Of Repentance. 83 There is, therefore, repentance alfo grant -S E Id even to them who profefling chriftianity 1V. have deliberately and prefumptuoufly finned againft its laws ; and their repentance is of the fame kind with that which the gofpel defcribes in the cafe of converted infidels : a thorough forfaking, and purging the con- fcience from dead works, to ferve the living God, fprinkling the hearts from an evil con- fcience, and walking the body with pure water. Let them never imagine that their condition is any thing the better for their having been chriflians before the committing of their iniquities, and that from thence there remains any foundation of hope for them ; their habitual courfe of wickednefs utterly inconfiflent with integrity, forfeits the chriftian charaâer, and with it all claim to the privileges of the gofpel covenant. Their Rate is that of a total alienation from God; and their converfion to him, that it may be f ncere and acceptable, muff be attended with an entire change of dif- pofition and converfation, from evil to good : As David in his penitential exercifes, after the molt heinous tranfgrefion of his life, addreffes God, not only with a deprecation of his difpleafiure for that particular offence, G 2 . nor
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