A Golden Chain

Some may object, that repentance goes before all grace, because it is first preached. The first sermon that ever was made, was of repentance, preached by God himself in Paradise to our first parents. And ever since the sermons of all the Prophets and Apostles, and of all faithful ministers have had repentance for their beginning and scope. The answer hereto may be this: If we respect the order of nature, there be other graces of God which go before repentance: because a mans conscience must in some sort be settled touching his reconciliation with God in Christ, before he can begin to repent. Wherefore justification and sanctification in order of nature go before repentance. But if we respect time, grace and repentance are both together. So soon as there is fire, so soon it is hot: and so soon as a man is regenerate, so soon he repents. If we respect the outward manifestation of these twain, repentance goes before all other graces: because it first of all appears outwardly. Regeneration is like the sap of the tree that lies hid within the bark: repentance is like the bud that speedily shows it self, before either blossom, leaf, or fruit appear: yea, all other graces of the heart which are needful to salvation, are made manifest by repentance. And for this cause Repentance (as I take it) is first preached.

Some may obiect, that repentance goes before all grace, because it is first preached. The first sermon that euer was made, was of repentance, preached by God himselfe in Paradise to our first parents. And euer since the sermons of all the Prophets and Apostles, and of all faithfull ministers haue had repentance for their beginning and scope. The answer hereto may be this: If we respect the order of nature, there be other graces of God which goe before repentance: because a mans conscience must in some sort be setled touching his reconciliation with God in Christ, before he can begin to repent. Wherefore iustification and sanctification in order of nature goe before repentance. But if we respect time, grace and repentance are both together. So soone as there is fire, so soone it is hote: and so soone as a man is regenerate, so soone he repents. If we respect the outward manifestation of these twaine, repentance goes before all other graces: because it first of all appeares outwardly. Regeneration is like the sappe of the tree that lies hid within the barke: repentance is like the budde that speedily shewes it selfe, before either blossome, leafe, or fruit appeare: yea, all other graces of the heart which are needfull to saluation, are made manifest by repentance. And for this cause Repentance (as I take it) is first preached.