A sermon of repentance a very godly and profitable sermon preached at Lee in…A sermon of repentaunce a very godly and profitable sermon preached at Lee in…

Now let us proceed to speak of those things, which let and •inder us from Repentance, which indeed although they be in number infinite, yet at this time I will lay forth seven especial lets; and hinderances unto Repentance.

Now let vs procéede to speake of those thinges, which let and •inder vs from Repentaunce, whiche indéede although they bée in number infinite, yet at this tyme I will laie foorth seuen especiall lettes; and hinderances vnto Repentance.

The first is unbelief, that is, when men will not believe those things thant are spoken and proved unto them, out of the word ⟨image 28⟩of God. This is it that vomiteth up all good things, and poisoneth the very entrails of a man, & keepeth all good graces from us. As appeareth. Math. 13. 58. He did not many great works there for their unbeliefs sake. And the 4. to the Hebrews, it is said, Unto us was the Gospel preached, as also unto them, but the word that they heard profited not them, because it was not mixed with faith in those that heard it. So that here we may see, although we hear never so much, yet if we bring not faith with us, we shall never profit unto Repentance. For unbelief taketh up our hearts for Satan, and refuseth all the wholesome doctrine of salvation, and doth so harden them in the ways of sin: that in the end they become paste feeling, and cannot be touched one whit, either with the judgements or mercies of God: But count the one as blasts of wind: and make the other a covert for their filthiness. You shall note some men, who when they have heard their sins straightly ripped up by the word of God, and their just damnation proved by the same, without speedy, & earnest repentance, will break out into these ⟨image 29⟩words of unbelief. If it be as the saith God help us, I hope it is not so, I trust I shall do well enough for all this, as long as I have a good faith in God, and do in body no harm, shall I leave my pleasures, and my profits for their sayings? What, do they think none shall be saved, but such as read the Scriptures, and hear Sermons? God forbid but those which do not go to hear sermons, should be saved as well as they. Why may not one serve God as well at home in his house, having good Books and good Prayers, as by coming to the Church to hear sermons, and service? Alas these men stand too much in their own light, and betray what folly and ignorance is in them. For they do think to be saved by any other means than God hath appointed. Or when God hath avouched any thing in his word, will they accept against it, & so make God a liar? When God hath once set down a thing, and proved it to their faces will they yet reply? When God hath told us that the preaching of the word, is the ordinary means of our salvation, shall we hope to be saved although we contemn it, and never or very seldom hear it?