Serra CXIil. of Holy Refblution. be againft all Sin, and have anequal regard to everypart of our Duty ; if when we refolve upon the End, that is to avoidSm, and to perform our Duty, we are equally refolved upon the Means that are neceffary to thofe Ends; if the Refolution we have taken up commence prefently, and from that day forward be duly executed and put in pra&ice, then is our Repentance and Refolution of Amendmentfincere: but if there be adefe& in anyof thefe, our Refolution isnot as it ought to be. SRMdN CXIV. The Nature and Neceflity of Holy Refolution. J o B XXXIV. 31, 32. Surely it is meet to be faid unto God, I have born chafiifement, I will ¡eeánd Sermsrhe on on not offend any more. That which I fee not, teach thou me; ifIhave this Text. clone iniquity, Iwill do no more. THESE words are the Defcription of the temper and behaviour of a true Penitent, and do contain in them the two.effential parts of a true Re- pentance. Firft, An humble Acknowledgment and ConfeflionofSin. Secondly, A firm Purpofe and Refolution of amendment and forfaking our Sins for the future. And this latter is fo neceffary a part of Repentance, that herein the veryEf- fence and formal Nature of Repentance doesconfift. In handling of this Ar- gument, I propofed to confider, L What Refolution in general is. II. What is the fpecial Obje& or Matter of this kind of Refolution. III. What is implyed in a fincere Refolutionof leaving our Sins, and returning to God and our Duty. IV. To thew that in this Refolution of amendment, the very Effence and for- mal Nature of Repentance doth confift. V. To offer tome Confiderations to convince men of the nccefIityand fitnefs of this Refolution, and of keeping ítedfaft to it. VI. To add Tome Dire&ions concerning the managing andmaintaining this holy Refolution. The three fitft I have fpoken to, I now proceed to the IV. To thew that in this Refolution the very Effence and formal Nature of Repentance doth confift. A Man may do many reafonable A&ions, without an explicit Refolution. In things that are more eafie and natural to us, Judgment and Refolution are all one; it is all one to judge a thing fit to be done, and to refolve to do it. But in matters of difficulty, when a Man is to Chive againft the Stream, and to oppofe ftrong Habits that have taken deep root, there is nothing to be done without an explicit Refolution. No Manmakes any remarkable change in his Life, fo as to crofs his Inclinations and Cullom, without an exprefs Re- folution. For tho' a Man's Judgment be never fo much convinced of the reafo- nablenefs and neceffityof fuch a change; yet unlefs a Man's Spirit be fortified and fixt by Refolution, the power of Cuftom, and the violence of his own Inclinati- ons will carry him againft his Judgment. Now there is no changeof a Man's Life can be imagined, wherein a Man offers greater violence to inveterate Ha- bits, and to the ftrongPropenfions of his prefent temper, than in this of Repen- tance.
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