ries which Chrift denounced should befall them, will fall on us. Nor if Life were affured to us, could we at all times form fuch a true Repentance as would qualifie us for the Mercy of God; which confifts not in a tranfient forrow for paft Sins, but in a total change of all the vicious Habits and Inclinations of the Will, Nor laftly, is there any Pardon promised to prefumptuous Sins, deliberately committed in profpect of the Pardon offered to all truly penitent Sinners. But of the Nature, Neceffity and Benefits of Repentance, I fhall fpeak more largely in the further profecution of thefe Words in my next Difcourfe.

280

SERMON

XI.

Preach'd March 23, 16% at Lambeth Chapel.

Luke XIII. 5.

Except ye repent, ye shall all likewife perifb.

IN

N my laft Difcourfe, I defcribed to you the Reafon and the Excellency of the Inftitution of this Holy Seafon. To improve which, I proposed to treat of Repentance from these Words; and therein obferved the Occafion of them; which was a pernicious Mistake of the Jews, that the Divine Justice, not punishing the Sins of Men in this Life, did thereby warrant them; and that the Defect of fuch a vifible Execution, was an Argument of the little neceffity of Repentance. In Oppofition to which I fhew you, that however the Jewish Revelation might give fome Countenance to fuch an Opinion, yet that they had therein miitaken their Law: That under Christianity there is yet much

lefs

lefs Pretence to entertain fuch a Perfwalion, which is contrary to the Conftitution ot' humane Nature, to the Wisdom of God, and to the prefent Order of the World fettled by him the Author of it. Laftly, That however God doth ordinarily bear with the Sins of Men in this Life, and deferr the Punishment of them to another World; yet that this giveth no reasonable Encouragement to Men to put off their Repentance till the end of their Lives.

After having removed thefe Obftacles of Repentance, I proceed to enforce the Duty, and direct you in the ufe of it. The Motive to Repentance is taken from the plain Words of the Text, being the certainty of Deftruction without Repentance, pronounced by our Lord, Except ye repent, ye shall perilh. And the Usefulness of it is infinuated in the fame Words; that by Repentance, if true, fincere and rightly applied, Deftruction may be avoided. Thefe two then fhall be the Heads of my prefent Difcourfe.

And firft, I will improve the Argument of Repentance, drawn from the inevitable confequence of Deftruction attending the want of it, and endeavour to convince you of the certainty of that Confequence. The Evidence of the Argument, when once a full Conviction is formed of the Truth of it, is manifeft, being taken from that which moft affects Mankind, their own Intereft. It were indeed more noble to pay our just Obe

dience

dience to God, rather from a Senfe of Duty, than that of Intereft; rather out of Gratitude to God for the many Benefits received from him, and a Conviction of the entire Subjection due to that Almighty Being, than from the Fear of Punishment, or the Hope of Reward. But fuch is the Weakness of humane Nature, fo corrupted is his Will, and fo much darkened his Understanding, that this Argument hath been ever found infufficient. God therefore of his Infinite Mercy hath been pleased to employ that more fenfible Argument of Profit and Intereft, by propofing Rewards to his obedient Servants, and denouncing Punishments to obftinate Sinners.

An Argument, which cannot fail, if Man by reflecting on it would perfwade himself, that his Interest is indeed engaged in it. For it affects thofe very Paffions, which are wont to betray the Will of Man to Sin, Defire and Fear; and, would Men confider, could not but be more prevalent than all other Objects which move thofe Paffions; fince the Reward propofed is more desirable, the Punifhment denounced more to be feared, than any other Thing whatfoever. This was the Argument which our Lord, his forerunner John Baptift, and his Apoftles employed to Convert the World. Repent, for the Kindom of God is at hand; the Time now cometh, when he will no longer wink at the Sins of Mankind; when he will evidently declare his Refolution to punish impenitent Sinners,

and

and even exemplifie it in the terrible deftruction of the impenitent Nation of the Jews, as he did fhortly after. The axe is now laid to the root of the tree, and every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down and caft into the fire.

Thefe and fuch like Denunciations of the Wrath of God to unrepenting Sinners, drew Multitudes of Men to a Senfe of, and Sorrow for their Sins; not only the more devout fems, but alfo Soldiers and Publicans, who confeffing their Sins, where then Bapti zed; manifefting by that anciently received Emblem of Purity and Innocence, their Refolution of finning no more. Even after a full Conviction formed of their Duty, our Lord thought fit to propofe this very Argument to his Difciples, who had been long trained up in Obedience to him, and were now entring upon the most difficult Point of Christianity, the Patient enduring of Perfecution, Affliction, and even Death it felf; all which he foretold fhould befall them in that Miffion, which he then enjoyn'd them. Yet to thefe Fears he oppofeth, as the greateft Remedy, this Confideration only, Fear not them which can kill the Body, and after that can do no more; but I will tell you whom you hall fear. Fear him, who can destroy both Body and Soul in Hell. All other Motives of Intereft, all other Objects of Fear or Hope, concern the Body only, and terminate there: But in the Matters of Religion, the Reward

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