The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

The same grace and favour did the sinful woman Magdalene, Zacheus, the poor thief, and many other feel. ¹All which things ought to serve for our comfort against the temptations of our consciences, whereby the devil goeth about to shake, or rather to overthrow our faith. For every one of us ought to apply the same unto him self, and say: yet now return unto the Lord, neither let the remembrance of thy former life discourage thee, yea the more wicked that it hath ben, the more fervent and earnest let thy repentance or returning be, and forth with thou shalt feel the ears of the Lord wide open unto thy prayers. But let us more narrowly look upon ⟨p. 512⟩the commandment of the Lord touching this matter. Turn unto me (saith he by his prophet Joel) with all your hearts, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Rent your hearts and not your garments. &c. In which words, he comprehendeth all manner of things that can be spoken of repentance, which is a returning again of the whole man unto God, from whom we be fallen away by sin. But that the whole discourse thereof may the better be borne away, we shall first consider in order four principal points, that is, from what we must return, to whom we must return, by whom we may be able to convert, and the manner how to turn to GOD.

The same grace and fauour dyd the sinfull woman Magdalene, Zacheus, the poore theefe, and many other feele. ¹All whiche thynges ought to serue for our comfort agaynst the temptations of our consciences, whereby the deuill goeth about to shake, or rather to ouerthrowe our faith. For euery one of vs ought to applye the same vnto hym selfe, and say: yet nowe returne vnto the Lorde, neyther let the remembraunce of thy former lyfe discourage thee, yea the more wicked that it hath ben, the more feruent and earnest let thy repentaunce or returnyng be, and foorth with thou shalt feele the eares of the Lorde wide open vnto thy prayers. But let vs more narowly loke vpon ⟨p. 512⟩the cōmaundement of the Lorde touchyng this matter. Turne vnto me (sayth he by his prophete Joel) with al your heartes, with fasting, weping and mourning. Rent your heartes and not your garments. &c. In which wordes, he comprehendeth al maner of things that can be spoken of repentaunce, whiche is a returning agayne of the whole man vnto God, from whom we be fallen away by sinne. But that ye whole discourse thereof may the better be borne away, we shall fyrst consyder in order foure principall poyntes, that is, from what we must returne, to whom we must returne, by whom we may be able to conuert, and the maner howe to turne to GOD.