Essex doue, presenting the vvorld vvith a fevv of her oliue branches: or, A taste of the workes of that reuerend, faithfull, iudicious, learned, and holy minister of the Word, Mr. Iohn Smith, late preacher of the Word at Clauering in Essex Deliuered in three seuerall treatises, viz. 1 His grounds of religion. 2 An exposition on the Lords Prayer. 3 A treatise of repentance.

There bee fiue maine Reasons to mooue vs to speedy Repentance.

The first is, Because early Repentance is more certaine * 1.1 and sure, then that which is deferred, for wee know not if God will grant vs time, or not, to repent hereafter. Wee that are in the Church to day, may be in our graues tomorrow; and though hee doe giue vs time, wee know not whether hee will giue vs the meanes or grace to re∣pent, and if hee doe giue vs the meanes, wee doe not know whether hee will blesse the meanes vnto vs. Therefore it is good for vs to repent whilst it is to day, whilst it is offered vs. This was it which made Isaac re∣solue to blesse his children betimes, Genes. 27. 3. Behold * 1.2 now I am old, and know not the day of my death; so be∣cause wee know not the day of our death, how soone we shall leaue the world, and lay downe our heads in the dust, it is good for vs to begin betimes, and leaue a bles∣sing vpon our soules before wee die. Augustine saith * 1.3 well. hee that promised to forgiue thee if thou repent, did not promise thee that thou shouldst liue till to morrow: It is true God hath promised, that hee shall not die that doth repent him of his sinnes, and that in many places of Scripture. Now if wee will consider how iust God is in

his promises, and faithfull in his performances, who would not repent; but remember withall that these pro∣mises are reither made or auailable vnto any, but vnto such as Repent.

Secondly, Because early Repentance is more fruitfull * 1.4 then late, for though late repentance may bee true, yet commonly it is not so fruitfull, comfortable, nor accom∣panied with so many graces as that which is early, the Theefe vpon the Crosse, had late Repentance, and yet it * 1.5 was true and sufficient for the saluation of his soule, but it was not accompanied with so many graces, nor brought that glorie to God as it might haue done being more ear∣ly. Again, Paul was conuerted, and repented betimes, and we know how abundantly he was stored with graces, and * 1.6 brought glorie to God, and comfort to the people of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Reason to Re∣pent betimes.
• * 1.2

  Gen. 27. 3.]
• * 1.3

  Augustine.
• * 1.4

  2 Reason to Re∣pent betimes.
• * 1.5

  Math.
• * 1.6

  Act. 9.