his union with Christ, his adoption, justification, and conversion: & these four are wrought all at one instant, so as for order of time, neither goes before nor after other: and yet in regard of order of nature, union with Christ, Justification, and adoption, go before the inward conversion of a sinner, it being the fruit and effect of all. Upon this it followeth necessarily, that a sinner in the very first act of his conversion, is justified, adopted, and incorporated ⟨p. 8⟩into the mystical body of Christ. In the Parable of the prodigal son, the father with joy receives his wicked child; but when? surely when he saw him coming a far off, and when as yet he had made no confession or humiliation to his father, but only had conceived with himself a purpose to return and to say, Father I have sinned against heaven and against thee, &c. And Paul saith of many of the Corinthians, that he could not speak unto them as spiritual men, but as carnal, even babes in Christ, 1. Cor. 3. 1. When David reproved by Nathan did but begin to repent and to say, I have sinned, presently Nathan the Prophet of the ⟨p. 9⟩Lord said, The Lord hath taken away thy sin, Of this thing David seems to speak in the 32. Psal. v. 5. I said [that is, I purposed and thought with my self] I will confess against my self mine unrighteousness, and thou forgavest mine iniquities. Upon these words Augustine saith, Mark, he doth not confess, but promiseth to confess, & God forgiveth him. Again, There be (saith he) three syllables, peccavi, I have sinned: and from these three syllables the flame of a sacrifice did ascend into heaven before God. Chrysostom saith, Say thou hast sinned: and thou hast loosed thy sin. And Ambrose saith: If he said, I will confess, and obtained pardon before he confessed, how much more when ⟨p. 10⟩he had confessed, saying, I know mine iniquity, was his sin pardoned▪ Gregory on this Psal. saith, Mark how speedily pardon comes, and how great is the commendation of Gods mercy, in that pardon comes together with the desire of confession, and remission comes to the heart, before confession break forth in speech.
his vnion with Christ, his adoption, iustification, and conuersion: & these foure are wrought al at one instant, so as for order of time, neither goes before nor after other: and yet in regard of order of nature, vnion with Christ, Iustification, and adoption, goe before the inward conuersion of a sinner, it beeing the fruit and effect of all. Vpon this it followeth necessarily, that a sinner in the very first act of his conuersion, is iustified, adopted, and incorporated ⟨p. 8⟩into the misticall bodie of Christ. In the Parable of the prodigall sonne, the father with ioy receiues his wicked child; but when? surely when he saw him comming a farre off, and when as yet he had made no confession or humiliation to his father, but onely had conceiued with himselfe a purpose to returne and to say, Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee, &c. And Paul saith of many of the Corinthians, that he could not speake vnto them as spiritual men, but as carnall, euē babes in Christ, 1. Cor. 3. 1. When Dauid reprooued by Nathan did but begin to repent and to say, I haue sinned, presently Nathan the Prophet of the ⟨p. 9⟩Lord said, The Lord hath taken away thy sin, Of this thing Dauid seemes to speake in the 32. Psal. v. 5. I said [that is, I purposed and thought with my selfe] I will confesse against my selfe mine vnrighteousnesse, and thou forgauest mine iniquities. Vpon these words Augustine saith, Marke, he doth not confesse, but promiseth to confesse, & God forgiueth him. Againe, There be (saith he) three syllables, peccaui, I haue sinned: and from these three syllables the flame of a sacrifice did ascend into heauen before God. Chrysostome saith, Say thou hast sinned: and thou hast loosed thy sinne. And Ambrose saith: If he said, I will confesse, and obtained pardon before he confessed, how much more when ⟨p. 10⟩he had confessed, saying, I know mine iniquitie, was his sinne pardoned▪ Gregorie on this Psal. saith, Marke how speedily pardon comes, and how great is the commendation of Gods mercie, in that pardon comes together with the desire of confession, and remission comes to the heart, before confession breake forth in speech.
