A Golden Chain

Further I put down, that repentance is a turning from all sin to God, that I may exclude many false turnings. The first, when a man turns from God to sin: as when one of a Protestant becomes a Papist, an Arian a •• milist. The second, when a man turns from one sin to an other. As when the riotous person leaves his prodigality, and gives himself to the practise of covetousness: this can be no repentance: because it is a going from one extreme to an other, whereas repentance is to leave the extremes & keep the mean. The third is, not when a man turns from sin, but sin turns from him and leaves him. As when the drunkard leaves drunkenness, because his stomach is decayed: the fornicator his uncleanness, because the strength of nature fails him: the quarreller his fighting, because he is maimed on leg or arm. The last is, when men turn from many sins, but will not turn from all. As Herod did many things at the advertisement of John Baptist, but could not be brought to leave incest, in having his brother Philips wife; This repentance is nothing. For as he which is truly regenerate, is wholly in body, soul, and spirit regenerate: so he which truly repents, turns from all sin, and turns wholly to God.

Further I put downe, that repentance is a turning from all sinne to God, that I may exclude many false turnings. The first, when a man turnes from God to sinne: as when one of a Protestant becomes a Papist, an Arrian a •• milist. The second, when a man turnes from one sinne to an other. As when the riotous person leaues his prodigalitie, and giues himselfe to the practise of couetousnes: this can be no repentāce: because it is a going from one extreame to an other, whereas repentance is to leaue the extreames & keepe the meane. The third is, not when a man turnes from sinne, but sinne turnes from him and leaues him. As when the drunkard leaues drunkennesse, because his stomacke is decaied: the fornicatour his vncleannes, because the strength of nature failes him: the quarreller his fighting, because he is maymed on legge or arme. The last is, when men turne from many sinnes, but will not turne from all. As Herod did many things at the aduertisement of Iohn Baptist, but could not be brought to leaue incest, in hauing his brother Philips wife; This repentance is nothing. For as he which is truly regenerate, is wholly in bodie, soule, and spirit regenerate: so he which truly repents, turnes from all sinne, and turnes wholly to God.