Recover from Apostasy, Title page – To the reader
A RECOVERY FROM APOSTACY. Set out in A SERMON Preached in Stepny Church neere London at the receiving of a Penitent Renegado into the Church, Octob. 21. 1638. By WILLIAM GOVGE D.D. and Min. in Black-Friers LONDON
Herein is the Hiſtory of the ſurprizall and admirable eſcape of the ſaid Penitent.
foreign
Athanaſ. de Commun Eſſent P.F. & S.S.
Nitrum nostrum & herba fullonis eſt paenitentia.
Hi…n. in Hierem. cap. 8.
LONDON, Printed by George Miller, for Ioſhua Kirton, and Thomas Warren, at their ſhop in Pauls Church-yard, at the white Horſe, 1639.
An advertiſement to the Reader.
Courteous Reader,
THe enſuing Sermon is by the Author himſelfe publiſhed,Martiall of old thus complained of a divulger of his booke, Quem recitas, meu… eſt, O Fidentine, libellus: Sed malè dum recitas, incipit eſſe tuas Lib. 1. Epigram, 38. Dr. Playſer of Cambr. having a like cauſe of complaint, expreſſeth his complaint in the Poets words, thus turned into Engliſh. O Fidentine, a booke of mine, thou print'ſt againſt my will: It is not mine, but now it's thine, becauſe thou print'ſt it ill. to prevent the publiſhing of other copies taken at the Preaching thereof by ſuch as have skill of Brachygraphie or ſhort-writing; of whom ſome attempted in the Authors name to publiſh their owne notes. Many have beene much wronged hereby: and that by the Short-writers omiſſions, additions, miſ-placings, miſtakings. If ſeverall Workes of one and the ſame Author (but ſome publiſhed by himſelfe, and others by an Exceptor) be compared together, they will eaſily be found in matter and manner as different, as Works of different Authors. I have heard living Authors much …omplaine hereof. The wrong done to … deceaſed is the greater, becauſe no redreſſe can be made thereof. Had this Sermon beene publiſhed by any foreign ſwift-writer, all the particulars of thoſe tortures which Martyrs endured, and of their courage in enduring the ſame and many amplifications of ſundry generall heads then in conciſe ſummes onelyonly uttered, muſt needs have beene left out of this Treatiſe. For the Author having ever accuſtomed himſelfe to be obſervant of the time uſually ſet a part for a Sermon, chooſing rather to leave an appetite in his Auditory, then to glut them, did forbeare to deliver ſuch teſtimonies of Martyrs ſufferings, and undaunted reſolutions as he had in writing before him; and withall, when he eſpied the time to ſlip away apace, he contracted his matter, and ſummarily delivered, eſpecially in the latter part of his Sermon, the points that are now more fully ſet downe.
That thou maiſt (as in a ſmall map) behold at leaſt the heads of ſuch points as are handled in this Sermon (which might well cary the title of a Treatiſe) know that her is diſtinctly ſet downe
