Fruitful Instructions and Necessary Doctrines, Part 197 – Part 212
197 The name of the Church abuſed by Wolues.
THe falſe prophets and enimies of the truth, do coulor and hide their hypocriſie, vnderunder this goodlye name and title of the holy Apoſtolical and Catholicke Church, wherewith they ſeeme gloriouſly to aduaunce & ſet forward themſelues: as though that all their doctrines, traditions and deuiſes of newe worſhip, proceeded not from themſelues, but were eſtabliſhed by the perpetuall conſent of the Church, and allowed by the ſentence and interpretation of the beſt counſels, learned fathers & doctors: and yet being rightly and truely examined, it is nothing ſo. Conſent of the Church (in deede) to true and godly Preachers, is not only a beautifull garment but alſo moſt neceſſarie, that men may not faine and deuiſe doctrines, opinions and phantaſies of their owne heads: but profeſſe beleeue, and teach the conſent of the true Catholike Church in ye doctrine that was firſt planted by god himſelf in Paradyſe, and after renewed and continued by the Patriarches and Prophets, and ſo publiſhed into the whole worlde by Chriſt himſelfe and his Apoſtles. The ſumme whereof, is breifly conteyned in articles of our faith, teaching vsus ye ineſtimable goodneſſe of Almightie God towarde vsus, aſwell in making of the world, as in redeeming mankinde by the incarnation and death of his ſonne, &c. This faith and beleefe ought to be eſtabliſhed and conſerued, by the conſent of the Catholicke Church from the beginning. But it is of all Chriſtian hearts to be lamented, that moſt wicked and rauening wolues, vnderunder this title of the Churches cōſent, do abuſe the people of god, bring into ye church and maintaine ſtrang worſhipping of God, and whatſoeuer they hauehave newly deuiſed without iuſt warrant of ye holy ſcriptures and contrarye to the manifeſt doctrine of the Prophetes, Apoſtles, and auncient fathers of the primitiue church. Yea and ſuch they hauehave beene, yt hauehave moſt cruelly perſecuted Gods good prophets and the doctrine that they hauehave taught. For who perſecuted Ieremy and the other Prophets? Were they not thoſe that ſayde the Temple of the Lorde, the Temple of the Lord? Shall the truth departe from the Prieſtes? Were it not they that ſtroke Micheas,Ier. 7.4. Ier. 18.28. 1. Kings. 22 24. Ier. 32.3. & cauſed Ieremy to be put in priſon? Who were they that put Chriſt to death, and perſecuted his Apoſtles? Do not the Euangeliſtes and Acts of the Apoſtles declare? Doth not chriſt giuegive his Deſciples warning yt it ſhould be ſo? Theſe thinges (ſayeth he) hauehave I ſpoken vntounto you that you may not be offended.Io. 16.1. They ſhall excommunicate you out of their Synagogues, and all for my names ſake.
198 What miniſters ought to be in the Church.
IT is required of al thoſe, that take vponupon them, the name of gods miniſters, yt they hauehave a deſire and zeale to bring men vntounto God, & to follow the trace which God hath commanded al his to keepe, yt is, that they winne the world vntounto the obedience of him. Secondly beſides their good zeale, they muſt alſo hauehave a certaintie of doctrin, ſo as hee yt ſpeaketh may not take any thing vpō him, nor paſſe his bounds,1. Tim. 4.16. 1. Cor. 11.23. 1. Co. 15.3 but from hande to hande deliuer the thing that is commanded him in ſuch wiſe as Ieſus Chriſt may always be heard, and ſuffered to ſpeake, and all mouthes elſe be ſtopped, ſauing onelyonly in way of hearkening, yt his doctrine may be knowen vntounto vsus.
