The Practice of Repentance, Chapter 29
CAP. 29. Lets of Repentance from our selues, as first, that it is vnpleasing to nature.
3 NOw we come to the lets and hinderances of Repentance, cast in our way by our selues: for nothing can be a greater, or stronger Let to Repentance, than the naturall and idle vngrounded conceits of the vnregenerate heart, which hath deuised many wandrings & turnings to shift off the businesse of Repentance.
1 A conceit, that it is vnpleasing to nature: and indeed sloathfull nature cannot indure the hardnesse of Repentance: and no maruell that case slayeth the foole, when it woundeth euen the godly themselues. Cant. 5.3. The Church will not foule her dainty feet, nor get off her bed to let in Christ, after many knooks and perswasions.
Ans. But what a distemper is in that iudgement, and how crazie is that vnderstanding of a sicke man, that feareth …he remedie more than the disease? yet so foolish are wee in our owne wisedome, as to feare the remedy of repentance more than the sinne to be repented. We hold that extremitie of way wardnes▪ and near to phrenzie, when a patient will rather chuse to dye of his disease, than to endure the taste of physicke, because it is bitter and vnpleasant▪ Euen so although godly sorrow be bitter and vnpleasant to corrupt nature; yet wisedome will conclude many things to bee wholesome, which are not so toothsome.
2. Compare and weigh in an euen ballance, whether the pains of wel-doing be matchable with the paines of sin; whether the momentany paines of Repentance here, bee comparable to the eternall paines of impenitency hereafter: consider whether the crop of sin, or haruest of repentance bee better. The wages of sinne is death: and is not death painefull? but the haruest of repentance is eternall life. 2. Cor. 7.10. Godly sorrow bringeth Repentance to saluation. Say now whether is easier, to sow in teares, and reap in ioy; or to sow in carnall iollitie, and reape in eternall sorrow: whether is easier, to sow to the flesh, and reape corruption; or to sow to the spirit, and reape eternall saluation.
3. Bee it that Repentance be vnpleasing to nature: yet a Christian hath more than nature; he hath a spirit of grace changing nature, and making the Commaundement easie. Whence it is, that those that hauehave entred this way, and by the spirit hauehave mastred the flesh in part, finde nothing more sweet, than the tartest sorrow of sound Repentance: and this Repentance they neuer repent of.
Be it as Basil. Laboriosa virtutis via; yet render thy selfe as captiue to the commandement. Bee at some paines in subduing thy heart: thou shalt no sooner begin, but …ase and ioy wil come, which shall aboundantly recompence all former griefe and labour.
Obiect. Alas, then I neuer repented: for I feele no inward power or motion, whence I can draw comfort from my repentance▪ ….
Ans. It may bee so: for perhaps▪ 1. thou hast performed that duty in a cold▪ and formall manner: or 2. for sinister ends, not for conscience: and 3. by fits and starts vnconstantly. And how can a man that goeth backward and forward, make riddance of his way?
But goe about it heartily, ioyne the inward seruice of the heart in seeking God, with the outward, tye thy selfe to a settled course in performance, fauour not the flesh…, nor care to fulfill it in the lusts of it; and be assured to finde more ioy and sweet inward motion, at least, much lesse paine in the exercise of repentance, than in the exercise of sin.