Repentance Explained and Enforced

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAP. Ill, On the Necessity of Repentance. It was necessary I should first tell you wherein true repentance consists. As a mistake on this point is dangerous, you ought to have right ideas of it: the most forcible addresses will otherwise be like arrows shot at random. If you are convinced, that repentance...
More Description

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAP. Ill, On the Necessity of Repentance. It was necessary I should first tell you wherein true repentance consists. As a mistake on this point is dangerous, you ought to have right ideas of it: the most forcible addresses will otherwise be like arrows shot at random. If you are convinced, that repentance is a thorough change of mind, let me intreat you to consider how necessary it is. When I attempt to reason with you, everypage of scripture will furnish me with arguments. When I make a solemn appeal, I hope conscience will rise up as a witness within, and declare the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. When I try to persuade you, surely your own best interests should lead you to lend a willing ear to one, who has no end to answer but the promotion of your own welfare. The cause which I plead is of infinite importance. I shew you the necessity of that repentance, to which the gospel calls you. You may not give up all thoughts of it, but determine to look tothe worldly things for the present. And what is it that thou dost count necessary ? Is thy bread necessary ? Is thy breath necessary ? Then thy conversion is much more necessary. Indeed this is the one thing needful. Thine estate is not necassary; thou mayest sell all for the pearl of great price, and yet be a gainer by the purchase. Matt. xiii. 46. Thy life is not necessary; thou mayestpart with it forChrist to infinite advantage. Thy esteem is not necessary; thou mayest be reproached for the name of Christ, and yet be happy; yea, much happier in reproach than in repute. I Peter iv. 14. Matt. v. 10. But thy conversion is necessary. I would therefore address you as Moses did Israel, Set thine heart to all the words that I testify unto thee this day, for it is not a vain thing, it is thy life. I. I ...