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CHAPTER XV.

Repentance.

Q. 1. What is true evangelical repentance? A. It is turning from sin to holiness; and implies a sense and hatred of sin, and a sense and love of holiness; and is attended with an expectation of forgiveness and favour through the merits of the Redeemer; and is followed by holy obedience. It implies love to the character, law, and gospel of God, and has respect to sin as its object. This repentance, therefore, does not consist in any of the natural affections, such as gratitude, remorse, fear of punishment, pity, and sympathy. These, though given for wise and benevolent purposes, constitute no part of true repentance.(a)*

(a) Joel 2. 12, 13. Therefore also now saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Ezek. 14. 6. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, repent, and turn yourselves from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. Ezek. 36. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loath yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Isa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrightcous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

*Repentance according to the original word, used in the Scriptures, means change of mind, after thought, coming to one's senses.

Q. 2. What is false or legal repentance?

A. It is that sorrow for sin, which arises from the consideration that it exposes to punishment, and which does not imply hating and forsaking sin, or loving and practising holiness. Such was the repentance of Judas. It is true his repentance was real and not feigned, was deep and distressing, was attended with full conviction of guilt, frank confession of it and reformation in part; but it arose not from true love to God and hatred to sin, but from selfishness and fear of punishment. Such, too, is the repentance of thieves and murderers, when detected and brought to justice. They sorrow for the consequences of sin, but not for sin itself.(b)

Q. 3. What are the motives to repentance?

A. 1. Repentance is reasonable. Sin is base, dishonourable, and hateful to God, a violation of His law, opposition to the good of His moral kingdom. If permitted, it would dethrone Him and subvert the benevolent end of His government. And it does actually involve its subjects in misery in the present life. These considerations are an argument in favour of repentance.

2. Repentance is an indispensable prerequisite to pardon and salvation. The promises are made to the penitent, and the threatenings are denounced against the impenitent. This consideration is a motive to repentance.(c)

(b) Matt. 27.3-5. Then Judas which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went, and hanged himself.

(c) Acts 3. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted; that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Luke 13. 3. I tell you Nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

3. The duty of repentance is much inculcated by God in His word.(d)—All men, therefore, every where, and in all circumstances, ought to repent-to repent generally, and particularly. Christians as they sin daily, need to repent daily. Even the devils in hell are bound to repent of sin, and to loathe and abase themselves on account of it. But though the devils are bound to hate sin, and to turn from it, and to sin no more; yet it is man's privilege alone to be pardoned upon repentance.

Q. 4. Is repentance man's immediate duty?

A. It is. If he may remain impenitent, and not sin in doing it, one day, he may two; and if two, he may a year; and if a year, he may during life, and to all eternity. But none will pretend this. To neglect this duty the shortest time, therefore, is criminal.(e)

Q. 5. Is the time for repentance limited to the present life?

A. It is. There is no space for repentance in the world to come.(f)

(d) Matt. 4. 17. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Acts 26. 20. But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Luke 24. 47. And that repentance, and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem. Acts 20. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. (e) Acts 17. 30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.

(f) Eccl. 9. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest. Rev. 22. 11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Q. 6. Is the strength of the exercises of repentance alike in all Christians?

A. It is not. The strength of the exercises of penitential sorrow is different in different persons. This is owing sometimes to natural or constitutional feelings, and sometimes to the operations of the Holy Ghost.

Q. 7. Is the Divine agency concerned in the repentance of the sinner?

A. It is. While it is man who repents, it is God who gives him repentance.(5)

Q. 8. What exercises of mind usually precede repentance?

A. Meditation upon the majesty and moral excellence of God, the comparing of one's conduct with the requirements of His law, reflection upon His goodness and mercy, and His justice as displayed in the sufferings of Christ, the considering of the future misery of the finally impenitent, remorse, conviction of sin, and anticipation of the wrath, which awaits the ungodly.

Q. 9. What is the evidence of true evangelical repentance?

A. It is reformation in manners, or obedience in Christian duties. The subjects of it will bring forth fruits, meet for repentance.(h)

Q. 10. What effect does the repentance of sinners on earth have upon the inhabitants of heaven?

(g) 2 Tim. 2. 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. Acts. 5. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

(h) 2 Cor. 7. 11. For behold this self same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves; yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! in all things, ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Matt. 3. 8. Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repentance.

A. It produces joy in their hearts. They greatly rejoice when sinners are brought into the kingdom of the Redeemer.(i)

(1) Luke 15. 7. I say unto you, That likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

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