[Feb. 26th, 1865.]
This in a religious sense is the turning from sin unto God. When genuine it is a fruit of regeneration, and a gift of the Spirit. In the wide sense in which it is used it includes the whole process of conversion. That is, it includes the exercises or acts of the soul which have sin for their object, and those which have Christ for their object. It is in this sense it is used in our Catechism, where it is defined to be a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience. The essential act is turning from sin to God. This turning is characterized, first, by its attending circumstances; secondly, by its motives; thirdly, by its effects.
I. Its means. It is,
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From a due sense of sin. This includes, a. a knowledge of sin; b. a conviction of our own sinfulness. c. A proper sense of our own guilt and pollution. The knowledge of sin supposes proper views of the holiness of God, of his justice, and therefore of the greatness of the evil of sin. A conviction of our own sinfulness includes, a. a conviction that we are guilty, b. that we are polluted, c. that we are helpless, or absolutely at God’s mercy.
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It is with apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ.
Repentance is not possible as long as we think we are without hope. For despair precludes repentance. We must apprehend, i.e., believe,
a. That God is merciful. b. That he can consistently exercise his mercy. c. That we are or may be its objects. d. That this is through Christ, because out of Christ, conscience and Scripture teach that he is a consuming fire.
II. The attending circumstances are grief and hatred of our sins. 1. Grief, i.e., sincere sorrow for having committed them. This includes, a. Remorse. b. Self-abhorrence. c. Self-condemnation, d. Shame. All arising out of a due sense of the evil of sin.
- Hatred includes disapprobation and disgust.
III. The act itself. Turning from sin. Turning from the approbation, from the indulgence, from the promotion of sin. Turning to God, a. As an object of excellence. b. As an object of enjoyment.
IV. The effects of Repentance are purpose and endeavor.
Purpose, a decision of the will to obey God in all things. Endeavor to do so, continued, sincere and effective.
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