The Doctrine of Repentance

Acts 26:20. That they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

SAint Paul being falsly accused by Tertullus to be seditious, (chapter 24:5). We have found this man a pestilent fellow,and a mover of Sedition: in this chapter he makes an apology for himself, before Festus and King Agrippa.

Paul proves himself to be an orator. He courts the King, 1. By his Gesture; He stretched forth his hands, verse 1. as the custom of orators was. 2. By his manner of speech, verse 2. I think my self happy King Agrippa, because I shall answer for my self before you, touching all the things of which I am accused.

Paul treats of three things, and that in so deep a strain of Rhetorick, as he had almost converted King Agrippa.

1. He discoursed of the manner of his life before his conversion, verse 5. after the most strait Sect of our Religion, I lived a Pharisee. During the time of his unregeneracy, he was zealous for Traditions; and his false fire of zeal was so hot, that it scorched all that stood in his way, verse 10. Many of the Saints I shut up in prison.

2. Paul discoursed of the manner of his conversion, verse 13. I saw in the way a light from Heaven, above the brightness of the Sun. This light was no other but what shined from Christs glorified body: And I heard a voice speaking to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest you me? The body being hurt, the head in Heaven cryed out. At this light and voice Paul was amazed, and fell to the earth, verse 14. And I said, whoart you Lord? and he said, I am Jesus whom you persecutest, verse 15. Paul was now taken off from himself; all opinion of self-righteousness vanished, and he did graft his hope of Heaven upon the stock of Christs Righteousness.

3. Paul discoursed of the manner of his life after his conversion: He who before was a persecutor, now became a Preacher, verse 16. Arise, for I have appeared to you, to make you a Minister, and a Witness, of those things which you have seen. When Paul (this vessel of election) was savingly wrought upon, he labored to do as much good as before he had done hurt. Before, he persecuted Saints to death, now he preaches sinners to life. God first sent him to the Jews at Damascus, and afterwards enlarged his-commission to preach to the Gentiles. And the subject he preacht upon was this in the text, That they should repent and turn to God. A weighty and excellent Subject. deos, Judaei Verum Deum, sed non sicut oportebat.

I shall not dispute the Priority, whether Faith or Repentance goes first; doubtless Repentance shews it self first in a Christians life; yet I am apt to think the seeds of Faith are first wrought in the heart . As when a burning Taper is brought into a room, the light shews it self first, but the Taper was before the light: So we see the fruits of Repentance first, but the initials of Faith were there before.

That which inclines me to think that Faith is seminally in the heart before Repentance, is this, because Repentance being a grace, must be acted by one that is living. Now, how does the soul live but by Faith? (Hebrews 10:38). The just shall live by his Faith. So that there must be first some seeds of Faith in the heart of a penitent, else it is a dead Repentance, and so of no value.

But whether Faith or Repentance go first, sure I am, Repentance is of such importance, as there is no being saved without it. After Pauls shipwrack, he did swim to shore on planks, and broken pieces of the ship, (Acts 27:44). So in Adam we all suffered shipwrack, and Repentance is the only plank left us after shipwrack to swim to Heaven .

It is a great duty incumbent upon Christians, solemnly to repent and turn to God, (Matthew 3:2). Repent ye, for the Kingdomof Heaven is at hand, (Acts 3:19). Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, (Acts 8:22). Repent of this your wickedness. In the mouth of these three witnesses this truth is confirmed. Repentance is a foundation-grace, (Hebrews 6:1). Not laying again the foundation of Repentance. That Religion must needs fall to the ground which is not built upon this foundation.

Repentance is a grace required under the Gospel. Some think it legal; but the first Sermon that ever Christ preached; nay, the first word of his Sermon was [illegible], Repent, (Matthew 4:17). And his last farewell that he left when he was going to ascend, was, that Repentance should be preached in his Name, (Luke 24:37). And the Apostles did all beat upon this string, (Mark 6:3). They went out and preached that men should repent.

Repentance is a pure Gospel-grace. The covenant of works admitted no Repentance. There it was, sin and die: Repentance comes in by the Gospel. Christ has purchased in his blood that repenting sinners shall be saved. The Law required personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience; it cursed all that could not come up to this, (Galatians 3:10). Cursed is every one that continus not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them.

It does not say, he that obeys not all things, let him repent, but, let him be cursed. So that Repentance is a Doctrine brought to light only by the Gospel.