ANDREWS RESOLUTION TO RETURN unto GOD BY REPENTANCE. Directed unto all the Elect Children of God which truly repent, perfectly guiding them in the right way therein. Right godly to read, as delightful to hear, but most profitable to be practised. Newly published by John Andrews Minister and Preacher of God's Word. Being first seen and allowed. LONDON, Printed for William Whitwood, at the sign of the Golden Bell in Ducklane, near Smithfield. 1673. The Author to the Reader. IF thou dost read or hear this work, Only see thou do this, Have care to mend thy evil ways, Now past and done a miss. All those that still presume in sin, Not minding to amend, D●yly this Book will wtiness be Revengeful in the end. Each day repent, oh still repent With speed, I humbly pray, Even for his Son's sake, Jesus Christ, So sin is washed away. The Book to the Reader. IF that my lines could speak with voice, Oh then most loud still should they cry, He than might hear them would rejoice, No doubt to buy me presently. A greater Book of price more dear, N●w mayst thou have, yet not contain Directions right, as I have here, Repentance truly for to gain. Each line doth guide thee to repent, With phrase most plain unto thine ears; Esteem it well, do not relent, Sweet is the fruit Repentance bears. To the High and Mighty King of Kings a Rev. 17. 14 , Prince of Peace b Ep▪ 2 14 , Conqueror of Death c Heb ● 1● , Hell d Hos 13. 14 , and Sin e Hos 10. 8 , the great Judge of the World f Gen 18 28 , and Bishop of my Soul g 1 Pet. 2. 9 , Christ Jesus my Saviour h Luk. 2. 1●. . O Gracious and most high God a Psa. 113 5 , most holy b Esay 6. 3 , most strong c Psal. 99 9 , most mighty d Gen. 17 most merciful e ●sa. 145. 9 , most righteous f Esay 42 6 , and most beautiful Saviour g Can 5 10 , I the Son of thy handmaid h Ps. 86. 16 , whom thou hast created, Gen. 1. 26, 27 and redeemed k Eph. 1. 7 1 Cor 1. 30 , ●a●e in all dutiful affection assigned my, ●elf, and my dearest love into thine hands 〈◊〉 my humble Petition, which I dedi●red unto thee, O sweet J●su, th●u light ●f my soul m Esay 9 19; 20 , and to the uttermost of my; ●ower (by thine assistance) have made it ●y daily prayer, and true copy of my ●ya●est affection unto thee, O Lord my God n Psa. 98 9 Psalm 8. 1 Psalm 18 1 , in the which, through my conti●●ul exercising thereof, I know my sigh●g for my sins is not hid from thee o Psalm 38 , nor ●●y tears, which cry from the bottom of My ●eart, for thy crimson priceless drops of ●ood, that trickled down thy azure veins p ●●. 22 44 , 〈◊〉 wash away my scarlet sins q Es. 1. 18 , unknown to ●ee, And now again, O my sovereign delight r Sol. s●ng 1, 7, &c Mat. 12. 41 , in token of my humblest devotion, and dearest Love, which I owe unto thy most sacred self, I am here emboldened (although far unworthy) to dedicate this other Mite unto thee (entitled Andrews Resolution) which I cast into thy treasury s Luk. 21. 1 , not of superfluity, but mere penury, desiring thee, O my Saviour t 1 Tim. 4, 20 , from the tender bowels of my heart, Acts 5. 31 that through the multitude of thy mercies u Psal. 5. 7 , thou wilt guide me therein. Mat. 1. 21 And I most humbly beseech thee, 2 Sa. 22. 3 that thou wilt vouchsafe to entertain and receive me, that I may be wholly thine, and thou coequal with God the Father, mayst be wholly mine, that after my ended miseries, thou wilt crown me with endless mercies: unto this (sweet Jesus) I most humbly beseech thee to say Amen. And so Amen, thy earnest, though most unworthy late repentant sinner, John Andrews, Preacher of the Word, desireth with all humility daily to come unto thee. Serò sed seriò. Andrews Resolution. First, what Repentance is. THere is no Doctrine in the Church of God more necessary, than the Doctrine of Repentance, and amendment of life; neither doth the Holy Ghost so much labour in all the Scripture, as he doth to b●at Repentance into men's leads a 2 Kin. 17, 13 Eze. 18. 