2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he said, I have heard you in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored you: behold, now is the accepted time… 1. It is the wish of most men to obtain salvation; and therefore it is their resolution at some time or other to repent. Now they are engaged in some important business; they have met with some worldly disaster; they are in pursuit of some pleasure; they feel an indolence of temper which indisposes them for exertion; but they are determined not to let life pass away without securing salvation. Some favourable opportunity will occur. 2. Thus lulled into security many go on to disregard the secret remonstrances of conscience, and to despise the warnings and invitations of the Word of God, till at last they die as they had lived. 3. Now to be convinced of the folly, guilt, and danger of this conduct, consider — I. THE NATURE OF REPENTANCE AND THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD CONCERNING IT. 1. Repentance is turning from sin to holiness. With what propriety, then, can we put it off? Can it be reasonable to delay? 2. Consider the commandment of God concerning repentance. If we admit God's authority to be supreme, and that He has enjoined the duty of repentance, we cannot discharge it too soon. II. THE LONGER REPENTANCE IS DELAYED, THE MORE PAINFUL AND DIFFICULT WILL IT BECOME. 1. Remember the power of habit. Thoughts and practices which we have long indulged acquire such a seat in the heart and character as to become a part of our system. And hence habit is spoken of as a second nature. Now if habit, simply considered, is powerful, its power must be increased in proportion to the length of time during which it prevails. The person, therefore, who resolves to repent hereafter, is not only careless of the obstacles which habit lays in the way of his repentance, but waits till these obstacles are augmented. What folly! thus to allow habit to acquire additional force. 2. But the extreme folly of delay appears farther, when we consider the nature of the habits. These are not those to which they are naturally averse. On the contrary, they are highly agreeable to them; cherished by the natural corruption of the heart, operate with a reciprocal influence, and give to that corruption a greater efficacy. The roots of natural depravity and those of evil habit are thus interwoven, and therefore to eradicate evil habits is like tearing the heart in pieces. 3. It is true that Divine grace can, and alone can, subdue all opposition;but it is also true that Divine grace has not promised to work miracles in your behalf — that God will not deal with you as mere passive machines in whom there is no will, no affections, no habits to be conquered by ordinary means. III. CIRCUMSTANCES MAY OCCUR TO RENDER REPENTANCE IMPRACTICABLE, and consequently to secure your ruin. 1. Every sin renders you guilty; but when warned of your guilt, and danger, you go on to aggravate the one and to despise the other, you provoke God to give you over to a reprobate mind, and to harden your heart. And will you risk this for all that the universe can give? 2. But supposing that God does not shut up His mercy, may you not be placed where there shall be nothing to secure your return to Him? 3. Again, the power of disease may lay you low on the bed of languishing and pain. That, indeed, you may flatter yourselves, will be a fit occasion for attending to your spiritual interests. Alas! you know little of the nature of repentance if you think that the time of bodily distress is the time for repentance. "Sufficient unto that day is the evil thereof." 4. And is there not soundness of mind, which is still more necessary than health of body for attending to the concerns of the soul; but of which you may be deprived when you are least expecting it? 5. But though none of these things should take place, we know that we must die, and we know not when. We may be cut off in the midst of health, and youth, and gaiety. (A. Thomson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) |
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