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  NOW I REJOICE, NOT THAT YE WERE MADE SORRY
  by John Calvin
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Summary: Godly sorrow, which is a hatred of sin itself, is the cause of
repentance to salvation, and is essential for submitting ourselves to
God's government.

Topics: "Repentance", "Righteousness"
Scripture References: Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Ecclesiastes 12:13, 2 Corinthians 7:9

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John Calvin preaches about the importance of godly sorrow leading to
true repentance, emphasizing that repentance begins with a genuine dread
and hatred of sin, not just fear of punishment, but a deep understanding
that sin is offensive to God. He explains that God uses various means,
including chastisements and threats, to awaken us from spiritual
sluggishness and rebellion, highlighting the necessity of a reverent
fear of God as the foundation of repentance and righteousness.

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CONTENT
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Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to
repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might
receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to
salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh
death. --II Corinthians 7:9, 10

Since conversion commences with a dread and hatred of sin, therefore the
apostle makes godly sorrow the cause of repentance. He calls it godly
sorrow when we not only dread punishment, but hate and abhor sin itself;
from a knowledge that it is displeasing to God. Nor ought this to be
thought strange; for, unless we felt sharp compunction, our carnal
sluggishness could never be corrected, and even these distresses of mind
would not be sufficient to arouse it from its stupidity and indolence,
if God, by the infliction of his chastisements, did not make a deeper
impression.

Besides this, there is a rebellious obstinacy, which requires violent
blows, as it were, to overcome it. The severity, therefore, which God
uses in his threatenings, is extorted from him by the depravity of our
minds; since it would be in vain for him to address kind and alluring
invitations to those who are asleep.

The fear of God is called the beginning of repentance also for another
reason; because though a man's life were perfect in every virtue, if it
be not devoted to the worship of God, it may indeed be commended by the
world, but in heaven it will be only an abomination; since the principal
branch of righteousness consists in rendering to God the honor due to
him, of which he is impiously defrauded, when it is not our end and aim
to submit ourselves to his government. --Institutes, III, iii, vii

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/john-calvin/now-i-rejoice-not-that-ye-were-made-sorry/
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