denyed CHRIST, with abominable oaths, and selfexecration, (after that the LORD had turned, and looked upon him) he called his words to remembrance, and went out and wept bitterly.

By this godly forrow, the Corinthian Church cleared themselves to the Apostle, from the charge of countenancing the incestuous perfon in his wickedness.

And God hath promised to pour out of the Spirit of grace and fupplication upon his people; that, by looking upon him whom they had pierced, they might mourn for their fins, according to GoD: For, by this godly forrow, the heart is foftened, and fenfibly relieved from its fore burden.-In this manner, GOD will bring to himself his converted and believing Ifrael, whilft they remember their backflidings with self-abhorrence, and hope in his mercy: With weeping, faith God, and with fupplications, will I lead them*.-He therefore that goeth on his way weeping, bearing good feed, fhall doubtless come again with joy, and bring his foeaves with him +.

This alfo we know in ourselves; for, that which lays heaviest on our fpirits, and is the cause of our greatest

• Jer. xxxi. 9.

† Pfal. cxxvi. 6.

greatest forrow, is the difhonour which, by fin, we have done to our GoD, and to his CHRIST.

3. A MERE outward reformation of life, and reftitution for injuries done to our neighbour, is not repentance towards GoD: For a man may do this, and be ftill a hypocrite, and felf-righteous Pharifee; and fuch a one can have no true regard for God's honour, and glory; but he goes about to establish his own righteoufnefs, and feek his own glory. Having then pointed out fome mistakes concerning repentance, and fhewed what is not re-pentance; I proposed,

SECONDLY, To fhew what it is.-And here are two things to be confidered:

1. The thing itself, Repentance: And,

2. Its object, GOD.

The word repentance, ftrictly and fimply, means a change of the mind; and whereas by the mind may be properly understood, the rational foul, it is a change of the man; not of the understanding only, but of the will, and affections alfo.

Now

T

Now this change of the mind is evidently more than mere conviction of fin, forrow, external reformation, &c. for all these may be in a person whose heart and mind is not changed: But there can be no true repentance, or change of the mind towards GOD, where there has not been conviction of fin going before: but godly forrow, with a reformation of life, follow after, in their proper time and place for thefe are the fruits and effects of the heart's being changed; and it is certain that no effect can exift without, or previous to that which is the cause of it. Indeed mental forrow may occafion and work an outward, and visible change of conduct, but not of the mind itself, for that being changed produces, and is, under God, the cause of forrow or joy, according to the ftate and condition it is in, whether renewed or unregenerate.

Therefore whenfoever a change of life or conduct is, in Scripture, called repentance, it is not to be understood properly, but figuratively; by a metonymy of the effect for the caufe: that is, when the mind is changed, it must neceffarily produce a fuitable change of life and manners: hence the latter takes the name of the former; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

It

Itis both natural, and rational, to expect a change of manners, where there is a change of heart; for the heart is the spring, and fountain of all our words, and actions, except for a while they be difguifed by hypocrify; but the LORD fearcheth the hearts; and to whomfoever GOD imputes no iniquity, he gives a spirit without guile.

Here observe, that repentance in Scripture never fignifies a change of mind for the worse, in any sense whatsoever; but it is always a change for the better, both in principle and practice, to the glory of Gop, and the confolation of the perfon fo changed: Therefore,

2. It is not any kind of alteration, or change of mind, that is Scripture repentance; but, as the Text informs us, it is a repentance, that is a change of mind towards GoD, not a turning from him. -Judas is faid to have repented himself, but this I have fhewed to be an error in the translation*, and that he was only troubled and forry for what he had done; but he repented not, for there is joy in heaven over a finner that repenteth, and God faith, return unto me, and 1 will return unto you.

In a Letter to the Reverend Mr. DODD.

Re

Therefore true repentance is a change of mind towards God first, in principle and difpofition, touching the way of juftification, and acceptance in his fight; fecondly, in practice, and outward converfation: the latter is but the effect and fruit of the former.

When God, in the beginning, created man, he made him upright, without fin; and commanded him to keep his holy and juft law, that he might live thereby. Hence it is natural for man, though fallen, to attempt to live by his own righteoufnefs: he, by nature, knoweth no other way, than by doing or fuffering, to please GOD: but man hath failed in the doing part, and the penalty incurred thereby, is nothing lefs than eternal damnation. The knowledge of this truth compels the Christian to renounce his own righteoufnefs, and fue for mercy: Job faith, if I be wicked wo unto me, and if I be righteous yet will I not lift up my bead t. But the natural man hath no hope of God's mercy through CHRIST: therefore, except hath fuffered, or done fomething to deferve his favour; or, at least, if he conceit not himself holier than he was and better than other men; he cannot believe that GOD will fave him: thus, being ignorant of God's righteoufnefs, he goes about to establish

he

+ Job. x. 15.