on the earth.--Ver. 16. The barrel of viii. 8. Christ feeds four thousand meal wasted not, neither did the cruse with seven loaves. of oil fail, according to the word of the John ii. 8. Christ turns water into Lord.

wine. Mark vi. 43. Christ feeds five thou. See Contentment, Submission, and Re. sand with five loaves.

signation.

CHAPTER XVIII.

OF REPENTANCE.

I. REPENTANCE, the first doctrine It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and preached at the publishing of the Gospel. Sidon at the day of judgment than for Matt. iii. 1. John the Baptist came you. Ver. 23. See Capernaum threatpreaching, and saying, Repent, for the ened. Ver. 24. kingdom of heaven is at hand. Acts xij. 41. The men of Nineveh shall xiii. 24.--xix. 4.

rise in judgment with this generation, Ver. 8. Bring forth fruits meet for re- and shall condemn it: because they repentance.

pented at the preaching of Jonas; and, Ver. 10. The axe is laid unto the root behold, a greater than Jonas is here. of the trees; every tree which bringeth Luke xi. 32. Compare Jonah iii. 5. not forth good fruit is hewn down and xxi. 31, 32. The publicans and harlots cast into the fire.

go into the kingdom of God before you. iv. 17. Jesus began to preach, and For John came to you in the way of say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven righteousness, and ye believed him not; is at hand.

but the publicans and harlots believed ix. 13. Jesus said, I came to call sin him; and ye repented not. ners to repentance. Mark ii. 17.

Acts xvii. 30. The times of ignorance Mark vi. 12. The disciples being sent God winked at, but now commandeth forth by Christ, preached that men all men every where to repent. should repent. Ver. 7.

Rev. ii. 5. Remember from whence Acts xx. 21. Paul said, I taught, testhou art fallen, and repent; or I will tifying both to the Jews, and also to the come and reinove thy candlestick out Greeks, repentance toward God, and of his place, except thou repent. See faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. ver. 16. 21, 22. Ch. iii. 3.-ix. 20.

xxvi. 20. I shewed first to the Jews xvi. 9. and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do III. The duty of repentance encouraged works meet for repentance. See above, by promises in the New Testament. Luke Matt. iii. 8.

xxiv. 46. It behoved Christ to suffer,

and to rise from the dead, that repentII. The duty of repentance enforced ance and remission of sins should be by threatenings in the New Testament. preached in his name among all nations. Matt. xi. 20—22. Then began Jesus to Acts ii. 38. Repent and be baptized upbraid the cities wherein most of his in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, mighty works were done, because they for the remission of sins; and ye shali repented not: saying, Woe unto thee, receive the Holy Ghost. Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida ! for fii. 19. Repent and be converted, that if the mighty works which were done in your sins may be blotted out. you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, viii. 22. Repent of this thy wickedness, they would have repented long ago in and pray God, if perhaps the thought of sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, thine heart may be forgiven thee.

IV. Promises to those that return to Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal God. Deut. iv. 30, 31. When thou art us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us in tribulation, and all these things are up. Lam. iii. 40. come upon thee, if thou turn to the Lord xiv. 1, 2. O Israel, return unto the thy God, and shall be obedient to his Lord; for thou hast fallen by thine ini. voice, he will not forsake thee. Ch. xxx. quity ; take with you words, and say unto 1 to 10. 2 Chron. xv. 4.

him, Take away all iniquity, and receive 1 Sam. vii. 3. If ye return unto the us graciously:-Ver. 7. I will heal their Lord with all your hearts, and prepare backslidings, I will love them freely, saith your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him the Lord. Ch. xii. 6. only, he will deliver you. 1 Kings viii. Joel ii. 12, 13. Therefore also now, 33 to 38. 48, 49. 2 Chron. vi. 37. Neh. saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me ix. 33. Ps. cvi. 6. Dan, ix. 5. 15. with all your heart, and with fasting,

Job xxii. 23. If thou return to the and with weeping, and with mourning ; Almighty, thou shalt be built up. and rend your heart, and not your gar.

Isa. lv. 7. Let the wicked forsake his ments, and turn unto the Lord your God: way, and the unrighteous man his for he is gracious and merciful, slow to thoughts; and let him return unto the anger, and of great kindness, and repentLord, and he will have mercy upon him; eth him of the evil. and to our God, for he will abundantly Zech. i. 3. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, pardon.

