Joseph A. Benton Collection

It is objected that he depends on Divine aid – But he must do all I have indicated nevertheless. Spirit aids – but does not the Sinner's work – Perhaps the S. [Spirit] is with you Now – try & see!!

Remarks ~[centered]

1 Do I then discourage study – meditation – reading – prayer for sinners. By no means – I only these are not enough – will not produce change of heart without action &c. [etc.] – They lend to good – but will not do it.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 2. See the consistency of this two-fold use of means. – God uses means wh. [which] may be the occasion of leading us to Rep. [repentance] – We are to employ these means ourselves in connection with our ac. [actions] thru. [through] them. ~

(No. 22.) – (Sunday May 21 ~) [centered] (Nat. Regen.)

2 Cor. [Corinthians] 7:10 ~[centered]

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of – xtt" [For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of – but the sorrow of the world worketh death.]

~

Shown prop. [property] of Rep. [repentance] as a ground of fitness prior to pardon – Removing obsc. [obstacle] of bad char. [character] &c [etc.] – To-day [Today] we are to dwell on the nat. [nature] of the change of char. [character] involved in true rep. [repentance] – – Text is de god. sor. [sorrow] – Since is another use of t. [the] word wh. [which] is distinct. – Xplain [Explain] these diff.^s [differences] – god. sor. [sorrow] has ob. [obvious] sin as com. [common] vs. G. [God] – sorrows on acc. [account] of sin &c [etc.] – wor. [worry] sor. [sorrow] has ob. [obvious] misery he is enduring – regrets bec [because] – makes him wretched – but will do same again if he can escape the conseqences [consequences] & – – no true sorrow.

(2) [centered]

True rep. [repentance] involves forsaking of sin – a change of char. [character] and conduct – when exter. [external] conduct has been inconsist [inconsistent] with right heart ~

Let us consider the Nature of this change in the mind & char. [character].

I Not a change of External relations, – Simply or necessarily.

1 Not a beginning to go to church regularly

2 Not in supporting gospel institutions.

3 Not in receiving baptism.

{7 Not in becoming a member of t. [the] church.

4 Not in leading a more steady life.

5 Not in a general assent to the truths & doctrines of the Bible ~

6 Not in a convic. [conviction] of t. [the] nec. [necessity] of religion.

(3.) [centered]

II Not in any change of the Cons^s [conscience] properties of the soul.

1 No new abilities – talents – acquirements affects not the intellect or t. [the] understand [understanding].

2 Called indeed a – new-birth – newcreation – a resurrection – can't be all three literally – nor any one of them literally. Must not squeeze – force – the language. Figures these are – for showing t. [the] greatness of t. [the] change.

3 Can't be any change in this sort for then man c'd [could] not be called on to repent – must wait till he made able – patched up – cant [can't] give himself new properties of mind ~

(4) [centered]

III It is an internal moral change – a new mor. [moral] dispos. [disposition] –

1 But yet – not simply the putting into t. [the] mind of some new taste – relish – delight – perception &c [etc.] – these may in some sense follow – they are not the change itself.

2 A new gov.^g [governing] state of the will. A high, lofty – change of the great con-trolling pic. [piece] of the mind – a new purpose respecting all the great ends of life & action.

Make you a new heart – Cease to evil – Be ye reconciled – Son give me thy heart &c. [etc.] – Show will.