I. The characteristic marks of true penitence — It will always be attended with,
1 . A sense of our departure from God —
[Unregenerate men live " without God in the world ;" and yet the thought of their being at a distance from God never enters into their minds. But as soon as the grace of repentance is given to them, they see that they " have been like sheep going astray, every one to his own way," and that they can never find happiness but in " retui-ning to the shep- herd and bishop of their souls."]
2. An acknowledgment of affliction as a just chas- tisement for sin —
[The impenitent heart murmurs and rebels under the Divine chastisements: the penitent " hears the rod and him that appointed it." He blesses God for the troubles that have brought him to reflectionb; and while he smarts under the wounds that have been inflicted on him, he regards them as the merciful tokens of parental love c.]
3. A determination to return to God —
[When a man is once thoroughly awakened to a sense of his lost condition, he can no longer be contented with a formal round of duties. He reads, hears, prays in a very different way from that in which he was wont to do. " What shall I do to be saved ? " is the one thought that occupies his mind ; and he is resolved through grace to sacrifice every thing that would obstruct the salvation of his soul. To hear of Christ, to seek him, to believe on him, and to receive out of his ful- ness, these are from henceforth his chief desire, his supreme delight d.]
4. A desire that others should return to him also —
[As all the other marks, so this especially was manifested by the repenting Israelites. This is peculiarly insisted on as characteristic of the great work that shall be accomplished in the latter daye. This has distinguished the Church of God in all agesf. The penitent knows how awful the state of all around him is, and how much he has contributed by his in- fluence and example to destroy them ; and therefore, though he expects nothing but " hatred for his good-will," he feels it incumbent on him to labour for their salvation ; and, if it were possible, he would instruct, convert, and save the whole world g.]
b Ps. xvi. 7. and cxix. 67. c Ps. cxix. 75.
d Cant. v. 6, 8. e Isai. ii. 3.
f Cant. i. 4. Draw me, and we, &c. e Zech. viii. 21. John i. 41, 45.