Turn ye unto me, and I will turn unto Jer. iii. 12. Return, thou backsliding you. Mal. iii. 7. Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not ix. 12. Turn to the strong-hold, ye pricause mine anger to fall upon you. soners of hope. (Ver. 1. 10. 14.) Ver. 22. Return and I will heal your backslidings. Ch. iv. 1. V. Remarkable instances of penitent -xv. 19.

returning sinners obtaining mercy. 2 xviii. 7, 8. At what instant I shall Chron. xv. 4. When they in their trouble speak concerning a nation, and concern. did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and ing a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull sought him, he was found of them. Ch. down, and to destroy it: If that nation xxx, 6. 9. Neh. i. 9.-ix. 28. turn from their evil, I will repent of the Ps. lxxiv. 34. They returned, and inevil that I thought to do unto them. Ch. quired early after God.-Ver. 38. He forxxvi. 2, 3.-xxxvi. 3.

gave their iniquity. Ezek. xviii. 21-23. If the wicked cxix. 59. I turned my feet unto thy will turn from all his sins that he hath testimonies.-Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt committed, and keep all my statutes, well with thy servant, according to thy and do that which is lawful and right, word. 2 Kings xxiii. 25. he shall surely live, he shall not die. Jonah iii. 10. God saw the works of They shall not be inentioned unto him : the Ninevites, and they turned from in his righteousness that he hath done their evil way: and God repented him of he shall live. Have I any pleasure at the evil that he had said he would do all that the wicked should die ? saith unto them, and he did it not. Mait. the Lord God; and not that he should xii. 41. return from his ways, and live ? Ver. 27, 28.

VI. Turning to God enjoined by comVer. 30. 32. Repent, and turn from mands, and enforced by threatenings all your transgressions ; so iniquity shall against those who turn not from sin. 2 not be your ruin. For I have no plea. Kings xvii. 13, 14. The Lord testified sure in the death of him that dieth, saith against Israel and Judah, by the prophets the Lord God: wherefore turn and and seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil live.

ways. But they would not hear.-Ver. xxxiii. 11. As I live, saith the Lord 18. The Lord was angry, and reGod, I have no pleasure in the death of moved them out of his sight. Jer. xliv. the wicked; but that the wicked turn from 4, 5, 6. his way, and live. Turn ye, turn ye,

Neh. ix. 26, 27. They slew the profrom your evil ways; for why will ye phets, which testified against them, to die, O house of Israel? Ver. 14. 19. "2 turn them to thee. Therefore thou de Pet. iii. 9.

Ver. 35. They have not served thee, Ezek. ii. 19. If thou warn the wicked, in thy great goodness, neither turned and he turn not from his wickedness, he from their wickedness.—Ver. 36. Be- shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast hold, we are servants this day, &c.- delivered thy soul. Ch. xxxiii. 9. Ver. 37.

Dan. ix. 13, 14. All this evil is come Job xxxvi. 10–12. He openeth their upon us, yet made we not our prayer beear to discipline, and commandeth that fore the Lord our God, that we might turn they return from iniquity. If they obey from our iniquities. Therefore hath the and serve him, they shall spend their Lord watched upon the evil, and brought days in prosperity, and their years in it upon us. Zech. i. 4. 6. pleasure. If they obey not, they shall Hos. v. 3, 4. I know Ephraim, and Is. perish by the sword, and die without rael is not hid from me. They will not knowledge.

frame their doings to turn unto their God. Ps. vii. 12, 13. If the wicked turn not, -Ver. 14. I will be unto Ephraim as a God will whet his sword: he hath bent lion, and as a young lion to the house of his bow and made it ready. He hath Judah; I will tear, and I will take away, also prepared for him the instruments of and none shall rescue. death.

vii. 9, 10. Grey hairs are here and Isa. xxxi. 6. Turn ye to him from there upon Ephraim, and he knoweth it whom the children of Israel have deeply not. The pride of Israel doth testify to revolted.

his face, and they do not return to the Lord Jer. v. 3, 4. Thou hast stricken them, their God, nor seck him for all this.Ver. but they have not grieved; thou hast con. 13. Woe unto them, destruction unto sumed them, but they have refused to them, they return but not to the Most receive correction. They have made High. Ch. xi. 5. their faces harder than a rock, they have xv. 1. O Israel, return unto the Lord refused to return. Therefore I said, thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine Surely these are poor, they are foolish. iniquity. Ver. 6. A lion out of the forest shall Amos iv. 6. I have given you cleanslay them, &c.

ness of teeth, and want of bread; yet have viii. 5, 6. Why is this people slidden ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. back with a perpetual backsliding ? they Ver. 8, 9, 10, 11. refuse to return. No man repented him Jer. iv. 3, 4. Thus saith the Lord, to of his wickedness, saying, What have I them of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up done ? Every one turned to his course, your fallow ground; and sow not among as the horse rusheth into the battle. thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Hos. xi. 5.