21, 22. 23 Act, 11 18 Pet. 3. 9 Hos. 14. ● Pet 18. 11 Jer. 25. 5 Jer. 36. 3 Ma 3. 2, 6, 8 Mar. 4. 17 Luke 3. 2 Luke 24. 4 Acts 2. 38 Acts 17 30 It was not only the only Sermon which S. John Baptist preached to prepare the way for Christ b Mat 3 2, 6, 8 , but ●●so it was the first that ever was made, it was Preached by God himself to our fi●st Parents in Paradise c Gen 3 17 ; and ever since both the Prophets, Apostles, and many of God's faithful Ministers have Preached Repentance unto the people d 2 Kin. 17 13 Esay 1. 16 . Yet notwithstanding many are so wedded unto sin e Joh. 8. 3 Rom. 6. 20 , and they are become so godless, so graceless, so rooted and fully resolved to live therein, that the most part little understand the Doctrine of Repentance f Rom. 2 , and less practise the duty. Many presume to describe it, though few know it: many can talk of it g Mat. 72 , but few h Psal. 1. 19 walk in it; many speak of it, but few feel it; and many think they have caught it when they have b●t the shadow of it: Rev. 3. 10 because it is so ●●●●pery that few can hold it, & so secret that many cannot find it: it is ●id fro● the world & revealed unto non● but the Elect children of God k Lu. 12, 32 . It is a work that no men with their fine beats and deep devices can comprehend: for the conversion of a si●ner is supernatural, and whosoever doth, o● hath not felt in himself what repentance is, shall be damned l Lu. 1●. 5 , therefore ●e that hath ears to hear, Esay 59 2 let him hea●, Nahu. 1. 2. and he that hath eyes to see, let him see what Repentance if, and withal, bring this present of the hilosophers with him, Pla●●, Aristotle's, T●eophrastes. Nosce t●ipsum knew thyself; it is the first thing to be done in repéntance, and the beginning of all grace. Repentance is a work of grace, arising of a m Eph 2. 8 1 Cor. 7. 8, 9 godly sorrow, from a true faith, and knowledge of a man's own spiritual estate: Jer. 4. 1 It is a constant n Joel 2. 13 turning of a man in his whole life, from all his sins unto God, it is an hearty sorrow for sin, with amendment of life, having a godly Resolution to sin no more o Joh. 5. 14 John. 8. 11 Eze. 33. 15 Rome, 12 5 Rom. 5. 1 . It is a most necessary thing for mankind; it is the very supersedeas and discharge of sin, and the cause of unity between God and man. There is no other means to make peace between Christ and us, but Repentance: No other to discharge sin, p Joh. 3. 5 Goe 50 17, 18 2 P. 1. 3. 9 nor course to avoid ●ell, but Repentance; neither any way to win Heaven, but repentance and therefore Repentance is most necessary, What wounded body would not seek a salve: much more what wounded soul slain with sin, q Esa. 1. 16 Ez. 33. 5 Luk. 13. 5▪ would not seek repentance, seeing it is the only salve to cure the soul? It is an Eybod of purity, and a defiled man may not wear it. The dignity of it is great, and honourable; and the Lord will not bestow it upon an unworthy person. It is a magnificent guest, r Joh 14. 1 & 23 and will not come into a polluted Tabernacle. It is an holy Saint, and will not dwell in the Synagogue of Satan. It is not to be bought with silver or gold, nor to be had from the gifts of Ring●, Popes, or Potentates, it is a thing of inestimable bal●e, a Heb. 1. 6 it showeth the atonement between the Saviour and the Sinner, and being gotten by Faith b Gal. 3 14 , Prayer c Jam. 5. 18 , and hearing the Word of God d Rom. 10, 17 , It brings thee unto Christ. e Act. 5. 11 2 Ti. 2. 25, 26 Joh. 12. 40 It is libra Donatio, a gift absolute without consideration, which God ever bestoweth upon his friends, upon those that love him. It is called the Spirit of Burning, therefore with speed frepent, that repentance may burn thy sins, f 1 Thes. 5 Esay 4. 4 est the fire of Hell bnrn thy soul, Esay 4. 4 The true Essence or Nature of thy Repentance, only consisteth in turning from all thy sins unto God a Eze. 18 30. 