[6.] Sixthly, The princiiile of regeneration, and seed of gra^e, which God lays into the soid of every jjenitent person at first conversion, is a universal pHnclple, a pr-incijjle tJiat sj)reads itself over all the faculties of the soul, and over all the m,eiiibcrs of the body, 1 Thes. v. 23 : Ps. xlv. 13, ' The king's daughter is all glorious within ; her cloth- ing is of wrought gold.' In regeneration there is infused the habits or principles of all grace, which like a divine leaven spreads itself over the whole man. Mat. xiii. 83. Look, as Absalom's beauty was spread all over him, even from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, 2 Sam. xxiv. 25 ; so grace spreads itself over every faculty of the soul, and over every member of the body. Look, as Solomon's temple was all glorious ' Plutarch, as before. See our liidux under Lysimachus. — G.
Chap. III.] a cabinet of jewels. 423
l)oth within and without ; so that grace which a man receives at first conversion, makes him all glorious both within and without. Look, as Adam's sin spread itself over the whole man, so that grace which we receive from the second Adam spreads itself over the whole man, John i. 16. And as that grace which was in Christ did diffuse and spread itself over all of Christ, so that grace which is in the true penitent does diffuse and spread itself all over the penitent. Now look, as hea- ven is contrary to all of hell, and as light is contrary to all darkness, and heat to all cold, so that divine, that noble, that universal principle of grace, which God at first conversion infuses into the penitent's soul, is contrary to all sin ; and therefore the penitent turns from all sin. But, [7.] Seventhly, The true penitent would have God to forgive him, not only some of his sins, but all his sins ; and therefore it is hut just and equal that he should turn fro'm all his sins. ' If God be so faith- ful and just to forgive us all our sins,' 1 John i. 9, we must be so faithful and just as to turn from all our sins. The plaster must be as broad as the sore, and the tent' as long and as deep as the wound. It argues horrid hypocrisy, damnable folly, and wonderful impudency, for a man to beg the pardon of those very sins that he is resolved never to forsake. Look, as he that hath any one sin forgiven hath all sins forgiven, so he that hath sincerely turned from any one sin, he hath turned from every sin ; and he that hath not repented him of all known sin, he hath not yet sincerely repented of any known sin, nor as yet experienced the sweetness of forgiveness of sin. He that will not renounce those sins that he would have God to remit, shall be sure to have a hell of guilt in his conscience. Of all fools there is none to him that is very importunate with God to forgive those sins which he is resolved beforehand to commit ; for what prince, in his wits, will pardon his treasons that is resolved to continue a traitor ? or what judge will forgive his thievery, that is peremptorily determined to continue a thief ? or what husband will pardon his wife, that is resolved to defile his bed with other lovers ? Such as continue in the practice of those very sins, which they beg a pardon oJ^ shall certainly go without their pardon. Pardon of sin is for that man, and that man is for pardon of sin, that is as truly willing to forsake his sins as he is to receive the par- don of his sins. Who would not look upon that man as a madman, who should earnestly beg his pardon, and yet before his pardon is sealed should afresh cut purses, and murder persons before the eyes of the judge ? The pardoned soul is the repenting soul, and the repenting soul is the pardoned soul : Ps. xxxii. 2, ' Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.' He that begs pardon of sin, and is resolved against turning Irom sin, shall find no more sweetness in that grand promise of pardon, Prov. xxviii. ] 3, than devils or damned spirits do. Look, as one sin uuforgiveu will as certainly undo a man as a thousand, so one sin unforsaken will as certainly undo and damn a man as a thousand. The true penitent is as willing to turn from all his sins, as he is willing that God should par- don all his sins. But,
[8.] Eighthly and lastly, There is in every penitent a sincere hatred of sin, a universal haired of sin : Ps. xcvii. 10, ' Ye that love the Lord, ' ' Roll of liut,' for searchiug a wound. — G.
424 A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. Ill-