A09473:36
Two treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat…Tvvo treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat…
Two treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat of the flesh and spirit.Tvvo treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat of the flesh and spirit.
Cambridge: printed by John Legate printer to the University of Cambridge. 1593., 1593Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legate printer to the Vniversitie of Cambridge. 1593., 1593
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Again I say, that repentance is a turning from sin, because it doeth not abolish or change the substance of body or soul, or any of the faculties thereof either in whole or part: but only rectify and amend them by removing the corruption. It turns the sadness of melancholy to godly sorrow, choler to good zeal, softness of nature to meekness of spirit, madness and lightness to christian mirth: it reforms every man according to his natural constitution, not abolishing it but redressing the faults of it.
Againe I say, that repentance is a turning from sinne, because it doeth not abolish or change the substance of body or soule, or any of the faculties thereof either in whole or parte: but onely rectifie and amend them by remooving the corruption. It turnes the sadnesse of melancholy to godly sorow, choller to good zeale, softnesse of nature to meekenesse of spirit, madnesse and lightnesse to christian mirth: it reformes every man according to his naturall constitution, not abolishing it but redressing the faultes of it.
Further I put down, that repentance is a turning from all sin to God, that I may exclude ⟨p. 6⟩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 Familist. The second, when a man turns from one sin to another. 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 another, whereas repentance is to leave the extremes and 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, & spirit regenerate: so he which truly repents, turns