31. 32 jer. 18. 11 2 Ki. 17. 13 Esay 55. 7 Eze. 33. 11 Jer. 14. 1 : and therefore it is not altogether deri●ed of the word Poenitentia, because the Divines say, it doth not comprehend Totum Terminum a quo & ad quem, from what and to whom thou must return. But this is the true repentance which the Latin interpret by this word Resipiscentia, or Conversio, which is not only the changing of the mind, but it is Recessus a malo a forsaking of evil, Accessus ad bonum and return unto that which is good b Ro. 12. 9 Gal. 4. 18 1 Thes. 5. 16 Acts 26, 28 : Revertimini usque ad me, return as far as unto me. If thou wilt repeat truly, thou must withal have both a purpose in mind, and an inclination in will, and endeavour in life, wholly to forsake all thy sins for ever and turn unto God. To repent, confideth but of two syllables: yet unto the wicked it is too hard to be learned and so unay to be practised, that like as the Chameleon can change himself into all colours saving white, so would they change themselves from all goodness, to follow evil, rather than to return unto the Lord by repentance. To conclude this point, thou shalt no sooner repent, but i Gen. 54, 17, 18 Deut. 4. 29 1 Kin. 8. 33 Job. 11. 14, 15 Eze. 3. 28 Heaven shall be confirmed unto thee, habendum & tenendum, for ever and ever. Secondly; God is the author of Repentance. Repentance is libera donatio, a gift absoluts, without consideration; and it comes freely from God, who is the very efficient and principal Author or Donor thereof k Jer. 31. 18 Lam. 5. 21 2 Ti 25. 26 Acts 5. 21 Joh. 12. 40 . It is therefore to be held the more precious and to be desired with the more hope; yea: to be thy Summum Bonum for it obtaineth Salvation, unto all those which truly repent and turn unto God. And he that turneth unto God by repentance, must first of all be turned by God; and so saith Jeremiah, Jer. 31. 19 Surely after I was converted I repented, and after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth And our Saviour Christ saith, John. 6. 44 no man can come unto me except my Father draw him Therefore saith S. Paul Instruct them with meekness: 2 Tim 1. 25 proving if God will at any time give them Repentance, that they may b● saved, For God is good a Ps. 11. 8. Jer. 33. 11 Mat. 19 16 Psalm 105. Ez. ch. 18. Ro. 10. 2 Ps. 10. 15 Psal. 91. 15 Ps 145. 18 and merciful unto all those that turn unto him by repentance; he is full of pity, and hath no pleasure at all that the wicked should die: But is rich unto all that call upon him for mercy; and hath promised to hear thy petitions, if thou truly repent. Furthermore, if thou hadst repentance in thine l Esay 48. 8, 9 own power, and mightest repent when thou wouldst; yet it were but a folly; yea it were a m Deut. 29. 20 mere madness to presume in sin because thou hast a remedy. But now seeing thy repentance is in the hand of God, and that none can repent without his espocial Grace it were a double and a treble folly to n Deut. 30 3, 4 d●lay thy repentance from day to day or to seek it from any other but from God. 2 Chr. 7. 14 ● 1 Cor. 11 Thirdly, of Examination. BEfore thou confess thy sins unto God, 2 Cor, 13. 5 thou must take heed to examine thyself, that thereby thou mayest know them both in greatness and danger: for until thou know thy sins, that thy conscience may be convicted by them, thou canst never humbly and heartily confess them. Far let any repentant sinner ask his conscience what was the first cause of his conversion, and surely he will say, that when he began to repent, he did first search b Ps. 77. 6 himself: and finding his ways dangerous, and his cause fearful, did thereupon resolve to take a new course; It is the beginning of all grace, to search, try, and examine thyself; It is also a means to prevent God's judgement: if thou dost not search thyself, than God will search thee with his c 1 Pe 1. 