Chapter 6: Showing That It Will Be Harder for Some to Repent, Than Others

THere are two sorts of persons who will find it harder to repent than others.

1. Such as have sate a great while under the droppings of Gods Ordinances, but grow no better. The earth which drinks in the Rain, yet bears thorns and briars, is nigh to cursing, (Hebrews 6:8). The metal which has lain long in the fire, but is not melted and refined, there is little hope of it. When God has sent his Ministers one after another, exhorting and persuading men to leave their sins, but they settle upon the lees of formality, and can sit and sleep under a Sermon; it will be hard for these ever to be brought to Repentance; they may fear lest Christ should say to them as once to the Fig-tree, Never fruit grow on you more.

2. They will find it harder to repent, who have sinned frequently against the convictions of the Word, the checks of conscience , and the motions of the Spirit. Conscience has stood as the Angel, with a flaming sword in its hand; it has said, Do not this great evil; but sinners regard not the voice of conscience, but march on resolvedly under the Devils colors: these will not find it easie to repent, Job 24. 13. They are of those that rebel against the Light. It is one thing to sin for want of light, and another thing to sin against light. Here the unpardonable sin takes its rise; first men sin against the light of conscience, and so proceed gradually to the despighting the Spirit of grace.