{"number":79,"title":"Of Saving Repentance","part":null,"questions":[87],"paragraphs":[],"clauses":[],"items":[{"question":"What is Repentance unto Life?","answer":"Repentance unto Life is a saving Grace, whereby a Sinner out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the Mercy of God in Christ doth with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God with full purpose of, and endeavour after new obedience.","segments":[{"text":"Repentance unto Life is a saving Grace, whereby a Sinner out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the Mercy of God in Christ doth with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God with full purpose of, and endeavour after new obedience.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[{"question":"Who is the Author of saving Repentance?","answer":"The Spirit of God is the Author of it; the Heart by Nature is so hard, that none but the Spirit can break it, A new heart also will I give, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, &c.","segments":[{"text":"The Spirit of God is the Author of it; the Heart by Nature is so hard, that none but the Spirit can break it,","proofs":["Ezekiel 36:26–27"],"refs":[{"printed":"Ezekiel 36:26–27","osis":["Ezek.36.26-Ezek.36.27"]}],"note":null},{"text":"A new heart also will I give, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you,","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null},{"text":"&c.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"In what act doth all true Repentance begin?","answer":"It begins in a true sight and sense of sin, and the danger and misery we are in by sin, Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, &c.","segments":[{"text":"It begins in a true sight and sense of sin, and the danger and misery we are in by sin,","proofs":["Acts 2:37"],"refs":[{"printed":"Acts 2:37","osis":["Acts.2.37"]}],"note":null},{"text":"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts,","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null},{"text":"&c.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Why doth God work such a sense of sin and misery?","answer":"He doth it to make Christ desirable in the sinners eyes, that he may fly to him, But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, they that be whole need not a Physitian, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth. I will have mercy and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.","segments":[{"text":"He doth it to make Christ desirable in the sinners eyes, that he may fly to him,","proofs":["Matthew 9:12–13"],"refs":[{"printed":"Matthew 9:12–13","osis":["Matt.9.12-Matt.9.13"]}],"note":null},{"text":"But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, they that be whole need not a Physitian,","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null},{"text":"but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth. I will have mercy and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Is the sight of sin sufficient to Repentance?","answer":"No; there must be apprehension of Mercy and forgiveness with God, or else no man can sincerely repent, —Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. And this Mercy must be discerned in and through Christ, — —And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.","segments":[{"text":"No; there must be apprehension of Mercy and forgiveness with God, or else no man can sincerely repent,","proofs":["Romans 2:4"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 2:4","osis":["Rom.2.4"]}],"note":null},{"text":"—Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null},{"text":"And this Mercy must be discerned in and through Christ, —","proofs":["Zechariah 12:10"],"refs":[{"printed":"Zechariah 12:10","osis":["Zech.12.10"]}],"note":null},{"text":"—And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Wherein doth Repentance chiefly consist?","answer":"It consists in real inward sorrow for sin, as committed against God, For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, &c. A loathing of our selves for it, —And shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities, and for your abominations. And of our best Duties as sinful and insufficient things, —We are all as an unclean thing; and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, &c.","segments":[{"text":"It consists in real inward sorrow for sin, as committed against God,","proofs":["Psalm 51:3–4"],"refs":[{"printed":"Psalm 51:3–4","osis":["Ps.51.3-Ps.51.4"]}],"note":null},{"text":"For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight,","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null},{"text":"&c. A loathing of our selves for it,","proofs":["Ezekiel 36:31"],"refs":[{"printed":"Ezekiel 36:31","osis":["Ezek.36.31"]}],"note":null},{"text":"—And shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities, and for your abominations.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null},{"text":"And of our best Duties as sinful and insufficient things,","proofs":["Isaiah 64:5–6"],"refs":[{"printed":"Isaiah 64:5–6","osis":["Isa.64.5-Isa.64.6"]}],"note":null},{"text":"—We are all as an unclean thing; and all our righteousness are as filthy rags,","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null},{"text":"&c.