Chapter 2: Showing How Repentance Is Wrought
THE manner how Repentance is wrought, is,
1. Partly by the Word, (Acts 2:37).When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, &c. The Word preached is Gods Engine he uss to effect Repentance. 'Tis compared to an Hammer, and to a Fire, (Jeremiah 23:29). The one is to break, the other to melt the heart. How great a blessing is it to have the Word dispensed, which is of such noble virtue? And how hard will they find it to escape Hell, who put out the lights of Heaven?
2. Repentance is wrought by the Spirit. Ministers are but the Pipes and Organs; it is the Holy Ghost breathing in them, makes their words effectual . (Acts 10:44). While Peter spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. The Spirit in the Word illuminates and converts . When the Spirit touchs an heart, it dissolves into tears, (Zechariah 12:10). I will pour on the Inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of Grace, and they shall look on me whom they have pierced, and mourn. 'Tis wonderful to consider, what different effects the Word has upon men. Some at a Sermon are like Josiah, their heart is tender, and they let fall tears ; others are no more affected with it, than a deaf man with mufick. Some grow better by the Word, others worse. The same earth which causs sweetness in the Grape, causs bitterness in the Wormwood. What is the reason the Word works so differently? it is because the Spirit of God does carry the Word to the conscience of one, and not another. One has received the divine Unction, and not the other, 1 (John 2:20). Oh pray that the dew may fall with Manna. That the Spirit may go along with the Word. The Chariot of Ordinances will not carry us to Heaven, unless the Spirit of God joyn himself to this Chariot.
