Bates - BT775 B274 1675

forrow for Sin paff, and a fincere forfakingof it, he is chap. utterly indifpos'd for both. I. He cannot be ingenuoufly forrowful for his of- fence. 'Tis true, when the circumftances are changed, that which was pleating will caufe trouble of Spirit; As when a Malefa&or Puffers for his Crimes, he refle&s upon his 'A&ions with Sorrow. But this hath no moral worth in it : For 'tis a forc'd ail, proceeding from a A,;,rn ,caTá violent Principle, and is conflftent with as great a love 964. to Sin as he had before, and is intirely terminated on 2 cor. 9. do. himfelf. But that grief which is divine, and is accom- panied with a çhange in heart and life, refpehts the ftain more than the punifhment of Sin : and arifes from Love toGod, who is difobeyed and difhonoured by it : Now 'tis not conceivable, that the guilty Creature can love God, whilft he looks on him as an irreconcileable enemy. Diftruft of the favour of a perfon which is a degree of fear, is attended with coldnefsof affe&ion : a thong fear, which full intimates an uncertainty in the event, inclines to hatred : But when fear is turn'd into defpair, it caufeth dire& hatred. An inflance of this we have in the Devils, who curie the Fountainof Bleffednefs. If the Evil be paft Remedy, the fenfe of it is attended with rage and tranfports of blafphemy Rev, r6<ae, againft God himfelf. A defpairing Sinner begins in this life the gnafhing of teeth againft his Judge, and kindles the fire that fhall torment him for ever. 'Tis for this reafon the Scripture propounds the Goodnefs of God, as the moft powerful perfitarve to Rom. s. leadmen to Repentance. There can be no kindly relen- tings withoutfilial Affe&ion, and that is always tern- per'd with the expe&ation of favour. Without hope of Pardon all other motives are ineieEtual tomelt the heart. Now thefi'ri Covenant obliged Man toObedience K 2 or

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