The Institution of Christian Religion

but when they seem to have throughly wounded the hearts, they heal the bitterness with a light sprinkling of ceremonies.¹ And when they have thus curiously defined repentance, they divide it into contrition of heart, confession of mouth, & satisfaction of work, no more logically than they defined it, although they would seem to have wasted all their age in framing of syllogisms. But if a man will go about to prove by the definition (which kind of argument is of force among logicians) that a man may weep for his sins passed, and commit no more to be wept for, that he may bewail his evils passed, and commit no more to be bewailed, and that he may punish himself for that which he was sorry to have committed. &c. although he do not confess with his mouth: how will they maintain their division? For if that true penitent man do not confess, then repentance may be without confession. But if they answer, that this division is referred to repentance, in respect that it is a sacrament, or is meant of the whole perfection of repentance, which they comprehend not in their definitions, then is there no cause to blame me, but let them lay the fault in themselves that make not a purer and plainer definition, I truly (according to my grossness) when any thing is disputed of, do refer all things to the very definition, which is the stay & ground of the whole disputation. But admit that to be their masterlike licence. Now let us particularly consider all the parts in order. Whereas I do negligently leap over as trifles those things that they with great gravity of countenance do publish for mysteries, I do it not unwittingly, neither were it very painful for me to confute all that they think them selves to have deeply and subtly disputed) but I would think it against conscience to weary the readers with such trifles without any profit. Truly it is easy to know by the questions which they move and toss, and wherewith they miserably encumber themselves, that they prate of things that they know not. As for example: whether the repentance of our sin pleaseth God, when obstinacy endureth in other. Again: whether the punishments laid upon man by God, do avail to satisfaction. Again: whether repentance may be oftentimes reiterate for deadly sins: where they foully & wickedly define, that penance is daily done but for venial sins.

but when thei seeme to haue throughly wounded the heartes, thei heale ye bitternesse with a light sprinkling of ceremonies.