Of saving repentance,
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechifm.
A. Astrong faith gives much glory toGod ; Rom. iv. 10, 20. And being not weak in faith, he confidered not his own body now dead, when hewas about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadneſs of Sarah's womb. He ſtaggered notat the promite ofGod through unbelief; butwas ſtrong in faith, givingglory to God.
Q. 13. What is the ſecond benefit of a strong faith ?
A. Itgives the foul the raviſhing forefight and foretaſtes of heaven upon earth ; 1 Pet. i. 8. Whom having not ſeen, ye love; inwhomthough now ye ſee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full ofglory.
Q. 14. What is the laſt office faith doth for a believer in this world?
A. Itfupportsand encourages him at death bythe promiles, whenall other comforts fail ; Heb. xi. 13. Theſe all died in faith, not having received the promiſes, but having ſeen them afar off, and wereperfuaded of them, and embraced them, and confeffedthat they were ſtrangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Ofsaving Repentance.
Hat is repentance unto life ?
Queſt. 87.W A. Repentance unto life is a faving grace, whereby afinner, out ofa true sense of hisfin, and apprehenfion of the mercy ofGod in Christ, doth withgrief and hatred of his fin, turnfrom it untoGod, with fullpurpose of, and endeavour after new obedience.
Q1. Who is the author of ſaving repentance ?
A. The Spirit of God is the author of it ; the heartby nature is ſo hard, that none but the Spirit can break it ; Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27. Anew heart alfo will I give you, anda new ſpirit will I put within you : And I will take away the ſtony heart out of your fleſh, and Iwillgive you anheart of fleſh. And I will put my Spirit within you, &c.
Q. 2. In what act doth all true repentance begin ?
A. It begins in atrue ſight and ſenſe of fin, and the danger andmiſerywe are inby fin ; Acts ii. 37. Nowwhen they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, &c.
Q.3. WhydothGod work ſuch a ſenſe of fin and mifery ?
A. He doth it to make Chrift defireable in the ſinner's eyes, that he may fly to him; Matth. ix. 12, 13. But whenJeſus heard that, he faidunto them, They that be whole need not a phyſician, but they that are ſick. But go ye and learnwhat that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not facrifice; for I and notcome tocall the righteous, but finners torepentance.
Q.4. Is the fight of fin fufficient torepentance?
An Exposition ofthe Aſſembly's Catechism.
وو A. No; there must beappprehenfion of mercy and forgiveneſswithGod, or elſe no man can ſincerely repent; Rom. ii,
4. Not knowing that the goodness ofGod leadeth thee to repentance. And this mercy must be difcerned in and through Chriſt ; Zech. xii, 10. And they ſhall look upon me whom theyhave pierced, andthey ſhall mourn for him asone mournethfor his only fon, and ſhall be in bitterneſs for him as one thatis inbitterness for his firſt-born .
2.5. Wherein doth repentance chiefly confiſt ?
A. It confifts in real inward forrow for fin, as committed againstGod; Pfalm li. 3, 4. For I acknowledge my tranfgreffions, and my fin is everbefore me. Against thee, thee only have I finned, anddone this evil in thy fight, &c. Aloathing of ourſelves for it ; Ezek. xxxvi. 31. And ſhall loath yourſelves inyour own fight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. And of our beſtduties,as finful and inſufficient things ;
Ifa. lxiv. 5, 6. We are all as an unclean thing; and all ourrigh teouſneſſes are as filthy rags, c.
2.6. Wherein elſedoth itconfit ?
A. Inturning from fin, as well as grieving for it; Ifa. Iv. 7.
Let the wicked forſake hisway, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, &c.
Prov. xxviii. 13. Hethat covereth his fins, ſhall not profper ; but whoſo confeffeth and forfaketh them, ſhall havemercy.
Q.7. Is turning from fin fufficient A. No, that is but the negative part of religion; there muſt bealſo a fincereturning toGod; Pfalm cxix. 59. I thought on myways, and turned my feet unto thy teftimonies ; Acts xi. 23.
Andexhortedthem all, that withpurpoſe of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
Q. 8. Is all forrow for ſin ſaving ?
4. No; there is a repentance that dothnogood; Matth. xxvii . 3. Then Judas which had betrayed him, when he saw thathe was condemned, repented himself, &c. And a repentance unto life ; Acts xi. 18. Then hathGod alſo to the Gentilesgrantedrepentance unto life.
Q. 9. What are the ſigns of true repentance ?
A. Fear of fin ; care to preſerve ourſelves from it ; and zeal tohonourGod by new obedience ; 2 Cor. vii. 11. For behold, this ſelf-fame thing that ye forrowed after a godly fort, what carefulness itwroughtinyou ; yea,whatclearing ofyourselves; yea, what indignation ; yea, what fear ; yea, what vehement defire; yea, what zeal ; yea, whatrevenge ?
In all things you have approved yourſelves to be clear in this matter.
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