1 A particular narration of the Penitents ſurpriz all, apostacy, eſcape from the Turks, and penitency, page 2.
2 The diſtinct heads of the whole Parable of the Prodigall, page 7.
3 The difference betwixt turning from the better, and from the worſe, page 10.
4 The ancient uſe of circumciſion, and when, and why it was aboliſhed, page 12.
5 When one is loſt, when found, page 12, 15.
6 The deceit of ſuch Apoſtates, as privily without any publick penance ſlip into the Church, page 16.
7 Publick confeſsions of true penitents, p. 17.
8 The great dammage of Apostacy, page 23.
9. The difference betwixt tortures of body and terrour of conſcience, page 26.
10. A ſenceleſſe conſcience worſe then reſtleſse page 27.
11. The tortures inflicted on Martyrs p. 29.
12. Their courage in enduring them p. 35.
13. The recompence of Martyrs, page 37.
14 The puniſhment of Apoſtates, page 38.
15 Faith of more worth then life, p. 39.
16 Martyrs reſolute anſwers, page 43.
17 Grounds of their refuſing deliverance, p. 51
18 Martyrs in mind and inward habit, p. 56.
19 Directions for conſtancy in the Chriſtian faith, page 57.
20 Motives to redeeme Chriſtian ſlaves, p. 62
21 Evidences and benefits of repentanc…, p. 64
22 The neceſsity and and efficacie of true repentance, page 67.
23 The difference betwixt the unpardonable and other ſins, page 75.
24 The grounds of pardon of Apoſtacy, p. 74.
25 Examples of Apoſtates that repented, p. 77
26 The error of Novatians in denying pardon to penitent Apostates, page 79.
27 Exhortation to all of all ſorts to entertaine a penitent as a Brother, page 80.
28 Iuſtification of our Churches indulgency, page 81.
29 Incitation to ſuch as have denied the faith, to repent, page 82.
30 Directions for a penitents future carriage, page 83. &c.
Besides theſe, which are all copiouſly handled, many others are by the way touched.
The recompence which the Author deſireth is thy prayers for him.
A RECOVERY FROM APOSTACY. Set forth in a Sermon Preached in Stepny Church at the receiving of a Penitent Renegado into the Church.
LVKE 15.31.
foreign.
He was loſt, and is found.
A Text the more pertinent it is to the point in hand,Quo magis accommodus, eo magis commod…s. the more profitable it is like to be in the handling thereof; wherefore that you may the better diſcerne how pertinent this Text is for this preſent Aſſembly, I will as diſtinctly and ſuccinctly as I can relate the ſpeciall occaſion thereof.
The Hiſtory of a penitent Renegado.THis Penitent heere before you, Vincent Iukes by name, is an Engliſh man, borne in Shropſhiere, and in the ſeventeenth yeare of his age was bound apprentice to a Cooke in Ratlife of this Parish. After two yeares ſervice, his maſter ſet him forth to Sea in a Cooks place in the Adventure for Greeneland. Thither they had a proſperous voyage, and returned ſafe within five moneths. *Anno 1636.The yeare following hee was ſet foorth againe (as before) for Genoway. In this voyage they were ſet upon by Turkish pirats, and after a dangerous ſight, wherein ſeven were ſlaine and about twenty more wounded and maimed, hee with three and thirty more were carried to Argier, where, within foure daies after their arrivall, they were ſold for ſlaves in the Market place. Of that company many died, foure were ranſom'd, and ſeven there ſtill abide in ſlaverie. It is a cuſtome there that their King have his choice of every eighth perſon to bee ſold. And it ſo fell out that this man was one of the eight. The King therefore had him for his ſlave, and after two moneths paſſed him over to his brother; by whom hee was ſold to a Negro. That Negro uſed him moſt cruelly: and by daily threatnings and ſoare beatings forced him to renounce his Chriſtian Religion, denie Chriſt, acknowledge Mahomet to bee a great Prophet, and in teſtimony thereof to bee circumciſed and to conforme himſelfe to the Turkiſh rites, and attire. All theſe things thus accompliſhed, the Negro ſold him to a Grecian, who was alſo a Mahometan. This Grecian put him for a Souldier into a Turkiſh ſhip, which went forth upon ſpoile. In that ſhip were two Engliſh Chriſtians and a Flemming Circumciſed as himſelfe, with twenty native Turks. The two Chriſtians and two Renegadoes being together in the ſterridge, eſpied five of the Turks alone together below board: and thereupon conſulted to take that opportunity …f freeing themſelves from ſlavery, or ſpending their lives in the attempt thereof. Thus on a ſudden they fly upon thoſe five Turks, who ſuſpected no ſuch matter, and with their knives, having no other weapons, ſtab'd them. This done, they ſeiſed upon the muskets, ſwords and other weapons which were in that roome, and therewith kild five more of the Turks that came one after another to ſee what the tumult might be about: and they wounded and maimed five more. The five Turks that remained alive unwounded were ſo affrighted, as they knew not what to doe, but through feare ran up to the riggin: where they were threatned to be ſhot thorow if they would not yeald. They yeald therefore upon promiſe to have their lives ſpared; and comming downe one by one were bound, as the five maimed Turks were. Thus a full conqueſt being got over all thoſe Turks they ſailed to S. Lucas in Spaine, where the Conquerours ſold the ten living Turks, the ſhip and all that was in her for ſix hundred pounds, which they devided among themſelves, and had each of them an hundred and fifty pound apeece.
