VIII. greater degree of perfection, than those SERM. who have been always trained and accustomed to a good life, If however it should still be thought, that the highest mansions in heaven will be reserved for those who have never departed either very long, or very far from their obedience, still it must be allowed that the efficacy of repentance is very great: it gives joy to the inhabitants of heaven, redeems the penitent from destruction, and entitles him, if not to the very highest, yet certainly to a distinguished situation in the kingdom of God, I shall conclude this discourse by tracing out the usual progress of repentance, and the marks by which it may be discerned, whether it be a repentance unto salvation. The first and main step in this rugged road, is, consideration; and that, once properly See Dr. Powell, towards the conclusion of his Sermon on the Prodigal Son, used, SERM. used, all the rest follows of course. For VIII surely it is impossible for the sinner to re flect seriously on his degraded and perilous situation, of the ingratitude which he has committed against God, who has laid all possible obligations upon him, of the folly which he hath been guilty of towards himself in forfeiting his title to eternal bliss and glory, and of the danger to which he has subjected himself of everlasting perdition; that there is but one step between him and death, and not another between that and hell, surely it is impossible for him to lay these thoughts seriously to heart, without being deeply concerned that he has acted so absurdly and criminally, or without wishing most devoutly that he had done otherwise. Hence arises sorrow for his sins past, which is the main ingredient in repentance; for a desire and resolution to avoid the like vicious courses in future naturally and usually follow. So far re pentance VIII. pentance is produced by fear; but now a SERM. nobler motive will begin to operate. Our evil ways being relinquished, the transition is easy, and almost unavoidable, to a life of piety and virtue; and that once begun, the hope of pleasing our Maker and attaining the glorious rewards, which he hath promised, will soon predominate. The dread of punishment may deter us from relapsing into gross wickedness, but it must be the desire of gaining the approbation of our Creator, and becoming partakers of his heavenly promises, which can alone excite us to any sublime height of virtue. Repentance, we see, begins with consideration, from whence results sorrow for sins past; this sorrow produces a resolution to avoid the like in future, which is the beginning of reformation; and that once entered upon, and the prospects of eternal bliss, and glory opening upon us and animating our exertions, there is no degree of perfection at SERM. which we may not arrive, and probably no VIII. mansions in heaven which we may not attain. A true penitent then is one, who is thoroughly convinced of the folly, baseness, and ingratitude of sin; who has forsaken it, from the danger to which it exposed him, and who has embraced a life of holiness, from the hopes of pleasing his Maker, and attaining his gracious promises. He never looks back to his past life without shame and self-abhorrence, and is particularly cautious not to call to mind his former vicious pleasures, except to quicken his sorrow and contrition, and to beg mercy of God for having been guilty of them. Reflecting on the injury which he may have done by his former bad example, he is desirous that his conversion may be open and manifest, and that he may become an eminent pattern of what is just and worthy; as he was formerly the cause of reflections on his profession of a Christian, he will be care ful VIII. ful that those who were once scandalized by SERM. his vices, may now be edified by his virtues; he will make his light shine before men, that they may see his good works and glorify, on his account, his Father which is in heaven. If he has wronged any one, he will be rigorously exact in making restitution; for it is impossible he should be in earnest in his reformation, if he continues to enjoy or retain the acquisitions of sin. Lastly, he will scrupulously avoid those companions and those situations, by which he knows himself liable to be drawn into vice; a relapse may otherwise be the consequence, and his rashness in hazarding it may provoke God entirely to withdraw from him his holy spirit, and so his last state may be worse than his first. Let not however the penitent be discouraged by unpremeditated and unintentional lapses, at his first entrance into repentance; let him not provoke them, but let him not despair, if |