199 The title of the miniſterie and duty.
THe miniſters of the worde, are called by the holy Ghoſt, the light of the worlde,Mat. 5.13. Eze. 34.2. the ſalte of the earth: They are called Paſtors, and Shepheardes: they are called Huſbandmen, Guides, Stewardes, and Meſſengers, beſides manye other excellent titles giuen them in the holy ſcriptures.1. Cor. 4.1 Nowe if the miniſter be a light to the people, he muſt of neceſſitie go and ſhine before them in knowledge and doctrine. If hee be the ſalte, hee muſt needes ſeaſon. If he be a Paſtor or Shephearde, he muſt needes feede. If he be an huſbandman, hee muſt needes hauehave a care of the Lordes huſbandrie. If he be a Guide he muſt needes knowe the way himſelfe, and open and declare it to other. If hee be a Stewarde he muſt prouide for the houſholde. If he be a meſſenger, he muſt be able and willing to doe his meſſage: for it ſtandes for the Lordes glorie and credite, to hauehave ſuch Paſtors, and ſuch huſbandmen ſuch ſtewardes, and meſſengers as hauehave wiſdome and knowledge. They that be wiſe (ſayeth Daniell) ſhall ſhyne as the brightneſſe of the firmament,Dan. 12.3. and they that turne many vntounto righteouſneſſe ſhall ſhine as the ſtars for euer and euer.Mat 24.25 The wiſe and faithfull ſteward that giueth meate to the houſhold in due ſeaſon, when his maiſter commeth he ſhalbe bleſſed, and made partaker of exceeding ioye and glorie. Take heede ſayeth the Apoſtle to thy ſelfe and to learning continue therein,1. Tim. 4.16. for in ſo doing thou ſhalt both ſaue thy ſelfe and thoſe that heare thee. God ſo bleſſed the preaching of his ſeruant Ionas that thorough it,Ionas. 3 4 the Niniuites beleeued god humbled themſelues, and forſooke their former wicked wayes. At one preaching of Peter there were wonn to the Lorde about three thouſande ſoules,Act. 2.41. Thus doth the Lord bleſſe his owne meanes and order, the miniſter by pure and faithfull preaching, diſchargeth his owne ſoule, obteyneth peace in conſcience, and ſo is bleſſed in this life, but ſhall bee farre more bleſſed in the life to come, when hee hath finiſhed his race, hee ſhal receaue an incorruptible crowne of glorie.Act. 26.18 The people alſo by this meanes are many wayes bleſſed, they receaued knowledge, faith,Ro. 10.17 and ſaluation: their eyes are opened, they are turned frō darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan vntounto God. All theſe great and notable bleſſings doe enſue the preaching of the word, and therefore required moſt neceſſarily in euerie miniſter.
200 A right image of a godly Paſtor.
IT is the dutie of all Paſtors and miniſters, to beare a Fatherly and motherly affection: not towardes rauening wolues, but towardes the poore ſheepe, miſerably ſeduced and going aſtray, patiently bearing their faultes and infirmities, inſtructing and reſtoring them with the ſpirite of meekeneſſe:Gal. 6.1. 2 Tim. 2.25. For they can not bee brought into the right way againe, by any other meanes: and by ouerſharpe reproouing and rebuking they are prouoked to anger, or elſe to deſperation, but not to repentaunce. Such is the nature and fruite of true and ſounde doctrine that when it is well taught and well vnderſtoode, it ioyneth mens hearts together with a ſingular concorde: but when men reiect godly and ſincere doctrine, and embrace errors, this vnitie and concorde is ſoone broken.
201 The dutie of the miniſters.
THe Paſtors and miniſters of the Churche muſt learne that they ought not to exempt themſelues from charge and care, nor flye labour and trauayle, but they ought (as pillers) to ſuſteyne and beare the Church of God, as vppon their ſhoulders and not bee like vntounto the Pope which doeth oppreſſe it, and doth deuoure the ſame as a rauening wolfe with his like, as it is written, Matthew. 23.verſ. 4. Heb. 5.4. Secondly that they ought not to thruſt in themſelues.
