256 SIXTH SERMON morning, though it be to the sacrificing of a son, Gen. xxii. 3. David makes haste and delays not when he is to keep God's commandments, Psa. cxix. 60. When Christ called his disciples, immediately they left their nets, their ship, their father, and followed him, Matt. iv. 20. 22. This is the mighty power of repentance; it doth not give dilatory answers, it doth not say to Christ, Go away now, and come to-morrow, then I will hear thee ; I am not yet old enough, or rich enough, I have not yet obtained pleasure, or honour,' or profit, or preferment enough by my sins ; but pre- sently it hears and entertains him. I have sinned enough already to condemn, to shame, to slay me ; I have spent time and strength enough already upon it, for such miserable wages as shame and death come to ; therefore I will never any more have to do with it. This is the sweet and most ingenious voice of repentance. " The thing which I see not, teach me, and if I have done iniquity, I will do no more," Job xxxiv. 32. There is no sin more contrary to repentance than apostasy : for godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, which the soul never finds reason to repent of, 2 Cor. vii. 10, 11. " Let us therefore take heed of an evil heart of un- belief in departing from the living, God," Heb. iii. 12. and of drawing back unto perdition, Heb. x. 39. jf dismissing our sins, as the Jews did their servants, Jer. xxxiv. 16. and calling them back again : for Satan usually returns with seven more wicked spirits, and maketh the last state of such a man worse than the first, Luke xi. 26. Ground which bath been a long time laid down from tillage unto pasture, if after- wards it be newly broken, will bring a much greater crop of corn, than it did formerly when it was a com- mon field, and so the heart which hath been taken
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