15. But besides these outward omissions, may they not find in themselves, _inward defects_ without number? Defects of every kind: they have not the love, the fear, the confidence they ought to have toward God. They have not the love which is due to their neighbour, to every child of man: no, nor even that which is due to their brethren, to every child of God; whether those that are at a distance from them, or those with whom they are immediately connected. They have no holy temper in the degree they ought: they are defective in every thing: in a deep consciousness of which they are ready to cry out with Mr. _de Renty_, “I am a ground all overrun with thorns:” or with _Job_, _I am vile: I abhor myself, and repent_ as _in dust and ashes_. 16. A conviction of their _guiltiness_ is another branch of that repentance which belongs to the children of God. But this is cautiously to be understood, and in a peculiar sense. For it is certain, _there is no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus_, that believe in him, and in the power of that faith, _walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit_. Yet can they no more bear the _strict justice_ of God now than before they believed. This pronounces them to be still _worthy of death_, on all the preceding accounts. And it would absolutely condemn them thereto, were it not for the atoning blood. Therefore they are throughly convinced, that they still _deserve_ punishment, altho’ it is hereby turned aside from them. But here there are extremes on one hand and on the other, and few steer clear of them. Most men strike on one or the other, either thinking themselves condemned, when they are not, or thinking they _deserve_ to be acquitted. Nay, the truth lies between: they still _deserve_, strictly speaking, only the damnation of hell. But what they deserve does not come upon them, because they _have an Advocate with the Father_. His life and death and intercession still interpose between them and condemnation. 17. A conviction of their _utter helplesness_, is yet another branch of this repentance. I mean hereby two things; 1. That they are no more able now _of themselves_ to think one good thought, to form one good desire, to speak one good word, or do one good work, than before they were justified: that they have still no kind or degree of strength _of their own_, no power either to do good or resist evil: no ability to conquer or even withstand, the world, the devil, or their own evil nature. They _can_, it is certain, _do all_ these _things_; but it is not by _their own strength_. They have power to overcome all these enemies; for _sin hath no more dominion over_ them. But it is not from nature, either in whole or in part: _it is the_ mere _gift of God_. Nor is it given all at once, as if they had a stock laid up for many years; but from moment to moment.