Zachary Crofton's Masterful Work on Biblical Repentance

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C. Matthew McMahon

Christian Preacher
[video=vimeo;187228193]https://vimeo.com/187228193[/video]

When you finish reading this practical work by Zachary Crofton on biblical repentance, you might say to yourself, “I’ve never repented.” That’s the kind of impact he is going to have on you if you read this work even in a cursory manner.

The Nature, Necessity and Character of True Repentance,
by Zachary Crofton (1626-1672)

Zachary Crofton (1626-1672), was a faithful Presbyterian minister of the Gospel, and an Irish non-conformist puritan divine.

In order to have a deeper walk with Christ, repentance is at the heart and life of the sinner who walks comfortably with God. However, repenting, reordering and realigning your fallen mind to sit in connection with God’s will, is not as simple as praying a prayer, as some would have you believe.

Crofton says that repentance is a “sense of, and sorrow for sin, as committed against God.” The sinner must spread himself before the Law of God to survey the entire course of his own life. He needs to weigh himself in the balance of God’s perfection. The Gospel-sinner knows he is imperfect, and in view of God’s Law, which shows him his sin, he comes away not just lacking in some spiritual and moral goodness, but sees the utter viciousness of his nature against God’s prescription for holiness. He then sentences himself as accursed of God, agreeing that the Law is right and good, and he knows that he is “bound” to experience God’s Divine fury for his sin in hell by God’s justice which is just and good. He not only sees that he is a true sinner before God, but sorrows under his understanding of sin, and is “ashamed of such a sad and sinful state.” He comes to learn that repentance is a supernatural gift given to him from God, and that he must turn from sin and confess his sin. This kind of repentance is necessary to remove the wrath and judgment of God and to “answer the call of the gospel,” which requires everyone to repent.

Crofton explains the characteristics of true biblical repentance from 2 Corinthians 7:11. There are eight characteristics that he covers: godly sorrow, care, clearing of ourselves, indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal and revenge against sin. And, finally, Crofton demonstrates 10 points which show how you, reader, might gain godly repentance, completely soaking the sinful heart in the blood of Jesus, with great speed, and earnestly looking for repentance only at the hands of God.

Get the eBook pack here at Puritan Publications.

Get the printed book here.

Get the Apple Version here.

Get the Kindle version here.

Get the Google Play version here.

Get the Nook version here.

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Thank you for the recommendation. Are you sure he was a Puritan? The printed book is only 126 pages.
 
Yes. The terms of the Solemn League and Covenant are exceedingly Puritanical in a good way. Crofton defended the Solemn League and Covenant. He came to London, and for a time was the minister of St. James’, Garlick Hythe, and then later he obtained the rectory of St. Botolph, Aldgate, which he preached in until the time of the Restoration of Charles II. Wood says "He was ejected from his pulpit for nonconformity with a number of other famous puritans." Daniel Neal has him in his Puritans as one writing around controversial puritan issues (his only writing that I know of that was not controversial was this one on repentance). Calalmy records him as an ejected minister along with the other puritans of the day - the exclusion of these ministers put an end to "Puritanism" considered as a reform movement in the Church of England, marking a watershed after which it is more accurate to talk of Nonconformism. The total number of these excluded clergy was estimated at 2,450, by Edmund Calamy, of whom 1300 became nonconforming ministers. Crofton was an avid follower of Ussher. However, he was sympathetic to the Restoration of the king. Later he opened a school and wrote extensively, but we don't have much of his writings which survived. Many of the Irish Puritans came over to England to continue preaching once civil war began. (See Gibbon's "The Irish Puritans," and "Zachary Crofton (1626-1672) and the "Baptismal Burden of Proof" by Bob McKelvey from the AofCE on this "lesser known Puritan." Dai Liu call him a "notorious" puritan in "Puritan London: A Study of Religion and Society in the City Parishes." Sanbach's 1890 version of "The History of the Ancient Parish of Sandbach, Co. Chester" calls him "a notable Puritan writer." PRDL has him under "Puritan, Reformed." Bernard Capp, "Worldly Pleasures: Dress, Music, Dancing, Art" FN 159 describes him as a student of John Front, and avid puritan. Packer's "Quest for Godliness: the Puritan vision of the Godly Life" includes him and his work on repentance. Even the illustrated London News, of 1865 calls him a "Puritan minister of that day, the Rev. Zachary Crofton).

What IS important, is his work on repentance. Really, after having read this quite a few times, we would be hard pressed today to find a handful of ministers that could explain repentance in such lucid and convicting terms. We would do well to think on his work with a bible in one hand, and on our knees.

Yes, the printed book is 126 pages. I didn't see where I may have posted otherwise. Is there someplace you saw?
 
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Yes. The terms of the Solemn League and Covenant are exceedingly Puritanical in a good way. Crofton defended the Solemn League and Covenant. He came to London, and for a time was the minister of St. James’, Garlick Hythe, and then later he obtained the rectory of St. Botolph, Aldgate, which he preached in until the time of the Restoration of Charles II. Wood says "He was ejected from his pulpit for nonconformity with a number of other famous puritans." Daniel Neal has him in his Puritans as one writing around controversial puritan issues (his only writing that I know of that was not controversial was this one on repentance). Calalmy records him as an ejected minister along with the other puritans of the day - the exclusion of these ministers put an end to "Puritanism" considered as a reform movement in the Church of England, marking a watershed after which it is more accurate to talk of Nonconformism. The total number of these excluded clergy was estimated at 2,450, by Edmund Calamy, of whom 1300 became nonconforming ministers. Crofton was an avid follower of Ussher. However, he was sympathetic to the Restoration of the king. Later he opened a school and wrote extensively, but we don't have much of his writings which survived. Many of the Irish Puritans came over to England to continue preaching once civil war began. (See Gibbon's "The Irish Puritans," and "Zachary Crofton (1626-1672) and the "Baptismal Burden of Proof" by Bob McKelvey from the AofCE on this "lesser known Puritan." Dai Liu call him a "notorious" puritan in "Puritan London: A Study of Religion and Society in the City Parishes." Sanbach's 1890 version of "The History of the Ancient Parish of Sandbach, Co. Chester" calls him "a notable Puritan writer." PRDL has him under "Puritan, Reformed." Bernard Capp, "Worldly Pleasures: Dress, Music, Dancing, Art" FN 159 describes him as a student of John Front, and avid puritan. Packer's "Quest for Godliness: the Puritan vision of the Godly Life" includes him and his work on repentance. Even the illustrated London News, of 1865 calls him a "Puritan minister of that day, the Rev. Zachary Crofton).

What IS important, is his work on repentance. Really, after having read this quite a few times, we would be hard pressed today to find a handful of ministers that could explain repentance in such lucid and convicting terms. We would do well to think on his work with a bible in one hand, and on our knees.

Yes, the printed book is 126 pages. I didn't see where I may have posted otherwise. Is there someplace you saw?

Nope. Just the Lulu page.
 
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