beseech him to grant us true repentance;' and it puts the prayer into our mouth: "That it may please thee to give us true repentance;" and enforces the petition: "We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord." This is further confirmed from its nature. Repentance is a change of heart: this is the very meaning of repentance, and it cannot mean any thing else. Repentance is not sorrow, as some suppose— Now who can change the heart, but God? What man can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one. It might as well be called joy; repentance is preceded by sorrow, and is followed by joy, as our Lord assures us; but it is not either joy or sorrow. Neither is repentance the forsaking of sin, as some persons think. This is the use of repentance, as our catechism teaches: "Repentance, whereby” (mark that word) "whereby we forsake sin." It is repentance alone which enables us to forsake sin: therefore it is clear, if you would forsake your sins you must first get repentance and if you would get repentance, you must first go to Him who alone is able to give it. My brethren, is not this plain to the meanest understanding? I ask you, if a man wanted any thing in this world, which was to be had only in one certain place, and which one cer tain person only could bestow; though he were to search for that thing in every other place over the whole world, and though he were to have his life lengthened at his desire again and again to the very utmost span, and though he were to spend his whole life in the search, is it not clear, that, after all, he never would find that thing which he wanted, until he went to that one place where alone it was to be had, until he applied to that one person who alone had it to bestow? The person from whom to get any thing in this world, is that person only who has it to give: the place to find any thing in this world, is that place only in which it is to be found: this is worldly wisdom and hence we have the proverb, "A place for every thing, and every thing in its place." In looking for the things of this world we commit not such mistakes; for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. Would that we were as wise in seeking heavenly things! My brethren, God calls you to repentance; and he tells you, he hath exalted Christ to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance: therefore he is the Person to whom you must apply; and he hath promised to give, saying, Ask, and ye shall receive. And the place to which we must go for repentance, is the foot of His cross: thither : he himself invites us; saying, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will release you. THERE WE MUST GO; for there alone we shall learn that godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of. When we look on him whom we have pierced, then we shall mourn: when we behold his sorrow for us, then we shall sorrow for ourselves. We must see him wounded, for our transgressions; we must see him bruised, for our iniquities; then we shall acknowledge our transgressions before God; then, and not till then, we shall be sorry for our sin; then we shall ask, and then we shall receive, this gift, even repentance unto salvation not to be repented of. Your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 251 SERMON XVII. LUKE XV. 18, 19. I will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. IT was the constant testimony of our blessed Lord with respect to his mission, that the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost; a testimony which he invariably confirmed by his life and conduct; and which he frequently justified by his discourses, in answer to the objections and accusations of his enemies; and which is more especially enforced in that beautiful and interesting parable from which the text is taken. He here sets before us the nature and design of the Gospel, and the way of reconciliation with God; while he founds the parable on one of the most familiar and endeared relations existing among men, the relation subsisting between father and son. Here, then, is instruction which every individual can understand; here is the highest heavenly wisdom brought to the level of the meanest capacity; here is the unsearchable love of God in Christ Jesus-love that passeth knowledge even of the highest heavenly intelligences — submitted to the search, adapted to the understanding, and pressed most affectionately on the consideration of perishing men. Here is mercy higher than the highest heavens, freely given, freely sent down, to the lowest, the most abject, of the dwellers upon the earth. Hath any man ears to hear? Let him hear His words who spake as never man spake; let him hear the gracious words of the merciful, the compassionate Saviour; and when he hath heard, let him keep, and observe to do them. My brethren, hear ye the parable of the Prodigal Son. And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want.-The Prodigal represents the repentant sinner; and the parable |