Thirdely that they cannot by their induſtrie and labour attayne vntounto this honour, but GOD muſt make them apt and fitte for the ſame: the which hee doeth, when hee openeth himſelfe vntounto them by his woorde, and calleth them to this office, & endueth them with the wiſedome of his ſpirit. A man can receiue nothing,Io. 3.27. 2. Co. 3.7. except it be giuen him from aboue. And we are not ſufficient of our ſelues to thinke anye thing as of our ſelues. Our Lord alſo doth well ſhew it whē he ſayth vntounto his Deſciples,Mat. 9.37. that the harueſt is great, but the labourers are fewe. He declareth the ſame alſo when hee opened the vnderſtanding of his Deſciples for to vnderſtande the Scriptures.Lu. 24.25. And although the miniſters of the word be (as it were) pillers of the Church, yet hauehave they nothing whereupon to glorie. For what haſt thou, that thou haſt not receaued?1. Co. 4.7. And what is Paule and Apollo but ſeruantes by whom ye have beleeued? But they hauehave cauſe to hū ble themſelues, ſeeing they could not prepare nor place themſelues where they are, & ſhould be voide of power and might, without vpholding anye thing: except ye foundation did beare and vpholde them, and that they did not beare and holde vppe the whole building and houſe.
202 What euerie miniſter ought to preach.
THe miniſters are not bounde to deliuer the counſels of men, the traditions of the Fathers, the ſtatutes of earthly princes, or the authoritie of mortall men: but as they are the ſeruauntes of Ieſus Chriſt Prince of all Princes, ſo are they bounde onelyonly to preach his Goſpell. The true Prophets neuer ſpake of themſelues vntounto the people,Ier. 1 Eze. 3. but as they receaued warning from the Lord They had no authority to ſpeake their owne wordes, nor the words of anye mortall man.Ma. 28. i0 The Apoſtles might not teach their owne doctrine, but onelie that which they had receaued frō their Maiſter, who enioyneth them to teach all things whatſoeuer he had commā ded them:Mar. 16, i5 1. Cor. 11.23. 1. Cor. 15 3. Go (ſaith he) and preach the goſpell. The Apoſtle writing vntounto the Corinth. affirmeth that he receiued of the Lord that which he deliuered vntounto them. Whereby we may ſee, al theſe teachers confuted, which ſtand vppon the authority of men, which ad or diminiſh any thing from the ſcriptures, which ioyne their owne fantaſies and the traditions of men, with the holy pure and perfect word of God. The Lawe of God (ſaith the Prophet) is a perfect law conuerting ſoules.Pſ. 197 2. Tim. 3.17, The Scripture ſaith Saint Paule is able to make the man of GOD abſolute and perfect to all good workes. He that hath a dreame (ſaith GOD by Ieremy) let him tell a dreame,Ier. 23.28 but he that hath my worde, let him ſpeake my worde faithfully.
And what is the chaffe to the wheate, (ſaith the Lord) Is not my worde lyke a fier, and like an hammer that breaketh the ſtone? Our Sauiour in the Goſpell ſpeaketh againſt ſuch teachers,Ma. 12, 3 ſaying: In vaine they worſhip me, teaching the doctrine and precepts of men. Woe therefore wilbee to ſuch ſonnes of vanity, which preach not Chriſte, but themſelues, and which doe deface and weaken the authority of the holy ſcriptures.
203 The office of Miniſters, and howe men ought to behaue themſelues towards them.
THE Office of Miniſters is to watch ouer the flocke of the lord to feed it, to preſerue it in health and to keepe it from diſeaſes and hurt the which is done by doctrine, exhortations, reprehenſion, rebuking, comfort, prayers, adminiſtration of the ſacraments, and by the example of a godly and vncorrupt life, as may bee proued and knowne many waies, by the writings and examples of the Apoſtles. Furthermore it is neceſſarye of all Chriſtians to be knowne, howe they ought to behaue themſelus towardes the miniſters,Io 21.15.16.17. 2. Tim. 4, 2. Tit. 2.7. and what they ought to thinke of them. Chieflye therefore in their function or calling, not their perſons, but Chriſt that worketh by them is to bee conſidered, Wherefore we muſt receaue their doctrine (when they preach the word of God purely) euen as the doctrine of Chriſt. For Chriſt ſaith in expreſſe words in the Goſpell, he that heareth you, heareth me, and he that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth mee.Lu. 10.16 Wee muſte not looke that Chriſt ſhould come downe from heauen againe, and ſpeake vntounto vsus, ſeeing he dayly ſpeaketh in his church by his miniſters which preach the word of Chriſt. Alſo the miniſters for their parts muſt behaue themſelus honeſtly, well and Chriſtianlike, in doctrine life and conuerſation. They muſt not ſeeke their owne honor or gaine, but the honor of Chriſte, and profit of his Church. They muſt not thinke that they cannot erre, but muſt ſuffer themſelues to be admoniſhed,1. Pet 5.2 being neither ſtuborn, raſh, nor proud. They muſt not attribute or geue too muche vntounto themſelues,2. Tim 2.24. but muſte bee lowlye, gentle, ſage, paineful and faithfull,
