All the Prophets before Christ, his immediate Fore-runner, Christ himself, his Apostles, and other faithful Ministers after them, have laid the Foundation of Repentance from dead works, to erect assurance of mercy thereupon. Whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sins, shall have mercy. Pro. 28.13. Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do well, and come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow, though they be made red like crimson, they shall be as wool, Isaiah 1.16, 17, 18. Return ye Backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings, saith the Lord, Jer. 3.22. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die. Ezek. 33.11. I will go, and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face, saith the Lord. Hos. 5.15. By these particulars we are given to understand what was the constant doctrine of the Prophets. To like purpose John the Baptist, Math. 3.2. Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The very same did Christ preach, Math. 4.1•. and his Apostles, Mark. 6.12. To this question, what shall we do? St. Peter returns this answer, Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, Act. 2.37, 38. S. Paul expressly saith (Act. 26.20.) that he showed that men should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. It is an advice given to the back-sliding Churches of ⟨p. 69⟩Asia, to repent: as to Ephesus, to Pergamus, to Thyatira, to Sardis, and to Laodicea, Rev. 2.5, 16, 22, & 3.3, 19. J might further fill volumes with testimonies of Fathers, and later Divines tending to the same purpose. For other good and sure foundation can no man lay.
All the Prophets before Christ, his immediate Fore-runner, Christ himselfe, his Apostles, and other faithfull Ministers after them, have laid the Foundation of Repentance from dead works, to erect assurance of mercy thereupon. Whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sinnes, shall have mercy. Pro. 28.13. Wash you, make you cleane, put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to doe evill, learne to doe well, and come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sinnes be as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow, though they be made red like crimson, they shall be as woole, Isaiah 1.16, 17, 18. Returne ye Backsliding children, and I will heale your backslidings, saith the Lord, Ier. 3.22. Turne yee, turne ye from your evill waies, for why will yee die. Ezek. 33.11. I will goe, and returne to my place, till they acknowledge their offence and seeke my face, saith the Lord. Hos. 5.15. By these particulars we are given to understand what was the constant doctrine of the Prophets. To like purpose Iohn the Baptist, Math. 3.2. Repent ye, for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand. The very same did Christ preach, Math. 4.1•. and his Apostles, Mark. 6.12. To this question, what shall we doe? St. Peter returnes this answer, Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sins, Act. 2.37, 38. S. Paul expressely saith (Act. 26.20.) that he shewed that men should repent and turne to God, and doe workes meet for repentance. It is an advice given to the back-sliding Churches of ⟨p. 69⟩Asia, to repent: as to Ephesus, to Pergamus, to Thyatira, to Sardis, and to Laodicea, Rev. 2.5, 16, 22
