"could not endure

from mount Sinai, the people "the things which were spoken;" but no mention was made of repentance. It was from mount Zion and mount Calvary, that the command to repent was given to mankind. "Grace and truth came

by JESUS CHRIST:" and the mercy, revealed through his redemption and mediation, has made way for "repentance and remission of sins to be "preached in his name unto all nations, begin"ning at Jerusalem." Every motive or encouragement to repentance is taken from the gospel; by the grace of which alone is any sinner enabled truly to repent. In every view, and in all respects, repentance belongs entirely to the gospel, and forms an essential part of its glorious and gracious plan.

For what is that plan my brethren? Is it not the design of GOD to bring sinners into a state of reconciliation and friendship with himself, by a method calculated to display the glory of his own name, and the dreadful nature and effects of sin: and thus to teach them to love him, and glorify him, and find their felicity in his favour? And, if this be the plan of the gospel, can its ends be answered, unless the sinner is brought to repent

ance?

Look through the whole new Testament. Consider how the gospel was first introduced, and afterwards propagated. John, the forerunner of Christ, came preaching "Repent ye, for the

kingdom of heaven is at hand." "Bring forth "therefore fruits meet for repentance, and think "not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham 66 to our Father. For now is the axe laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down "and cast into the fire."

Our LORD himself has told us expressly what he came for; "I came not to call the righteous, "but sinners to repentance:" and his decision surely ought to be final. He has declared that "there is joy in the presence of the angels of "GOD over one sinner that repenteth." He multiplied parables to illustrate the nature of repentance, to encourage the penitent, and to warn and rebuke the impenitent. And he sent his apostles preach repentance and remission of sins in "his name to all nations." Accordingly, they preached repentance wherever they went :-Hear St. Peter," Repent and be converted, that your "sins may be blotted out."-Hear St. Paul, at Athens, "The times of this ignorance GOD "winked at; but now commandeth be all men

to "

every where to repent: And before Agrippa, "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; "but shewed first unto them at Damascus, and at

Jerusalem, and throughout the coasts of Judea, " and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to GOD, and do works meet for "repentance:" And before the Ephesian elders,

66

Testifying both to Jews and Greeks, repentance "towards GOD, and faith towards our LORD "JESUS CHRIST."

Did the apostle speak of a sin that is never pardoned? he added, "It is impossible to renew to repentance," those who have committed it. He exhorts Timothy " In meekness to instruct those "that oppose themselves, if peradventure GoD "would give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover "themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

Without repentance, therefore, it is as plain and clear, as the testimony of CHRIST and his apostles can make it, that there is no salvation. "Ex

cept ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."— Without repentance, faith is dead, hope is mere presumption, and religious affections are delusive, transient, and inefficacious.

But let it be also remarked, that wherever true repentance is found, there is life eternal-" Then "hath GoD also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." He has so arranged the plan of the gospel, that repentance is inseparably connected with forgiveness, righteousness, and complete salvation. "Godly sorrow worketh repentance "unto salvation, not to be repented of."-"When "the wicked man turneth away from his wicked

ness, and doeth that which is lawful and right,

"he shall save his soul alive."

Repent and

"turn from all your transgressions; and so ini

quity shall not be your ruin."-"Let the wicked "forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his "thoughts, and let him return unto the LORD, " and he will have mercy on him, and to our GOD, "and he will abundantly pardon." These passages, and many others, are so expressed, and marked with such precision, that if there be any meaning in words, true repentance is inseparable from eternal salvation.

Some however, object that this does not consist with the doctrine of salvation by grace, and justification by faith alone. But I would ask, Whether the apostles did not use this language, as well as preach that doctrine? And as none can disprove, and few will deny, that they did both, I enquire whether they were inconsistent with themselves, and with each other?

That salvation is by grace, and justification by faith alone, is certainly the doctrine both of the Scriptures and of our church: but if faith be alone, it is dead. If alms are offered to a beggar, his hand alone receives the alms: but a dead hand could not receive them.

None, who understand christianity, doubt, but that repentance, hope, fear, and love, exist in every true believer: yet faith alone justifies him before God; because the righteousness and atonement

of CHRIST are the sole ground of our justification, and faith alone receives CHRIST, that we may "be made the righteousness of God in him." But this faith is the faith of the penitent, and not of the impenitent: it works by love, and it brings forth holy fruit.

While the poor criminal, who fled for refuge to the altar, laid hold of the horns with his hand alone; his heart would beat, his blood circulate, and his other limbs and senses perform their proper functions. Thus the sinner, by faith alone lays hold of CHRIST; yet his soul is alive to God, and all the graces of the Spirit of life are at the same time exercised according to their proper nature and function. "Now abideth faith, hope, "charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity."

The text suggests yet one more remark; "GoD

grants repentance unto life." This means more than that he has opened a way for the penitent sinner to come to him and live; or that he calls on sinners to repent. It implies that repentance is the gift of GOD. "If peradventure God may give them repentance." "CHRIST is exalted to

"be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance→→ "and forgiveness of sins."-" The Spirit con"vinces men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment:" and when the LORD " pours out "the Spirit of grace and supplication, men look " on him whom they have pierced and mourn."

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