Heaven on earth by Thomas Brooks (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 5 (Shewing the several ways and means of gaining a well-grounded assurance) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'The fifth thing that I am to shew you is, what love that is that accompanies salvation.'
Firstly this week we look at the properties of the 'repentance' that should accompany eternal salvation. It is:
(i) a general and universal change of the whole man - a change in every part, though it be but in part;
(ii) a total turning as well as a universal turning;
(iii) a turning unto God;
(iv) a striking most effectually and particularly against that sin or sins that the sinner was most apt and prone to before his conversion;
(v) very large and comprehensive;
(vi) accompanied by faith, love to Christ, a filial fear of offending God and a holy care to honour God;
(vii) a continued act, a repentance never to be repented of.
Secondly we see the properties of the 'obedience' that should accompany eternal salvation. It is:
(i) cordial and hearty;
(ii) universal;
(iii) springing from inward spiritual causes and from holy and heavenly motives;
(iv) ready, free, willing and cheerful;
(v) peremptory;
(vi) ended in divine glory;
(vii) constant;
(viii) passive as well as active.
I found helpful the reminder that repentance is ongoing: 'That repentance that accompanies salvation is a continued act, a repentance never to be repented of, 2 Cor. vii. 10. Repentance is a continual spring, where the waters of godly sorrow are always flowing. A sound penitent is still a-turning nearer and nearer to God ; he is still a-turning further and further from sin. This makes the penitent soul to sigh and mourn that he can get no nearer to God, that he can get no further from sin, Rom. vii. The work of repentance is not the work of an hour, a day, a year, but the work of this life. A sincere penitent makes as much conscience of repenting daily as he doth of believing daily ; and he can as easily content himself with one act of faith, or love, or joy, as he can content himself with one act of repentance : ' My sins are ever before me,' says David, Ps. li. 3. Next to my being kept from sin, I count it the greatest mercy in the world to be still a-mourning over sin, says the penitent soul. The penitent soul never ceases repenting till he ceases living. He goes to heaven with the joyful tears of repentance in his eyes. He knows that his whole life is but a day of sowing tears that he may at last reap everlasting joys.'
Repentance is not a day's work, it is your life's work.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 5 (Shewing the several ways and means of gaining a well-grounded assurance) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'I come now in the sixth place, to shew you what prayer that is that doth accompany salvation.'
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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