Use. Let us obey Christ, and continually carry on the work of repent- ance with more seriousness. Sin is not hated enough, nor God loved enough, and therefore we have so small a taste of the comforts of Christianity. Groans unutterable make way for joys that are unspeak- able.
Motives.
1. The unquestionable necessity of the duty should move us. Christ's authority is absolute. He telleth us, ' I came to call sinners to repent- tance.' If he saith so, contradiction must be silent, hesitation satisfied, all cavils laid aside, and we must address ourselves to his work, and never cease till we are past repentance, and that is only when we have no more sin in us, which will never be till we die.
2. The profit should move. It is a duty of great use. By repent- ance we are put into a capacity to serve and please God; for new creatures are set in joint again, who were disordered by the fall, Eph. ii. 10 ; and Titus iii. .5 ; 2 Tim. ii. 2 ; and by it we are put into a capacity to enjoy God : Acts xxvi. 18, ' To open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.'
3. Nothing can be excepted against this course. (1.) The plea of unworthiness hath no place. It is not the applying a privilege, but the perfoi'mance of a duty we invite you to. If we did directly call you to accept a pardon, you might question our doctrine. Perhaps you may think you are unworthy to be pardoned, but God is worthy to
SERMON UPON MARK II. 17. 11
be obeyed. Christ calleth you to repentance. (2.) You cannot object the greatness of your sins. Did Christ come from heaven only to cure a cut finger, and not a deadly wound ? He calleth sinners, and sinners without exception ; sinners of all sorts and sizes. This thought often Cometh into our mind, that Christ is a saviour, but not of those who are fallen into such heinous and enormous offences as we have done ; as if any disease were beyond the skill of the spiritual physician ; as if he could cure a cold or a slight ague, but not the leprosy and the plague. All sinners are called.
4. The plea of weakness doth not lie against the duty neither ; for * he calleth the things that are not as though they were,' Eom. iv. 17 ; ' Lazarus, come forth,' John xi. 47. Why doth he speak to a dead man ? So to the man with the withered hand, ' Stretch forth thy hand,' Mat. xii. 13. Do not say. Lord, this I cannot do. No ; go forth in the strength of Christ's call. He calleth not only by the ministry of the word, but the inwai'd opeiation of his Spirit,
Now for means.
1. Examine thine own heart to find out thy particular sins : Ps. cxix. 59, ' I thought on my ways, and turned my feet into thy testi- monies ; * Lam. iii. 40, ' Search and try your ways, and turn to the Lord.' Kepentance usually beginneth with serious soul-searching ; otherwise we spend our indignation upon a notion. Particulars are most affecting. Sin is the common packhorse to bear every man's burden ; but sin must be particularly confessed, forsaken, and morti- fied, that it may be pardoned.
2. Labour to work thy heart to godly sorrow for them : Lam, iii. 20, ' My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled within me.' We should humble ourselves greatly : Job xlii. 6, ' I repent and abhor myself in dust and ashes ; ' Mat. xi. 21, ' Repented in dust and ashes.' This is spoken according to their national customs. Men most abased are most serious. But our repentance generally is not deep and serious enough, so as will become offences and dishonours done to God by such weak creatures as we are, and so deeply engaged to him. There is not that self-loathing, nor such a measure* of godly sorrow, as may either make Christ sweet or sin bitter to us. If it afi'ect the heart so as sin becometh hateful, and there is a price and value put upon God's grace in Christ, then it is right. Oh ! therefore, bemoan yourselves to God as Ephraim did, Jer. xxxi. 18.
3. Lay them open before God in humble confession : 1 John i. 9, ' If we confess sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins ; ' Jer. iii. 13, 'Only acknowledge thine iniquities, that thou hast trans- gressed against the Lord thy God ; ' and set apart some special time to do it.
4. Crave and sue earnestly for the pardon of them in Christ's name and for Christ's sake : E})h. iv. 32, ' As God for Christ's sake hath for- given you ; ' 1 John ii. 12, ' I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.' All benefits must be asked in his name ; much more this, which is the great fruit of his redemption. God himself has taught us to pray for pardon, and to say, ' Take away all iniquity,' Hosea xiv. 4. And take the sacramental pledges out of God's hand for this end.