Question 92

Is there then a repentance that is not so?

Yes. Judas repented and went and hanged himself,^b

Is true repentance a grace?

Yes. Christ is exalted to give repentance,^c

Is it wrought by the word as an instrument?

Yes. Is not my word like a fire, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?^d

And by the spirit as an agent?

Yes. I will pour upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace, and they shall mourn,^e

Is it a saving grace?

Yes. It is repentance unto salvation,^f

And shall none be saved without it?

No. Thou, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up wrath,^g

And may this be attended with great terror?

Yes. It is a spirit of bondage unto fear,ⁱ

And with some external reformations?

Yes. Herod observed John, and when he heard him, he did many things,^j

But is gospel repentance quite of a different nature?

Yes. Ye sorrowed after a godly sort,^k

And is this conviction deep?

Yes. They were pricked in their hearts,^m

And painful?

Yes. A wounded spirit who can bear?ⁿ

And abiding?

Yes. Thine arrows stick fast in me,^o

And in a sense mortal?

Yes. Sin revived and died,^p

Doth this conviction extend to the sin of our nature?

Yes. In sin did my mother conceive me,^q

And to the corruptions of the heart?

Yes. The whole heart is faint,^r

And to all actual sins?

Yes. Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did,^s

And to the filth of sin as well as the guilt of it?

Yes. Behold I am vile,^t

Can those therefore be said to repent who are not so much as convinced of sin?

No. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright; no man repented of his wickedness, saying, what have I done?^u

But may there be a sorrow without repentance?

Yes. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance,^w

Is true sorrow for sin genuine and free?

Yes. Mine eyes pour out tears unto God,^x

Is it upright and sincere?

Yes. They shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his own^y

Is it pungent and strong?

Yes. The people wept very sore,^z

And does it love to be private and retired?

Yes. And the land shall mourn every family apart, and their wives apart,^aa

And hatred of ourselves for sin?

Yes. I abhor myself,^cc

Is this hatred of sin universal?

Yes. I hate every false way,^dd

And irreconcileable?

Yes. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?^ee

And a hope in that mercy?

Yes. There is hope in Israel concerning this thing,^gg

Is a hope in God’s mercy a leading step to repentance?

Yes. The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance,^hh

And therefore where there is no hope can there be no true repentance?

No. Thou saidst there is no hope, I have loved strangers, and after them I will go,ⁱⁱ

And anxious fear?

Yes. What carefulness it wrought in you— yea what fear,^kk

And a clearing of God?

Yes. That thou mayest be clear when thou judgest,^ll

And an humble submissive demeanour towards men?

Yes. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him,^mm

Will penitent sinners confess their sins?

Yes. I acknowledge my sin unto thee,ⁿⁿ

And aggravate their sins?

Yes. We have sinned and committed iniquity and have done wickedly and have rebelled,^oo

And make reparation where it is possible?

Yes. If I have taken away any thing from any by false accusation I restore him fourfold,^pp

Doth the true penitent turn from his beloved sin?

Yes. I kept myself from mine iniquity,^rr

And from all sin?

Yes. Repent and turn yourselves from all your abominations,^ss

And so as never fully to return to it again?

Yes. Ephraim shall say, what have I to do any more with idols?^tt

And to Christ?

Yes. Ye are returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls,^vv

And a return to ourselves?

Yes. He came to himself,^ww

And to duty?

Yes. I turned my feet unto thy testimonies,^xx

But can we thus turn ourselves?

No. Surely after that I was turned, I repented,^yy

And in a different manner?

Yes. They serve God in a newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter,^aaa

But do they perform it in a perfect manner?

No. For in many things we offend all,^bbb