1. For repentance; it is, I suppose, a gospel
repentance that is intended. For a legal, bondage repentance, full of
dread, amazement, terror, self-love, astonishment at the presence of God, I
confess this communion takes it away, prevents it, casts it out, with its
bondage and fear; but for gospel repentance, whose nature consists in godly
sorrow for sin, with its relinquishment, proceeding from faith, love, and
abhorrence of sin, on accounts of Father, Son, and Spirit, both law and
love, — that this should be hindered by this communion, is not possible. I
told you that the foundation of this communion is laid in a deep, serious,
daily consideration of sin, its guilt, vileness, and abomination, and our
own vileness on that account; that a sense hereof is to be kept alive in
and upon the heart of every one that will enjoy this communion with Christ:
without it Christ is of no value nor esteem to him. Now, is it possible
that a man should daily fill his heart with the thoughts of the vileness of
sin, on all considerations whatever, — of law, love, grace, gospel, life,
and death, — and be filled with self-abhorrency on this account, and yet be
a stranger to godly sorrow? Here is the mistake, — the foundation of this
communion is laid in that which they suppose it overthrows.