66 Of Repentance. S E R M. God. If it were true, that repentance eon- Os in thefe things, yet is it not evident from a multitude of fcripture declarations, indeed from the intire {train of them, that a good life according to the mercy of the gofpel co- venant, that is, fincerely prevailing, though imperfect holinefs in all manner of conver- fation, is the condition of eternal life ? and therefore to underftand the gofpel confiftently, we muff conclude, that either repentance is not fufficient of itfelf, to entitle to forgive - nefs and acceptance with God, or a perfeve- ring conformity to the divine law is included in it, which feems to be the jufter expli- cation. But, we may be farther fatisfied, that re- pentance, as the term of forgivenefs and re- conciliation to God, does not confilt wholly in thefe particulars already mentioned, by trufting to which many deceive themfelves ; we may, I fay, be fatisfied of this, by con- fidering the reafon of the thing ; for, in the firji place, it cannot be reafonably thought that God has any delight in the for - row of his creatures, meerly for its own fake, becaufe, that is contrary to his perfect goodnefs, which takes pleafure in the hap - pinefs of all beings who are capable of it ; and the fcripture tells us, that he delights in the
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