Such of the elect as are converted in riper years, having sometime lived in the state of
nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling
giveth them repentance unto life.(1)
Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not,(2)
and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling
in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall in to 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.(3)
This saving repentance is an evangelical grace,(4)
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,(5)
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. (6)
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.(7)
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,(8)
yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent,(9)
which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.