The worthy communicant, or, A discourse of the nature, effects, and blessings consequent to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper and of all the duties required in order to a worthy preparation : together with the cases of conscience occurring in the duty of him that ministers, and of him that communicates : to which are added, devotions fitted to every part of the ministration / by Jeremy Taylor ...

Question III. What indications and signs of repentance are we to require and to accept as sufficient?

I answer, that for this circumstance there is as proper an use and exercise of our charity as in the direct forgiveness. We are not to exact securities and demonstrations Mathematical, nor to demand the extremity of things. If thy enemy be willing to make an amends, accept of his very willingnesse for some part, and his amends for the other. Let every good act be forwardly entertained, and per∣suade you heartily that all is well within. If you can reasonably think so, you are bound to think so; for after all the signs of repentance in the world he may deceive you; and whether his heart be right or not, you can never know but by the judgment of charity; and that you may better use betimes. For when ever your returning enemy saies he does repent (that is, gives humane and probable indications of his repentance;) you cannot tell but that he saies true; and therefore you must forgive. The words of Christ are plain;

if he returns, saying, I do repent: then it is a du∣ty, and we can stay no longer; for he that confesses his sin, and praies for pardon, hath done great vio∣lence and mortification to himself; he hath puni∣shed his fault * 1.1; and then there is nothing left to be done by the offended party but to return to mer∣cy and charity. * 1.2 But in this affair it is remarka∣ble what we are commanded by our blessed Lord: Agree with thine adversary quickly, &c. l••ft thou be constrained to pay the utmost farthing. Plainly in∣timating; that in reconcilements and returns of friendship there is supposed alwaies something to be abated, something clearly forgiven: for if he pay thee to the utmost farthing, thou hast forgiven no∣thing It is merchandise and not forgivenesse to re∣store him that does as much as you can require. Be not over righteous, saith Solomon; that is, let charity do something of thy work, allow to her, place, and powers, and opportunity. It was an excellent say∣ing of St. Bernard: [

God is never called the God of re∣venges,* 1.3 but the Father of mercies; because the original of his revenges he takes from us and our sins, but the original and the causes of his forgive∣nesse he takes from himself:] and so should we; that we restore him that did us wrong to our love again; let it not be wholly, because he hath done all that can be re∣quired, but something upon our own account; let our mercy have a share in it; that is, let us accept him readily, receive him quickly, believe him easi∣y, expound all things to the better sense, take his word, and receive his repentance; and forgive him at the beginning of it; not to interrupt his repen∣tance,

but to incourage it: and that's the proper work of charity in the present Article.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Poenae{que} genus vi∣disse pre∣cantem.
• * 1.2

  Poenae{que} genus vi∣disse pre∣cantem.
• * 1.3

  Serm. 5. de Natali. Recte non pater judiciorum vel ultionum dicitur, sed pater misericordiarum: quod miserendi causam su∣mat ex proprio, judicandi & ulciscendi magis sumat ex nostro; feil. ex nostris peccatis.