Lord, and take away the foreskins of xv. 7. I will destroy my people, since your hearts ; lest my fury come forth like they return not from their ways. fire, and burn that none can quench it.

xviii. 11. Thus saith the Lord, Behold, Hos. x. 12. I frame evil against you; return ye now

Matt. xviii. 3. Except ye be converted, every one from his evil way, and make and become as little children, ye shall not your ways and your doings good. Ch. enter into the kingdom of heaven. Xxxv. 15.

xxiii. 14, 15. The false prophets VII. The cause and means of repentstrengthen the hands of evil-doers, that ance and conversion. God the cause; this no man doth return from his wickedness. implied in prayers made to God for it, and Therefore, thus saith the Lord of hosts, other expressions ascribing it to God as concerning the prophets, Behold, I will his gift. Ps. lxxx. 3. Turn us again, O feed them with wormwood, and make God, and cause thy face to shine, and we them drink the water of gall. Ezek. shall be saved. Ver. 7. 19. xiii. 22.

lxxxv. 4. Turn us, O God of our sal. xxv. 4, 5. The Lord sent unto you vation, and cause thine anger towards us his servants the prophets. They said, to cease. Turn ye every one from his evil way, and Song i. 4. Draw me, I will run after from the evil of your doings, and dwell thee. in the land, &c.-Ver. 7. Yet ye have Jer. xxxi. 18, 19. Turn thou me, and not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord. I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord See threats to ver. 12. Ch. xxvi. 3.- my God. After that I was turned, I xxxvi. 3. 7.

pented; and after that I was instructed,

re.

Let a

I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed; member, and turn to the Lord. Ps. li. yea, even confounded, because I did bear 3.cx. 3. the reproach of my youth.

Isa. i. 27. Zion shall be redeemed Lam. v. 21. Turn thou us unto thee, with judgment, and her converts with O Lord, and we shall be turned. righteousness.

Acts xi. 18. They said, Then hath God X. 21. The remnant shall return unto also to the Gentiles granted repentance the mighty God. Mic. v. 3. unto life.

Ix.5. The abundance of the sea shall be Ver. 21. The hand of the Lord was converted unto thee, and the forces of the with the disciples, and a great number Gentiles shall come unto thee. Ch. lv. 7. believed, and turned unto the Lord. Jer. xxiv. 7. They shall return unto

Rom. ii. 4. The goodness of God lead. me with their whole heart. eth to repentance.

Hos. ii. 7. The church shall say, I will 2 Tim. ii. 25. In meekness instructing return unto my first husband. those that oppose themselves; if God per. xiv. 7. They that dwell under his shaadventure will give them repentance, to dow shall return; they shall revive as the the acknowledgment of the truth. corn, and grow as the vine.

VIII. Jesus Christ giveth repentance. XII. Self-examination needful to reActs ji. 26. God having raised up his pentance. i Kings vui. 38. Know every son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in man the plague of his own heart. turning away every one of you from his Ps. iv. 4. Commune with your own iniquities.

heart on your bed, and be still. v. 31. Him hath God exalted, a Prince lxxvii. 6. My spirit made diligent and a Saviour, to give repentance to Is- search. rael, and forgiveness of sins.

cxix. 59. I thought upon my ways, and

turned my feet unto thy testimonies. IX. God's law a mean of converting Lam. iii. 40. Let us search and try our sinners. Ps. xix. 4. The law of the Lord ways, and turn again to the Lord. is perfect, converting the soul.

i Cor. xi. 28.

man examine Luke xvi. 30. And he said, Nay, father himself. Abraham; but if one went unto them from 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine yourselves, the dead, they will repent.–Ver. 31. If prove your own selves. they hear not Moses and the prophets, Gal. vi. 4. Let every man prove his neither will they be persuaded though own works. one rose from the dead.

XIII. Considerations needful to repent. X. The ministry a mean of convert. ance. Deut. iv. 39. Consider in ihine ing sinners. Ezek. iii. 19. If thou warn heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven the wicked, and he turn not from his above, and in the earth beneath. wickedness, he shall die in his iniquity; 1 Sam. xii. 24. Consider how great but thou hast delivered thy soul. Ch. things the Lord hath done for thee. xxxiii. 9.

Job xxiii. 15. When I consider him, Dan. xii. 3. They that turn many to I am afraid. righteousness, shall shine as the stars Ps. cxix. 95. I will consider thy tesfor ever and ever. James v. 19. Prov. timonies. xi. 30.

