Now doth he add unto this doctrine or exhortation, 1certain godly reasons, which he doeth ground upon the nature and property of God, and whereby he doth teach, that true repentance can never be unprofitable or unfruitful. For as in all other things mens hearts do quail and faint, if they once perceive that they travail in vain: Even so most specially in this matter, must we take heed and beware that we suffer not our selves to be persuaded that all that we do is but labour lost. For thereof either sudden desperation doth arise, or a licentious boldness to sin, which at length bringeth unto desperation. Least any such thing then should happen unto them, he doth certify them of the grace and goodness of God, who is always most ready to receive them into favour again, that turn speedily unto him. Which thing he doth prove with the same titles wherewith god doth describe and set forth himself unto Moses, speaking 2on this manner: For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, of great kindness, and repenteth ⟨p. 518⟩him of the evi••, that is, such a one as is sorry for your afflictions. First he calleth him gentle & gracious, as he who of his own nature is more prompt and ready to do good, then to punish. Whereunto this saying of Isaiah the Prophet 3seemeth to pertain, where he sayeth: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous his own imaginations, and return unto the Lord, and he will have pity on him, and to our God, for he is very ready to forgive. Secondly, he doth attribute unto him mercy, or rather (according 4to the Hebrew word) the bowels of mercies, whereby he signified the natural affections of parents towards their children. Which thing David doth set forth goodly, saying: As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him, for he knoweth whereof we be made, he remembereth that we are but dust. Thirdly, he saith, that he is slow to anger, that is to say, long suffering, and which is not lightly provoked to wrath. Fourthly, that he is of much kindness, for he is that bottomless well of all goodness, who rejoiceth to do good unto us. Therefore did he create and make men, that he might have whom he should do good unto, and make partakers of his heavenly riches.
Now doth he adde vnto this doctrine or exhortation, 1certayne godlye reasons, whiche he doeth grounde vpon the nature and propertie of God, and whereby he doth teach, that true repentaūce can neuer be vnprofitable or vnfruitfull. For as in all other thinges mens heartes do quaile and faynt, if they once perceaue that they trauayle in vayne: Euen so most specially in this matter, muste we take heede and beware that we suffer not our selues to be perswaded that all that we do is but labour lost. For thereof eyther sodayne desperation doth aryse, or a licentious boldnesse to sinne, which at length bringeth vnto desperation. Least any suche thing then shoulde happen vnto them, he doth certifie them of the grace and goodnes of God, who is alwayes moste redye to receaue them into fauour agayne, that turne speedylye vnto him. Which thing he doth proue with the same titles whorwith god doth discribe and set foorth himselfe vnto Moyses, speaking 2on this maner: For he is gracious and merciful, slowe to anger, of great kyndnesse, and repenteth ⟨p. 518⟩hym of the eui••, thatis, suche a one as is sorye for your afflictious. Fyrst he calleth hym gentle & gracious, as he who of his own nature is more prompt and redye to do good, then to punyshe. Whereunto this saying of Esaias the Prophete 3seemeth to parteyne, where he sayeth: Let the wycked forsake his waye, and the vnryghteous his owne imaginations, and returne vnto the Lorde, and he will haue pitie on him, and to our God, for he is verye redye to forgeue. Secondly, he doth attribute vnto him mercy, or rather (accordyng 4to the Hebrewe word) the bowels of mercies, whereby he signifyed the naturall affections of parentes towardes their children. Which thing Dauid doth set foorth goodlye, saying: As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lorde compassion on them that feare hym, for he knoweth whereof we be made, he remembreth that we are but duste. Thyrdlye, he sayth, that he is slowe to anger, that is to saye, long sufferyng, and whiche is not lightly prouoked to wrath. Fourthly, that he is of muche kindnesse, for he is that bottomlesse well of all goodnesse, who reioyceth to do good vnto vs. Therefore did he create and make men, that he myght haue whom he shoulde do good vnto, and make partakers of his heauenly ryches.
- 1•ow repentance is […] unprost•able.•ow repentaunce is 〈…〉 vnprost•able.
- 2Exod. 34.
- 3Isaiah. 55.Esaias. 55.
- 4Psal. 103.
