The Practice of Repentance, Title page – Table of content
THE PRACTISE OF REPENTANCE, Laid downe in sundry directions, together with the Helpes, Lets, Signes and Motiues. In an easie Method, according to the Table prefixed.
As it was preached in Aldermanbury by THOMAS TAYLOR.
LONDON, Printed for I. Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Cheapeside, 1628.
A Table of the chiefe things contained in the seuerall Chapters of the TREATISE.
Cap. 1.
THe ground and occasion of the Treatise. p. 1
The occasion and meaning of the words. p. 5
We may not iudge of mens persons by their outward condition. p. 9
In all our conferences, we must take occasion to edifie one another. p. 13
EueryEvery man must make vse to himselfe of Gods iudgements on others. p. 14
The onelyonly way to preuent perdition, is Repentance. p. 15
Cap. 2.
What Repentance is. p. 17
The onelyonly efficient cause of it is the Spirit of God, it is beyond the power of nature. p. 18
Why we hauehave commands from God to repent, though it …ee not i… our power. p. 21
How the Spirit workes repentance. p. 22
Cap. 3.
The subiect of Repentance is the beleeuer. p. 25
Faith goeth before Repentance, not Repentance before faith. p. 26
C…tio…s to be taken with this truth. p. 30
Th…se places answered where Repentance is set before faith in Scripture. p. 31
What the act or form… of Repentance is. p. 32
Cap. 4.
The …earmes from whence, and whither a man must turne: first, from all sin: secondly, to God, with forcible reasons of both. p. 34
It is not enough to cease to doe euill, vnlesse we learne to doe well. p. 38
True Repentance hath God still in its eye. p. 39
Cap. 5.
What Repentance is not. p. 41
It is not Ciuility, which a great part of the world mistakes for it. p. 41
It is not eueryevery sorrow for sin, though deepe. p. 42
Signes of that sorrow, that is a part of true Repentance.
It is not eueryevery leauing of sin, that is Repentance, vnlesse there bee a change and reformation. p. 45
Outward abstinence from sinne, no reformation. p. 46
Cutting off of some sinnes, without a rooting of them vp, is no Repentance. p. 47
Conquering of sin, not alwaies reformation. p. 48
EueryEvery reformation is not Repentance, vnlesse the whole man bee changed. p. 48
EueryEvery change of the whole man is not Repentance, vnlesse it be from all sinne. p. 50
Turning from all sinne is not Repentance, vnlesse there be a turning to God. p. 51.
Cap. 6.
Rules concerning the persons that must Repent. p. 52
EueryEvery man must repent for sundry reasons. p. 53
Naturall and vnregenerate men though neuer so ciuill. p. 56
Godly and regenerate men, euen the best. p. 59
Young men, for sundry reasons. p. 61
Old men, for diuers reasons. p. 63
Women must repent as well as men. p. 64
Cap. 7.
Rules concerning sins to be repented of. p. 66.
All sins must be repented of. p. 67
Sins both known and vnknown p. 69
How vnknowne sins may be repented of. p. 69
The smallest sins must be repented of for sundry reasons. p. 71
Sins of knowledge and presumption, must be repented of▪ p. 73
Sins also of aggrauating and scandalous circumstance, as p. 75
Customable sins. p. 75
Sweet and pleasing sins. p. 76
Sins after conuersion, especially. p. 77
Sins against meanes. p. 78
Sins of open profanenesse against holy times, places, exercises, persons. p. 79
Cap. 8.
Rules concerning the manner of entrance into the duty of repentance. p. 81
It must be entred vponupon with preparation. ibid.
Meanes to helpe forward the preparation, required, viz. p. 82. &c.
1 A serious consideration of the blissefull estate lost by sin. p. 82
2 Of the miserable estate wee are now in, and shall continue in, till we repent. p. 83. &c.
3 Serious thoughts of the God with whom we hauehave to deale in this businesse, chiefly of his Maiesty, Iustice, anger at sin, and of his rich mercy in Christ. p. 25.86.
3 A consideration of the necessity and benefit of Repentance. p. 87
Cap. 9.
Rules concerning the wise proceeding in the duty of Repentance. p. 88
1 The worke of Repentance must be begun within, with the cleansing of the heart. p. 89
2 Outwardly, begin with some master sin, to root out that. p. 90
3 Cease not till it be quite rooted vp, and cast out. p. 93
4 Rest not in the rooting out of sin, till there is rooting and growth in the contrary grace. p. 95
Trust not Repentance as sound, till then. p. 97
Cap. 10.
