2._____ Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best
of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption
dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great
sins and provocations; God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully
provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through
repentance unto salvation.
(
Ecclesiastes 7:20;
Luke 22:31, 32
)
3._____ This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person,
being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin,
doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow,
detestation of it, and self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength
of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to
walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
(
Zechariah 12:10;
Acts 11:18;
Ezekiel 36:31;
2 Corinthians 7:11;
Psalms 119:6;
Psalms 119:128
)
4._____ As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of
our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions
thereof, so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known
sins particularly.
(
Luke 19:8;
1 Timothy 1:13, 15
)
5._____ Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in
the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation;
that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; yet
there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that
repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.
(
Romans 6:23;
Isaiah 1:16-18
Isaiah 55:7
)