848 Chap. 42. an Expoftion upon the Book of J o B. Verf. 6. the Prophet (foe/ z. 13.) laid, Rent .your hearts, not your gar- ments, that is, rent your hearts, rather than your garments ; it was not a prohibition , but a dirc&ion : or if rent your gar- ments, be lure you rent your hearts alto, elle all your outward Betlaemipus modes of repentance are in vain and infignificant. Some Popith l.i.depaniten. Writers make the efl'ence of repentance to confiti in thefe or tioc.7.SS.per- fuch like outward figns; but though we deny that, yet we grant eurromor. tbefe may be figns of true repentance : For as to bow the knee is not topray,although he that prayeth ufuallybowetla the knees,asa figs of anhumble heart in prayer ; fo to fit in the dull and weep, isnot to repent, although the truly penitent, ufually do fo. The offence of repentance coefifls in a broken heart for fin, and in breaking off the courfe and cuflome of fin, turning to God fully. Further, this outward ceremony of fitting in dull and afhes, intimates the greatnefs of robs repentance, or that he repented greatly, undera deep fenfe of, and with bitter mournings for his former milcarriages in the time of his af11i&ion. Hercenote, Sixthly ; A foul truly humbled maketb a very ferzous work of regen- tance. Panitet meer It is a common thing to fay, I repent; but few know what it is aaimr"lu to repent in dull and afhes. They who repent indeed, judge, (Wane', quod arraign and condemn themfelves as at Gods tribunal , they f go mbot e fgni. put their mouths in the very'dull. Repentance is heart work, and ,btcabatur.jun, deep work : they who are brought in a fpiritual fenfe to dull and afhes, find it fo. Though force fanners corrupt themfelves and their ways, more deeply than others, yet all fin is of adeep dye, and corrupts deeply, and thereforecalls for deep, for heart-deep tnournings and repentings indull and afhes. Note, Seventhly ; God willnot give over dealingwithhis finning fervants, till bekath brought them to true contrition for their fins. How long was fob dealt with by his friends, and byElobta,and by God himfelf, before his heart was wrought into this frame and temper, to repent in dull and afhes ? I t was long before he un- derllood that Godmight break an innocent perfon to pieces, and cive no account why. God did not give over affli&ing rob, till he
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=