The Practice of Piety

Yet if thou comest humbly in Faith, Repentance, and Charity, abhorring thy sins past, and purposing unfeignedly to amend thy life henceforth: let not thy former sins affright thee: for they shall be never laid unto thy charge: and this Sacrament shall seal unto thy Soul, that all thy sins, and the Judgements due unto them, are fully pardoned, and clean washed away by the blood of Christ. For, this Sacrament ⟨p. 747⟩was not ordained for them who are perfect; but to help penitent sinners unto perfection: Christ came not to call the righteous, ¹but sinners to repentance. And he saith,² that the whole need not the Physician, but they that are sick. Those hath Christ called, and when they came, them hath he ever helped. Witness the whole Gospel which testifieth: that not one sinner, who came to Christ for mercy, went ever away without his errand. Bathe thou likewise thy sick Soul in this fountain of Christs blood, and doubtless according to his promise, Zach. 13.1. thou shalt be healed of all thy sins and uncleanness. Not sinners ⟨p. 748⟩therefore, but they who are unwilling to repent of their sins, are debarred this Sacrament.

Yet if thou commest humbly in Faith, Repentance, and Charitie, abhorring thy sins past, and purposing vnfainedly to amend thy life henceforth: let not thy former sinnes affright thee: for they shall be neuer laid vnto thy charge: and this Sacrament shall seale vnto thy Soule, that all thy sinnes, and the Iudgements due vnto them, are fully pardoned, and cleane washed away by the bloud of Christ. For, this Sacrament ⟨p. 747⟩vvas not ordained for them who are perfect; but to helpe penitent sinners vnto perfection: Christ came not to call the righteous, ¹but sinners to repentance. And he saith,