Eccl. vii. 14. In the day of adversity, Luke i. 16. Many of the children of consider. Israel shall John Baptist turn to the Lord Isa. xli. 20. Consider that the hand of their God. Ch. xxii. 32.

the Lord hath done this. Acts xxvi. 17. The Lord said to Paul, Ezek. xii. 3. It may be they will con. I send thee to open men's eyes, to turn sider, though they be a rebellious house. them from darkness to light, and from Ch. xvii. 14. the power of Satan unto God; that they Hag. i. 5. Thus.saith the Lord, Conmay receive the forgiveness of sins, and sider your ways. an inheritance among all them that are 2 Tim. i. 7. Consider, and the Lord sanctified, by faith that is in me. give thee understanding in all things. For

considering God's works, sce Job xxxvii. XI. Repentance promised. Ps. xxii. 14. Ps. viii. 3.—Ixiv. 9. Eccl. vii. 13. 27. All the ends of the world shall re- Isa. lii. 15. Jer. xxx. 24.

thine eyes.

X. 8.

XIV. The inconsideration of the wick. they hear not Moses and the prophets, ed. Deut. xxxii. 29. O that they would neither will they be persuaded though consider their latter end.

one rose from the dead. Ps. 1. 22. Consider, ye that forget xix. 41, 42. Jesus wept over JerusaGod; lest I tear you in pieces, and there lem, saying, If thou hadst known, in this be rone to deliver.

thy day, the things which belong unto Eccl

. v. 1. They consider not that thy peace? But now they are hid from they do evil.

Isa. i. 3. Israel doth not know, my Rom. ii. 5. After thy hardness and im. people doth not consider. Ch. v. 12. Ps. penitent heart, thou treasurest up unto Ixxxii. 5.-xciv. 8.

thyself wrath against the day of wrath. xliv. 19. None considereth in his heart. Heb. vi. 4–6. It is impossible for C. xlvii. 7.

those who were once enlightened, and Ver. 20. A deceived heart hath turn- have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were ed him aside; he cannot deliver his soul, made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and nor say, Is there not a lie in my right have tasted the good word of God, and hand ?

the powers of the world to come, if they Jer. ii. 10. Consider, hath a nation fall away, to renew them again to repentchanged their gods ? but my people have ance; seeing they crucify to themselves changed their glory.

the Son of God afresh, and put him to They are altogether brutish. open shame. Ver. 14. Ch. li. 17. 21.

xii. 17. Esau found no place for reHos. vii. 2. They consider not in their pentance, though he sought it carefully hearts, that I remember all their wick with tears. Matt. xxvii. 7. edness.

Gen. vi. 3. God saith, My Spirit shall Matt. vii. 3. Thou considerest not the not always strive with man. Ps. xcv. 8. beam that is in thine own eye.

Harden not your hearts. Heb. iii. 8. 15. Luke ix. 55. Ye know not what man--iv. 7. ner of spirit ye are of.

xix. 42. If ihou hadst known the things XVI. Sorrow for sin. Ps. xiii. 3. How that belong to thy peace, but now they long shall I take counsel in my soul, havare hid from thine eyes.

ing sorrow in my heart daily ? Rev. ii. 17. Thou sayest, I am rieh, xxxviii. 17. I am ready to halt; my and increased with goods, and have need sorrow is continually before me.Ver. of nothing; and knowest not, that thou 18. I will declare mine iniquity; I will art wretched and micornhle, ond pom, hvo-.-and blind, and naked.

lxix. 29. I am poor and sorrowful; let

thy salvation, o God, set me on high. XV. The case of those who withstand Ps. cxvi. 3, 4. the appointed means of repentance. Matt. Eccl. vii. 3. Sorrow is better than xiii. 13, 14. Jesus said, I speak to them laughter. Prov. xiv. 13. in parables; because they seeing, see not; Jer. xxxi. 25. I have satiated every and hearing, they hear not; neither do weary soul; I have replenished every they understand. And in them is ful. sorrowful soul. filled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, Zeph. iii. 18. I will gather them that By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not are sorrowful for the solemn assemunderstand; and seeing ye shall see, and bly. shall not perceive : (Isa. vi. 9.) Ver. 15. John xvi. 20. Your sorrow shall be For this people's heart is waxed gross, turned into joy. and their ears are dull of hearing, and Rom. ix. 2. I have continual sorrow their eyes they have closed; lest at any in my heart. time they should see with their eyes, and 2 Cor. vi. 10. As sorrowful, yet always hear with their ears, and should under- rejoicing. stand with their heart, and should be vii. 9 to 12. Ye sorrowed to repentconverted, and I should heal them. Mark ance. iv. 12. Luke viii. 10. John xii. 40. Acts xxviii. 26. Rom. xi. 8.

XVII. Mourning for sin. Exod. xxxiii. Luke xvi. 30. Dives said, If one went 4. When the people heard God's threatfrom the dead unto my brethren they enings against them they mourned. will repent.–Ver. 31. Abraham said, If Numb. xiv. 39.