10. The last impediment of repentance is immoderate love of the world
Men flatter themselves in sin and think that God, having spared them all this while, never intends to punish them. Because the judgments are put off, surely there will be no judgments at all. "He has said in his heart, 'God has forgotten: he hides his face;' he will never see it" (Psa 10.11). The Lord is indeed longsuffering towards sinners, and by his patience he would bribe them to repentance – but here is their wretchedness: because he forbears to punish, they forbear to repent. Know that the lease of patience will soon run out.
There is a time when God will say, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man" (Gen 6.3). A creditor may forbear his debtor, but forbearance does not excuse the payment. God takes notice how long the glass of his patience has been running: "I gave her space to repent; and she did not repent" (Rev 2.21). Jezebel added impenitence to her incontinency, and what followed? "Behold, I will throw her into a bed" (Rev 2.22), not a bed of pleasure, but a bed of languishing where she will be consumed in her iniquity. The longer
God's arrow is drawn, the deeper it will wound. Sins against patience will make a man's hell so much the hotter.
9. The next impediment of repentance is fear of reproach "If I repent I will expose myself to scorn." The heathen would say,
"When you apply yourself to the study of wisdom, be prepared for sarcasm and reproach." But consider well who they are that reproach you. They are ignorant of God and spiritually mad. Are you bothered by the reproach of those who are not in their right wits? Who minds a madman laughing at him?
What do the wicked reproach you for? Is it because you repent? You are doing your duty. Bind their reproaches like a crown around your head. It is better to have men reproach you for repenting, than to have God damn you for not repenting.
If you cannot bear a reproach for religion, then never call yourself Christian. Luther said, "Christianus quasi crucianus" (a Christian is as if crucified). Suffering is a saint's livery.
73 And what are reproaches? They are but chips off the cross, which should be despised rather than laid to heart.
10. The last impediment of repentance is immoderate love of the world
No wonder Ezekiel's hearers were hardened into rebellion when their hearts went after covetousness (Eze 33.31). The world so engrosses men's time and bewitches their affections that they cannot repent.
They would rather put gold in their bag than tears in God's bottle. I have read of the Turks that they pay no heed to churches or altars, but they are diligent in looking after their crops. Likewise, many rarely give heed to repentance – they care more about breaking up clods of dirt with their plow, than breaking up the fallow ground of their hearts. The thorns choke the word. We read of those who were invited to Christ's supper, and who put him off with worldly excuses.
The first said, "I bought a piece of ground, and I must go see it: I ask that you excuse me. Another said, 'I bought five yoke of oxen ...'"
(Luk 14. 18-19). The farm and the shop take up so much of people's time that they have no free time for their souls. Their golden weights 74 hinder their silver tears. There is an herb in the country of Sardinia, like balm, which makes them die laughing if they eat too much of it. The world is such an herb (or rather, weed), if men eat immoderately of it. Instead of dying repenting, they will die laughing.
These are the obstructions to repentance which must be removed so that the current of water may flow clearer.