A little cabinet richly stored with all sorts of heavenly varieties, and soul-reviving influences.: Wherein there is a remedy for every malady, viz. milk for babes, and meat for strong men, and the ready way for both to obtain and retain assurance of salvation: being an abridgement of the sum and substance of the true Christian religion; wherein the cause of our salvation, the way, the guide, the rule, the evidence, the seals, &c. and the connection of these points together, and dependancy of them one upon another: this I have endeavoured to do orderly, exactly, methodically, with much plainness and clearness. / By Robert Purnell.

Of Repentance unto life.

REpentance and faith are two inseparable com∣panions; where the one doth dwell the other will lodge, in the Covenant of grace there is place for repentance, and mercy for the penitent. Let us first enquire what true repentance is, viz. Some say repentance is a grieving for sin, both original and actual, arising from an apprehension of displeas∣ing so loving a God, 2. Cor. 7. 11. For behold this self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort: what carefulness it wrought in you, yea what clearing of your selves? yea what indignation? yea what fear? yea what vehement desire? yea what zeal? yea what revenge in all things? &c. Repentance is not only a turning from evil to good, but a hating the evil we turn from, and a loving the good we turn to.

True repentance is a general universal change of the whole man in every part; though it be but in part, it doth change both heart and life, word and work, it makes darkness light, and bitter sweet▪

and a Leaper an Angel, Isa. 1. 16, 17, 18. Wash ye, make ye clean: there is the change of the heart: put away the evil of your doings, there is the change of the life. See Ezek. 18. 30, 31, 32. Or repentance is a uni∣versal change in the whole man, the understanding is turned from darkness to light: the will from sinfulser∣vitude to an holy liberty: the affections from disor∣der into order, the heart from hardness into softness: so the eye of wantoness into an eye of chastity: the uncircumcised ear into an obedient ear: the hands of bribery into the hands of liberty: and the feet of vanity into the waies of purity. Repentance for sin is nothing, without repentance from sin.

He that hath repented indeed, doth still desire to have his sin purged, as well as pardoned: repen∣tance is a work that must be timely done, or we be utterly undone: he that hath truly repented, doth now strike most at those sins that he was most prone to before: the Jaylor, Act. 16. Washed those wounds that his own hands had made but a little be∣fore: he acts in waies of mercy, quite contrary to his former cruelty: So did Zacheus, Luke 19. So did Paul, Acts 9. So did Manasses, 2 Chron. 33. 6.

True repentance hath these choice companions at∣tending it. The first is Faith, Mar. 1. 14. Repent ye therefore and believe the Gospel. Secondly, love to Christ doth alwaies accompany repentance, as we may see in Mary Magdalen, Luke 7. Thirdly, fear of offending God, and an holy care to honour him, these and the like companions do alwaies ac∣company true repentance, they were born together, and they will live together, till the soul doth change earth for heaven. Conviction goes alwaies with con∣version,

and repentance and forgiveness of sins goes alwaies together, so doth sanctification and justi∣fication: this repentance is a flower that grows not in natures garden, Jer. 13. 23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spot? &c. Men are not born with repentance in their hearts, as they are with tongues in their mouths.