7. Take heed of a mock-repentance, saying, I cry God mercy, God forgive me, I sin daily and repent daily, when I have sworn or been drunk, I am heartily sorry. Is not this repentance? I answer no, Repentance is quite another thing: the burnt child, we say, dreads the fire. Thou hast smarted for suretyship and hast repented of it: thy friend comes again and desires thee to be bound with him once again, thou repliest, I have paid dear for suretyship already, I have repented of my folly, I have resolved to come into bonds again no more, no not for the best friend I have, thou art importuned by many arguments, but, peremptorily refusest: urge me no more, I have vowed and resolved against, and have made an oath, I would never be taken in that fault again. Now I believe thee, that thou hast truly repented of suretyship, why dost thou not thus, when thou art enticed unto sin again? why dost thou not say? I have smarted, confessed, bewailed, been heartily sorry for my former folly: now speak no more of it,1 I have sworn and will perform, it, to keep Gods commandments. Away from me ye wicked, I must keep the Commandments of my God. This would be somewhat like true repentance. But take heed of a mock-repentance, lest as true repentance meets with a true pardon, thy mock-repentance should be answered with a mock-pardon, as Tertullian excellently saith, There be some that say (saith he) their heart is good,2 they fear God, grieve for sin, though yet they fall into sin, they can, salva side & metu, peccare, &c. sic & ipsi salva venia in gehennam detrudentur, dumb salvo metu peccant. They can live in sin nevertheless notwithstanding their faith and repentance, and God can damn them nevertheless notwithstanding his mercies and promises and pardoning grace. True repentance among other companions is alway attended with these three, what carefulness, what indignation, what fear hath it wrought in you?
7. Take heed of a mock-repentance, saying, I cry God mercy, God forgive me, I sin daily and repent daily, when I have sworn or been drunk, I am heartily sorry. Is not this repentance? I answer no, Repentance is quite another thing: the burnt child, we say, dreads the fire. Thou hast smarted for suretiship and hast repented of it: thy friend comes again and desires thee to be bound with him once again, thou replyst, I have paid dear for surtiship already, I have repented of my folly, I have resolved to come into bonds again no more, no not for the best friend I have, thou art importuned by many arguments, but, peremptorily refusest: urge me no more, I have vowed and resolved against, and have made an oath, I would never be taken in that fault again. Now I believe thee, that thou hast truly repented of suretiship, why dost thou not thus, when thou art enticed unto sin again? why dost thou not say? I have smarted, confessed, bewailed, been heartily sorry for my former folly: now speak no more of it,1 I have sworn and will perform, it, to keep Gods commandments. Away from me ye wicked, I must keep the Commandments of my God. This would be somewhat like true repentance. But take heed of a mock-repentance, lest as true repentance meets with a true pardon, thy mock-repentance should be answered with a mock-pardon, as Tertullian excellently saith, There be some that say (saith he) their heart is good,2 they fear God, grieve for sin, though yet they fall into sin, they can, salva side & metu, peccare, &c. sic & ipsi salva venia in gehennam detrudentur, dum salvo metu peccant. They can live in sin nevertheless notwithstanding their faith and repentance, and God can damn them nevertheless notwithstanding his mercies and promises and pardoning grace. True repentance among other companions is alway attended with these three, what carefulness, what indignation, what fear hath it wrought in you?
