Samuel's encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30.…Samuels encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30.…

These graces must be found to accompany confession,¹ so that it may be sound and good, and without them it is nothing worth: and Sauls being void of these, was in no ⟨p. 267⟩wise to be taken for a true note of repentance. And that these must go with confession, is to be seen in many places of scripture. For Davids confession, that it came both from faith and repentance, is clear by Nathans words, saying to him, upon his confession made, the Lord hath forgiven thee thy sin: which is never obtained without them. And so Solomon saith:² he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin (which is done of none, but of him who believeth it to be forgiven him) he shall find mercy. And therefore Sauls confession, not going with the forsaking of his sin (for he waxed worse after it) neither coming from faith, which ⟨p. 268⟩must have gone before both, I conclude, that it was void of repentance. And for his worshipping of God which is the other thing alleged to prove it, seeing he grew worse after it, let all judge as they ought, and they shall find that as weak, to witness so weighty a matter, as his confession doth, for what change was in him after (except from evil to worse) or what sign all that present time, or afterward that his heart relented, and melted for displeasing God? without the which, all the rest was but as the morning dew, which is soon licked away with the heat of the Sun: Indeed he said, I have sinned, yea, and to Samuel pray for me to the Lord, ⟨p. 269⟩that he would forgive my sin; and again: return with me that I may worship the Lord: but what of all this? Did he not show himself to be the same he was before?

These graces must bee found to accompany confession,¹ so that it may bee sound and good, and without them it is nothing worth: and Sauls being voyd of these, was in no ⟨p. 267⟩