Chapter 15

Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation

1. Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in
the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in
their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life.

Titus Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be
3:1 ready to every good work,
Titus To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.
3:2
Titus For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts
3:3 and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Titus But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
3:4
Titus Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved
3:5 us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
3:6
Titus That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal
3:7 life.

2. Whereas there is none that doth good, and sinneth not

Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

and the best of men may through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption
dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall in to greater sins and
provocations, God hath in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers
so sinning and falling, be renewed through repentance unto salvation.

Luke And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may
22:31 sift you as wheat:
Luke But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted,
22:32 strengthen thy brethren.
 3. This saving repentance is an evangelical grace,

Zechariah And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the
12:10 spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have
pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be
in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Acts When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath
11:18 God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his
sin, doth by faith in Christ, humble himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it,
and self-abhorrency;

Ezekiel Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and
36:31 shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

II Corinthians For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what
7:11 carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what
indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what
revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour by supplies
of the Spirit to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.

Psalm 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

Psalm 119:126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
 4. As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon
the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof; so it is every
man's duty to repent of his particular known sins, particularly.

Luke And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give
19:8 to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him
fourfold.

I Timothy And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me
1:12 faithful, putting me into the ministry;
I Timothy Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy,
1:13 because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
I Timothy And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in
1:14 Christ Jesus.
I Timothy This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into
1:15 the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

5. Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of
grace, for the preservation of believers unto salvation, that although there is
no sin so small, but it deserves damnation;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.

yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent;

Isaiah Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes;
1:16 cease to do evil;
Isaiah Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the
1:17 widow.
Isaiah Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,
1:18 they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
55:6
Isaiah Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return
55:7 unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will
abundantly pardon.

which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.