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Wherein else doth it consist?","answer":"In turning from sin as well as grieving for it, Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, &c. He that covereth his sins, shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them, shall have mercy.","segments":[{"text":"In turning from sin as well as grieving for it,","proofs":["Isaiah 55:7"],"refs":[{"printed":"Isaiah 55:7","osis":["Isa.55.7"]}],"note":null},{"text":"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null},{"text":"&c.","proofs":["Proverbs 28:13"],"refs":[{"printed":"Proverbs 28:13","osis":["Prov.28.13"]}],"note":null},{"text":"He that covereth his sins, shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them, shall have mercy.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Is turning from sin sufficient?","answer":"No, that is but the negative part of Religion, there must be also a sincere turning to God, I thought on my wayes, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. —And exhorted them all that with purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord.","segments":[{"text":"No, that is but the negative part of Religion, there must be also a sincere turning to God,","proofs":["Psalm 119:59"],"refs":[{"printed":"Psalm 119:59","osis":["Ps.119.59"]}],"note":null},{"text":"I thought on my wayes, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.","proofs":["Acts 11:23"],"refs":[{"printed":"Acts 11:23","osis":["Acts.11.23"]}],"note":null},{"text":"—And exhorted them all that with purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Is all sorrow for sin saving?","answer":"No, there is a Repentance that doth no good, Then Iudas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, &c. And a Repentance unto Life, —Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.","segments":[{"text":"No, there is a Repentance that doth no good,","proofs":["Matthew 27:3"],"refs":[{"printed":"Matthew 27:3","osis":["Matt.27.3"]}],"note":null},{"text":"Then Iudas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself,","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null},{"text":"&c. And a Repentance unto Life,","proofs":["Acts 11:18"],"refs":[{"printed":"Acts 11:18","osis":["Acts.11.18"]}],"note":null},{"text":"—Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"What are the signs of true repentance?","answer":"Fear of sin, care to preserve our selves from it, and zeal to honour God by new obedience, For behold, this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness is wrought it you, yea, what clearing of your selves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge? in all things you have approved your selves to be clear in this matter.","segments":[{"text":"Fear of sin, care to preserve our selves from it, and zeal to honour God by new obedience,","proofs":["2 Corinthians 7:11"],"refs":[{"printed":"2 Corinthians 7:11","osis":["2Cor.7.11"]}],"note":null},{"text":"For behold, this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness is wrought it you, yea, what clearing of your selves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge? in all things you have approved your selves to be clear in this matter.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Is there a necessity of Repentance in order to forgiveness?","answer":"Yes, there is, and they are therefore conjoyned in Scripture, —For to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And destruction threatned to the impenitent, —Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.","segments":[{"text":"Yes, there is, and they are therefore conjoyned in Scripture,","proofs":["Acts 5:31"],"refs":[{"printed":"Acts 5:31","osis":["Acts.5.31"]}],"note":null},{"text":"—For to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null},{"text":"And destruction threatned to the impenitent,","proofs":["Luke 13:3"],"refs":[{"printed":"Luke 13:3","osis":["Luke.13.3"]}],"note":null},{"text":"—Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"What’s the first Inference hence?","answer":"That it’s a false Doctrine, which teaches us that sins are actually forgiven from Eternity, and therefore no need either of Repentance or Prayer, save only for the manifestation of Pardon.","segments":[{"text":"That it’s a false Doctrine, which teaches us that sins are actually forgiven from Eternity, and therefore no need either of Repentance or Prayer, save only for the manifestation of Pardon.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"What’s the second Inference hence?","answer":"That an hard Heart is a dreadful sign of a lost state of Soul, But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.","segments":[{"text":"That an hard Heart is a dreadful sign of a lost state of Soul,","proofs":["Romans 2:5"],"refs":[{"printed":"Romans 2:5","osis":["Rom.2.5"]}],"note":null},{"text":"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]},{"question":"Whats the last Inference hence?","answer":"That there is no cause to despair of the vilest sinner, seeing there is power enough in the Spirit of God to break the hardest heart, —I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.","segments":[{"text":"That there is no cause to despair of the vilest sinner, seeing there is power enough in the Spirit of God to break the hardest heart,","proofs":["Ezekiel 36:26"],"refs":[{"printed":"Ezekiel 36:26","osis":["Ezek.36.26"]}],"note":null},{"text":"—I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.","proofs":[],"refs":[],"note":null}],"items":[]}]}],"text":null}