7 & 4. 11 fiery crosses and terror of his punishments. But if thou truly examine thyself first to be guilty of Adam's sin d Psal 51. 5 1 Es●. 4. 30 Gen. 8. 21 . Secondly, prone by nature to all evil e Rom. 23 . Thirdly, subject to the curse of God's wrath f Wisd. 14. Psal. 54. 6 Psa. 14. 4 Pro. 15. 8, 9 29 Esa. 1. 15 . Thus in the guiltiness of Adam's sin sin hath his beginning; in the original, his continuance; and in actual, his full perfection. So answerable thereunto is th● wrath of God; it beginning by leaving thee by nature unto th● flavery of Satan; it is continued by death, and accomplished by damnation. Now these three rules I leave to thy careful consideration, assuring thee from God thou canst never be saved unless g Luk. 13. 5 2 Cor. 13. 5 thou repent, nor nev●r repent, except that thou search, try, and examine thyself. Thus if thou wilt repent truly, thou must search and look into thyself, to see in what a miserable case thou art; as I have said before: and thou shalt find that by h Eph. 2. 3 Nature, thou art the child of wrath, out of the favour of God, not only wretched and accursed by the Law, a bondslave unto Satan but finally subject to Death, Hell, and Damnation. Thus if thou wouldst know if thou art in the right way of repentance or no. thou shalt find, if thou consider in thyself whether thou hast ever any need of God's pardon for thy sin; or of Christ his i blood to salve and cure thy soul: Mat 26. 28 or was thy heart ever wounded or grieved for thy sin, Heb. 10. 13 18 so that thy soul were even sick with the stink thereof? 1 Pet. 1. 2 1 Joh. 1. 7 Or didst thou ever hunger and thirst after God in Christ? and with ●●ghs, groans, and k Jam 4 9 Luk. 6. 21 tears, beg for his mercy upon thy l 1 Ki. 8 54 Dan. 6. 10 knees (as for life and death) If thou hast not felt, nor done these things in some measure, surely thy case is very fearful and dangerous: thou art not yet in the way of Repentance therefore as yet the mercies of God belong not unto thee. Fourthly, of Contrition. Contrition is a fear and inward sorrow of conscience, Augustinus de poenitentia. perceiving that God is angry with sin and is sorry that it hath ●●nned. And to speak more largely of it, thou mayst know this, that Contrition also comphrehendeth first t●e o Job. 11. 13, & 19 knowledge of God, requiring obedience; and discommending disobedience; and not to remit sin without full and perfect satisfaction, either in respect of obedience itself, or else in respect of punishment. Secondly, 2 Cor. 13. 5 the discussing and examining of thy nature, p Lu. 2. 29 Acts 20. 20 thy thoughts will, affections, and all thy actions & deeds according to the square and rule of God's Laws in every point; for as S. Augustine saith, Peccatum puniendum est aut a te aut a Deo: si puniturate, tunc punitur sine te; si vero a tenon punitur, tecum punietur. Sin must needs be punished, either of God, or of thyself, if by thyself, than sin is punished without thee, if of God than thou and thy sin must be punished together. Therefore if thou wouldst repent with a true contrition, that thereby thou mayst reap a most plentiful harvest, thou must sow in God's field the q Mat. 13. 8 seeds of Repentance, and oftentimes water then with the tears of thy humble Contrition: r Jam. 4. 9, 10 so shalt thou gather t●e true fruits of everlasting joy and felicity s Mat. 5. 4 Luke 6. 21 . For as the deeper the wound, the more diligent the cure: so let thy repentance bring forth as much sorrow, as sin gave the delight. And as S. Ambrose saith, Expectat lacrymas nostras Deus, ut profundat pietatem suam; God looketh for thy tears in thy contrition, that he may pour down his grace upon thy amendment. t Ps. 4. 6. 6 Laudatum est cor Penitentiae lacrymis; Thou must wash thy hart in a troubled Pool of u Joh. 15. 