In meekness instructing those that oppose
themselves
To the truth; resist it and deny it; or contradict some other
tenets and principles of theirs, or the Scriptures, which they
themselves allowed to be the word of God, and the rule of faith
and practice, and so are self-convinced and self-condemned. These
are to be instructed, being ignorant, and in a tender and gentle
manner, though very perverse and obstinate.
If God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging
of the truth:
repentance here designs a repentance of errors in principle, a
change of mind upon conviction, and such as issues in a free and
ingenuous confession, and acknowledgment of the truth before
opposed; and such a repentance is the gift of God: it is he that
opens the eyes of the understanding, and works conviction in the
mind, and leads into all truth, as it is in Jesus; and induces
men to repent of their errors, confess their mistakes, and own
the truth; even as repentance of evil practices is not owing to
the power of men, nor to the bare influence of means, but to the
efficacious grace of God, it being a grant from him. And though
this is not certain, that God will give repentance to such
contradictors and blasphemers of his Gospel; yet as it is his
will, that all his chosen ones should come to repentance, and
that some of all sorts should be saved, and come to the knowledge
of the truth; and seeing these things have been brought about
under and by the ministry of the word, it is an encouragement to
the ministers of the Gospel to continue their instructions in the
manner here directed.
