Here then are those to be reproved that will tell us a long tale of their repentance, Use 1 and of their sorrow for sin; but what kind of sorrow hath it been? a shallow, and hollow, and sleight sorrow, that never made them to shed one tear in secret, nor to make one fervent prayer from a broken heart for the pardoning of their iniquities. Let them hear that one of their kine is dead, or one of their horses stolen, or their barn on fire, or the like, and they will mourn in good earnest at such a casualty, and be more moved to hear that their goods are in danger to be burnt, then that their souls are likely to burn in hell. This is a plain argument that what shows soever they make, yet they have not truly repented for their evil works: for if the holy Ghost had given them an inward touch for their sins, they would grieve most for that which hurts them most; and not for those things, the having whereof cannot much benefit them, nor the loss thereof prove very inconvenient unto them. Yet so beastly are many, that if they be urged to sounder repentance, and greater reformation, they presently ask, What would you have us to do more then we do already? we love God above all, and our neighbours as our selves, and repent continually for our faults: What? would you have us so melancholy and pensive as some are that use to run to Sermons? nay, we will be advised of that; for they are so grieved for their sins, that they are almost driven unto desperation. ⟨p. 46⟩on. Miserable men, little do they know what sound repentance means: for that is the thing which Gods Ministers must aim at, even to make men despair in themselves, that so they might rest wholly upon Christ Jesus. And happy is that Sermon, and happy that day which maketh men so to weep over Christ Jesus, as that they utterly fall out with themselves, and with their naughty and profane courses: for this will best prove unto their souls, that they have received the Spirit of grace, and have attained unto true repentance.
Here then are those to bee reproued that will tell vs a long tale of their repentance, Vse 1 and of their sorrow for sinne; but what kinde of sorrow hath it been? a shallow, and hollow, and sleight sorrow, that neuer made them to shed one teare in secret, nor to make one feruent prayer from a broken heart for the pardoning of their iniquities. Let them heare that one of their kine is dead, or one of their horses stolne, or their barne on fire, or the like, and they will mourne in good earnest at such a casualtie, and bee more mooued to heare that their goods are in danger to bee burnt, then that their soules are likely to burne in hell. This is a plaine argument that what shewes soeuer they make, yet they haue not trulie repented for their euill works: for if the holie Ghost had giuen them an inward touch for their sinnes, they would grieue most for that which hurts them most; and not for those things, the hauing whereof cannot much benefit them, nor the losse thereof prooue verie inconuenient vnto them. Yet so beastly are many, that if they be vrged to sounder repentance, and greater reformation, they presentlie aske, What would you haue vs to doe more then wee doe alreadie? wee loue God aboue all, and our neighbours as our selues, and repent continuallie for our faults: What? would you haue vs so melancholie and pensiue as some are that vse to runne to Sermons? nay, we will be aduised of that; for they are so grieued for their sinnes, that they are almost driuen vnto desperation. ⟨p. 46⟩on. Miserable men, little doe they know what sound repentance meanes: for that is the thing which Gods Ministers must aime at, euen to make men despaire in themselues, that so they might rest whollie vpon Christ Iesus. And happie is that Sermon, and happie that day which maketh men so to weepe ouer Christ Iesus, as that they vtterly fall out with themselues, and with their naughtie and prophane courses: for this will best prooue vnto their soules, that they haue receiued the Spirit of grace, and haue attained vnto true repentance.
