Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan is solemnly to consider, That if the work of repentance were such an easy work as Satan would make it to be, then certainly so many would not lie roaring and crying out of tvrath and eternal ruin under the horrors and terrors of conscience, for not repenting ; yea, doubtless, so many millions would not go to hell for not repent- ing, if it were such an easy thing to repent.3 Ah, do not poor souls under horror of conscience cry out and say, Were all this world a lump of gold, and in our hand to dispose of, we would give it for the least drachm of true repentance ! and wilt thou say it is an easy thing to repent ? When a poor sinner, whose conscience is awakened, shall judge the exchange of all the world for the least drachm of repent- ance to be the happiest exchange that ever sinner made, tell me, O soul, is it good going to hell ? Is it good dwelling with the devouring fire, with everlasting burnings ? Is it good to be . for ever separated
1 Ps. vi. 6, xxv. 7, 1 Tim. i. 13.— G.
2 It is truly said of God, that he is Omnia super omnia.
3 If thou be backward in the thoughts of repentance, be forward in the thoughts of hell, the flames whereof only the streams of the penintent eye can extinguish. — Tertul- [lian\. Oh, how shalt thou tear and rend thyself! how shalt thou lament fruitless repenting ! What wilt thou say? Woe is me, that I have not cast off the burden of sin ; woe is me, that I have not washed away my spots, but am now pierced with mine iniquities ; now have I lost the surpassing joy of angels ! — Basil.
:; ; precious remedies [2 Cor. II. 11.
from tin1 blessed and glorious presence of God, angels, and saints, and. to be for ever shut out from those good things of eternal life, which are so many, that they exceed number; so great, that they exceed measure; so precious, that they exceed all estimation ? We know it Lb the greatest misery that can befall the sons of men; and would they not prevent this by repentance, if it were such an easy thing to repent as Satan would have it? Well, then, do not run the hazard of losing (iod, Christ, heaven, and thy soul for ever, by hearkening to this de- vice of Satan, viz., that it is an easy thing to repent, &c. If it be so easy, why, then, do wicked men's hearts so rise against them that press the doctrine of repentance in the sweetest way, and by the strongest and the choicest arguments that the Scripture doth afford ? And why do they kill two at once : the faithful labourer's name and their own souls, by their wicked words and actings, because they are put upon repenting, which Satan tells them is so easy a thing ? Surely, were repentance so easy, wicked, men would not be so much enraged when that doctrine is, by evangelical considerations, pressed upon them.
Remedy (5). The fifth remedy against this device of Satan is seri- ously to consider, That to repent of sin is as great a ivork of (/race as not to sin.1 By our sinful falls the powers of the soul are weakened, the strength of grace is decayed, our evidences for heaven are blotted, fears and doubts in the soul are raised (will God once more pardon this scarlet sin, and shew mercy to this wretched soul ?), and corrup- tions in the heart are more advantaged and confirmed ; and the con- science of a man after falls is the more enraged or the more benumbed. Now for a soul, notwithstanding all this, to repent of his falls, this shews that it is as great a work of grace to repent of sin as it is not to sin. Repentance is the vomit of the soul ; and of all physic, none so difficult and hard as it is to vomit. The same means that tends to preserve the soul from sin, the same means works the soul to rise by repentance when it is fallen into sin. We know the mercy and loving- kindness of God is one special means to keep the soul from sin ; as David spake, ' Thy loving-kindness is always before mine eyes, and I have walked in thy truth, and I have not sat with vain persons, nei- ther will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked/ Ps. xxvi. 3-5. So by the same means the soul is raised by repentance out of sin, as you may see in Mary Magdalene, who loved much, and wept much, because much was forgiven her, Luke vii. 37-39, &c. So those in Hosea, 1 Come, let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal ; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us, in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight, or before his face,' Hos. vi. 1, 2 ; as the Hebrew [v:a^] hath it, i.e. in his favour. Confidence in God's mercy and love, that he would heal them, and laud up their wounds, and revive their de- jected spirits, and cause them to live in his favour, was that which did work their hearts to repent and return unto him.
1 Yet it is Letter to be kepi from sin than cured of sin by repentance, as it is Letter for a man to be preserved from a disease tb.au to be cured of the disease.
2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 37
I might further shew you this truth iu many other particulars, but this may suffice : only remember this m the general, that there is as much of the power of God, and love of God, and faith in God, and fear of God, and care to please God, zeal for the glory of God, 2 Cor. vii. 11, requisite to work a man to repent of sin, as there is to keep a man from sin ; by which you may easily judge, that to repent of sin is as great a work as not to sin. And now tell me, O soul, is it an easy thing not to sin ? We know then certainly it is not an easy thing to repent of sin.