An abridgement of the Institution of Christian religion written

18 Let us also add that, that the name of repentance is unproperly applied unto this external profession,¹ which is rather a confession of the fault with a beseeching to have the punishment and guiltiness forgiven. So to repent in sackcloth & ashes is nothing else but to testify our displeasure, when God is angry with us for grievous offences.² But we must note that there is a double confession, public,§1 where by condemning our selves before God, angels, and the world,³ we prevent the judgement of God. For saith Paul, if we should judge our selves we should not be judged of God*. But it is not always ⟨p. 156⟩necessary to make men witnesses of our repentance §2The other is private whereby we do confess our sins only before God, and it is a part of true repentance which cannot be omitted: neither is it only necessary for that we confess those sins which we do daily commit,⁴ but our grievous falls also*,⁵ and those which seem to be buried long ago. Furthermore, we must note that repentance is double, ordinary wherein we must apply our selves continually, special and extraordinary, which doeth as it were raise up from death, those,⁶ which had either filthily fallen, or given over themselves to sin through unbridled licentiousness §1 2 3or shaken of the yoke of God through a certain revolting.

18 Let vs also adde that, that the name of repentaunce is vnproperlie applied vnto this externall profession,