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I. THE NATURE OF REPENTANCE; to turn away from wickedness, and to do that which is lawful and right.

1. To turn from wickedness; this the negative part according to that, Let him eschew evil and do good. And that according to the very morality of the heathens, virtus est vitium fugere, etc. Not to be vicious is the rudiment of virtue, and 'tis the beginning of wisdom to leave off playing the fool. Now this turning from wickedness being a very hard work, nothing more difficult than to throw off habits once contracted. Let us therefore by a gradual deduction show the right way of proceeding, what course a new convert, that turns from his wickedness, usually takes.

(1) To fortify the reason or understanding with all arguments against it: for conviction is supposed as the very bottom of this work of repentance. The arguments to convince a man's self are partly moral, partly civil and external; such as are the vileness of thy lusts, which make thee live a life not suitable to the excellency of thy nature, the ill consequence of it, in provoking God and making Him thy enemy, and in exposing thy soul to eternal ruin. Again, the discredit and disparagement; the damage and loss of time, health, estate, they run thee into; the trouble and vexation they procure thee, and the little satisfaction they give thee in lieu of all those inconveniences, of all those hazards and dangers they put thee upon.

(2) To wean the affections; and this will not be very difficult, when the understanding is once convinced. But here's the fault (Hosea 4:6). Upon this conviction will naturally follow a loathing and detestation of thy sin.

(3) Shunning all occasions. A man then will set a guard upon himself, stop all the avenues of sin, and resist the devil, who is likely most busy at men's conversion. He that is truly convinced will do so; else he but dissembles with God, and his own soul.

(4) At least since he finds it so very hard to master his thoughts, and evil concupiscence is ever working and boiling up in unlawful desires; yet he will bridle himself from committing the gross act. For if after his conversion he come so far back, as to act the same wickedness over again, then he is to begin all his work anew, and his repentance itself is to be repented of, as having not been sound and sincere.

2. The other is positive, to do that which is lawful and right.

(1) He doth by degrees inure himself to the contrary virtues. Habits are acquired by single acts frequently repeated, and though difficult at first, yet by use and custom are made easy and familiar, till at last they become natural.

(2) As a Christian; he frequents those spiritual exercises wherein grace is promised and improved; prayer, meditation, reading, hearing, receiving, etc., whereof some are to instruct him in his rule, and to give him directions; others to fetch in help and assistance: and he that thus seeks God in His own ordinances and methods, will be sure to find Him.

(3) To be sure he keeps himself employed, that his sin may not find him at leisure; that idleness may give the Evil One no advantage against him.

II. THE CONSEQUENT OF THUS DOING IS, THAT HE SHALL SAVE HIS SOUL ALIVE.

1. By turning thus from his wickedness, and doing that which is right, he shall be so accepted of God, that his sins shall never prejudice him, as to his eternal estate, whoever the person be, whatever his former life hath been.

2. His thus doing prepares and disposes him for God's grace, whereby he may be enabled to do more, till he work out his salvation; and God's grace will perfect that good work which has been begun in him.

3. This reformation and amendment evidences a justifying and a saving faith, and shows a man to be, to the glory of God's grace, a truly pious man, and one who may fairly entertain very good assurances of happiness in the life to come. For though by Christ alone, as the meritorious cause, and by faith alone, as the instrumental cause, we are justified and saved; yet that faith itself will do us no good, no, nor Christ Himself stand us in any stead, unless it be accompanied with repentance from sin, and amendment of life.I might from hence draw several inferences of vulgar mistakes about this necessary work of repentance; let me but mention two.

1. As to the first act, to turn from his wickedness that he hath committed. Some think it enough to turn from some sins, and indulge themselves in others, or at least to turn off one sin, and take up another in its stead. But such must know, that they are still in captivity; they do but alter their prison.

2. As to the second act, to do that which is lawful and right. There are those, who seem to resolve all religion into hearing; that they look on as the soul-saving ordinance; for by that comes faith. Be it so; but let not good works be thrown aside as unnecessary, as dangerous. For what says the apostle? Not the hearers, but the doers shall be justified.

III. THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DUTY AS TO ITS PERFORMANCE: for else all were to no purpose.

1. God has a kindness for all the souls of men. He is a faithful Creator; His mercy is over all His works, and He hates nothing that He hath made.

