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there is need. It is not enough to search out and consider your ways, nor yet to lament them; if withal you do not turn again unto the Lord, Lam. iii. 40 - 42. Psa. cxix. 59. Zeph. ii. 1 - 3; and turn your feet unto his testimonies; and withal seek grace and forgiveness.

The gospel opens a way, and affords means to attain both, through the commands and promises thereof, in the doctrine of faith and repentance.

Now, therefore, bring yourself to the gospel; try yourself thereby, first, whether your first faith and repentance were sincere: then set upon reforming, and getting pardon of particular and later offences.

But learn to put a difference between the commands of the gospel and of the law; the law exacts absolute obedience; the gracious gospel does, through Christ, accept of the truth of faith and repentance, so that there be an endeavour after their perfection.

It would be too long to show you at large the signs of unfeigned faith and repentance. I will, for the present, only say this:

Have you been truly humbled for sin? and through the promises and commandment of the gospel, which bids you believe, have you conceived hope of mercy, relying on Christ for it? And thereupon have had a true change in your whole man, so that you make God your utmost end, and receive the Lord Jesus as your only Saviour; and, out of hatred of sin, and love unto Christ and his ways, have a will in all things to live honestly, Heb. xiii. 18; and to keep always a good conscience towards God and man, Acts xxiv. 16; desiring the sincere milk of the word, to grow by it, 1 Peter ii. 2; loving the brethren, 1 John iii. 14. Psa. xvi. 3; desiring and delighting in communion with them? Then you may be confident that your first faith, repentance, and new obedience were sound.

If upon trial you find that they were not sound, then you must begin now to repent and believe; it is not yet too late.