(1.) The terminus n quo, — a breaking off sin, Dan. iv. 27., " Break oft' thy sins by righteousness." And this breaking oft" sin must have three qualifications, 1. It must be universal, a ])reaking off all sin. One disease may kill as well as more; one sin lived in may damn as well as more. The real penitent breaks off secret, gainful, com- plexion sins; he takes the sacrificing knife of mortification, and runs it through the heart of his dearest lusts. — 2. Breaking off sin must be sincere; it must not be out of fear or design, but upon spiritual grounds. As, l.<;^, From antipathy and disgust. — 2dlij, From a principle of love to God. If sin had not such evil effects, yet a true penitent would forsake it out of love to God. The best way to separate things that are frozen, is by fire: when sin and the heart are fro- zen together, the best way to separate them is by the fire of love. Shall I sin against a gracious Father, and abuse that love which pardons me ? — 3. The breaking off sin must be perpetual, so as never to have to do with sin any more, Hos xiv. 8., " What have I to do any more with idols ?" Repentance is a spiritual divorce, which must be till death.
(2.) Change of life hath in it, terminus ad quern, — a returning unto the Lord. It is called " repentance towards God," Acts XX. 21. 'Tis not enough, when we repent, to leave old sins; but we must engage in God's service ; as when the wind leaves the west, it turns into a contrary corner. The repenting prodigal did not only leave his harlots, but did arise and go to his fa- ther, Luke XV. 18. In true repentance the heart points directly to God, as the nee- dle to the north pole.
Use. Let us all set upon this great work of repentance ; let us repent sincerely and speedily ; let us repent of all our sins, our ])ride, rash anger, unbelief. " AVithout re- pentance no remission;" it is not consistent with the holiness of God's nature to pardon a sinner while he is in ihe act of reliellion. O meet God, not with weapons, but tears in your eyes ' And, to stir you up to a melting, j)enitent frame,
1. ('onsider what is there in sin that von
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sliould rontimie in the practice of it. It is tlio " uccnrscd tliin<ji^," Josh. vii. 11. It is the spirits of miscliiof distilled. (1.) It de- files the soul's glory ; it is like a stain to beauty; 'tis compartd to a plague-sore, 1 Kings viii. 38. Nothing so changeth one's glory into shaine, as sin. (2.) With- out rc'pentance, sin tends to final damnation. Peccotmn transit, acta mavet reatu. Sin at first shews its co1(!ur in the glass, but af- terwards it bites like a serpent. Those lo- custs, Rev. ix. 7., were an emblem of sin : " On their licads were crowns like gold, and tliey had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions, and there were stings in their tails." Sin unrejjcnted of ends in a tragedy. Sin hath th.e devil for its father, shame for its com- paiiion, and death for its wages, Rom. vi. 23. What is there in sin then, that men should continue in it ? Say not, it is sweet. Wjio would desire that pleasure which kills?
2. Repentance is very pleasing to God. No sacrifice like a broken heart, Ps. li. 17., " A contrite and a broken heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." St. Austin caused this sentence to be written over his bed when he was sick. When the widow brought empty A-essels to Elisha, the oil was poured into them, 2 Kings iv. 6. : bring God the broken vessel of a contrite heart, and he will pour in the oil of mercy. Repenting tears are the joy of God and an- gels, Luke XV. Doves delight to be about the waters; and surely God's Spirit (who once descended in the likeness of a dove) takes great delight in the waters of repen- tance. Mary stood at Jesus' feet weeping, Luke vii. 38. She brought two thinjrs to Christ, tears and ointment, — her tears were more precious to Christ than her oint- ment.
3. Repentance ushers in pardon ; there- fore they are joined togetlier, Acts v. 31., " Repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of fiins." Pard<m of sin is the richest bless- ing; it is enough to make a sick man well, Isa. xxxiii. 24., "The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick ; the pcoj>le that dwell there- in shall be forgiven their iniquity." Par- don settles upon us the richer charter of the promises. Pardoning mercy is the