204 The true duty of the miniſters of the goſpell.
THe true miniſters of the goſpel, muſt not only hauehave a ſweet and amiable voyce to drawe thoſe to the flocke which yealde themſelues teachable, and ſuffer themſelues to be taught: but they muſt alſo diſcloſe and driue away the Wolues and the theues: they muſt hauehave a loude voyce to cry out againſt all them that ſcatter the flocke. This is the thing whereunto Gods ſeruaunts muſte imploye themſelues, if they purpoſe to execute their dutie.Tit. 1.9 They muſt not onelyonly bee inſtructed to teache other, but bee ſtrong and conſtant to make it good, and to fight when queſtion ſhal bee to maintaine the doctrine of truth, that it may remaine ſafe and ſounde.
Eze. 3.17The Prophet Ezechiell compareth them to ſuch as kepe watch in a watch tower, and ſurely it is a charge, yea, and that a verye mightye and heauye charge, while other men ſleepe, to watch and hauehave a care of al the flock. The name and title alſo which the holy Ghoſt attributeth vntounto the miniſters, ſheweth plainelye what it is,Ma. 5.13. Ez. 34.2 1, Co. 4.1. that GOD calleth them vntounto, and what they ow to his Church, that mē may not think they ſhalbe accounted faithful, & in the meane while geue themſelus to reſt and ſleepe, and to follow the pleaſures and luſts of the fleſh. For God doeth not chooſe them, whom he placeth Shepheards in his Church, for any outward ſhew, but he bindeth them to his people, for otherwiſe we cannot ſerue God, but by imploying our ſelues to ſerue his whole flock: and the greateſt honor that the miniſters of his worde can hauehave, is to be diligent in ſeruing all the faithfull.
205 The calling of the Miniſtery.
THe calling of the miniſtery and preaching of the goſpell, is no deuiſe of any mortall man, but the ordinaunce of the liuing God. It was hee that ordeyned Moyſes and the Prophets.2. Pet. 1 21. The prophecy (ſaith Peter) came not in the olde time by the will of man: but holy men of God ſpake as they were moued by the holy Ghoſt.Mar. 3.13 The Lorde Ieſus himſelfe, called appointed and ſent forth into the world his apoſtles to preache the goſpell. It is the holye Ghoſte which ordeyneth faithfull ouerſeers to feede the Church of God.Act. 20 28. It is Chriſt alſo at this day which appointeth Paſtors and teachers for the gathering together of his ſainctes. The firſte preacher that euer was vppon the earth was GOD himſelfe,Eph. 4.11 he preached to Adam in Paradiſe that comfortable Goſpell,Gen. 3.16 the ſeede of the woman, ſhall breake the ſerpents heade. After that hee ſtirred vp Noah and Lot, Moſes and the Prophets: what ſhalbe ſaid of Dauid, and Solomon, of the which the one was a moſte victorious prince,1. Kin- 3. and the other moſte welthye, and yet hauehave they gotten more glory and credite, by their doctrines and inſtructions, then by all their riches and triumphes. The firſt miniſter and preacher of the newe teſtament was Iohn the Baptiſt, Of whom Chriſt our Sauiour ſayeth There was not a greater Prophete,Ma. 11.11. Mar. 2.2 among womens children. Chriſte himſelfe alſo was a preacher of the Goſpell, and witneſſeth that he came into the worlde to that purpoſe.Mar. i6. i6. After him the Apoſtles alſo were ſent into the worlde to the ſame end.
