Blake - Houston-Packer Collection BT155 .B53 1653

Chap. r4. and the Covenant of Grace. 93 I CHAP. XIV. Repentance is a condition of the Covenant of Grace. THe condition refpec`±ing mans reparation in his quatiifica- tions, to hold up communion with God, is repentance, The end of Chrifts coming in the flefh being to fave (inners: he faves them not in their fins, but from their fins ; and therefore calls them to repentance, and engages all to it that he receives into Covenant. As God will have a felf-outed and beleeving people fo he will have an humble and an holy people. So john Baptift the forerunner of the Mediatour began his Miniítery, Repent, giving in this as his reafon , The Kingdome of heaven to at hand, that is, a New Teftament- ftatein which the Covenant of Grace was to be opened , and the glorious privi- ledges of it made manifeft, Aíatth.3.2. With the felf -fame. words Jefus the Mediatour of the Covenant begins his Mi. niflery, A9atth.4. 72, 17. verfes compared. Now when le /tee had beard that John was raft into prifon, he departed into Galilee. From that time lefus began to preach,and to fay,Repent, for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand. To this he refolves to engage thofe that he receives, So it was'with the twelve, that were men employed to bring Nations into Covenant. hey thus began their Mini- fiery, 11 ark 6. i 2. 1 hey went out, and preached that men fhould iepent. let any make there two (Faith and Repentance Faith and Obedience, which. as we fhalLfee, is comprifed under Repentance) to be one and the fame, an old projec$ to introduce I jtaftification by works. The Scriptures evidently diftinguifh ahem Paul makes them two diftin& heads in the Miniftery, when he preached either to the Jewes or Gentiles, Atli 20, 21. 'Teftify- ing both to the Lewes, and adfo to the Greeks repentance towards god, & faith towards aserLord lejuu Chrift.Thefe are two diftindt heads of Catechifme in the Apofiles times, Repentance from dead.lk'orl i, and Faith towards God, Heb 6. Repent ye, and beleeve the Gof/ie1, Mark 1. 15. There are thofe alts in Scripture attributed to Faith, . that will by no means be afcribed to love or obedience, as the ta- king in of the priviledges hefore, mentioned., lr. Faith wor/ by'. N 3 dove, Faith and Re,. pentance are diain& graces, and not one j and therame, .

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