The practical divinity of the papists discovered to be destructive of Christianity and mens…

Sect. 4. But let us take notice of those who seem more severe. Many there be, who think that Repentance is under a Divine command; yet these in the issue make it no more necessary then the other, who find no precept for it. For they determine that we are not obliged to Repent presently; that it may be deferred till the approach or danger of death; and in fine, that it is needless, even when a man is dying.

For the first, They teach that a Sinner is not bound to Repent presently, it is lawful to defer it. So their Doctors of all sorts, so all the faithful (say they) so the whole Church, ^(a)That a man is not bound to Repent presently is a conclusion, saith Soto, established by the practice and the usage of the Church. Canus ^(b)tells us, it is his own, and the ⟨p. 126⟩common opinion, That a man is not obliged to Repent forth-with; and this he saith is confirmed by best Reason, viz. The consent of all the faithful, both Priests and People; and adds, That to make the precept so rigid as to require present Repentance, hath no probable reason, no nor any Authority.

1. (a)Non illico ut homo se reum sentit culpae, paenitentiae lege paenitere constringitur. Haec profecto conclusio more & usu ecclesiae satis videtur constabilita. Soto in 4. dist. 1•. q. 2. art. 6.
2. (b)Ut mea fert & communis opinio non protinus tenetur homo paenitentiam agere. Atque haec assertio non alia ratione potiore ostendi possit, quam quod sidelium omnium consensus facile admittit, &c. nec aut paenitentes in confession hujus criminis see accusant, aut sacerdotes id curant—Cum nulla idonea ratio sit, nullave authoritas qua praeceptum adeo durum asseratur, &c. Melch. Canus. pars. 4. relect. de paenit. p. 862. 863. Licet toto tempor, qevo quis agnoscit se lethally peccato mortuum, de bono consilio debeat curare, ut a tam gravi morbo resurgat; periculumque mortis jubitae atque aeternae effugiat, juxta illud, Ne tardes converti ad Dominum, & ne differas de die in diem,