More reasons for the Christian religion and no reason against it, or, A second…

Answ. All these are excellent concessions, as being not only Truths, but such Notitiae Communes without which a man is scarce a man, but unmanned. Except that the fourth doth erroneously assert the foredisproved sufficient satisfactoriness in our Repentance. And that this is not a Notitia Communis, I further thus manifest.

Answ. All these are excellent concessions, as being not onely Truths, but such Notitiae Communes without which a man is scarce a man, but unman'd. Except that the fourth doth erroneously assert the foredisproved sufficient satisfactoriness in our Repentance. And that this is not a Notitia Communis, I further thus manifest.

First, By all humane Laws and Justice. No King will make such a Law as this [Let all the subjects be Traitors, Murderers, Oppressors, Perjured, never so long, and Repent at any time before they die, and all shall be forgiven] mere Repentance will not save such persons from the Gallows. Secondly, And as to more private Justice, no man giveth his children and servants such a Law [Disobey me, burn my house, seek my death, and do all the mischief you can, and repent at last, and you shall be forgiven] Therefore mere Repentance is not sufficient satisfaction, according to the Notitiae Communes of mankind. Thirdly, The reason ⟨p. 120⟩of the thing doth prove it; Because it is not sufficient to secure the ends of Government, Should such a Law alone be made, (that men shall be forgiven all the villainies of their lives, if they will but repent at last.) First, It would encourage the most in the world to live in all manner of wickedness: If the hearts of men are fully set in them to do evil, because sentence against an evil work is not speedily executed but delayed; How much more, if they were sure it should never be executed? Secondly, The Laws and Lawgiver would be contemned, and lose their Ruling power. Thirdly, The common good would be prostituted, and cast away utterly, and no man should live in safety and peace, because of the dominion of wickedness.

First, By all humane Laws and Justice. No King will make such a Law as this [Let all the subjects be Traytors, Murderers, Oppressors, Perjured, never so long, and Repent at any time before they die, and all shall be forgiven] meer Repentance will not save such persons from the Gallows. Secondly, And as to more private Justice, no man giveth his children and servants such a Law [Disobey me, burn my house, seek my death, and do all the mischief you can, and repent at last, and you shall be forgiven] Therefore meer Repentance is not sufficient satisfaction, according to the Notitiae Communes of mankind. Thirdly, The reason