The Doctrine of Repentance

6. Godly sorrow is abiding. It is not¹ a few tears shed in a passion will serve the turn: Some at a Sermon will fall a weeping, but it is like an April shower soon over: Or like a vein opened and presently stopped again: But true sorrow must be habitual. Oh Christian, the disease of thy soul is Chronic, and is frequently returning upon thee, therefore thou must be continually physicking thy self by Repentance: And this is that sorrow which is [Greek or Hebrew], after a godly manner.

6. Godly sorrow is abiding. It is not¹ a few tears shed in a passion will serve the turn: Some at a Sermon will fall a weeping, but it is like an Aprill showre soon over: Or like a vein opened and presently stopp'd again: But true sorrow must be habitual. Oh Christian, the disease of thy soul is Chronical, and is frequently returning upon thee, therefore thou must be continually physicking thy selfby Repentance: And this is that sorrow which is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, after a godly manner.

1. 16.

How far are they from Repentance¹ who never had any of this godly sorrow! ⟨p. 25⟩Such are 1. The Papists, who leave out the very soul of Repentance; making all penitential work consist in fasting, penance, pilgrimages; but there is nothing of spiritual sorrow in this; they torture their bodies, but their hearts are not rent. What is this but the carcass of Repentance?

How far are they from Repentance¹