2 Bethesda, in the true tears of repentance. having an inward sorrow wrought by the holy Ghost, for thy sins before committed, against so good and gracious a God? joined ●oth with a perfect faith, x Psalm 19 10, 12 to be forgiven for Christ his sake, and also from hencefortb with a full and determinate purpose to amend and lead 〈◊〉 new life, Fifthly, of Confession. SAint chrysostom saith, Chrysost. in Psalms. that nothing pleaseth God more than Confession, if it be joined with true Contrition; and that it is a part of Humiliation, ever joined with true Repentance, because they cannot be truly humble and repent, who confess not their sins unto God: neither will be give them pardon; for God covers when men uncover a 1 Joh. 1. 9 and acknowledge; he justifieth when men condemn themselves, and fly unto him for mercy. If any plead unto God, Non est factum, and deny his deeds and debts of sin: there is no reason why he should have the Acquittance of Grace. Therefore, saith Solomon, He that hideth his sins shall not b Prov. 28 prosper, but he that confesseth them and forsaketh them, shall have mercy. If thou confess them effectually, it will cause thee to weep like c Joh. 20. 15 Mary Magdalen, wraffle with God, like d Gen. 32. 24 Jacob; and pour forth floods of tears like Ezeckia. Thou e Eze. 12. 3 must confess them in this, or such like manner, First, thou must put up an indictment against thyself, and accuse thee before God wherein thou must acknowledge both thy particular and unknown sins generally without any excuse, extenuation, or defence, inbiding the least of them. An example thou mayst find in David; f Psa. 51. 3 I know my iniquity is ever before me. Secondly, thou must with ●rief of heart (as a judge upon the Bench) give sentence against thyself, acknowledging thy unworthiness, by reason of thy sin, to have deserved everlasting damnation; as the g Lu. 15. 21 Prodigal child did, who said, Father I have sinned against heaven, and before thee; Or the poor Publican, who standing far off, would not so much as cast up his eyes to Heaven, but smote his breast, Luk. 28. 13 crying, Lord be merciful to me a sinner. Thou must also accuse thy sins, thy very conscience must witness against them, and thy heart convince them; thou must accuse them, 1. as strangers dejected, 2. as adversaries convicted, and 3. as enemies professed. In so doing, said Augustine, when thou accusest thyself by confessing thy sins unto God, thou preventest thereby the Devil of his purpose, so that he cannot accuse thee at ●he day of judgement, For saith he h Jer. 29. 13, 14 thou plottest out all thy sins by repentance. Where there is no accuser there is no crime produced for the judge to condemn; For that which is not hath no punishment: forgiven sins are not; ergo, forgiven sins have no punishment: And so saith the Author to the Hebrews, Leo. 10. 18. Leo saith that those sins shall never be condemned which are purged before with i John 1. 9 confession and repentance. Neither is jesus Christ any longer ●hy judge to condemn 〈◊〉, but thy Advocate to plead for thee, if thou accuse thyself by confession. Therefore confess thy sins unto God without any accuse or k Ecc. 5. 7. 1 Thes. 3. delay. For it is another manner of thing to repent, than many take it for. It is ●ot every a sob or sigh that brings repentance: God is merciful, &c, And thus ●●ghtly da●● them over, as though God's mercy were to be gained in a ●oment. Let no man deceive himself; it will cost thee many a prayer, ●nd many a tear in thy confession, ●efore thou canst have pardon for thy ●●ns, If thou didst feel the smart of sin but a 1 Cor 12. 7 Acts 2. 37 prick in thy wounded conscience, thou wouldst never give God any rest; but like David, cry unto God b Psa. 51. 9 again and again, until thou hast found some comfortable persuasion of God's mercy in Christ, for the forgiveness of thy sins. Until thou do thus, thou shalt never find any quietness in thy conscience, no● any sound comfort of God's Spirit in thee. David could c 2 Sa. 12. 