From The Works of Arminius, Volume 1:
The contrary to repentance is impenitence, and a pertinacious perseverance in sinning: of which there are two degrees, one the delay of [repentance], the other final impenitence unto death.
The latter of them has a certain expectation of eternal destruction, even according to the most merciful will of God revealed in Christ and in the Gospel; lest any one should persuade himself that the devils themselves and men who have passed their lives in impiety will at length experience the mercy of God.
The former of them, the delay of [repentance], is marvelously dangerous, for three reasons:
- Because it is in the power and hand of God to make even the delay of a single hour to be a final impenitence, since to Him belongs the dominion and lordship over our life and death.
- Because after a habit of sinning has been introduced by daily exercise, a man is rendered [αναίσθητος], incapable of feeling, and his conscience becomes “seared with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. iv, 2.)
- Because, after the gate of grace has by the just judgment of God been closed on account of a malicious continuance in sins, no passage is open for the Spirit, who is necessarily the author of repentance. Therefore let these words always resound in our ears, “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Heb. iii.7, 8; Psalm xcv.7, 8.) And this exhortation of the Apostle, “Workout your own salvation with fear and trembling: for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure,” (Phil. ii.12, 13.)
May this be graciously granted to us by God the Father of mercies, in the Son of his love, by the Holy Spirit of both of them. To whom be praise and glory forever. Amen.
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