Rules concerning the time of Repentance. p. 99
The time wherein alone it is possible a man can repent, is the whole time of his life, and onelyonly that time. p. 99. &c.
The time of necessity, wherein men ought to Repent, is all the time of their life. p. 102
1 A Christians life should be begun with repentance, for sundry weighty reasons. p. 102
2 Continued in the exercise of repentance. p. 109
3 Ended with repentance. p. 111
Cap. 12.
Of the Lets of repentance from the world. p. 130
1 Feare of contempt, and reproch from the world. p 133
A preseruatiue against it. p. 135
2 Feare of the losse of friends, if wee repent. p 141
This rub remoued. p. 142
Cap. 13.
3 Of another Let from the world, viz. the paucity & small number of Penitents in the world. p. 146
The antidote against it. p. 147
Cap. 15.
Of the Lets of repentance from Sathan. p. 166
1 He labours to perswade vsus of the goodnesse of our present naturall estate by sundry arguments. p. 167. &c.
Answers to such Arguments. p. 168. &c.
Cap. 16.
2 Of a second rub, Satan casts in our way to hinder repentance, viz. If he cannot bring men to please themselues with their naturall estates, he labours to worke men to so great a dislike of their conditions, as to drowne them in the gul…e of despaire. p. 176
1 Sathan labours to worke men to a despaire of Gods mercy, by diuers arguments. p. 177.
Helpes against them. p. 177. &c.
Cap. 17.
2 Sathan labours to hinder repentance by bringing men to a despaire of themselues, and their owne conditions by diuers reasons. p. 185
Answers to such temptations▪ p. 186. &c.
Cap. 18.
3 Sathan labours to bring men to despaire of their repentance.
1 He would perswade men it is impossible, by diuers arguments. p. 195
His argumēts answered. p. 196. &c.
Cap. 19.
2. The Deuill labours·to keepe men off from repentance by perswadi…g them, tis vnprofitable p. 207
Such temptations answered ibid.
Cap. 20.
3. The Deuill labours to hinder mens repentance by obiecting their relapses and fallings after repentance. p. 211
Comfortable answers to such temptations ibid.
Cap 21.
3. Of the third rub the Deuil layes in mens way to hinder their repentance, viz. Presumption. When he cannot driue them to despair, neither of Gods mercy, nor their own estate, nor their repentance, hee assaies to make them presume of mercy without Repentance, p. 215
1. Hee perswades a sinner his sinnes are not great p. 216
Answer to this Temptation ibid. &c.
Cap. 22.
2. The Diuell labours to perswade men Christ dyed for all p. 220
That obiection answered ibid. &c.
Cap. 23.
3. The Deuill perswades men that God is mercifull, and therefore they neede not so trouble themselues with repentance p. 230
Answer to this temptation p. 231, &c.
Cap. 24.
Of the lets of Repentance from our selues, which we cast in our owne way p. 239
1. A conceit wee hauehave, that repentance is harsh and vnpleasing to nature ibid.
Helps against this let 240
Cap. 25
2. Of the second let, wee hinder our repentance withall, viz. the certaintie of Gods decree of election and reprobation p. 243.244
If we are elected, say men, wee shall be saued without this repentance, if reprobated, all our repentance will not saue vsus.
This dangerous subtiltie met withall p. 245. &c.
Cap. 26.
3. Of the third rub men c…st in th…ir own way to h…ld themselues from Repentance, viz. the comfortable liues and deaths of many impenitents, and the vncomfortable liues and ends of godly persons, and such as hauehave beene most penitent p. 252
Answer t… this obiection p. 253
Cap. 27.
4. Of the fourth let to repentance from our selues. Men conceiue Repentance very easie. p 258
This conceit met withall. ibid. &c.
Cap. 28.
5. Of the last l…t we hinder our repentance withall
Men obiect the vnseasonablenesse of Repentance p. 263
Some thinke it too soone to repent ibid.
These hauehave their answer. ibid. &c.
Some think it too late to repent p. 269
These comforted and encouraged p. 270.
Cap. 29.
Of the meanes of Repentance in respect of sin
Serious humiliation necessary to Repentance, proud persons vncapable of it p. 273
Meanes to attaine Repentance
1. To get a cleare sight of sin, and our miserie by it p. 274
2. True sorrow for it p. 275
3. A holy despaire in our selues of deliuerance by any meanes of our owne p. 276
A direction to get acquaintance with the morall Law, very vsefull to worke our hearts to a sight of sin, &c. 277. &c.
