22 Of Cunfeffion, and Sorrow for Sin. 1 Vol. IL a fenfitive trouble, and are commonly the Produa of a natural affeaion ; and therefore 'tis no wonder, if they flow more readily andeafily upon a natural ac- count; becaufe they are the Effe&of a Caufe fuitable to their Nature. But Sor- for Sin, which hath more of the Judgment and Underftanding in it, hath not its Foundation in natural Affeaion, but in Reafon ; and therefore may not many times exprefs it felf in Tears, tho' it may produce greater and more proper Effeas. So that uponthe wholematter, I fee no reafon to call in queflion the Truth and Sincerityofthat Man'sSorrow and Repentance, who hates Sin andforfakes it, and returns to God and his Duty, tho' he cannot flied Tears, and exprefs the bit- ternefs of his Soul for his Sin, by the fame lignifications that a Mother doth ig the lofs of her onlySon. He that cannot weep like a Child may refolve like a Man, and that undoubtedly will find acceptance with God. A learned Divine bath well illuflrated this Matter by this Similitude. TwoPerfons walking toge- ther efpya Serpent, the one (hrieks and criesout at the fight of it, the other kills it : So is it in Sorrow for Sin ; fome exprefs it by great Lamentation and Tears, and vehement tranfports of Pafflon; others by greater and more real effeas of hatred and deteftation, by Forfaking their Sins, and by mortifyingand fubduing their Lulls But he that kills it does certainly belt exprefs his inward difpleafure and enmity againft it. The Application I (hall make of what bath been Paid upon this Argument, fhall be in two particulars. I. By way of Caution, and that againft a double miftake about Sorrow for Sin. i. Some look upon Trouble and Sorrow for Sin, as the whole Repentance. 2. Others exa& from themfelvesfuch a degree ofSorrow, as ends in melancho- ly, and renders them unfit both for the Duties ofReligion, and of their particu- lar Calling. The firft concerns almoft the generalityof Men ; the latter but a ve- ry few in comparifon. a. There are a great many, who look upon Trouble and Sorrowfor theirSins, as the whole ofRepentance, whereas it is but an lntrodu&ion to it. It is that whichworks repentance; but is not Repentance it felf. Repentance is always ac- companied withSorrow for Sin.; but Sorrow for Sin does not always end in true Repentance : Sorrow only refpe&s Sins part ; but Repentance is chieflypreven- tive of Sin for the future. And God doth therefore require our Sorrow for Sin, in order to our forfaking of it. Heb. 6. r. Repentance is there call'd repentance from dead Works. It isnot only a Sorrow for them, but a turning from them. There is no Reafon why Men (hould be fo willing to deceive themfelves, for they are like to be the lofers by it : But fo we fee it is, that many Men are con- tented to be deceived to their own ruin ; and among many other ways, which Men haveto cheat themfelves, this is noneof the feaft frequent, to think that if they canbut (hed a few tearsfor Sinupon aDeath-bed, which no doubt they may eafily do, when they fee their Friends weeping about them, and apprehend them- felves to be in imminent danger, not only of Death, but of that which is more terrible, the heavy Difpleafure, and the fiery Indignation of Almighty God, in- to whole bands it is a fearful thing tofall ; I fay, they think that if theycanbut do thus much, God will accept this for a true Repentance, and hereupon grant them Pardon and eternal Life. And upon there fond hopes, they adjoiltn their Repen- tance, and the Reformationof their lives to a dying hour. Indeed if I wereto fpeak to a Man upon his Death-bed, I would encourage him to a great Contrition and Sorrow for his Sins, as his laft and only remedy, and the belt thing he can do at that time ; but on the other hand, when I am fpeaking to thofe that are well and in health, I dare not give them the leaft En- couragement to venture their Souls upon this, becaufeit is an hazardous, and al- moft defperate remedy; efpecially when Men have cunningly anddefignedly con- trived to rob God of the Service of their Lives, and to put him off with a few unprofitable Sighs and Tears at their departureout of the World. OurSaviour tells us, that it is not every one, that Ad! fay unto him Lord ! Lord ! that (hall en- ter
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