Its Inferiority to innocence; And ² the great advantages of early Piety.

2. Wicked actions of the afterward penitent, though not condemning us, yet ¹ Diminishing our future hap∣piness: (i.e. the more clear Vision, and the more per∣fect fruition, of that which we then shall most ardently love; or (if you will) the more ardent love of that which is supremely amiable;) ² Hindering (for the pre∣sent) the larger donations and consolations of the Spirit.

3. The folly of sinning, because of a cure; which will be so bitter, if effectual.

4. The uncertainty of attaining Repentance, and con∣verting unto God, at what time we shall desire it; For∣giveness being promised to Repentance; But not so, longer life, or in it the Grace of Repentance, to a Sinner. And, this supposed that the Elect cannot finally fall away; yet not any sure (but only by perseverance, or extraordinary Revelation) that they are of that number, since many believers are not so. Jam. 2.14.19, 20. —Matt. 25.44. In illum crediderunt; Bona operari non curaverunt. St. Austine, De Fide & Oper. cap. 15.

5. The uncertainty, afterward, of our having per∣formed it sufficiently.

6. Upon continuance in sin, still more difficulty of Repentance; sin habituated growing much stronger.

7. And less care also of Repentance; as a sin is more frequented, so it appearing lesser.

8. And sins of Malice (which by the Judgment of God do darken the heart) being followed with sins of Ignorance: And then; this not-knowing that we sin utterly barring up all way to repentance. (Jer. 2.35.)

9. And so much sorer Repentance, penances, humilia∣tions, tears, &c. to be performed for a longer, and in∣creased guilt; and for the delay also of Repentance.

10. The time of an acceptable Repentance perhaps to some, tho none can know to whom, expired before this life be so. For which at your leisure consider these Texts. Heb. 3.11. —6.4. —10.26. —12.16, 17. —Luk. 19.42. —Matt. 12.42.—Jo. 5.14.—12.39, 40. —Apo∣cal. 16.9.11. —Job. 27.9. —35.12, 13. —Prov. 1.24.28. —28.9. —Es. 1.15. —Jer. 11.11. —14.12. Ezech. 8.18. —Zeph. 2.2. —2. Chron. 36.16. —Esay 6.9, 10.55.6. —Psal. 18.41.—Psal. 32.6. —Eccles. 9.12.—Jer. 14.10: —Ezech. 14.13, 14. —Zechar. 7.13. —2. King. 22.16. &c. —23.25, 26, 27. [Josiah's Prayers, and Reformation, not countervailing Manasses his sins: Ma∣nasses, tho a Penitent; 2. Chron. 33.12. &c.] —Hos. 9.7. —5, 6. —Matt. 13.15. —21.19. —25.10, 11. —Luk. 13.24, 25.—12.58.—19.42. —21.35. —Jo. 8.21. —2. Pet. 2.20. —1. Thes. 2.13.16. —The Case of Cain, Gen. 4.13. —Of Saul, 1. Sam. 15.24. —30, 31. —1. Cor. 9.24. Some Runners losing the Race, 2. Tim. 2.5. Some Com∣batants losing the Crown. It may be some or other of these Texts, God's Grace co-operating, may prevail with you for an early Reformation, for fear of a later fruitless Repentance.

11. And they at last abandoned, and condemned to more sins as the punishment of former. Act. 7.42. Rom. 1.24. Hence

12. Later Repentance, less hopeful.

13. And, from little hopes of forgiveness, there grow∣ing more hardheartedness in sinning.

14. After Repentance, If there happens a relapse to the same degree of sinning as formerly, this Estate far worse than (before) that of the Impenitent was; Ei∣ther the guilt of former sin, upon relapse, as some say, re∣turning; or rather the very guilt of the relapse so much more aggravated from former sin forgiven.

15. Lastly, That a true and effectual Repentance is (where death prevents not,) nothing else, but a sincere Reformation of life; and actual walking in Holiness and Righteousness all our days. Together with a continual vo∣luntary Contrition (looking back to our former sinful life): Contrition both interior and exterior, joined to∣gether (in forbearing things delightful, and in practising things painful, to the flesh, and to nature, (Corpo voto, Anima desolata.)

Digr. 1. Of the severe Penitences done in the Primitive Church.

2. Recommendation of doing voluntary publick Pe∣nance.

3. That the fear of God's Justice, and doubtfulness of his forgiveness, either of the eternal, or also temporal punishments, (for sins committed after Baptisme,) is the chiefest promoter of the painful humiliations of Repen∣tance. And, presumption of the certainty of our Salva∣tion, or of the divine mercy either general to all, or par∣ticular to us (when such sinners,) by some miscalled Faith, is the greatest hindrance thereof. Qui a peur, il est asseur.