The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

3. Sick-bed repentance is not wholly impossible (though it be hard) sickness is one means that God useth to work repentance, God can work repentance even upon a sick bed, and it is God that must do it, even in health; and to speak truly and strictly, although the means of repentance be more probable, and the truth of repentance more discernible in health then in sickness, yet the practise of repentance is ⟨p. 113⟩as hard a work in health as in sickness, seeing in both cases it is the great work of the omnipotent God, who hath ever challenged it as his royal prerogative to give repentance? whatever those hostes gratiae Christi (as Austin calls them) say to the contrary, so that in short, with men, repentance is always impossible, can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots? then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil, Jer. 13.23. but with God it is always possible. And yet to prevent the abuse of this, by a presumptuous putting off repentance to the time of sickness, and death upon this pretence, I must add, that such as put off repentance on such a pretext do seldom meet with it. God doth seldom give repentance to such persons: and it is a general observation of all serious Divines; that late repentance is seldom true, though true repentance is never late, it being the just judgement of God, that they that intend to mock God by putting off repentance should deceive themselves, and die without repentance.

3. Sick-bed repentance is not wholly impossible (though it be hard) sickness is one means that God useth to work repentance, God can work repentance even upon a sick bed, and it is God that must do it, even in health; and to speak truly and strictly, although the means of repentance be more probable, and the truth of repentance more discernable in health then in sickness, yet the practise of repentance is ⟨p. 113⟩as hard a work in health as in sickness, seeing in both cases it is the great work of the omnipotent God, who hath ever challenged it as his royal prerogative to give repentance? whatever those hostes gratiae Christi (as Austin cals them) say to the contrary, so that in short, with men, repentance is always impossible, can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots? then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil,