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I. THE TIME WHEN THE WICKED TURNETH AWAY FROM HIS WICKEDNESS. It is indefinitely spoken, and doth not exclude late time, which may be an encouragement to everyone, be his case never so desperate. But then, this is not spoken to encourage men's delays and put-offs; for there are four great evils consequent upon that.

1. It were to ill resent the goodness of God thus to requite His grace and favour, that we continue in sin because God is gracious.

2. It were to abuse ourselves, and do ourselves more and more harm.

3. It would make the work which is necessary to our happiness much more hard and difficult. For ill use doth contract bad habits; and bad habits contracted by long use and custom are with great difficulty left off.

4. Continuance in sin doth expose us to far greater danger.

(1) Because of the great uncertainty of life, for who can promise himself another day, nay another moment?

(2) Because of the devil's repeated and continued assaults, by which he will still get the more advantage upon us; and so it will become the more difficult to get him out of possession.

(3) In respect of the insinuations of bad company, and converse.

(4) All the while you stand out you are in a way of resistance of the Holy Spirit, and fight against the motions of God Almighty; which are necessary to bring you to good, and to qualify you for eternal life.

II. THE QUALITY OF THE PERSON. Scripture doth not denominate persons wicked, or sinners, or workers of iniquity, from weaknesses, failings, or from error of judgment, or from indisposition at times, from sudden passion or surprisal; nor from the irregularity of the first motion, that is so troublesome and grievous unto us all. But they are called sinners and wicked persons who voluntarily consent to known iniquity.

III. WHEN A MAN MAY BE SAID TO TURN FROM HIS WICKEDNESS.

1. The negatives are these.

(1) A man is not said to turn away from his iniquities when his sin rather leaves him, than he leaves it; either through age and disability of body; or through weakness and infirmity; so that he cannot bear to do as he has formerly done.

(2) Such men as are not at their own liberty; but under tutors and governors, whom they dare not disobey; who are as it were shut up, and not suffered to ramble abroad.

(3) Nor when sin is made bitter to men, by suffering the had consequences that follow upon it.

2. But then affirmatively, in three particulars.

(1) When we leave sin out of sense and judgment of its vileness and impurity.

(2) When we leave sin out of respect to God, in obedience unto His laws, and love to Him.

(3) A man cannot be said to return from his wickedness unless he doth conceive displeasure at it, and resolve never to have to do with it again.

IV. AN ACCOUNT OF LAWFUL AND RIGHT. Here are two words for one and the same thing; and the one is explicatory of the other. Now this is that which we all ought to do; and there is no pretence of power and privilege to the contrary. And if everybody did confine himself to that which is right, just, and fit, we should have a new world; and there would be nothing of wrong or hard measure found among us: we should then be the better one for another. There is a rule of right in all cases, and it is the charge of all persons in the use of Power, to judge and determine according unto that rule.

1. I will begin with the relation that is between parents and children, and show you what is right for parents to do with their children, and children to their parents.

2. I go to the relation of husbands and wives; there is the right of the case between them.

3. Then for masters and servants. Masters, render to your servants what is right, that which is equal, fair, and reasonable. Then for servants, there is the right of the case for them also, and that is to obey their masters in all things, and to be true and faithful to them.

4. Then in our common converse, we ought to use all humanity, courtesy, and affability, giving all respect, despising nobody.

5. To descend to the creatures below us, there is a right of the case here also. We must not abuse any.

V. THE HAPPINESS THAT FOLLOWS UPON RENOVATION, REPENTANCE, AND TURNING TO GOD. HE THAT DOTH SO SHALL SAVE HIS SOUL ALIVE. From this we may understand of how great benefit the good use and improvement of our time is. How many are there that overlook the business, purpose, and intention of life! We are here to run a race, and so to run that we may obtain; and therefore we are to watch over ourselves, both as to the things of our mind and body; and so to keep under our bodies, and bring them into subjection, that we may not ruin and undo ourselves. Therefore I advise every man that is serious to ask himself these questions.

1. Will this that I have done, or am doing, be accountable when God shall call me to a reckoning?

2. That which Abigail put to David (1 Samuel 25), "This will be no grief of heart, nor offence, unto thee."

3. What shall I think of this when I shall lie upon my death bed?

4. How remediless will the consequence of evil be, when I shall have the least relief by my reason, and be least capable of advice; and when I shall have the least assistance of God's grace and Spirit?

(B. Whichcote, D. D.)

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KJV: Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

WEB: Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.