The Spaniards dealt fairely with the foure that now profeſſed themſelves Chriſtians: and uſed all the enducements they could to bring them to their Religion: Three of them were perſwaded, and abode among the Spaniards. This Penitent bearing more love to his native Country and reformed Religion in which hee had beene brought up, refuſed to abide in Spaine, but tooke his firſt opportunity of comming for England in the Centurian *1638.the laſt of Aprill. Hee had not beene long in England before hee put to Sea againe for Greeneland. In which voyage hee profeſſeth that hee was much troubled night and day, and that hee could not well ſleepe through horrour of conſcience for denying his Chriſtian Faith. So ſoone therefore as hee returned ſafe from Greeneland to England, hee went to the ancient grave Cura…e of Stepny, the Pariſh where hee lived, and made knowne his caſe to him; who for the preſent comforted and exhorted him to abide more ſtedfaſt in the true Faith for the future. But becauſe the caſe was no ordinary caſe, the ſaid Curate very prudently adviſed with the reverend Doctor, and Vicar of that Church. The Doctor on the ſame ground, and with like prudence made his caſe knowne to the right honourable and right reverend Father in GOD his Dioceſan; who adviſed with the moſt reverend Father in GOD the Lord Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury his Grace thereabout.
Thus was there a ſolemne, pious, and grave forme of Penance preſcribed for admitting him againe into the Chriſtian Church. At the performance whereof this duty of preaching the Word was enjoyned to mee: Which in obedience to Authority, and with hope in GODS aſſiſtance I have undertaken. And that what on this occaſion I ſhall deliver may bee both ſeaſonable and profitable, I have made choiſe of the Text which you heard before; And I pray, heare it againe, He was loſt, and is found.
YEe have here the Cataſtrophe or ſweet cloſe of a Parabolicall Hiſtory, A reſolution of the Parable.or Hiſtoricall Parable, which is full of trouble and confuſion throughout the greateſt part of it, but endeth with a joyfull iſſue.
The Place whereon it was repreſented, is the Church. For out of the Chu…ch did the Prodigall depart: Into the Church did he returne: And moſt of the memorable matters therein related, are related as performed in the Church.
The Persons mentioned therein are,
1. God himſelfe, repreſented under the title of a Father, ver. 20.
2. A Penitent Apoſtate, and a justic…ary Profeſſour, ſet out under two Brothers, ver. 11, 29, …1.
3. Lewd tempters and inciters to evill, implied under the Harlots which the elder brother mentioneth, ver 30.
4. A covetous worldling that takes advantage from a diſtreſſed mans neceſſity to put him to a baſe worke, not allowing competent food, He is here ſtiled a Citizen, ver. …5.
5. Hard-hear…ed Neighbours, who are no whit mov…d with … diſtreſſed mans ex…remities: intimated under this phraſe, No man gave to him, ver. 16.
6. Obedient Servants, who readily performed what their Maſter commanded about a welcome intertainement of his Sonne, ver, 22, 23.
7. Sympathizing Friends, who rejoyced with the joyfull Father, compriſed under theſe words, They began to be merry: ver. 24. and further implied by the muſick and dancing mentioned, ver. 24.
Moſt of the forementioned Perſons are brought in performing ſeverall parts.
The diſtinct parts are five.
1. In the firſt, the younger Sonne obtaines his portion of his Fa…her, and riotouſly ſpends it, ver. 12.13.
2. In the ſecond, the Prodigall being brought to extreame want, is forced to ſeeke ſervice of an hard maſter: under whom he was put to a baſe worke: and yet for his paines had not enough to ſuſtaine nature, ver. 14, 15, 16.
3. In the third, the ſaid Prodigall is brought to himſelfe, and to thinke of his Father: to whom addreſſing himſelfe, he is met in the midd way by his Father: and gratiouſly embraced upon his penitent confeſſion, ver. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
4. In the fourth, his Father with all the cheerefull and joyfull expreſſions that he can, brings him to his houſe, clothes him with the beſt robe, feaſts him, and cheares him with muſick and dancing, ver. 22, 23, 24.
