Of free justification

I Answer, The sorrow of an afflicted Conscience, which we call ¹Repentance, is a lovely effect, but it proceeds from an Evil cause: yet I deny not, that it is a very excellent ⟨p. 424⟩thing, and never too late, but always acceptable to God if so be it is accompanied with Faith in Christ. Neither do I deny that by means thereof Men are deterred from their customary Evil courses, and stirred up to the exercise of Virtue. Which though we grant to be true, what doth all this avail towards the justifying of a sinner from those Sins, that he hath formerly committed?

I Answer, The sorrow of an afflicted Conscience, which we call ¹Repentance, is a lovely effect, but it proceeds from an Evil cause: yet I deny not, that it is a very excellent ⟨p. 424⟩thing, and never too late, but always acceptable to God if so be it is accompanied with Faith in Christ. Neither do I deny that by means thereof Men are deterred from their customary Evil courses, and stirred up to the exercise of Vertue. Which though we grant to be true, what doth all this avail towards the justifying of a sinner from those Sins, that he hath formerly committed?

1. 1The material of Repentance.

If a Man hath transgressed the Laws of the Commonwealth, and being arraigned before a Judge is forced to give account of all the actions of his Life; will it be enough for him to say, I was in an error, or I repent of my fault? Will fear of judgment, or shame, set a Man free from the condemnation due to sin, unless the Righteousness of a bleeding Saviour, apprehended by faith, do interpose, and ward off the stroke of Divine vengeance from the guilty Sinner? Without