The Gospel hath joined unto 1it, the doctrine of Repentance: For so said the Lord: Repē pentaunce ⟨p. 36⟩and remission of since, must be preached in my name, to all nations. By repentance we understand, the amendment of the mind, in the sinful man, provoked thereunto by the preaching of the Gospel, and inward working of the holy ghost, and received with true saith, whereby the sinner doeth strait way acknowledge his natural corruption: and all his since reproved by the word of God, and being heartily sorry for the same, doeth not only bewail his iniquities, but being ashamed thereof, confess them, but also with disdain detest them, minding earnestly to amend, and always endeavouring to lead an innocent and virtuous life, as long as he liveth. And this assuredly 2is unfeigned repentance, to wit, a true conversion to God and all goodness, with a speedy departure from satan, and all evil. We also plainly affirm, that this repentance is the mere gift of God, and not the work of our 3strength: For the Apostle biddeth a faithful minister, diligently to instruct ⟨image 80⟩them, which resist the truth, assaying, if God at any time, will give them repentance, that they may know the truth. Moreover the sinful woman, mentioned in the Gospel, (who washed Christs feet with her tears, and Peter, who wept bitterly, be wailing 4his denial of Christ, do plainly declare unto us, what manner of mind, the penitent should have, when he earnestly lamenteth his sins, which he hath committed. The prodigal son also, and the Publican, mentioned in the Gospel, and compared with the Pharisee, are fit examples for us to imitate, in confessing our sins. The prodigal son said: Father, I have sinned against heaven, & in thy sight, now I am not worthy to be called thy soon, make me as one of thy hired servants. The Publican, not being so bold, as to lift up his eyes to heaven, knocking his breast, cried, O God be merciful to me a sinner. These penitent offenders, we doubt not, but that God received again to his mercy and favour. For John the ⟨p. 37⟩Apostle saith: If we acknowledge our 5since, he is faithful and just to forgive us our since, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness: If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
THe Gospell hath ioigned vnto 1it, the doctrine of Repentaūce: For so saied the Lorde: Repē pentaunce ⟨p. 36⟩and remission of synnes, muste bée preached in my name, to all nacions. By repentaunce we vnderstande, the amendement of the mynde, in the sinfull man, prouoked therevnto by the preaching of the Gospell, and inward woorkyng of the holie ghoste, and receiued with true saithe, wherby the synner doeth straite waie acknowledge his naturall corrupcion: and all his synnes reproued by the woorde of God, and beeyng hariely sorie for the same, doeth not onely bewaile his iniquities, but beeyng ashamed thereof, confesse theim, but also with disdaine deteste them, mindyng earnestlie to amende, and alwaies indeuouryng to leade an innocent and vertuous life, as long as he liueth. And this assuredly 2is vnfained repentaunce, to wit, a true conuersion to God and all goodnesse, with a spedie departure from satan, and all euill. We also plainly affirme, that this repentaūce is the mere gifte of God, and not the worke of our 3strengthe: For the Apostle biddeth a faithfull minister, diligētly to instruct ⟨image 80⟩theim, whiche resiste the truthe, assaiyng, if God at any tyme, will giue thē repentaunce, that thei maie knowe the truthe. Moreouer the synfull woman, mencioned in the Gospell, (who wasshed Christes fete with her teares, and Peter, who wept bitterly, be wailyng 4his deniall of Christe, doe plainly declare vnto vs, what maner of minde, the penitent should haue, when he earnestly lamenteth his sinnes, which he hath committed. The prodigall sonne also, and the Publicane, mencioned in the Gospell, and compared with the Pharisie, are fitte examples for vs to imitate, in confessing our sinnes. The prodigall sonne saied: Father, I haue synned against heauen, & in thy sight, nowe I am not worthie to bee called thy soonne, make me as one of thy hiered seruauntes. The Publicane, not beyng so bolde, as to lifte vp his yies to heauen, knockyng his breast, cried, O God bee mercifull to me a synner. These penitent offendours, we doubt not, but that God receiued againe to his mercie and fauour. For Ihon the ⟨p. 37⟩Apostle saith: If we acknowledge our
- 1what repentance is. Luke. xxiiiiwhat repentaunce is. Luke. xxiiii
- 2Repentance is a true conversion from satan to God.Repentaunce is a true conuersion from satan to God.
- 3Repentance is the gift of God. ii. Cor. ii.Repentaunce is the gifte of God. ii. Cor. ii.
- 4Luke. vii. and. xxii
- 5i. John. i.i. Ihon. i.