5. In the fifth, the elder Brother hearing the melodie, and enquiring after the cauſe, enviouſly expoſtulates the caſe with his Father: but the Father gratiouſly endeavours to give him full ſatisfaction: wherein he concludes with the words of my Text, He was loſt, and is found.
Theſe five Parts might eaſily be ſubdivided into ſundry other particulars.
But having by the forenamed generalls brought you along from the beginning of the Parable to the laſt clauſe thereof, my purpoſe is to hold cloſe to this cloſe, He was loſt, and is found.
In ſumme this Text ſets out A recovery from Apostacy.Summe and parts of the Text.
The particulars moſt obſervable are two.
1. The Dammage of Apoſtacy, He was loſt. For when he went out of his Fathers houſe he proved an Apoſtate. His Fathers houſe was the Church, wherein alone were the meanes of ſalvation: and out of which he had no hope of ſalvation, but was in that broad way that leadeth to deſtruction. Thus was he filius perditus, a loſt child. A great dammage indeed was this.
2. The Advantage of Penitency. He is found. By ſight and ſence of his ſinne, by an humble acknowledgement thereof, and by returning to his Fathershouſe, he ſhewed himſelfe a true Penitent: and by his Fathers receiving him into his houſe, and giving him ſuch wellcome as he did, he was under the meanes of ſalvation againe. Thus was he filius inventus. A child whom his Father enjoyed. As great an advantage was this to the Sonne, as joy to the Father.
Difference betw…x… turning to the worſe, and to the better.Before I proceed in a diſtinct handling of theſe two particulars, I suppoſe it to be meet to ſet before you a generall view of the whole: and that as it conſiſts of two oppoſite termes, LOST, FOVND; but made to agree by two different tences or times, WAS, IS. He WAS loſt, and IS found.
He WAS, He IS; Theſe are the two diſtinct and different times.
The former, He WAS, notes out the time paſt: and that was his fore-lorne eſtate.
The latter, He IS, points at the time preſent: and that is his new-borne eſtate.
Thus he is here ſet out unto us, not in that condition which the Prophet deſcribeth in theſe words,Ezek. 18.24. When the righteous turneth away from his righteouſneſſe, and committeth iniquity, and doth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth, ſhall he live? All his righteouſneſſe that he hath done ſhall not be mentioned. In his treſpaſſe that he hath treſpaſſed, and in his ſinne that he hath ſinned, in them ſhall he die. But he is ſet out in a more bleſſed condition, which the ſame Prophet thus deſcribeth,Ezek. 18.21. If the wicked will turne from all his ſinnes that he hath committed, and keepe all my ſtatutes, and doe that which is lawfull and right, h… ſhall ſurely live: he ſhall not die.
If the termes of my Text had beene thus changed, He was found, and is loſt, it had beene more miſerable then, fuimus Troes, wee were a flouriſhing people: or then, foreign Aeca the title and firſt word of Ieremiahs Lamentations, HOVV?Lam. 1.1. How doth the Citie ſit ſolitary that was full of people? In ſuch a caſe, miſerum eſt fuiſſe, it is a miſerable thing to have beene: to have beene in our Fathers houſe, and to be loſt: as, to have beene living and to be dead. But as the parts of the Propoſition ſtand in my Text, He was loſt, and is found, meminiſſe juvabit, it will be a comfort to conſider that ſuch and ſuch a woefull eſtate is altered: that He was loſt, and is found. It is like to that comfort which he found in his ſoule, who ſaid, I was a blaſphemer, and a perſecutor, and injurious, 1 Tim. 1.13.but I have obtained mercy. Hereupon with much content and comfort he ſaith (1 Cor. 15.10.) By the grace of God I am that I am.
To ſhew that ſuch a paſſage from the worſe to the better is remarkable, and not to be forgotten, the Apoſtle adviſeth the converted Gentiles to remember it Remember that yee being in time paſſed Gentiles in the fleſh: Epheſ. 2.11, 12, 13.— That at that time yee were without Chriſt:— But now in Chriſt Ieſus, yee who ſometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Chriſt.
