they are exhorted to give diligence to make their calling and election sure, by adding to their faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly-kindness, and charity; and to show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.-2 Pet. i. 5-12; Heb. vi. 11.* When the Gospel first shines into a man's mind with divine light and evidence, making itself manifest in his conscience as the word of the living God, it does not leave him in painful uncertainty, either as to his faith or state, though he be not as yet conscious of all these effects by which he must afterwards try his faith. But when his faith works with his works, and brings forth the fruits of the Gospel, and purifies his soul to the unfeigned love of the brethren, he sees it distinguished from that faith which is dead, being alone.James ii. 17, 20, 26. When it overcomes the world, and raises him above the prevailing influence of the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life, his conscience bears him witness that he does not class with the thorny-ground professors.Luke viii. 14. When it supports him under tribulations and trials, so that he does not faint or give way, this trial of his faith working patience, and being attended with Divine support and consolation, gives him experience that God is with him, and that he is distinguished from those who receive the word with joy, and for a while believe, but in time of temptation fall away.-James i. 3, 4; Rom. v. iii. 4; Luke viii. 13. By this his hope is confirmed that he shall endure unto the end, and that his faith will be found unto praise, and honour, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.-1 Pet. i. 5, 7. So that, as he continues in Christ's word, and grows in conformity to him, his experience of the love of God is enlarged, and the testimony of his conscience strengthened, by the Holy Spirit the Comforter giving him additional manifestations, and more abundant fellowship with Christ in his joy, as the earnest of the heavenly inheritance."--Rom. v. 5; John xiv. 21, 23, and xv. 9-12; Eph. i. 13, 14.

We may here remark, that we should not begin immediately, on our first believing, to look for those fruits of faith which distinguish the genuine disciples of Christ. "Before

* When the apostle exhorts believers to give all diligence to make their calling and election sure, &c., some are of opinion that he means that we are to make them sure to others; but if we look to the end of the 10th verse, we shall find that he means that we are to make them sure to ourselves, to our own consciences in the sight of God; for it by no means follows, that because others may think our calling and election sure, therefore we shall never fall, but obtain the heavenly kingdom.

doing this, we should persevere for some time in applying to Jesus by the prayer of faith. Although the word of the Lord works effectually in them who cordially receive it, by bringing forth good fruit; yet it works gradually, like the earth which produces 'first the blade, then the ear, and after that the full corn in the ear.' If we suddenly withdraw our attention from the object of faith, to search for the fruits of it, its influence in purifying our heart will thereby be greatly weakened, our spiritual joy will be interrupted, and our unbelieving fears revived. We should, therefore, hold fast the beginning of our confidence, by frequently renewing our application to Christ; that our faith may grow exceedingly, and that we may attain the full assurance of hope as the result of our experience."

Obs. 291.-There are various evidences of the strength and weakness of faith.

1. Faith appears to be strong, when it rests upon the word of a faithful God-faithful to the word upon which he hath caused us to hope, not when sense and reason seem to favour our hopes, but even when there is no evidence of hope from that quarter, when we wait on the Lord and cleave to him in the midst of many and great difficulties,--Matt. xv. 21, &c.; when we commit ourselves to God in the most troublesome times, reposing ourselves on him with the utmost confidence,—Psal. cxii. 7; when we are found walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, notwithstanding the temptations, and reproaches, and sufferings to which we may be exposed from the world around us; and when we are found in love with those duties which appear disagreeable to flesh and blood, which we do not consult, Heb. xi. 24, &c.

2. Faith appears to be weak, when we do not see the Divine word to be always a sure ground of hope; when we can suspect the favour and love of God to us.-Isa. xl. 27; when we murmur and complain, if our prayers are not immediately answered, Isa. xxxviii. 14; when we are more addicted to a life of sense than to a life of faith,-John xx. 27; and when we are much afraid of reproach, and suffering, and persecution for the sake of Christ and his Gospel, &c. But if we have an inward hatred at sin as such-as contrary to the holiness of God; if we love Christ above all things, and account all things but loss for the excellent knowledge of

him; and if we are well pleased with the plan of salvation appointed by God, and would be saved by Christ alone and his imputed righteousness; then, although weak, faith appears to be accompanied with salvation.

INFERENCES.