13▪ never repent until God sent Nathan unto him to reprove him for his sin; but so soon as he saw his sin, and that it was not only committed against d 2 Sa. 12. 9 Uri●h, but also against God, it presently so bounds his conscience, killed his poor heart, and so grieved his soul, that he cried out in his conscience, Against thee etc. As if he would have said, Psal. 51 Oh my God, it grieves me exceedingly, and wounds my ve●y soul, that ever I was so vile a sinner as to sin against thee, O my most gracious and merciful God. Therefore the only way to repent, is, from the bottom of thy heart, in thy conscience to grieve for thy sin, especially for that it is against God, ●nd causeth thee to break his Laws; ●or if thou couldst be sorry for thy sin, because it is against God, more than ●or g fear of punishment, it were a good sign that thou wert in the ready way of repentance. Wherefore if there were no shame ●or punishment, no Hell nor damnation, yet thou oughtest to repent, because thou hast sinned against so h Ps. 136 10 good and gracious a God, who hath i ● Cor. 2. 30 ●reated and redeemed thee. Sixthly, Faith is the ground or root of Repentance. FAith may be added unto repentance not as a part, but as the ground k Heb. 11. 1 or root thereof; for it cannot be, that the root and the fruit should be doth one thing: & without faith there can never I any true repentance, therefore they are still joined together: To clear this doubt, thou must consider three things: 1. the order of nature; 2. the time; 3. the manifestation of them both In order of nature, saith goeth before repentance: in manifestation of ●hem, repentance is first; in time they are both joined together. By order of nature, first a man's conscience must in some sort be settled, touching his reconciliation with God in Christ before he can truly repent. As S. Ambrose saith, No man can rightly repent, unless he hope for pardon. So that remission of sins is believed, then upon that comes Repentance. By manifestation, repentance goeth before faith, for it is sooner descried than faith. Regeneration is like the sap of a tree, hid within thee bark; when as repentance is like the bud, that speedily showeth itself. If we respect the time, neither of them are one before the other but are begotten both in an instant. So soon as there is fire, so soon it is hot: and so soon as a man is m Joh. 3. 3 4, 5, etc. regenerate so soon he reputes: for he that believes, instantly reputes. Therefore none can truly repent, except he believes, that he is Gods. And none can have belief n Pet. 19 but he that hath this grace, & faith in him. Furthermore, none repent, unless they hate sin, & faith causeth a man to hate sin Now none can hate sin, except he be sanctified, and none can be sanctified, without he be justified, & this cannot be without faith o Rom. 3. 4, 25, 26 27, 28 , faith comprehendeth justification. Again the inward or instrumental cause of repentance, is faith which may be called the mother of repentance, because it brings it forth as the word is the begetter; and so may have the name of a Father: for he that is without faith is dead. No life without faith, no repentance without life: & therefore neither the Pharisees Prayer p Lu. 18. 11 , the harlot's vow q Pro. 7. 14 , the Traitors kiss r Lu. 22. 48 Mat. 26. 18 , the Sacrifice of Cain s Mat. 14. 44 Gen. 4. 5. , the fast of Jezabel t 1 Kin. 21. 9, , the oblation of An●anias, Acts 5. 2 nor the tears of Esaux, Gen. 37. 38 could ●e accepted of God, because they were not truly dedoted from a lively faith. Lastly, the efficient or principal working cause of faith in thy repentance, is a Joh. 12. 4 Acts 5. 21 2 Tim. 2. 25 16 God, whereby, by faith, every true believer receiveth Christ for b 1 Jo. 3. 16 Mat. 2. 1 Luk, 2. 6, 7 John 6. 35 Joh. 25. 