PHIL. Yea and in all points agreeable to the holy scriptures.1 For Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners unto repentance. Now mark for your health and consolation.2 David committed both manslaughter & adultery, & therefore was he threatened many evils of God by his Prophet Nathan. Not withstanding he had not so soon repented him of his act, & confessed his fault, saying: I have offended the LORD, but the Prophet said: The LORD hath turned away thy sin, thou shalt not dye.3 King Ahab also did slay his subject Naboth, that he might enjoy his vineyard. And God therefore sent his Prophet Heli as unto him for to tell him that the dogs should like his blood also even there, where they licked the blonde of Na•othe, and that every one of the house of Ahab that maketh water against y• would, should ⟨image 38⟩be slain. &c. Ahab straight way was ashamed of his fault, repented, cut his clothes, covered his flesh with garments of here, fasted slept in sack cloth, & walked with a heavy countenance, & therefore god seeing his repentant heart, said that he would not bring in that evil in his days, but in his sons time. Again king Manasseh,4 inasmuch as he repented, for all the abomination that he committed against god & his glory, was forgiven, & afterward numbered among the friends of god.5 The Ninevites were threatened within forty days to be subverted for their dissolute & wicked living. But they being stricken with repentance in the mean season, & mending their life, received favour & were saved. As I may come nearer home,6 as they say, who was more famous in sin than Mary Magdalene, yet inasmuch as she faithfully repented, & bewailed her ⟨image 38⟩sinful living, her since were forgiven her. Peter denied Christ,7 yet seeing he repented & wept bitterly for his offence,8 he was favourably received to grace: The prodigal son although he had consumed all his goods, was joyfully received in as much as he repented & knowledged his offence.9 The these called never for grace till the hour of death, yet seeing, that he bewailed than his misery, & axed mercy, he was herd, & went with Christ in to Paradise. Do not these histories besides other, show of what great strength repentance is.
PHIL. Yea and in al pointes agreable to the holy scriptures.1 For Christ came not to call the ryghteous, but synners vnto repentaunce. Nowe marke for your helth and consolacion.2 Dauid committed both māslaughter & adultrye, & therfore was he threatened many euels of God by his Prophet Nathā. Not withstandynge he had not so sone repented hym of his acte, & cōfessed his faute, sayenge: I haue offended the LORDE, but the Prophet sayde: The LORDE hath turned awaye thy syn, thou shalt not dye.3 Kynge Achab also dyd slaye his subiecte Nabotch, yt he myght enioy his vyneyeard. And God therfore sent his Prophet Heli as vnto hym for to tell him that the dogges shoulde lycke his bloude olso euen there, where they lycked the blonde of Na•othe, and that euery one of the house of Achabbe that maketh water agaynst y• w•ull, should ⟨image 38⟩be slayne. &c. Achab streyghte waye was ashamed of his faulte, repēted, cutte his clothes, couered his flesshe with garmētes of heere, fasted slept in sacke cloth, & walked with a heuy countenaunce, & therfore god seyng his repentaunte herte, sayd that he would not bryng in that euel in his dayes, but ī his sōnes tyme. Agayne kinge Manasses,4 in asmuch as he repented, for all the abhominaciō that he committed agaynst god & his glory, was forgiuē, & afterward nōbred among ye fredes of god.5 The Niniuites were threatened withī forty daies to be subuerted for theyr dissolute & wicked lyuynge. But they beynge striken with repentaūce in ye meane season, & mendynge theyr lyfe, receyued fauour & were saued. As I may come nerer home,6 as they saye, who was more famous in sinne thā Mary Magdalene, yet in asmuch as she faythfully repented, & bewailed her ⟨image 38⟩synfull lyuyng, her synnes were forgynen her. Peter denyed Christ,7
- 1Math. ••.
- 2•. •eg. xi•.
- 3iii. Reg. ••.
- 4i•••. Reg. xxi. ••. Pa•. x•xiii
- 5Jonah. ii•.Ionas. ii•.
- 6Luke. vi•.
- 7Mat. x•••
- 8Luk. xv:
- 9Luk. xxiii.
