Theol. You speak as though repentance were in your power, and at your commandment, and that you can put it into your own heart when you list: and that makes you and many others presume of it three hours before death. But you must know that repentance is the rare gift of God, and it is given but to a few. For God will know him well that he bestoweth repentance upon, sith it is proper only to the Elect. It is no worldly matter. It is not attained without many and frequent prayers, and much hearing, reading, and meditating in the word of God. It is not so easy a matter to come by as the world judgeth. It is not found but of of them that seek it diligently, and beg it earnestly. It is no ordinary three hours matter. Cry God mercy a little for fashion will not do it. Cursory saying of a few prayers a little before death availeth not. For though true repentance be never too late, yet late repentance is seldom true. Here•n delays are dangerous: for the longer wit defer it, the worse is our ⟨p. 299⟩case. The farther a nail is driven in with a hammer, the harder it is to get out again. The longer a disease is let run, the harder it is to cure. The deeper a tree is rooted, the harder it is to pluck up again. The longer we defer the time of our repentance, the harder it will be to repent And therefore it is dangerous driving it off to the last cast. For an ancient Father saith,1 We read but of one that repented at the last, that no man should presume; and yet of one, that none might despair.
Well then, to conclude this point: I would have you to know that the present time is always the time of repentance. For time past cannot be recovered, and time to come is uncertain.
Theol. You speake as though repentance were in your power, and at your commandement, and that you can put it into your owne heart when you list: and that makes you and many others presume of it three houres before death. But you must know that repentance is the rare gift of God, and it is given but to a few. For God will know him well that hee bestoweth repentance upon, sith it is proper onely to the Elect. It is no worldly matter. It is not attained without many and frequent prayers, and much hearing, reading, and meditating in the word of God. It is not so easie a matter to come by as the world judgeth. It is not found but of of them that seeke it diligently, and beg it earnestly. It is no ordinary three houres matter. Cry God mercy a little for fashion will not do it. Cursory saying of a few prayers a little before death availeth not. For though true repentance be never too late, yet late repentance is seldome true. Here•n delayes are dangerous: for the longer wit deferre it, the worse is our ⟨p. 299⟩case. The farther a naile is driven in with a hammer, the harder it is to get out againe. The longer a disease is let run, the harder it is to cure. The deeper a tree is rooted, the harder it is to plucke up againe. The longer wee deferre the time of our repentance, the harder it will be to repent And therefore it is dangerous driving it off to the last cast. For an ancient Father saith,1 Wee reade but of one that repented at the last, that no man should presume; and yet of one, that none might despaire.
Well then, to conclude this point: I would have you to know that the present time is alwaies the time of repentance. For time past cannot be recovered, and time to come is uncertaine.
- 1Augustine.