Cap. 30.
Of the meanes of Repentance in respect of God
1. His word a notable meanes to worke Repentance p. 281
The Law: see how p. 283
The Gospell: see how ibid. &c.
What men must doe, that the Word may further their repentance p. 284.
2. Thoughts of Gods eye alwaies vponupon vsus, in all our waies p. 285
3. A consideration of Gods hand both of merciemercy and iustice, a forcible meanes to worke repentance
Of merciemercy p. 286
Of iustice, both on our selues, and others p. 288. &c.
4. A serious consideration of our relation to God, a means to work Repentance p. 291
Cap. 31.
Of the meanes of Repentance in respect of Christ, viz.
1. Serious thoughts of the greatnes of his person, and nearnesse to his Father p. 295
2. Of the heauy things hee suffered for sin p. 296
3. Of the basenesse of the persons for whom he suffred such things ibid. &c.
Cap. 32.
Of the meanes of repentance in regard of our selues▪
1, Tis a profitable means to further our repentance, to consider our desires and affections, both what they are, and what they ought to be p. 300
2. To recount our liues and actions what they are, and ought to be p. 301
3. To consider seriously the checks of our consciences. p. 302
4. To remember our latter end p. 304
Cap. 33.
Of the meanes of repentance, in respect of others.
How we may further our repentance by good men. p. 305
How repentance may be furthered by bad men, and enemies to grace. p. 306
Cap. 34.
Of the markes of repentance in respect of sin.
1 A true penitent remembers his sin, though remitted, with shame and sorrow. p. 309
2 He will aggrauate his sin when he beholds it. p. 311
3 He hates all sin eueryevery where. p. 314
4 He resists and holds fight against all sin. 316
5 He relinquisheth his sin in true endeauours, and neuer turneth to it any more. 318
6 In his strife and resistance of sin, he differenceth himselfe from the hypocrites, in that he sets himselfe against sin vniuersally and sincerely. p. 320. &c.
Cap. 35.
Of the markes of repentance in respect of God.
1 True repentance shewes it selfe by a sincere louelove of God. p. 327
2. By a childish feare & awe of God p. 331.
3. By strong cries for grace against corruption p. 332
Cap. 36.
Of markes of repentance in respect of others.
1▪ A man truly humbled by repentance, will esteeme of others better than himselfe p. 335
How a man ought to esteeme another better than himselfe, though hee see in him grosse faults p. 337. &c.
2. He is soft and gentle vntounto others p. 339
3. The faults he espieth in others he will condemne in himselfe, if not in the act and habit, yet in the seede and inclination. p. 340.
4. Hee will doe his best to draw others out of sin p. 341
Cap. 37.
Of the signes of Repentance in respect of ones selfe
1. A true penitent iudgeth himself, proceeds against himselfe iudicially and impartially. p 344
The fruit and vse of iudging. p. 345
The manner of a penitents iudging and proceeding against himselfe. p. 345. &c.
2 He reneweth himselfe daily. p. 350
Wherein a true penitent reneweth and changeth himselfe. p. 350. &c.
3 He strengthens himselfe against lusts and the assaults of sin for time to come. p. 354
How he armes himself, see. ibid. &c.
4 Hee prepareth himselfe by daily exercise of repentance, for Christs appearing. p. 357. &c.
Cap. 38.
Of the motiues to repentance from the necessity of it.
It is most necessary a man should repent. p. 360
1 If we looke at the nature of sin. ibid. &c.
2 At the inseparable companions and effects of it. p. 362. &c.
Cap. 39.
Of motiues to repentance in regard of God.
1 Our owne vnfitnesse to hauehave any fellowship with God, without repentance. p. 365
2 That strict iustice that is in God. p. 366
3 His rich mercy. p. 367
4 The vnprofitablenesse of all Gods ordinances without repentance. p. 371
5 An impossibility of enioying God in glory without it. p. 373
Cap. 40.
Of motiues to repentance in respect of Christ.
1 His surpassing louelove. p. 375
2 His bitter passion, with the end of it. ibid. &c.
3 Consider our relation to him. p. 378
Cap. 41.
Of motiues to repentance from ones selfe.
1 Both the whole, and parts of man, call for repentance. p. 379
2 His sins shew tis high time to practise repentance. p. 380
FINIS.
A TREATISE, Wherin is handled the PRACTICE of REPENTANCE.
LVK. 13.3.
Except yee Repent, &c.