1. What is that repentance which such persons need —
[It is by no means sufficient to confess that we are sinners: we sliould feel that we are indeed lothesome^; and should be filled with shame on account of the extreme vileness of our hearts™. Nothing less than this will constitute that " repent- ance which is not to be repented of"."]
2. How their character and end may be completely chansred —
[Lothesome as we are we may be purified by the blood of Jesus, and be made without spot or blemish in the sight of God". Our natures also may be changed by his Spirit, so that we shall possess a beauty that God himself shall admire p. Yea, instead of having shame for our portion, we shall be made to inherit *' glory and honour and immortality." We shall be sons of the living God, and be seated with Christ on thrones of glory. Let us then seek this change, and rely on God's promises, that by means of them it may be accomplished in us i.]
^ Isai. Ixiv. 6.
"1 Ezek. xxxvi. 31. and xvi. 63, and Rom. vi. 21.
" See Ezra ix. G. Job xl. 4. and xlii. 6.
° Eph. v. 25 — 27. P 1 Pet. iii. 4. i 2 Cor. vii. 1.
Prov. xiii. 15. The way of transgressors is hard.
THE Scriptures abound with weighty aphorisms, which deserve the deepest consideration. For the most part, they will be found directly opposed to the general opinions of mankind. The maxims of men are too often founded on the appearance of things, and on the respect they bear to our temporal ad- vantage ; but the declarations of God exhibit things as they really are, and as they will approve them- selves to be, if we take into consideration their aspect on eternity. The transgressors of God's law account themselves happy in having cast off his yoke, and freed themselves from the restraints which his law would impose upon them. But the truth is, that he is under a most desperate delusion, and grievously deceives his own soul. *' A good understanding," re- gulating the conduct agreeably to God's commands.
781. J THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS HARD. l2o
*'will ensure to a man favour" and comfort, both in this world and the next :" *' but the way of trans- gressors is hard." Their whole life is a state,
I. Of bondage —
[Whatever be the besetting sin of the ungodly, it has within them the force of a law, to which alas ! they yield a willing obedience''." As the ten tribes " ran willingly after the commandment" of Jeroboam to the commission of idolatry, to which they had an inward and almost invincible propensity *'; so do the worldling, the sensualist, the drunkard, follow but too readily, the impulse of their own corrupt hearts. A spring will not more naturally rise, when the power which compressed it is removed, than their lusts will rise to demand their wonted gratification, when an opportunity for indulgence is afforded them. The poor infatuated agents will call this liberty'^; but the whole Scriptures designate it bondage : " Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants 3^e are to whom ye obey '^ ? " Yes, in yielding to temptation we are " the servants of sin"^ ;" and the servants of Satan also: for " he it is who worketh in all the children of disobedience V' and leads them captive at his will^." In fact, the whole Gospel takes this for granted : for Christ was sent on purpose to re- deem us from this bondage*^, and to " make us free indeed^" But, whilst thus enslaved, are we not in a most pitiable condi- tion ? True, we may not be sensible of the bondage, because the service of sin and Satan is in accordance with our own cor- rupt inclinations : but we are, in fact, the more to be pitied, because of our insensibility : even as a maniac is, whose whole life is occupied in things which tend to the destruction of his own welfare. The transgressor's life is also a state,]