The first ground of practise is,1 Luke 13.3. Except ye repent ye shall perish. In which two things are to be observed. First the duty required, that is, Repentance, the necessity of which appeareth, in that without it men perish. Secondly the adversaries. Concerning repentance two things must be taught: first, what it is: secondly, what is the use of it. For the first;2 Repentance (as Paul describeth it) is a conversion whereby a sinner turneth himself unto God, and bringeth forth fruits worthy amendment of life. There be two kinds of conversion of a sinner: first, that whereby God turneth man. Secondly, that whereby a man being turned by God, turneth himself by grace: the former is not repentance properly, but the latter. Jere. 31.18. Convert thou me, and I shall be converted. Surely after that I converted I repented. Quest. In what part is this conversion made? Ans. It beginneth in the mind, but it is of the whole man, the mind laying off all purpose of sinning, the conscience calling back from sin, the will not seeking to fulfil the lusts of it; but the whole man endeavouring to please God thorough his whole conversation: further, repentance is attended with divers fruits, worthy newness of life. These are the duties of the Moral law, performed in faith and truth without hypocrisy: which because they proceed from the same beginning, are approved of God as repentance is. The second point in this duty is, the use of repentance, and that is not to be • cause of salvation, but only a way, wherein men must walk to life everlasting. We are slandered by the Popish church, while they exclaim that our doctrine requireth nothing but faith to be saved by, and so we become enemies to all good works. But this is not our doctrine, for we hold the works of repentance to be the way of salvation. Indeed when we speak of the instrument whereby we lay hold upon Christ, that we say is faith only, not hope, love, or any works: but when we speak of a way to life, then faith is not alone, but repentance is required, hope, the fear of ⟨p. 34⟩God, and e•••y good work. So women are said to be saved thorough bearing of children, 1. Tim. 2.15. namely, as a way wherein they practise their faith and obedience. Thus Abraham's faith and works went together, Jam. 2.22.
The first ground of practise is,1 Luke 13.3. Except ye repent ye shall perish. In which two things are to bee obserued. First the dutie required, that is, Repentance, the necessitie of which appeareth, in that without it men perish. Secondly the aduersaries. Concerning repentance two things must be taught: first, what it is: secondly, what is the vse of it. For the first;2 Repentance (as Paul describeth it) is a conuersion whereby a sinner turneth himselfe vnto God, and bringeth foorth fruites worthie amendement of life. There be two kindes of conuersion of a sinner: first, that whereby God turneth man. Secondly, that whereby a man being turned by God, turneth himselfe by grace: the former is not repentance properly, but the latter. Iere. 31.18. Conuert thou me, and I shall bee conuerted. Surely after that I conuerted I repented. Quest. In what part is this conuersion made? Ans. It beginneth in the minde, but it is of the whole man, the minde laying off all purpose of sinning, the conscience calling backe from sinne, the will not seeking to fulfill the lusts of it; but the whole man endeuouring to please God thorough his whole conuersation: further, repentance is attended with diuers fruites, worthie newnes of life. These are the duties of the Morall law, performed in faith and truth without hypocrisie: which because they proceede from the same beginning, are approoued of God as repentance is. The second point in this dutie is, the vse of repentance, and that is not to be • cause of saluation, but only a way, wherin men must walke to life euerlasting. We are slandered by the Popish church, while they exclaime that our doctrine requireth nothing but faith to be saued by, and so wee become enemies to all good workes. But this is not our doctrine, for we hold the workes of repentance to be the way of saluation. Indeed when we speak of the instrument wherby we lay hold vpon Christ, that we say is faith onely, not hope, loue, or any workes: but when wee speake of a way to life, then faith is not alone, but repentance is required, hope, the feare of ⟨p. 34⟩God, and e•••y good worke. So women are said to be saued thorough bearing of children, 1. Tim. 2.15. namely, as a way wherein they practise their faith and obedience. Thus Abrahams faith and workes went together,
- 11. Ground.
- 2Act. 26.20.
