Branch 2. THE second branch of the Exhortation1 is, to press persons to speedy Repentance, Act. 17. 30. Now God commands men every where to repent2. The Lord would not have any of the late Autumn fruits offered to him. God loves early penitents that consecrate the spring and flower of their age to him. Early tears, like Pearls b[…]ed of the morning dew, are more orient and beautiful. Oh do not reserve the dregs of your age for God, lest he reserve the dregs of his cup for you! Be as speedy in your Repentance, as you would have God speedy in his mercies, 1 Sam. 21. 8. The Kings business required haste: So Repentance requires haste.
‘Tis natural to us to procrastinate and put off Repentance. We say as Hag. 1. 2. The time is not yet come. No man almost is so bad, but purposeth he will amend, but he adjourns and prorogues so long, till at last all his purposes prove abortive3. Many are now in Hell that purposed to repent. Satan doth what he can to keep men from Repentance: when he sees they begin to take up serious thoughts of reformation, he bids them stay a while longer. If this traitor sin must die (saith Satan) let it not die yet: So the Devil gets a reprieve for sin, it shall not die this Sessions: at last men put off so long, that death seizeth on them, and their work is not done.
Let me therefore lay down some cogent Arguments to perswade to speedy Repentance.
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Now is the season of Repentance;4 and every thing is best done in its season, 2 Cor. 6. 2. Now is the accepted time5. Now God hath a mind to shew mercy to the penitent, he is on the giving hand. Kings set apart daies for healing. Now is the healing day for our souls; now God hangs forth the white flag, and is willing to parley with sinners. A Prince at his coronation as an Act of Royalty, gives money, proclaims pardons, fills the conduits with wine: Now God proclaims pardons to penitent sinners; now the conduit of the Gospel runs wine; now is the accepted time; therefore now come in and make your peace with God; now break off your iniquities by Repentance: ‘tis wisdom to take the season The Husbandman takes the season for sowing his seed: now is the seed-time for our souls.
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The sooner you repent, the fewer6 sins you will have to answer for. Were you at the death-bed of an old sinner, when conscience begins to be awakened, and should hear him crying out, here are all my old sins come about me, haunting my death-bed as so many evil spirits, and I have no discharge; here is Satan who was once my tempter, is now become my accuser, and I have no Advocate; I am now going to be dragg’d before Gods judgement-seat, where I must receive my final doom. Oh how dismal is the case of this man, he is in Hell before his time! but you who repent betimes of your sinful courses, this is your priviledge, you will have the less to answer for; nay, let me tell you, you will have nothing to answer for, Christ will answer for you; your Judge will be your Advocate, 1 Ioh. 2. 1. Father, will Christ say, here is one that hath been a great sinner, yet a broken-hearted sinner, if he owes any thing to thy justice, set it on my score.
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The sooner we repent, the more7 glory we may bring to God. ‘Tis the end of our living, to be useful in our generation: better lose our lives, than the end of our living. Late converts who have for many years taken pay on the Devils side, are not in a capacity of doing so much work in the Vineyard. The thief on the Cross could not do that service for God as St. Paul did. But when we do betimes turn from sin, then we give God the first-fruits of our lives; we spend and are spent for Christ. The more work we do for God, the more willing we shall be to die, and the sweeter death will be. He that hath wrought hard at his day-labour, is willing to go to rest at night. Such as have been honouring God all their lives, how sweetly will they sleep in the grave! The more work we do for God, the greater will our reward be. He whose pound had gained ten pounds, Christ did not only commend him, but advance him, Luk. 19. 17. Have thou authority over ten Cities8 By late Repentance, though we do not lose our Crown, yet we make it lighter.
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It is of dangerous consequence to9 put off Repentance longer.