THE TRUE GROUND OF REPENTANCE. 21 Dy him by that term, "THE Life of God in THE SOUL OF MAN," as the title of his book is, and a " DIVINE Life;" "A beam of the eternal light; a drop of "that infinite ocean of goodness; and [says he] those "who are endued with it, may be said to have God dwelling in their souls, and Christ formed within, "them," as before noted. CHAPTER XI. This Light or Life the true ground of THIS Divine life or light is that which is the true ground of repentance, shewing men their corrupt estate, bringing reproof upon the souls of men in transgression. For, although too many have imputed this work only to a created light, or natural conscience, yet, if it be well considered, that man is plunged in sin, and a depravity has prevailed in all his faculties in the unregenerate state, we may well attribute, as doth the Scripture, that work of reproof to God, Christ, and his Holy Spirit. David, where recounting divers abominations of those times, speaketh in the name of the Lord, saying, "I will reprove thee, I will set them in order before thine eyes ;" and thereupon goes on, and warns to repentance, saying. "Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver."2 (1) Scougal. (2) Psalm 1, 21, 22. 22 THE TRUE GROUND OF REPENTANCE. The Apostle to the Romans, treating of the insufficiency of the law, takes notice of a twofold work of Christ; first, outward,-"In the likeness of sinful flesh." Secondly, "For sin condemned sin in the flesh," in order to a blessed reformation, as he explains it, "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit."1 It was also a blessed promise of Christ, to send the Spirit of Truth, which should guide its true followers into all truth; but, says he, "He will reprove the world of sin;" so that it is very plain this work of reproving men for sin is in Scripture spoken of as the work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed are they that turn at his reproof; for he will more abundantly on such pour out of his holy Spirit, and make known his words unto them, as he saith,"If any man do his will, he shall know of the doctrines."3 It is certainly a great disadvantage to men professing religion, when they fall in with those who undervalue this work of reproof for sin in the conscience, as if it were the act only of a man's own conscience. Whereas, did men indeed believe it to be the work of the Spirit of God, it is to be hoped they would have a greater regard to it and its dictates, than can be expected from them while they only esteem it an act of their own consciences; so that it must be allowed such a belief is very likely to excite men to a more strict watchfulness against sin, and to a greater degree of circumspection in their ways; and is, therefore, very necessary to be closed with. Then, surely, not (1) Rom. viii, 3, 4. (2) John xvi, 8. (3) John vii, 17. THE TRUE GROUND OF REPENTANCE. 23 to be rejected; since so many plain proofs of it do frequently occur in Holy Scripture. It is worthy to be noted, that this work of reproving or condemning sin within, is not barely to bring horror upon the souls of men, but it is that they may be awakened to fear God and depart from evil; and then know him "To turn His hand upon them, and purely purge away their dross." I CHAPTER XII. The Spirit which reproves, is that which baptizeth the Soul, as yielded to. WHEN John the Baptist had a while been exercised in his typical dispensation of water-baptism, he breaks forth in a testimony of the effectual work of Christ, saying," He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, he will thoroughly purge his floor, —he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."2 This thorough purging by Christ his Holy Spirit is an inward work, greatly wanting among men, where corrupt desires and evil inclinations abound in the soul; notwithstanding they may have had the baptisms in use in our time, yet they not reaching the soul, do not purge away either the guilt of sin, or the love of it; whereby the evil spirit holds dominion over many. Though in words they often say, "Thy kingdom come," yet, not receiving the spirit, they know not him to govern, nor his sanctifying work (1) Isaiah i, 25. (2) Matthew iii, 11, 12. 24 THE WORK OF CHRIST WITHIN. spoken of, as that of baptizing with the Holy Ghost and fire. who are And this is no small unhappiness to many, in some degree inclined to religion, viz:-That they believe not in the only begotton Son of God, as to his spiritual work of baptizing, or "Purging the conscience from dead works, to serve the living and true God;" as is the duty of every man, but especially of every one professing to be followers of the holy Jesus. Certainly they who own the Scriptures, will also agree to the following quotation, as saith the beforementioned treatise, "That there is a new birth, and a "divine inward operation of the Spirit of God, which "does constantly exert itself in the souls of the 'adopted sons of God, but chiefly in their regenera. tion, is a truth so sacred and certain, that none who have any acquaintance with the inward ways of God, can so much as question it.”1 66 And those who know the inward ways of God, cannot be ignorant, that he both reproves, by his Spirit, men for their transgression; and that such as turn at his reproof, he pours out his Spirit upon them, washing away the filth and guilt of sin, and the delight in it; and as this work is abode in, he not only takes away the old earthly desires, but he also brings into the new nature, and to bear the image of him who is holy. (1) Scougal. CHAPTER XIII. Of the Regenerate State. AND here is known the babes' state ;-" I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven."1 O blessed attainment! as David saith, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered: blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”2 Wherein it may be noted, that the true entrance into a pardoned state, is so far a sanctified state; the babe in regeneration enjoys in measure both sanctification and remission. And if any should suppose such restoration not attainable, let them hear the aforesaid author,-" Did "not the Son of God come down from the bosom of "his Father, and pitch his tabernacle among the sons of men, that he might recover and propagate the "Divine life, and restore the image of God in their souls? All the mighty works which he performed, I all the sad afflictions which he sustained, had this for their scope and design.' "3 66 Wherein is plainly confessed our scriptural doctrine of Christ, his pitching his tabernacle among men, or rather, in men, as the vulgar Latin reads, Habit avit in nobis. And that the propagating and restoring the image of God in man, viz. in the soul, was the very scope and design of all those mighty works which he performed. Also, concerning our being restored to a state of holiness, observes Edward Fowler, late Bishop of (1) 1 John ïi 12. (2) Psalm xxii, 1, 2. (3) Scougal. F |