Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v12

Chap. 42. tan Expofition upon the Book of J o B. Verf. 6. general, and then gather up thofe particular Obfervations which arife from thefe words about it. Repentance it agrace of the Gofpel wrought in the heart of 'inner by the Werdand Spirit, turning the whole man from allintoGod, in the f ncere anduniverfal obedienceof bisholy will. In this defcription of repentance, we have four things confi derable. Fitt+, Thenatureof it, or what it is, Agraceof the Gofpel. Secondly, The feat of it, or where it is wrought, Theheart of a [inner, Thirdly, Themeans by which it is wrought-, and that twofold. Firt+, Infkrumental,The Ward. Secondly, Principal, The Spirit, Fourthly, The iflue or effeet of it, Converflon or turning; wherein two things are tobe taken notice of. Firft, the term from which the turn is made, Sin, and allfin. Secondly, the term to which the turn is made, God thus explained , In the fncere or univerfal obedience of his holy will, or in the praticc of eve- ry known duty. Fitt+ (I fay) Repentance is agrace of theGofpel. Some poffibly may fay, job was before the Gofpel. I anfwer, no ; The Go- fpel was publifhed long before job was born, even as loon as God promifed thefeedof the woman (Chrift Jefus) fhouid brittle the Serpents bead (Gen. 3. I 5.) The whole body of Gofpel duty movesupon there two feet, Faith and Repentance. Some havequcfiioned, which of there two graces hath the precedency, or takes the ftrft fiep in the motion of the foul heaven-ward ? All that I (hail fay inanfwer to ir, is, Firft, that where there two graces are mentioned together in Scripture, ufually repentance is named firht, becaufe it appears firft, and is molt vifible to us in its aaings; yet Faith is to be un- derhood fsrft, becaufe without that no man can come to Chrifi as a true penitent, for pardon of fin and reconciliation unto God. Secondly, in chofeScriptures, where true Paving repentance is spoken of alone, it fuppofeth faith alto ; and where true Paving faith only is fpoken of, it neceffarily implyeth true repentance. Thisrepentance is fo much a grace of the Gofpel, that the firft Sermon that ever was preacht at the approach of Chri(t, or at the P p p pp opening 84I

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=