C if A P. 36. Repentance no Condition of Pardon, 411 works , as the Condition thereof : But now the queftion will be moved tou- ching Repentance ; W Nether it may not be faid to be required , as a Con - dition of the Contin lance of Juf1ification; or at leaft as a Condition of the Pardon of fins committed after juttification, Concerning which we would premitthefe things. I. It is granted ," that Repentance is not only neceffary , at the fir(t Con - verfion of a firmer ; but is a Grace , that is conftantly to be exercifed, by a. Beleever , fo long , as he liveth ; both in refpeét of its terminus_ a quo , & of its terminus ad quern , or both in refpetrtvi its averfive, & of its convertive part ; for he is (till more & more to depart from fin, and to turne unto God, and toall the wayes of his. Commandements Pfal. I19: 59. The very body of death is conftant matter of groaning and mourning unto him l om.7 :z4. & his dayly iniquities & tranngreflìons;ought to keep him low, and to put him 'to this exercife. Betide what at extraordinarie times of publick wrath or judgment againft the Land , Church, or Place he liveth in , or judgments upon his own neer Relations , Familie &c. or upon occafion of his own Inc- re hainous out breakings : as in David. Pfaf. 51. .2. It is alfo granted. That where is no Repentance or no true Repentan- ce, forfrnnes committed, there is no ground for that man to fuppofe that his fin is pardoned : I do not here fpeak of the meafure or expreffions of Re- pentance; for there may be miftakes on both hands ; fome thinking their Repentance is nMught , becaufe not in fuch a fenfible meafure , as they think is required ; may therefore inferre that their cafe is worfe, than indeed it is, others, upon the other - hand, may fuppofe they have repented, when it is not fo; & fo inferre pardon , when they have no ground. But this is gran- ted, that where true & fincere Repentance is not, there is no Pardon from God of funs , whereof fuch are guilty : for to fuck , as he mindeth to Par- don , he giveth allo a Spirit of Repentance , as both Scripture & Experien- ce proveth : 3. Yet not vithftanding'of this, it is true, that an outward Repentance; where there is no inward , real & fanétified change wrought , may hold off for a time , or prorogue the infliEting of temporal ftrokes; as we fee in.Ahab, Nineveth & others. 4. It will be granted allo by all the orthodox , that Repentanceis no pro- per , meritorious caufe of pardon ; nor doth it make any Satisfadion to God, or appeafe his wrath & anger. 4. I shall alto grant, that where there is true & unfeigned Repentance, after forre pin committed , there that perfon may faiflyinferre that his fin is pardoned: Repentance is a good figne of Remifïìon ; becaufe it is a good evidence, that the man bath run to the fountaine, to the blood of Jefns, and there bath washen himfelt , & made himfelf c-leane. See Efai. is i6, 17,18. 5. The Exercife of Repentance is very .ufefull , to make fin become bitter, mercy welcome, & to make the foul more careful & watchful in time to come. But the Queftion is, whetherRepentance be a proper Condition of Par- Ggg don ;s '
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