This was the caſe of the penitent Prodigall, He was lost, and is found. And this is the caſe of the Penitent Renegado here before us. He was loſt, When the Renegado was loſt.and is found. He was loſt, not when he firſt ſet to ſea: nor when the Turkiſh Pirats ſet upon the ſhip wherein he was: nor when they took him captive: nor when they ſold him for a ſlave: nor when he was under the harſh and hard handling of the cruell Negro. The baſeſt ſlave that can be under man, beleeving in Chriſt, and faſt-holding his Chriſtian faith, is (to uſe the Apoſtles phraſe, (1 Cor. 7.22.) the Lords freeman. Therfore not loſt. He that endureth whatſoever the cruelleſt perſecutor can inflict upon him for Chriſts ſake, is bleſſed, Mat. 5.11. Therefore not lost.
But he was loſt when he became a Renegado: When he renounced his Chriſtian faith: when he acknowledged Mahomet to be the great Prophet; when he yeelded to be circumciſed, and have all his haire ſhaved off, and to put on Turkiſh attire, and when he profeſſed himſelfe a Mahometan, then He was loſt.
Had he not yeelded to thoſe evidences of a Renegado, No ſin per forcebut that per force they had been put upon him, he had not beene loſt. If per force he had beene circumciſed, if per force he had beene ſhaven, if per force the Turkiſh turbant or tuffe had been put upon his head, and other Turkiſh attire upon his body, he had not thereupon beene loſt.
The an…ient vſe of circumciſion.In this caſe circumciſion it ſelfe as it availeth nothing, ſo it doth no hurt. Circumciſion was of old, before Chriſt was exhibited, an honourable Cognizance wherby Gods people were diſtinguiſhed from ſuch as were extranei, out of the covenant and in contempt called uncircumciſed (1 Sam. 14.6. and 17.26, 36. Epheſ. 2.11.) But by Chriſt, When and why circumciſion aboliſhe….who pulled downe the partition wall beetwixt Iew and Gentile, was that, (as other rites of that uſe, which were alſo Types of the Meſsiah to come) utterly aboliſhed. On which ground ſaith the Apoſtle (Gal. 5.2.) If yee be circumciſed Chriſt ſhall profit you nothing, that is, If any revive that rite, which (beſide that it was a ſigne of difference betwixt Jew and Gentile, and a bond to tie men to the whole Law) was a Type of the Meſsiah to come, he denies Chriſt to be exhibited, and to have wrought mans redemption: and in that reſpect Chriſt ſhall profit him nothing.
Now becauſe Christians, on theſe and other weighty grounds, utterly reject Circumciſion, Iewes, Turkes, and other adverſaries of the Chriſtian faith, are not onelyonly circumciſed themſelves, but doe what lieth in them to draw ſuch Chriſtians as they can get into their clutches, to be circumciſed.The evill o… circumciſion under the Goſpe…. For any Chriſtian to yeeld to them herein, whether it be by faire or foule meanes, is to denie the Chriſtian faith, and to renounce Chriſt himſelfe: which whoſoever doth, is loſt. It is all one,Niceph. Ecl. H…ſt. lib. 5. cap. 32 … . as of old it was to offer incenſe to the Heatheniſh Idols: which becauſe Origen did, he was excommunicated by the Church. Not feare of torture and torments moved Origen to doe what he did (for thoſe he had oft endured in great meaſure with much patience: ſo as his adverſaries ſaw that there was no working on him that way) but it was pretence of avoiding another ſinne.Quae ſitor quum ſe tormentis victum ab illo intelligeret, al diabolicum prorſus conſillum animum a…jecit, &c. For the Commiſſioner, when he diſcerned that by inflicting torments he nought prevailed, but was vanquiſhed, he turned himſelfe to a more diveliſh plot; for underſtanding how much Origen was addicted to preſerve the chaſtity of his body, hee brought him to the Idols altar where a filthy Black-more was placed, and threatned, that, if he would not offer incenſe on that altar the Black-more ſhould defile his body, which filthineſſe to prevent, he offered the incenſe. This pretence did not excuſe his fact, nor avert the Churches cenſure. What the Black-more had done per force to him, would have beene accounted no ſinne of his. But his offe…ing of the incenſe was accounted a deniall of the Chriſtian faith.