From this subject we learn,-1. The value and necessity of Christ. 2. The value and extent of the Gospel. 3. The greatness of the love of God. 4. That Christ is in every respect a suitable Saviour. 5. That unbelief is the greatest sin, and the crowning one which excludes any man from the kingdom of heaven. 6. That the salvation which Christ offers, consists of deliverance from sin here, as well as from wrath hereafter. 7. The happiness of believers, or of those who receive the testimony of God concerning his Son; and the misery of unbelievers, or of those who reject this testimony. Mark xvi. 16, and 1 John v. 10-12.

SECT. II.-Of Repentance unto Life.

Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavour after new obedience.

ANALYSIS AND PROOFS.

We are here taught,—

1. That repentance unto life is a saving grace. 2 Cor. vii. 10.-" Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of." See also Acts xi. 18.

2. That in repentance there must be a true sense of sin. Psal. xli. 4.—“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." See also Ezek. xvi. 61.

3. That in repentance there is an apprehension of mercy in God. Rom. ii. 4.-" The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." See also Joel ii. 13.

4. That the mercy of God to the sinner is exhibited only in Christ. 2 Cor. v. 19.-"God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself." See also Rom. iii. 25.

5. That in true repentance there is a sincere grief for sin. Jer. xxxi. 19.-" I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth." See also ver. 18.

6. That in true repentance there is a sincere hatred of sin. Ezek. xxxvi. 31.-" Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations." See also Psal. cxix. 128.

7. That in true repentance the sinner turns from his sin. Ezek. xviii. 30.-" Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions." See also Jer. xxxi. 18.

8. That in true repentance the sinner returns to God. Lam. iii. 40.-"Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.”

9. That in true repentance there is a full purpose of obedience to God. Psal. cxix. 59. "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies." See also ver. 8.

10. That in true repentance there is an anxious endeavour to obey God. Jer. xxxi. 18.-" Turn thou me, and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God."

11. That the obedience which follows true repentance, is new obedience. Rom. vii. 6." That we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."

EXPLANATION.

Obs. 292.-Repentance is commonly distinguished into legal repentance and evangelical repentance.

1. Legal repentance, or what the apostle calls "the sorrow of the world which worketh death" (2 Cor. vii. 10), is that legal sorrow or horror of conscience which the men of the world have, or may have, from the fear of God, not as a reconciled God, but as a vindictive Judge, ready to take vengeance upon them, by pouring out the vials of his wrath. There may, indeed, be a sort of mourning for sin, a sight and sense of it, and a kind of turning from it to God, &c.; but the subjects of it are never conversant about sin as such, or as it is sin-offensive to God, and contrary to his spotless purity. This is the case only with those who have received the gift of repentance from God.

2. Evangelical repentance, here called repentance unto life, is that in which there is a true sight and sense of sin, and faith in the Divine mercy, or an apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, whatever be the sin and its aggravations; and

in which there is chiefly a view of sin, as committed against God, and as contrary to his holy nature and law.-Psal. li. Or, in a word, it is that "godly sorrow which is not to be repented of."

This true repentance is here called a saving grace. It is called a grace, because it is the gift of God. Acts xi. 18.— "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." Acts v. 31.-" Christ is exalted a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel, and remission of sins." Jer. xxxi. 18.-" Turn thou me, and I shall be turned." This would not be a very correct request, if repentance were not the gift of God. See also Zech. xii. 10. It is called a saving grace, because, wherever it is found, the subject of it is in a state of salvation; or because it is accompanied with salvation.-Luke xiii. 5.

With respect to the subjects of repentance, we may here remark, that, in a strict sense, the proper subjects are, not only those who are under the guilt of sin, or in an unjustified state; but also those who are justified, and to whom there is no condemnation, being in Christ Jesus. For, although believers are not in sin, properly speaking, yet, not being wholly freed from it, it still cleaving to them while here, they also are the subjects of repentance as long as they continue in this world.

Obs. 293.-True repentance is wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit of God.

That man cannot produce in himself that godly sorrow which is not to be repented of, is evident from the striking language of the prophet Jeremiah (ch. xxii. 23): Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" This must be deemed an impossibility. In like manner, it is equally impossible for a sinner to turn himself from sin unto God; and accordingly, it is added, "Then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil." It is true, indeed, that man may depart from some gross sins; but the voice of Scripture is, that the Spirit of God is the author of this grace.-Jer. xxxi. 18, and Zech. xii. 10.

The means by which the Spirit works the grace of repentance in the heart of a sinner, is the Word of God; which must be here viewed in a twofold light-the law and the Gospel, both of which are necessary. 1. The law serves as a hammer to break in pieces the hard and stony heart. Jer. xxiii. 29.