A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.

CHAP. XI. OF CERTAINE CASES IN Repentance.

I. Case of a Reuolt.

WHether a man that hath professed Christ and his religion, yet after∣ward in persecution denies Christ, and forsweares the religion, may repent and be saued. Answere. It is a grieuous estate, yet a man may come to repentance afterward. Manasses fell away to idolatrie and witchcraft; and yet was receiued to mercie. So did wise Salomon: and yet no doubt recouered, & is receiued to life euerlasting. My reason is, because God vouchsafed him to be a penman of some parts of holy Scripture. And the scriptures were written not by such as were men of God onely, but by such as were holy men of God. Peter denied Christ of knowledge against his owne conscience, and that with cursing and banning: and yet came to repentāce afterward, as appeares by the testimonie of Christ, I haue praied for thee, that thy faith faile not; therefore when thou art conuerted strengthen thy brethren.

Obiect. I. Mat. 10.33. Whosoeuer shall denie me before men, him will I denie be∣fore my father which is in heauen. Ans. The place is onely to be vnderstood of such a deniall of Christ which is finall.

Obiect. II. Heb. 6.4. It is impossible that they which were once lightened, & haue tasted of the heauenly gift, &c. if they fal away should be renued by repentance. And Heb. 10.26. If we sinne willingly after that we haue receiued the knowledge of the trueth, there remaines no more sacrifice for sinne. Ans. These places must bee vn∣derstood of the sin which is to death: in which mē of desperate malice against Christ, vniuersally and wholly fall away from religion. For the H. Ghost saith not, if they fall, but a if they fall away. And it is added, that they crucifie the sonne of God, and make a mocke of him, that they trample vnder foote the sonne of God, that they account the blood of the newe testament an vnholy thing: that they despise the spirit of God. And the word translated bwillingly, imports somewhat more, namely, to sinne because a man will, that is, wilfully. The like answere is to be giuen to the question, whereby it is demanded whether men ouertaken with the vnnaturall sinnes mentioned, Rom. 1.24,25,26. may come to repentance afterward or no; namely, that although the sinnes be hainous and capitall, yet the grace of repentance is not denied: as appeares in the example of the Co∣rinthians. 1. Cor. 6.9, 10,11.

VVHether the child of God after repentance for some grieuous sinne, doe fall into the same againe, and come to repentance the second time. Ans. The case is dangerous, as wee may see by comparison in the bodie. If one fall into the relapse of an ague or any other strong disease, it may cost him his life: and the recouerie will bee verie hard. Christ said to the man that had bin sicke eight and thirtie yeres, after that he had healed him, Behold, thou art whole, sinne no more least a worse thing befall thee. And the vncleane spirit re∣turning takes to him other seauen spirits worse then himselfe. Indeede we finde no particular example of recouerie after a relapse, in the scriptures; yet no doubt a recouerie may be. Reasons are these. I. Promise is made of remission of sins in Christ without any tearme of time: without any limitation to any number or kinds of sinne: saue onely the blasphemy against the H. Ghost. Therefore there may be a repentance and saluation after a relapse. II. Christ tels Peter that he must forgiue, not til seuen times only (which peraduenture he thought to be very much) but seuentie seuen times, and that in one daie, if one returne seuentie times and say, it repents me. Now if we must do this, which haue not so much as a drop of mercie in vs in comparison of God: hee will no doubt often forgiue, euen for one sinne, if men will returne and say, it repents me; considering that with him is plentifull redemption, and he is much in sparing.

III. Case of Restitution.

VVHether hee that repents is to make restitution if hee haue taken any thing wrongfully from his neighbour? Ans. Yea, Zacheus, when hee repented and receiued Christ, gaue halfe of his goods to the poore, and if hee had taken any thing by forged cauillation, he restored it foure folde. It is but a bad practise when a man on his death bed will verie deuoutly bequeath his soule to God, and his goods euill gotten (as his conscience wil often crie in his eare) to his children and friendes, without either restitution or amends making. Quest. But what if a man be not able to restore? Ans. Let him acknowledge the fault, and God will accept the will for thee deede. As Paul sayeth in the like case: If there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that which a man hath, and not according to that which a man hath not. Quest. When a man by re∣storing shall discredit himselfe: howe shall he restore and keep his credit? Ans. Let him (if the thing to be restored be of small moment) make choice of some faithfull or honest friend, who may deliuer the thing in the behalfe of the par∣tie, concealing his name. Quest. Howe if the parties bee dead? Ans. Let him re∣store to the heires and successors; if there be none, let him restore to God, that is, the Church and the poore.

IV. Case of teares.

VVHether doth repentance alwaies goe with teares or not? Answer. No: For verie pride and hypocrisie will drawe foorth teares. And some there are, that can weep for their sins in the presence of others, whereas being alone, they neither will nor can. Some againe are of that constitution of bodie, that they haue teares at commaund. And a godly man with drie cheekes may mourne to God for his sinnes, and intreat for pardon, and re••••ue i•• Yet in all occasions of deeper griefe for sin, teares will follow: vnles men haue stonie &

flinty hearts. And yet againe though the greatest cause of sorrowe be offered, the softest heart that is sheds not teares at the first, but afterwards it wil. When the bodie receiues a deepe wounde, at the first ye shall see nothing but a white line or dint made in the flesh, without any blood: staie but a while, then comes blood from the wound in great aboundance. So at the first the minde is asto∣nished & giues no teares: but after some respite or consideratiō, teares follow.

V. Case of death.

VVHether the repentant sinner can alwaies shewe himselfe comforta∣ble on his death bed. Ans. Though the comfort of Gods spirit shal neuer be abolished from his heart: yet he can not alwaies testifie it. For he may die of a burning ague: and by reason of the extremitie of his fits, bee troubled with idlenesse of head, and breake out into raging speeches and blasphemies. Likewise he may die of a sicknesse in the braine, and be troubled with grie∣uous convulsions, so as his mouth shall be writhen to his eares, his necke tur∣ned behind him, and the verie place where he lies shall shake through his trē∣bling, as daily experience will testifie. Neither is any to thinke this straunge: for Salomon saith, All things (in outward matters) come alike to all: and the same condition is to the iust and to the wicked: to the good and to the pure, and to the pollu∣ted, and to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not.

Notes

• 2. Chr. 33.
• 2. Pet. 1.21.
• Luk. 22.32.
• a

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Heb. 6.6. Heb. 10.29.
• b

  vers. 26. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Ioh. 5.14. Luk. 11.26.
• Act. 10.43.
• Luk. 17.4.
• Psal. 130.7. Isa. 51.7.
• Luk. 19.8.
• 2. Cor. 8. 12.
• Eccl. 9.2.