Renegadoes that yeeld to be circumciſed goe as farre, (yea and further too) in denying Chriſt, as Origen did, yet have they not ſuch a pretence as he. Not unjuſtly therefore may they be accounted loſt, as was this Penitent here before us.
Yet his ſtanding here before us, as yee ſee him, gives evidence that he is found.
He was not found when he with his fellowes ſlue ſome of the Turks in the ſhip:When a Penitent i… found. nor when they brought ſhip and the other Turks to Saint Lucas and there ſold them: nor when he arrived in England his native Countrey againe. Though theſe were ſure evidences of his freedome from Turkiſh ſlavery, yet not ſo of his freedome from a farre worſe ſlavery under ſinne and Satan, whereunto he ſubjected himſelfe, when he renounced his Chriſtian faith. His three companions whom he left in Spaine, may yet ſtill, for ought we know, remaine loſt.
He began to be found when he was touched in conſcience, and pricked in heart for his grievous Apoſtaſie. He went on in the right way to be found, when he made knowne his caſe to his Miniſter, and made confeſſion of his great offence to him: and yet further, when he willingly ſubjected himſelfe to the diſcipline of our Church, and manifeſted his willingneſſe to undergoe any pennance that ſhee ſhould enjoyne:Poenitentia peccati tunc prodeſt ſi eam in Eccleſia Catholica gerat. Aug. de Eccleſ dogm. c. 80. humbly and penitently deſiring to be received into her boſome againe, and to be accounted one of her children. For Repentance of ſinne is then profitable, when it is performed in the Catholick Church. Where, of old,Rectè conſtituuntur ab …is qui Ec…leſiae praeſunt tempora paenitentiae, ut fiat etiam ſa…i… Ecc…esiae in qua remittū tur ipſa peccata. Aug. …. c. 65. times of penitency were appointed by the Governours of the Church, that ſatisfaction might be given to the Church, in which remiſſion of ſins is granted.
Now therefore he is found indeed. Now that after the juſt cenſure of excommunication for his Apoſtaſie, upon his humble confeſſion and hearty repentance (as we hope) he is here this day received into the boſome of the Church, now he is found. So as now to his everlaſ…ing comfort (if he remaine conſtant) and to the great rejoycing of all true Chriſtians that now behold him, or ſhall heare of that which we behold, my Text may in ſpeciall be applied to him, He was lost, and is found.
Apoſtates creeping into the Church with…ut publike pennan… are ſtill loſt.I feare, I feare, that there are ſome even now here preſent that have beene in the caſe wherein this Penitent was, loſt; but not in the caſe wherein he is, found. I feare there are ſome that have played Renegadoes, and as an evidence thereof, are circumciſed. Let ſuch know (whether they heare me themſelves, or ſhall heare of what I ſay by others) let them know, that by their ſecret thruſting themſelves into the Church, and concealing their ſinne from the Governours thereof, and that without juſt ſatisfaction which ought to be publikely given for an offence ſo ſcandalous as theirs is, they can never find ſuch peace in their conſcience as this Penitent may. Yea let them know that they have great cauſe to feare the deceitfullneſſe of their hearts, and to ſuſpect the truth of their repentance, if at leaſt they make any profeſſion of repentance. True Penitents, which by notorious ſinnes have diſhonoured their profeſſion, ſcandalized the Church, and given matter of inſultation to the enemies of true Religion, will not bee aſhamed to make open confeſſion of their ſinne, and be willing to undergoe any pennance that by the true Church ſhall be enjoyned to them.
They of Iaakobs houſe who had taken with them ſtrange gods, brought them to Iaakob, and their idolatrous earings too (Gen. 35.4.) which was a reall confeſſion of their ſinne, and a demonſtration of the truth of their repentance.
