Baptifm, after Relapfe And under this Head I shall particularly confider the Sin against the Holy Ghoft, the Nature of it, and why or whether unpardonable; and take notice alfo of other things of this kind but of a leffer nature, fuch as Lufting of the Flefb, and Trouble of Mind.

IV. I shall confider a Death-bed Repentance, and enquire into the validity of it, and confider the cafe of the Thief upon the Cross. V. I ball endeavour to obviate the mifchievous Miftakes, and prevent the bad Confequences that too many are apt to draw from this Gospel Priviledge of Repentance.

VI. I shall give fome Practical Rules about the particular Exercife of this Duty.

VII. I shall lay down a certain Mark or Criterion by which we may know we have Repented, and are in a pardoned and good state.

CHAP.

CHAP. I.

Giving a full Account of the Nature of Repentance.

SECT. I.

Scripture Words for Repentance.

S to a true Notion of Repentance

A there are feveral words in Scrip

ture by which it is expreffed, the chief and most remarkable are these three, Μεταμελεία Μετάνοια and 'Αποςροφή, Οι Επιςροφή, The two firft we tranflate by Repentance, and have no other word for them, the laft is turning away from our Sins, and turning to God and Goodness. The 1. Meraunga, is an after concern or trouble arising from our Sins, when our Mind and Confcience fmite us when we have done amifs, and we feel inward trouble and horrour arifing in our Souls upon the reflection of our paft folly and wicked

nefs,

So

nefs. This is attributed to Judas, Matth. 27. 3. Then Judas which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented, μrandeis. that this is but a low part of Repentance, though if it be duly qualified, it may be that Godly forrow which worketh Repentance not to be repented of, 2 Cor. 7. 10. If the bitterness we tafte in 'Sin turn our appetite from it, and our grief quite remove our love for it; if our tears help to wash away our Sins, and to cleanse our guilty and polluted Souls, then however fharp or brackish they are, they are fanative and medicinal, and fo have a true vertue and efficacy in them, without which they are useless and infignificant. 2. Merdvola is an after thinking, or an after-Wisdom and Understanding, when the Sin we thought before fo charming and inviting, fo that it tempted us with its feeming Pleasure or Profit, or fome appearance of good, which was the reafon we chofe and embraced it, we now fee and underftand to be foolish and unreasonable, mischievous and pernicious, and are under full convictions of the fad confequences and effects of it, and there

fore

pur

fore have both wishes and defires that
we had never committed it, and
poses and refolutions not to be guilty
of it again: Now this goes a great
deal further than the other, but still it
goes no further than the mind, and the
inward thoughts, paffions and affecti-
ons there,which may be if not infincere
yet ineffective. There must be fome-
thing further to make up and perfect
Repentance; which is. 3. Αποστροφή and

sp, turning from Sin, and turning 7 to God and Goodness. Thus the Scripture fpeaks moft clearly of Repentance, Ezek. 18. 21. If the wicked turn from all his fins that he hath committed, and doth that which is lawful and right, he fball furely live, he shall not dye. Again at ver. 27. When the wicked turneth away from his wickedness, and doth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his foul alive. And at ver. 28. Becaufe be confidereth and turneth from all his tranfgreffions that he hath committed, he ball furely live, he shall not dye. So Acts 26. 20. That they should repent and turn to God, which are homonymous, and turn from darkness to light, and from the power of fatan unto God, ver. 18. This is leaving a wrong path

or

or course of actions we have been engaged in, and entring upon a better. And this more fully declares the nature of Repentance, that 'tis an actual amendment and reformation of our Lives, a ceafing to do evil, and learning to do well, as the Prophet expreffes it, Ifa. 1. 16, 17. When they do good that are accustomed to do evil; as another Prophet, Jer. 13. 23. when they who have been bad in any inftance become good; this is the very effence of Repentance, as I fhall further fhew you, tis Obedience after Difobedience, Vertue after Vice, Good after Evil, and these three together make up true Repentance, which is indeed the whole practical condition of the Gofpel, as St. Paul fummes it up.

SECT. II.

Kinds and Degrees of Repentance.

B

UT before I come to difcourfe fully

of that, I muft premife fomeLimits and Cautions about this Duty, or elfe we fhall talk very confusedly about it in general, as belonging alike to all Perfons. Now there are feveral forts

and