Direct. V. Be sure that your repentance contain in it a desire to be perfectly holy and free from all sin, and a resolution against all known and wilful sinning, and particularly that you would not commit the same sins if you had again the same temptations (supposing that we speak not of such infirmities as good men live in; which yet you must heartily desire to forsake).
Direct. VI. Pray earnestly and believingly for pardon through Christ; even for the continuance of your former pardon, and for renewed pardon for renewed sins; for prayer is God's appointed means, and included in faith and repentance, which are the summary conditions.
Direct. VII. Set all right between you and your neighbours, by forgiving others, and being reconciled to them, and confessing your injuries against them, and making them restitution and satisfaction; for this also is included in your repentance, and expressly made the condition of your pardon.
Direct. VIII. Despise not the sacramental delivery of pardon, by the ministers of Christ; for this belongeth to the full investiture and possession of the benefit: nor yet the spiritual consolation of a skilful, faithful pastor, nor public absolution upon public repentance, if you should fall under the need of such a remedy.
Direct. IX. Sin no more. I mean, resolvedly break off all that wilful sin of which you do repent: for repentings, and purposes, and promises of a new and holy life, which are uneffectual, will never prove the pardon of your sins; but show your repentance to be deceitful.
Direct. X. Set yourselves faithfully to the use of all those holy means, which God hath appointed for the overcoming of your sins; and to that life of holiness, righteousness, love, and sobriety, which is contrary to them. Otherwise your repentance is fraudulent and insufficient: these means, and no less than all these, must be used by him, that will make sure of the pardon of his sins from God: and he that thinketh all these too much, must look for pardon some other way, than from the mercy of God, or the grace of Christ; for God's pardon is not to be had upon any other terms, than those of God's appointment. He that will make new conditions of his own, must pardon himself if he can, on those conditions; for God will not be tied to the laws of sinners.
[175] Some speak too ignorantly and dangerously about the day of grace being past in this life.