Seing then that God himſelf and his ſonne Ieſus Chriſt hauehave vouchſafed to preach the worde, ſeeing ſo famous men as the Prophets and Apoſtles were ordeyned to this purpoſe: it muſt needes followe that the office of preaching is moſt famous worthye and excellent.
206 With what doctrine miniſters muſte be furniſhed.
IF So bee that the Miniſters of Chriſts Goſpel wil do their duties as they ought to doe in the erecting and in the enlarging of Chriſts kingdome by pure preaching of the worde: they muſt not then ſtande vppon trifles,1. Tim. 1.4 2. Tim. 2.23. vponupon curious and vnprofitable queſtions: but they muſt labour to edifie in all godlineſſe. This grace of GOD which was ſhewed at the comming of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is dayly to be publiſhed and preached of them.Tit. 2.11, For ſurely, it is a wonderfull ſecreat, that GOD ſhoulde bee manifeſted in the fleſhe, and that therewithall hee ſhould ſhew vsus his heauenly glory, to the end that wee might bee vnited thereunto; and therfore if all the Miniſters and Preachers of Gods worde,1. Tim. 3.16. ſhoulde neuer ceaſe from ſhewing foorthe the wiſedome which GOD hath vttered in the perſon of his onelyonly ſonne: the tyme aſſuredly ſhoulde not bee ſpent in vaine.
Furthermore, whoſoeuer will preach the goſpell faithfully and profitablye, hee muſte firſte of all and chieflye vrge the doctrine of repentaunce. To repentance muſt be ioyned the doctrine of remiſsion of ſinnes,Ma. 11.28 which belongeth only to them that repent, that are humbled and caſt downe, that feele in their conſcience the torment of ſinne and condemnation, it doth not appertaine to ignorant and ſenſeleſſe men, to hypocrites, infidels, athiſtes, iuſticiaries, prophane and carnall men,Mat. 9.13. for theſe hauehave nothing to do with the doctrine of remiſſion of ſinnes.
207 Diuerſitie in giftes among the miniſters.
NEceſſarie it is that euerie miniſter preach, but yet all ſuch ſhall not be condemned which hauehave not ſuch like and ſo full meaſure of knowledge as other hauehave. There is difference in giftes among vsus at this day, as there was among the apoſtles, yet they all ſufficiently preached.
They which hauehave any meaſure of thoſe giftes which the Lord requireth in his miniſters,1. The. 5.19. they muſt not quench the ſpirit, but vſe the meanes to encreaſe their meaſure: if they be painefull, carefull, watchfull, and faithfull in their miniſterie, with a holye and pure affection, the Lord will bleſſe them.Mat. 25.29. To him that hath ſhall be giuen, we cannot at the firſt come to perfection. Apollos a learned doctor ſeruent in the ſpirit,Act. 8.26. and mightie in the ſcriptures, yet was he ignorant in ſome thinges, and receiued inſtruction from Aquila and Priſcilla.
Some hauehave more then others, ſome hauehave ten talents, ſome fiue, and ſome but one, yet let vsus alwaies remember and let it neuer ſlip out of our minds, that the ſlothful and vnprofitable ſeruant,Mat. 25.15. & 30. ſhall be caſt into vtter darknes, there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth.
208 Of the Goſpell, and how it muſt be preached.
VNderUnder the voyce of the Goſpell is comprehended the whole hiſtorie of Ieſus Chriſt in the fleſh, and alſo the fruit and vſe of the ſame hiſtorie. The ſtory of Chriſt is briefly comprehended vnderunder his paſſion and reſurrection, the vſe and ende wherof is that we ſhould hauehave repentance and remiſſion of ſinnes in his name.