Achan, though he knew he ſhould die for it, yet made this open confeſſion. (Ioſh. 7.20.) Indeed I have ſinned againſt the Lord God of Iſrael: and thus and thus have I done. It is probable that he was the rather enduced to make this confeſſion, becauſe Ioſhua had told him, that thereby he ſhould give glory to the Lord God of Iſrael in the verſe immediately before:Vide Andr. Maſij comment in Ioſ. 7 19. and that he obtained mercy for the remiſſion of his ſin before God, and ſalvation of his ſoule.
The Iſraelites having caſt off the Government of the Lord by Judges, being convinced of their ſinne, make this open confeſſion thereof, Wee have added unto all other our ſins this evill, 1 Sam. 12.19.
The Iewes after the captivity having married ſtrange wives (which was againſt the Law, Deut. 7.3.) openly and penitently thus confeſſe their ſinne, VVee have treſpaſſed againſt our God, and have taken ſtrange wives, Ezra 10.2.
David, though a King, having committed ſcandalous ſinnes, contents not himſelfe with a private confeſſion thereof to the Prophet Nathan (2 Sam. 12.13.) But bIſte Pſalm… vo…e… continet p…nitenti…: often…ns ut qui ceci…ri… in crimin…, … redeat a… a…utem Hier. in lo:by a Penitentiary Pſalme maketh open and publicke confeſſion thereof to the whole Church, Pſalme 51.1.
To like purpoſe tends the ſecond booke of Salomon, ſtiled Eccleſiaſtes. cAiunt H…br…i hunc librum Salomonis eſſe paenitentiam agē tis, quòd in ſapientia divitiiſ que confiſus, per mulieres offenderit Deum. Idem.The Hebrewes ſay that this booke is an evidence of Salomons repentance: for that he trusting in his wiſdome and riches offended God by woemen.
That which S. Paul writes (1 Tim. 1.13.) of his being a blaſphemer and a perſecutor and injurious, is a publike confeſſion of his ſins.
It is noted (Acts. 19.18, 19.) as a fruit of true faith that many that beleeved, came, namely openly and publickly, and confeſſed and ſhewed their deeds. Among theſe were many alſo of them who uſed curious arts (that is magicall and diabolicall arts) brought their bookes together and burnt them, before all men: that is openly and publickly.
dNiceph. Ecl. Hiſt. l. 2. c 32.The Young-man whom S. I…hn committed to the tuition of the Biſhop of Epheſus, being recalled, after his Apoſtacy, with teares on his knees openly craves pardon.
eLamentum quod circumfertur nomine Origeni….There is a Lamentation of Origen, publiſhed among his workes, wherein he himſelfe doth openly confeſſe, and penitently bewaile h…s ſcand…lous yealding to Pagan Idolatry.
fforeign Iren. … Har. l. c. 9.Sundry that were ſeduced by Marcus the Magician, in teſtimony of the truth of their penitency made open confeſſion.
gEuſeb Ecl. Hiſt. l. 6. c. 34.Philip who of Roman Emperours was the firſt Chriſtian, deſiring to be admitted into the Chriſtian Church, ſtood in the place where penitents were wont to ſtand, and made open confeſſion of his ſinne.
*Haereſis hujus vocabatur Epiſcop…. Euſe…. Ecl. Hiſt. l. 5. c. 28.Natalis a Biſhop among Heretiques did the like.
Many other particulars might here be reckoned up of ſuch as of old in the times of perſecution having renounced the Chriſtian Faith, upon touch of conſcience made publike confeſſion of their Apoſtacy, and were thereupon admitted againe into the Chriſtian Church.
For hEuſeb. Ecl. Hiſt. l. 6. c. 34.in thoſe daies they ſuffered none, that had once renounced the Chriſtian Faith to be received as members of the Church, unleſſe they gave good evidences of their true repentance, and that by their deepe humiliation, free confeſſion, and willing ſubjection to ſuch ſatisfactions as the Church ſhould enjoyne.
For this end they had iIn Eccleſiae qualibe… praebyterunt paenitent…arium conſtitueruntMiniſters to order the penance of ſuch Penitents, and to receive them againe into the Church. kCertus eſt paenitentium locus Niceph. Eccl. Hiſt. l. 12. c. 28.They had alſo publicke places for ſuch Penitents to ſtand in: and they had lLege ibid de f…rma paenitentiae.formes of confeſſion, and rites for Penitents to obſerve.
