God." And how shall I represent to you this duty ? Methinks it would occupy a long space of time to enter particularly into this part of my subject. But I will set it before you, so that you may comprehend it perfectly, and in an instant. Who amongst you has ever seen a river that is affected with the tide ? At one time you have seen the waters flowing with majestic force towards the ocean ; and a few hours afterwards you have seen them returning with equal copiousness towards their fountain-head. This shews how all the powers of the soul have been engaged in the service of the world ; and how they are to be employed in the service of our God. It is no partial change that will suffice ; it must be entire : and all our faculties, whe- ther of body or soul, which have been used as instruments of sin, must become instruments of righteousness unto Godc."
Now think of this, my Brethren : dismiss from your minds those partial views of repentance with which you have hitherto been satisfied ; and address yourselves to this duty in its full extent.]
And that I may prevail with you, let me proceed to set before you, II. Our encouragement —
This arises,
1 . From the general character of God —
[See God in his own essential perfections : " he is merciful and gracious," and delights altogether in the exercise of mercy towards sinful men. See him also in his dealings with us : how " slow has he been to anger! " Against whom amongst us might he not have broken forth in anger a thousand times, just as he did against Korah and his company, or against Dathan and Abiram, or Ananias and Sapphira, whom he struck dead upon the spot ? View him, also, when ready to execute upon us his wrathful indignation : how often has he, in his answer to the intercession of his dear Son, returned the sword to its scab- bard, and " repented of the evil that he thought to do unto us ! " And are these no encouragements to repentance? Can you willingly go on to insult so gracious a God, and to provoke him, till his anger break forth without a remedy, and " burn to the lowest hell?" I pray you, Brethren, "run not thus on the thick bosses of his buckler," and defy him not thus to his face ; but fall before him with the deepest self-abasement, and "seek his face whilst yet he may be foundd."]
2. From the hope which this character inspires —
[God, in the preceding context, has threatened to send an army that should lay waste the whole land of Israel ; and so
c Rom. vi. 13. d Isai. Iv. 6.