2. There's no bar then, as on God's part, against any soul's happiness. We say, unfortunate persons were born under an ill planet, but whatever force the stars may have upon men's estates and successes, they have none upon their minds and wills. Here 'tis thy own will that writes thy destiny; there's no fatality upon thee, but what thou bringest upon thyself. There's no irreversible decree in our way, to exclude us, if we do not exclude ourselves. Thy destruction is of thyself, O Israel. God made no man purposely to damn him. Death was one of man's own inventions, and will be the reward of his own evil actions.

3. God allows everyone such a sufficiency of means, as will at least render him inexcusable. In the parable of Talents, they had everyone more or less. Even where the means are denied or withdrawn, 'tis out of mercy upon foresight of the abuse. These are certain truths, that every man may do better than he does, and may have more grace to do better, if he seek it. If the advantages of the Gospel, the assistances of grace, the influences of the Spirit, the admonitions of conscience will not prevail with men, God will be justified when He judges, even in their condemnation.

4. God having thus furnished us with helps, and being ready further to enable us, expects and requires our own serious endeavours in the working out of our own salvation, nor can we look to be saved otherwise. This passeth for current doctrine in all worldly affairs, that men's industry and diligence are the only arguments to build their assurance of success upon. And this much more in spiritual and eternal concerns. A man is not to lie in a ditch, and think to get out only by crying, God help me. The carter in the fable, when he called for Hercules' assistance, was bid to set his own shoulder first to the wheel. It is a proverb, that the world is made for the presumptuous; which Christ seems to have consecrated to pious encouragement, when He tells us, The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. And thus much to evince as the obligation, so the possibility of this duty of repentance and conversion, that as it ought to be in the sinner's will, so 'tis partly in his power.We shall now show how far that power will lead him.

1. A man may, if he will, forbear the gross act of sin.

2. A man may, if he will, shun the occasion of his sin, and get out of the devil's way, and keep guard at his weak place. A vessel may run foul in a dark night, and strike upon a secret, unseen rock; but if the pilot have any the least care, he will beware places of known danger.

3. A man may, if he will, by degrees draw off his affections, and estrange himself to his sin.

4. A man may, if he will, use his reason; and he doth not deserve the name of man, that will not do that. He may so fortify his understanding, and even natural conscience (for we are now within the compass of nature) that he may at length arrive at a full perfect resolution against his sin.Then as to do that which is lawful and right.

1. He may, if he will, keep himself well employed, and so not be at leisure for his sin. Good exercise is an expedient for health of soul, as well as body.

2. He may, if he will, go to church, to his closet, read, hear, pray, meditate, and frequent those religious duties wherein God has promised to bestow grace, and pious persons are wont to improve it.

3. He may, if he will, inure himself by good acts as to the substance of them, to the contrary virtues. I still speak of moral actions performable by the strength of nature; so that yet we are not come within the sphere of grace's activity. Hitherto a man may go of himself, if he will; and certainly he is in a very hopeful condition that goes thus far. I shall not fear to tell you, that he is gone a good part of his way to heaven, and there's no going to heaven but this way. He has turned from his wickedness, and now does that which is lawful and right; therefore he shall save his soul alive.And how's that? That's on God's part; for though we must work out our salvation, yet by grace we are saved still: 'tis the gift of God, when all's done.

1. God accepts such an one, as He did the devout centurion.

2. God further enables him; so as with His grace to prevent him and assist him, as again in Cornelius his case.

3. God justifies him (his sins that he had done shall be mentioned no more), and will finally reward him; his soul shall live.I shall conclude with two or three cautions, which may quicken us, that we do not put off this necessary work upon this presumption, that 'tis in our power to repent when we will.

1. That the longer 'tis deferred, the more difficult it will be. Our sins will grow stronger, our powers and resolutions weaker, and the grace and favour of God less easy to be obtained, if we neglect the time when He may be found.

2. That though true repentance be never too late, yet late repentance is seldom true. 'Tis a shrewd sign of our insincerity, when we are unwilling to leave our lusts till they leave us.

3. That our intentions, though never so good, if we defer to put them in execution, when we have time to do it, will not find so gracious an acceptance at God's hands.

4. That everyone has a day of grace, and 'tis a thing of extreme danger to hazard the loss of that; to let the measure of our iniquities be filled up, and so to have the things of our peace at last hid from our eyes, and repentance itself put out of our power.

(Adam Littleton, D. D.)

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KJV: Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

WEB: Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.