From thoſe primitive times of the Chriſtian Church even to theſe our dayes, they who after their revolt from the Faith, have beene thorowly touched in conſcience for their ſinne, have not unwillingly made recantations, and confeſſions, and undergone what the Church thought meet to lay upon them. This time after time hath beene done in all reformed Churches: And that not onelyonly by ſuch as h…ve returned from Paganiſme, Turciſme, and Iudaiſme, but alſo from Anabaptiſme and Popery.
Indeed the ancient Diſcipline of the Church about receiving ſuch as had Apoſtatiſed from her, into her boſome againe, was more auſtere, then now it is: mRitu… …ſte propter Novati. anos inſtitutu… eſſe dicitur, quū communicare illi cum eis nollent, qui ſub Decij perſecutione fidem abn…garant, & poſtea reſipiſcentes ad eam redierant▪ Niceph Ecl. Hiſt. l. 12. c. 28.The rather becauſe of the Novatians, who would not communicate with them, who had denied the faith in the perſecution of Decius, and afterwards repenting turned to the ſame faith againe.
In thoſe daies Penitents were wont to put nSacco ſumpto & cinere consperſu…. Niceph. l 4. c. 21.ſack-cloth upon their backs, and aſhes on their heads: And oStant illi periude at que judicio damnati eſsent, &c. l 12. c. 28.to ſtand as men condemned, with their countenance dejected; yea and with much ſorrow and wailing to caſt themſelves downe at the Biſhops feete, who alſo weeping with them and for them, proſtrateth himſelfe: and the whole aſſembly weepeth too. The Biſhop riſen up, having prayed for them, and given them what counſell and charge he thought meet, bids them ſtand up: and diſmiſſeth them for that time: Being ſo diſmiſſed they gave themſelves to mourning, watching, faſting, praying, and other things meet for Repentance: and waited till the Biſhop ſhould call for them. Sometimes they were long put off before they were admitted into the Church, and participation of all Gods ordinances.
But now the Church dealeth much more gently and gratiouſly with ſuch as ſhe conceiveth to be true Penitents. Yet ſo, as ſhe may ſearch, and clenſe the wound, and worke the more perfect cure.
Yee, yee, whoſoever you be that have renounced your Religion, and denied your Lord and Saviour, and yet without any publicke confeſſion or ſatisfaction intrude into the Church, and thruſt your ſelves in among the gueſts which are invited to the Lords Table, Ye draw a skin over a feſtring wound: Ye eat and drinke your owne damnation: Yee make the Lord to expoſtulate the caſe with you, and to ſay unto you, How came ye hither not having a wedding garment? This is the doome denounced againſt ſuch (Math. 22.13.) Binde them hand and foot, and take them away, and caſt them into outer darkneſſe, there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. Well note this and tremble. I wot well, that it were farre better for you to ſtand as humble Penitents in a Chriſtian Congregation on earth, humbly confeſſing your ſinnes and graciouſly receiving abſolution of them, then to be in the number of them, of whom the Sonne of man ſhall be aſhamed, when he commeth in the glory of his Father with his holy Angels (Mark 8.38.) And aſſuredly he will be aſhamed of ſuch, as having denied him are aſh…med to make open confeſſion of that their deniall.
But this Penitent here before us by his humble ſubmiſſion to the Churches order, and penitent confeſſion of his heighnous ſinne in the midſt of this great Congregation, apparently ſheweth, that as formerly he was not aſhamed to deny Chriſt, ſo now he is not aſhamed to confeſſe Chriſt. He is indeed aſhamed. But of what? Even of his former ſhameleſneſſe. Of this ſhame he hath no cauſe to bee aſhamed: Unleſſe it be that he can be no more aſhamed, that he was before ſo graceleſly aſhamed of his Saviour.
In this ground, he being, as yee heard before, received into the Church againe, I will againe apply my Text to him, and ſay of him, He was loſt, and is found.