2 i. 4 Chri/Is Precept andProm fe, or, t. The Con- ditions of the Covenant of Grace. t. Repentance. Mark r. is. Fieb. s: The pans of Repentance. Godly forrow fo, fin. Val. rg' Y"2' 4' 9' ConfefGon of fin. Prov. zt. rfaL ;x.41 z Iob. r. 9. firm purpofe of amend- aÓÁ1' Í®h: sr Petition fox pardon in the name of Chota, Hof. 4, s. ofthat Covenant, which ifwe do, we' certainlybe faxed by theRedem ' ption üÁ Chriff. The firft is ¡epentetnce. The fecond is Believing. The third is our New obedience. All and each ofthefeplainly etpreft in the wordofGod. As forRepentance,it is that wherewith john theBaptift began his Preaching. It is that thatour Saviourcommanded his Apoftles"todeclatte to the ?ewes, Repent, for the I¿ingdorn of heaven is at hand., It is that whichhimfelf preached at the firft, as Saint Mark,witnelfeth,."chap. r. 15. It is that which Saint Paul began with, when he Caine to die Athenians,, 4th 17. and now.he admonifheth all.men every where to re- pent. It was:the Aril of the fotmdationsof the po5lrine of the beginningof Chrift; that was wont to be taught in the Ancient Church, s witneffeth the Author to the Hebrews,' chap. 6. not laying again the foundationofrepentance from dead Works, and then he proceedeth to the reft. This Aereentance is that which the Lord re, quireth'abfolutely of the Eons ofmen, as a condition of the new Covenant,, the Covenant ofGrace, without which they cannot poflibly. be made partakers of the lame. . And this Repentance hath four parts, every one of which is fo needful , that without it the reft is little worth. Firft lamenting for our fins, and being lorry for our iniquities, as David Paid of himfelf, ?fat 58. Jwilldeclare my iniquity, and beforry for myfins. And' fo the Apóffle Saint James expreffeth ir, chap:.4.9. Affttcî your felves, méurn and weep, you let your laughterbe turned intoforroro, andyour joy into tears. Therefore Chrill, know, was lent to Preach gladtjdinut to the Prifoners andCaptives; and the opening of the prifon to the prifoners, and to bring the ogleofgladnefi to theft that mourned in Sion, If man muff firft bea Mourner in Sion, one thatfmiteth in his thigh , and faith with Jeremy; we to mebecaufe 1have finned. Secondly, to this Sorrow muff be joyned acknowledgement, and confeffion offri to Almighty God , for fo witnefleth the Wife-man; Prov. 18. 'If we confefi and leave our fins, wé (ball have Mercy. So David faith, Pfal. 35.3, 4. I Paid I will confefs my ¡nt, and thou forgaveft the iniquity ofmy fin. , -And Saint John telleth us in his e Epift. r. 9: Ifwe confef our fns, Godisfaithfuland true to forgive uá ourfns. Só you fee Confeelon as well as forrow abfolutely required to obtain re- million. A man malt even Arraign, and as it were indite himfelfbefore God; plead guilty, acknowledge his trefpafs whatfoever it be; and judge himfelfworthy to be deftroyed for them, or effehe repents not though he weep out his eyes with mourning and lamentation: The third thing requifite a is, firm purpofe ofamendment of life. Whofoever, will have mod tóaccept his tears, and bend a favourable ear to his humiliation and acknowledgement; he muff foaknowledgewhit evil hehath already done, that he put on á ftedfaft purpofeofdoing fo no.more; accordingto the direbtion thatour Saviour Chrifl giveth to the man that he had healed, Soh. 5. Go thy way and fire no more: and as Saint Paul (peaks, Let him that ,flole,flcal no more: And eherefose theWifc.man putteth on this partto the ßirmer,in the beforealledged place, Ifwe confefs-ourfns, and leave them, We (hall findmercy. There mtift be (f fay) a fet- tled purpofe, anda fixed flatdetermination in thefoul of every man to calf offchofe tranfgreflìons that he bath confeft, and to returnnómoreto commit them, atleaft nottoallow thófetins that he hath 1`.aftly, there mull be added to the former three, or elfe theywill not avail nei- Cher, au earneft fup'plication to God for mercy, and forgivenefs through the medi- ationof hii'well-beloved S n]efus Chriff : which -was wont to he cravingmercy without this mentioning of Chrift,before he was olferred,and revealed to the world. But now it mutt be fo done, as we muff' fpecially arid particularly prefer our thoughts and delires to him, in begging mercy at his Fathers hands for his fake alone. So David, ¡after thenumbringof thepeople, I have done exceeding foolifh_ ly, but Lordblot out, forgive thefinofthyfrvant : SoGod commandeth, Hofr4:'a. rake
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