i 4 Of Confef fing andForfaking. Sin, Vol. fig. It argues great obilinacy and impudence to confefs a Fault and continue in it. Whenever we make Confeflìon of our fins to God, Purely it ismeet tofay untohim, Iwillriot offend any more, that which Iknow not teach thou me; and if I have, done Iniquity, 1will do no more. This is thefirfl part of Repentance mention'd in the Text, the Iirfr Condition of our finding mercy with God, the Penitentacknowledgment of our fins to him. I proceed to the Second Condition required to make us capable of the mercy of God, which is the a&ual forfaking ofour fins ; Whofo confeffetb and forfaketh them(hall have mercy. f (hall notgo about to explain what is meant byforfakingfn, it is that which eve- ry body canunderftand, butfew will do ; there lies all the difficulty. I (hall on- ly put you in mind, that forfaking of fin comprehends our return to our duty, that neceffarily follows from it. In fins of Commiffion, he that bath left any Vice, does thereby become matter of the contrary Virtue. Vans eft vitisem feige- re; not to be drunk, is tobe fober; not to opprefs, or defraud, or deal falfly, is tobe Juft and Honeft : And for fins of Omiflion, the forfakingof them is no- thing elfe, but the doing of thofe Duties which we omitted and negle&ed before. And therefore what Solomon here calls forfaking offin, is elfewhere in Scripture more fully expreft, by ceafing to do evil, and learning to do well, Ifa. a. x6. By forfaking our fins and turning to God ; Ifa. 55. 7. Let the wickedman forfaie his ways, and the unrighteous manhis thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord. By turning from all our fins, and keeping all Gods Laws and Statutes ; Ezek. r B. t, If the wickedwill turn from all his finswhich he hash committed, and keep all my fra- tutes, and do that which is lawful andright. And this is a molt Effential part of Repentance, and a neceffary condition of our finding mercy with God. That partof Repentance which I havementioned and infifted upon before, the Penitent acknowledgment of our fins to God, with Shame and Sorrow for them, and a firm Purpofe and Refolution to leave them, all this is but preparatory to the a&ual forfaking of them : that which perfeets and compleats Repentance, is to turnfrom our evil ways, and tobregk ofour fins by righteóufnefi. And thefe terms of confeffing and forfaking our fins, are Reafonable in them- felves, andHonourable to God, and Profitable to us ; and upon lower Terms we have noreafon to expe& theMercy ofGod, nor in truth are we capable of it, ei- ther by the prefent forgivenefs of our fins, or the final abfolution of the great Dap, and the bleffed Reward of eternal Life. God peremptorily requires this change as a condition of our Forgivenefsand Happinefs ; Repent and be converted, that your fins may be blotted out, A&s 3. 19. If thou wilt enter into lift, keep the commandments, Matth. 19. 17. Without holinefs noman (hall fee the Lord, Heb. ea. ¡4. And .,why thould any Man hope for the Mercy of God upon other terms, than thofe which he hath fo plainly andperemptorily declared ? It is a mean andunworthy thought ofGod, to imagine that hewill accept Men to his Favour and eternal Life upon other Terms thanof better Obedience. Will any wife Father or Prince accept lefs from his Children and Subjects ? will they be fatisfied with fighs and tears, as well as with Obedience. And well pleafed if they be but melancholy for their Faults, tho they never mend them? We mutt not impute that toGod, which would be a defec4of Wifdom and good Govern- ment, in any Father orPrince upon Earth. God values no part of Repentance up- on any other account, but as it tends to reclaim us to our Duty, andends in our Reformationand Amendment. This is that which qualifies usfor the Happinefs of another Life, and makes its meetto be made partakers of theinheritance of theSaints in light. And without this, tho God fhould be pleafedto forgive us, yet we couldnot forgive our felves; and notwithftanding the legal difcharge from Guilt, the Sting ofit would remain, and wefhould like our fir[t Parents after they had finn'd, run away and hide ourfelves fromGod, tho he fpake never fo kindly to us. God hath placed in every Man's Mindan inexorable Judge, that will grant no Pardon and Forgivenefs but to a reformed Penitent, tohim that hath fuch a fente of the Evil of his paft Life, as to becomea better Man for the future. And
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=