[6-text p 594]
[84] ¶ Seint ambrose saiþ. þat penitence is þe pleynyng [folio 252b] of man for þe gult þat he haþ doon. and no more to do ony þing for which him oughte to pleigne [85] ¶ And som doctour saith. penitence is wayment|ynyge of man þat sorweþ for his synne and peyneþ himself for he haþ mysdoon [86] ¶ Penitence wiþ certeyn circumstaunces; is verray repentaunce of man þat holt himself in sorwe and in woo for his giltes [87] ¶ And for he schal be verray penitent; he schal first/ bywaile þe synnes þat he haþ do and stedfastly purposen in his hert to hauen schrifte of mouth. and to doon satisfaccioun [88] and neuer to do þing for which him oughte more to bywayle or to complayne. and to con|tinue in goode werkes or elles his repentaunce may nouȝt auayle [89] For as saith seint Isidre ¶ he is a iapere and a gabbere and no verray repentaunt þat eft soone doþ þing for which him oughte to repente; [90] wepynge. and nouȝt for to stynte to doon synne may nouȝt auayle [91] ¶ But naþeles men schal hope þat at euery tyme þat men fallith. be it neuer so ofte; þat he may arise þorugh peni|tence if he haue grace ¶ But certeyn it is a gret doute. [92] For as saith seint Gregory. Vnneþe arist he out of his synne þat is charged wiþ þe charge of yuel vsage [93] ¶ And þerfore repentaunt folk þat stinte for to synne and forlete synne er þat synne forlete hem. holy chirche holt hem siker of her sauacioun. [94] And he þat synneth and verraily repentith him in his last ende; holy chirche ȝit hopeþ his sauacioun by þe grete mercy of oure lord ihū crist/ for his repentaunce. but take þe siker way
[95] ¶ And now siþ þat I haue declared ȝow what þing is penitence. now schul ȝe vnderstonde þat þer ben þre acciouns of penitence [96] ¶ The first is þat if a man be baptiȝed after þat he haþ synned. [97] Seint augustyn saith but if he be penitent for his olde synful lif; he may not bygynne þe newe