And this doth Chriſt himſelfe witnes when as he ſaid to his Apoſtles after his reſurrection:Luk. 24.46. thus it is writen, and thus it behoued Chriſt to ſuffer, and to riſe againe the third day, and that repentaunce and remiſſion of ſinnes ſhoulde bee preached in his name, among all nations. To this agreeth the Apoſtle Peter when as he ſaith, with other the Apoſtles, to the Counſell and chiefe Prieſtes. The God of our Fathers hath rayſed vp Ieſus whom ye ſlue, and hanged on a tree:Act. 5.30.31. him hath GOD lifte vp with his right hande to bee a Prince and a Sauiour to giuegive repentaunce vntounto Iſraell and remiſſion of ſinnes. By this we may ſee how the Goſpel muſt be preached, the people muſt be taught what Chriſt hath done for them. The whole ſtorye of his Incarnation, conception, birth, ſufferinges, reſurrection and aſcention, muſt be oftentimes and effectually preached vntounto them, as they are ſet downe by the Euangeliſtes and Apoſtles: but yet this is not inough to ſhewe what Chriſte hath done, and to rehearſe the ſtorie of his incarnatiō, but alſo ye miniſter muſt be careful to preach the ende, the vſe and fruite of the ſame: which is, that the people may repent, be turned vnfaynedly vntounto God, and ſo by faith made pertakers of remiſſion of ſinnes through Ieſus Chriſt.
209 What repentaunce is.
REpentance is a true turning vntounto God, a chaunging of the outward and inwarde man, a dying to ſinne, a liuing to righteouſneſſe, and amendment of the whole life. Hee which is returned vntounto God, ought firſt neceſſarily to know and vnderſtand, how he fell from him, and to know what God is, how we fall from him, and how we ought to turne to him againe.Mat 9.12. So that he which muſt repent, ought to know his own noughtines, and wickednes, and alſo by what meanes the ſame may be amended which is broken and ſpoyled: but theſe thinges can in no wiſe be done of any wretched ſinner, vnleſſe they be drawne hereunto, and therein inſtructed by the ſpyrit and word of God,Mar. 1.15. which they muſt alſo ſtedfaſtly beleue.Io. 6.44. For theſe thinges are ſo neceſſarilye required, that vnleſſe God by grace, through his ſpirit open and draw the heart of the ſinner, and by his worde ſhew vsus the perfect way, gouerne and keepe vsus in the ſame, giuegive vsus true faith whereby to quicken and iuſtifie vsus, vnleſſe (I ſay) he giuegive vsus theſe, all repentance, how hard or greeuous ſo euer it ſeeme, is no true repentance. Example hereof maye bee taken of Iudas, who repenting for his ſinnes, confeſſed the ſame to the Prieſtes in the temple ſaying: I hauehave ſinned in betraying the innocent bloud:Mat. 27.3.5. yea and he in this prate made ſatiſfaction in that he threw the vnrighteous price of bloud into the temple. But this repentance did nothing at all profite him (although he had in it contrition, confeſſion, and ſatiſfaction) and becauſe he lacked true faith, he diſpayred and hanged himſelfe. On the other ſide,Luk. 22.61.62. the Lord looking backe vponupon Peter (and the Cocke crowing) he remembred his wordes, and beleeuing them, departed from the wicked companie, wept for his ſinnes and amended his faultes: and this his repentaunce was true and perfect. The prophet Ieremy alſo confirmeth this doctrine,ver. 18.19 when he prayeth vntounto the Lord in his 31. chap. whereby it is euident that true repentaunce, and the ſorrowing for our ſinnes, muſt proceede from God, ſtirring vp the ſame in vsus by faith, ſo as it muſt not be a repentance or ſorrowe, according to the world, but after the will of God.
210 Repentance is neceſſarie to make pure the conſcience, and it is not a worke of man.
THe filth and infection which defileth and corrupteth the perſon, is of the heart, and the principal care, we ought to hauehave of our ſelues, is that we be pure and cleane in our heartes and conſciences, which thing we cannot attaine vntounto but by faith and repentaunce. And wee muſt beware that wee reſemble not the Scribes and Phareſies to whom our ſauiour Chriſt obiecteth their hypocriſie.
