Chap. XVII - Of Repentance

Summary

Of Repentance. Its Original, its Nature, it is a Purgative Vertue. Its necessity, its Excellencies. The measure of that sorrow which is due to Sin is intollerable to Sense confessed by Reason, and dispensed with by mercy.

REPENTANCE is a Sowre and austere Kind of Vertue, that was not created nor intended by GOD, but introduced by Sin, made fair by Mercy, in remitting the offence, and pardoning the Sin. It is a Strange Kind of off-spring, which flows from Parents so infinitely different, and has a mixture in its Nature, answerable to either an Evil which it derives from Sin, and a Goodness which flows from Mercy. Its Evil is that of Sorrow, Indignation and Shame, Its Goodness is the usefulness, and necessity of the thing, considering the Condition we are now in. It is highly ingrateful to Sence, but transcendently convenient and amiable to Reason; for it is impossible for him that has once been defiled with sin, ever to be cleansed, or to live after in a Vertuous manner, unless he be so ingenious as to lament his Crime, as to loath, acknowledge, and detest his Error.

THE Union of the Soul and Body is mysterious, but that Sin and Mercy should be united, as Causes so infinitely different, for the production of a Child so Black and so Beautiful, is the Greatest Wonder which the Soul can contemplate on this side Heaven; and will continue to be remembred for ever, and appear more Wonderful than before when the perfect Disparity and Opposition between them is clearly seen, in the Light of Glory.

THE Efficient Cause of Repentance is either Remote, or Immediate: Its immediate Efficient Cause is the Gracious Inclination, or the Will of the Penitent, its remote Efficient is GOD, the Father of Lights from which every Good and Perfect Gift descended. Its Material Cause is Sorrow. Its Formal Cause, which makes it a Vertue, is the Reason and Manner of that Sorrow, the Equity and Piety wherewith it is attended, containing many ingredients in its Nature too long a particular to be described here. Its Final Cause is either immediate, or ultimate, the first is Amendment, the last Salvation.