Lastly, This judging is in a voluntary taking of all shame upon our selves; we judge our selves to mourn, to weep, we judge ⟨p. 52⟩our selves to shame, and to an holy revenge upon our selves, 2 Cor. 7.11. What indignation, what revenge: This was that penance the Church of God did exercise it self with in antiquity; for in gross scandalous sins, such as did offend the Congregation, he that did truly judg himself for his sins, could have no rest, till he did publicly confess his sin, and shame himself with tears, in the face of the Church. Indeed afterwards this way was abused, and Officers of the Church took upon them to enjoin penance, and to make new Sacraments about ⟨p. 53⟩it, but at first there was only this way of their repentance and self-judging, a voluntary giving of God glory, and shaming themselves; and this is the duty still of all such public gross sinners, that do offend the Church. Thus they came to John Baptist, publicly confessing their sins, Matth. 3.6. And those who used unlawful arts, came and burnt their books, though of a great value, before Paul, Act. 19.19. It is not shame, or peoples talk, or any such carnal consideration, could hold them in, when their hearts were truly broken, and if such Church-discipline ⟨p. 54⟩were in use, would there be so much bold, and impudent profaneness as is every where? If they were called upon, as Joshua to Achan, to give glory to God, Josh. 7.19. they would not then press to Sacraments without a wedding garment, yea with gore blood of their sins upon them; but would rather with the leper stand aloof off, crying out, I am unclean, unclean: and with another, Calcate me insipidum salem, trample on me as unsavoury salt: They would not then rage at the Minister, and say, the Sacraments are their dues, but would acknowledge ⟨p. 55⟩public shame and sorrow was due to them: They would not press to make us guilty of unworthy giving, while they are of unworthy receiving: Et dum se solver cupiunt ligare Sacerdotem, as Ambrose speaketh excellently, while they seek to lose themselves, to bind the Minister. But it is not all the books, all the arguments in the world that will do this, it must be an humble heart, truly contrite before God.
Lastly, This judging is in a voluntary taking of all shame upon our selves; we judge our selves to mourn, to weep, we judge ⟨p. 52⟩our selves to shame, and to an holy revenge upon our selves, 2 Cor. 7.11. What indignation, what revenge: This was that penance the Church of God did exercise it self with in antiquity; for in grosse scandalous sinnes, such as did offend the Congregation, he that did truly judg himself for his sins, could have no rest, till he did publiquely confesse his sin, and shame himself with tears, in the face of the Church. Indeed afterwards this way was abused, and Officers of the Church took upon them to injoyn penance, and to make new Sacraments about ⟨p. 53⟩it, but at first there was only this way of their repentance and self-judging, a voluntary giving of God glory, and shaming themselves; and this is the duty still of all such publique grosse sinners, that do offend the Church. Thus they came to John Baptist, publiquely confessing their sins, Matth. 3.6. And those who used unlawfull arts, came and burnt their books, though of a great value, before Paul, Act. 19.19. It is not shame, or peoples talk, or any such carnal consideration, could hold them in, when their hearts were truly broken, and if such Church-discipline ⟨p. 54⟩were in use, would there be so much bold, and impudent prophannesse as is every where? If they were called upon, as Joshua to Achan, to give glory to God, Josh. 7.19. they would not then presse to Sacraments without a wedding garment, yea with goar blood of their sins upon them; but would rather with the leper stand aloof off, crying out, I am unclean, unclean: and with another, Calcate me insipidum salem, trample on me as unsavoury salt: They would not then rage at the Minister, and say, the Sacraments are their dues, but would acknowledge ⟨p. 55⟩publike shame and sorrow was due to them: They would not presse to make us guilty of unworthy giving, while they are of unworthy receiving: Et dum se solvere cupiunt ligare Sacerdotem, as Ambrose speaketh excellently, while they seek to lose themselves, to binde the Minister. But it is not all the books, all the arguments in the world that will do this, it must be an humble heart, truly contrite before God.
