As this is the only criterion whereby the excellence of a tree can be known, so is it the only true test of reho-ion. There are " fruits meet for repentance ;" fruits that manifest its existence, and denote its power. Let us inquire what they are: and, as they will be found in every part of our conduct, let us examine them in reference to,
1. God—
[It will certainly shew itself in high thoughts of God's unbounded goodness and mercy ; in deep huniihation of our souls before him ; in a joyful acceptance of his proffered salva- tion ; and in love, ardent love, to the Lord Jesus Clirist, who died for us; together with a simple reliance on liis atoning sacrifice. It will stimulate the soul to fervent prayer for the continued influences of God's Holy Spirit, and to a surrender of the soul, with all its faculties and powers, to his service. It will make the pleasing of God to be henceforth the great object of our lives ; and will moderate all our regards to the creature, insomuch that, though we are i» the world, we shall not be of it; and, though "we use it, we shall not abuse it."]
2. Our neighbour —
[Repentance extends not to the sins of the first table only, but to those of the second table also. It will give a new principle to us in all our dealings with mankind. We shall be strictly just and honest in all our transactions, doing to others precisely as, in a change of circumstances, we should think it right for them to do to us. If a man be our superior, we shall be ready to pay him, for God's sake, all that respect and obe- dience which the laws of God or man enjoin. If he be our inferior, we shall act towards him with all kindness and con- descension, all tenderness and love. Whatever be his state and condition, we shall be cautious of grieving him by word or deed; we shall applaud his \-irtues, conceal his faults, and exercise towards him that forbearance and forgiveness which we ourselves desire to meet with at the hands of God. It will be the joy of our hearts to alleviate his troubles, to supply his necessities, and to seek his welfare, not only as well as, but even iji preference to, our ovvn"^.]
3. Ourselves —
[The office of repentance in regulating the secret disposi- tions of our hearts, is by no means sufficiently considered: but, if it extend not to these, it is not genuine, nor will it ever prove " a repentance to salvation." In the natural and unrenewed
' 1 Cor. xiii. 4—7. Phil. ii. 4. 1 Cor. x. 24.
1282.] John's address to his followers. 19
heart, pride, envy, malice, wrath, discontent, uncleanness, lasciviousness, and many other hateful evils, are harboured, even where the external and visible exercise of them is re- strained. But the true penitent " puts away all these," and and cultivates a spirit of meekness and gentleness, of love and kindness, of patience and thankfulness ; and endeavours to guard against an impure thought or desire, no less than against the most criminal indulgence.
I do not say, that a penitent so attains all these graces as never to betray his weakness; but this I sa}^, that these are the fruits of the Spirit which every penitent will produce*^; that they necessarily arise out of godly sorrow^; and that every sincere penitent will advance in these attainments, so that they who are most conversant with him shall be constrained to bear testimony to the progressive amelioration of all his tempers.
O that there might be in all of us such an heart ; and that all who profess repentance might thus make their profiting to appear !]
It is of infinite importance to ascertain in this way whether our religion be genuine ; for,
II. Without it, all hopes of salvation are delusive —