The Institution of Christian Religion

So when the consciences having long wrestled with them selves, and long been exercised with battles, do at length find no heaven to rest in, yet somewhat to ease them selves, they enforce them selves to a sorrow, and wring out tears to make perfect their contrition.

So when the consciences hauinge longe wrastled with them selues, and longe been exercised with battailes, doe at length finde no heauen to reste in, yet somewhat to ease them selues, thei enforce them selues to a sorrowe, and wringe out teares to make perfect their contrition.

But if they say that I slander them: Let them come forth and show any one man, that by such doctrine of contrition hath not either ben driven to despair, or hath not set for his defence a counterfeiting of sorrow in stead of true sorrow, against the judgement of God. We have also our selves said in one place, that forgiveness of since never cometh without repentance, because none but the afflicted and wounded with conscience of since, can sincerely call upon the mercy of God: but we have therewithal further said, that repentance is not the cause of the forgiveness of sins. As for those torments of souls, which they say must be performed of duty, we have taken them away: we have taught the sinner not to look upon his own contrition nor his own tears, but to fasten both his eyes upon the only mercy of God.¹ We have only put him in mind that Christ called the labouring & laden, when he was sent to publish glad tidings to the poor, to heal the contrite in heart, to preach remission to captives, to deliver prisoners, & to comfort them that mourn. From which should be excluded both the Pharisees, that filled with their own righteousness, do not acknowledge their own poverty, and also the despisers that careless of Gods wrath do seek no remedy for their evils. For such do not labour, nor are laden, nor contrite in heart, nor ⟨p. 138⟩bound nor captive. But there is great difference between teaching a man to deserve forgiveness of sins with due and full contrition, which the sinner can never perform: and instructing him to hunger and thirst for the mercy of God, that by the acknowledging of his own misery, by his own unquietness, weariness and captivity, it may be showed him, where he ought to seek for relief, rest and liberty: and finally, he may be taught in the humbling of himself, to give glory to God.