The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher…The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher…

Now as for Repentance: look I pray what is said in the 7. Chapter of Luke, and see what is the Cause of that: You read there a story of a great Sinner, that became a great Penitent, (at the 37. verse.) Behold a woman in the City which was a great sinner; and she came and stood behind Jesus (at the 38. verse) weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head. She wept much; Why? for (says the text at the latter end of the Chapter) she loved much. But why did she love much? She loved much, because much was forgiven her. So then, Remission is the Cause of Repentance. And have ye not so much expressly, in that 16. Chapter of Ezekiel, and the last verse. I will establish my Covenant with thee, that thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee, for all that thou hast done. So that, this shame, and repentance comes from pacification. And as for this matter, Luther had so great a fight into it, that (says he) before I was justified by faith alone, and saw into this matter of Free-remission; I looked upon that word, Repent, as a terrible word, I did even hate that word; and I wished that there had been no such word in all the book of God: but after once that word, justitia, was opened, the righteousness of faith; and after once I understood this Doctrine of Free-remission, and Justification by faith alone, then I loved Repentance.

Now as for Repentance: look I pray what is said in the 7. Chapter of Luke, and see what is the Cause of that: You reade there a story of a great Sinner, that became a great Penitent, (at the 37. verse.) Behold a woman in the City which was a great sinner; and she came and stood behind Jesus (at the 38. verse) weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head. She wept much; Why? for (saies the text at the latter end of the Chapter) she loved much. But why did she love much? She loved much, because much was forgiven her. So then, Remission is the Cause of Repentance. And have ye not so much expresly, in that 16. Chapter of Ezekiel, and the last verse. I will establish my Covenant with thee, that thou maiest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee, for all that thou hast done. So that, this shame, and repentence comes from pacification. And as for this matter, Luther had so great a fight into it, that (saies he) before I was justified by faith alone, and saw into this matter of Free-remission; I look't upon that word, Repent, as a terrible word, I did even hate that word; and I wish't that there had been no such word in all the book of God: but after once that word, justitia, was opened, the righteousnesse of faith; and after once I understood this Doctrine of Free-remission, and Justification by faith alone, then I loved Repentance.