26 Joh. 20. 29 John 3. 16 2 Cor. 5. 15. Rom. 5. 5 1 Tim. 2. 6 1 Pet. 3. 18 1 Cor. 15. 1 Mat. 28. 6 Mat. 16. 6 Joh. 20. 27 himself, as given for him, born for him, dying for him, and rose again for him: for he died for his sins, and rose again for his justification. And to conclude, repentance separated from faith in Christ, is no true repentance. And thus much concerning Faith. Lstly, the time when to repent. MAn hath no time of repentance certain, no term c Acts 9 4 of years, but term of life, Ecc. 9 10 and that is most uncertain. T●ough God called Saul d twice, Samuel, thrice e 1 Sa. 3. 4 , his Spouse four times f Cant. 5. 2 the Ninivites 40. days g Jon. 34 Deut. 8, 2 , and the Jews forty years; yet he gives us no time to repent, but to repent now. The time of repentance is the time present without delay, as the holy Ghost teacheth: This day if you will hear his voice, harden h Psa. 95. 8 not your hearts: for there is but one acceptable time, which being neglected, is as a Bird escaped out of the hand, or a shaft shot out of a bow, not to be recalled. At what time (saith the lord) The Lord limits no time, if a man repent truly. The time; of repentance is double; 1. it must be done presently without delay; 2. continually, every day. It must be done k Ecc. 5. 7 1 Thes 5. 9 speedily without delay: for who knows whether this be the acceptable time, which if thou neglect when God calls thee in the youth, or in thy health; it may be he will not call thee hereafter in thy age or sickness; and the longer thou dost defer thy repentance, the harder it will be for thee to repent. Therefore if thou hast suffered the bud of thy youth to be blasted, thy flower to fade, thy leaves to dry up, and thy boughs to wither, yet keep life in the l Joh. 25. 1 root, let the whole become fuel for m Hell fire. Be not like those which begin not 〈◊〉 live until they be ready to die and ●hen after a foes desert, n Ps. 54. 6 Wis 14. 9 Psal. 14. 4 come to ●rave of God a friend's entertainment. Nor think to snatch up Hea●en in a moment, which the best can scarce attain unto in many years: ●r jump from o Lu. 16. 19 Dives diet to Laza●us crown; that is, from the service ●f Satan, to the solace p Lu. 16. 22 of Saints. O beloved heaven, is to to be gained ●o easily. The thief indeed may be saved on q Luke 23. 42, 43 the Cross; and mercy found at last, ●ut late repentance is seldom or never true repentance. For if a man repent he can sin no more, than he ●eaves not sin, but sin leaves him. Oh therefore if thou wouldst be from from this doubt, avoid the certainty repent whilst thou art in good health, r Eph. 5. 15 take time whilst it is offered thee, for time and tide stayeth for no man. Common experience ●ee●eth 〈◊〉 that time is pre●ious, short and ●●revocable, which can never be redeemed, and withal consider, he that is not ready to repent to day, will be less ready to morrow: it may be God hath appointed this day to be the end of thy life. Oh therefore always so live, that thou be ever prepared to die. If thou dost defer thy repentance until it be to late O I then thou wouldst give a thousand worlds for one days repentance or an hours contrition. Record therefore a decree in thy heart, to keep all thy sins in perpetual exile and neve● admit them again in thy court: But turn O turn from sin to sanctity, from Babylon to Jerusalem, from Bethavan to Bethel, from Sodom to Zion, and from Belial to God, so let not the Sun of thy pleasure be the day of thy lives end, nor night of thy death come before the great work of thy repentance be begun. Oh repent, repent therefore that thou and I, and all the elect children of God, may have all our sins freely forgiven us, and be with Christ jesus Saviour, who hath so dearly bought us: To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all f Rev. 19 1 Honour, Power, Glory, and Dominion, both now and evermore. Amen. FINIS.