2.  The believer would remember, that among other things, antecedently requisite to remission of posterior actual transgressions, gospel repentance is especially required, (Luke xiii. 3.  Matt. iii. 2.  Ezek. xviii. 28, 30.  Luke xv. 17,18.  Hos. ii. 6, 7.  Ezek. xiv. 6,) whereby a sinner, through the help of the Spirit, being convinced not only of his hazard by reason of sin, but also of the hatefulness and filthiness of sin; and having a sight of the mercy of God in Christ Jesus to sinners, turning from their sin, doth turn from those sins unto God, with a full purpose of heart, in his strength, to follow him, and obey his laws.  And hereby the soul is brought to loathe itself and sin, and is made willing to desire, seek for, accept of, and prize remissions of sins.  This makes them more wary and careful in time coming; “For behold,” says the apostle, 2 Cor. vii. 11, “this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge,” &c.  Thus is God glorified in his justice, Psalm li. 4; and his mercy is acknowledged, in not entering with us into judgment, nor casting us into hell, as he might have done in justice.

3.  Yet it would be remembered, that though it hath seemed good in the Lord’s eyes to choose this method, and appoint this way of obtaining pardon of sins daily committed, for the glory of his grace and mercy; and likewise for our good, we must not ascribe too much unto repentance, in the matter of pardon.  We must not make it a cause of our remission, either efficient or meritorious.  We must not think that it hath any hand in appeasing the wrath of God, or in satisfying justice.  Pardon must always be an act of God’s free grace, unmerited at our hands, and procured alone through the merits of Christ.  We must not put repentance in Christ’s room and place, nor ascribe any imperfection unto his merits, as if they needed any supply from any act of ours.  We must beware of leaning to our repentance and godly sorrow, even so far as to think to commend ourselves to God, thereby that we may obtain pardon.

4.  The believer would consider seriously the dreadfulness of their condition who are lying under the lash of the law for sin.  The law saith, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the law;” and every sin is a transgression of the law.  So that, according to law and justice, they are in hazard.  For every sin in itself exposeth the sinner to eternal wrath, sin being an offence against God, who is a righteous judge, and a breach of his law.  A right sight and apprehension of this, would serve to humble the sinner before God, and make him more earnest in seeking out for pardon, that this obligation to punishment might be removed.