Furthermore (when calling vsus to repentaunce, God promiſeth vsus, his holye ſpirite) we muſt vnderſtand, that repentaunce is not a worke of man, but of God, who regenerateth vsus, and reneweth vsus by his holy ſpirit: as appeareth by the witnes of Ezechiell,Eze. 36.26. a newe hart (ſaith the Lord) I wil geue you, & a new ſpirite will I put within you, &c. and ſo conſequentlye it is not of our freewill that wee repent, but of the onelyonly mercy of God, which will not the death of a ſinner. The which alſo Ieremy confeſſeth ſaying:Ez. 33 11. Ier. 10.23. O Lorde I knowe that the waye of man is not in himſelfe: and therefore he prayeth on this wiſe, conuert thou me, and I ſhal be conuerted. We may learne alſo in an other place that the wordes of God are hidden from vsus,Pro. 1.23. if the holy Ghoſt be not giuen vsus to inſtruct and ſanctifie vsus. Wherefore we muſt pray with Dauid: Create in mee (O Lord) a cleane heart, and renewe a right ſpirite within me.Pſ. 51.12. Finally ſeeing that in bidding vsus repent, God promiſeth vsus the knowledge of his word: we may perceaue whoe are the true repentantes and whoe are not: and lykewyſe that they which make not account to repent, doe not vnderſtand the worde of God, although they make neuer ſo faire a ſhew to the contrarie.
211 Repentance is the gifte of God.
MEn cannot hauehave repentance of their own motion, and as they are ſelfe taught, but it is God that giueth it: and that of an eſpeciall goodnes. I will not the death of a ſinner (ſaith the Lord) but that hee conuerte and liue.Eze. 18.23 & 33, And how is that poſſible? If we were able to turne our ſelues vntounto the Lord, it were a more excellent worke then to create vsus, and experience it ſelfe doth ſufficientlye condemne vsus. It is moreouer an vndoubted doctrine throughout the whole ſcripture: For in eueryevery place, our Lord Ieſus Chriſt giueth himſelfe the prayſe of turning vsus, ſhewing that he will ſoften our ſtonie hearts,Eze. 11.19 20. Phil. 2.3. and make them bowe to obey him, and it is his worke not onelyonly to giuegive vsus that we may, but that we will and deſire to obey his commandementes: and to bee ſhorte, there is nothing that the faithfull ought to doe ſo much, as in this behalfe to giuegive God the glorie, confeſſing that it is in him onelyonly to turne vsus, that it is he onelyonly that hath adopted vsus in ſuch ſort, that he muſt needes draw vsus by the grace of his holy ſpirite. The Lorde muſt open our eyes and eares, alſo, before we can attayne to this woonderfull wiſedome which is conteyned in the goſpell,Deu. 29.4. Ro. 8.7. becauſe the natural man vnderſtandeth not any part of ye ſecrets of God, & therefore it followeth that it is an eſpecial gift of the holy ghoſt, when he lighteneth our hearts in the faith of his truth.
212 Howe we ought to repent.
THe true preparatiue to repentāce is, to be pricked ſo nearely as we may feele the euill that is in vsus, & condemne our ſelues for it, we muſt learne to ſtreine our ſelues, & to hold our ſelues as priſoners: & although the ſame fall out contrarie to our deſire: yet neuertheleſſe wee muſt goe on ſtill further, that God may winne the vpper hand of vsus. We muſt learn to hate our ſelues, to take diſpleaſure againſt ourſelues, and to be reuenged of our owne naughtineſſe,2 Co. 7.11 according as the Apoſtle ſayeth. 2. Cor. 7. For repentance importeth that men ſhould condemne thēſelues, and take vengeance on themſelues, when they ſee their whole life corrupted, and that they ſhould vſe an holy anger againſt it. In ſteede of deſiring to bee reuenged of our enemies, when they hauehave doone vsus any harme, wee ſhould be chafed and angry with our ſelues, yea and puniſh our ſelues for faultes, when wee cannot frame our ſelues vntounto the will of God. Wee ſhould eueryevery man enter into his owne conſcience, acknowledge howe corrupt and damnable ſinners wee are of our ſelues,Mar. 1.15. confeſſe our ſinnes, and when we hauehave doone ſo, let vsus enter from them and behold the great merciemercy of God.