The harmonie of Holie Scriptures vvith the seuerall sentences of sundry learned and vvorthy vvriters : collected for the comfort of all such as are desirous to seeke after theyr soules health / by I.B.

§. 12.

Vnderstanding novve by these fevve former speeches vvhat true repentance is; * Let vs, (according to the counsell which the Prophet Ieremie giueth,) search & try our wayes, and turne againe vnto the Lord. Let vs lift vp our harts with our hands vn∣to God in the heauens.

Yea, let vs, (as Erasmus willeth,) returne againe vnto the Lord our God, with hartie sorrow, and true repentance; humbly con∣fessing before him, the faultes which vvee haue committed; and earnestly desiring of him, that hee vvill alvvaies heereafter, so strengthen vs with his grace, that wee may daily more & more, dutifully becom obe∣dient to his holy will, & euer study to please him, our whole life time following.

For, if we acknowledge our sinnes, God is faithfull and iust, to forgiue vs our sinnes, and to clense vs from all vnrighteousnes.

Hee that hideth his sinnes, shall not pro∣sper; but hee that confesseth, & forsaketh them, shall haue mercie.

Wherfore, if the testimony of thine own conscience, doe at any time accuse, vexe, or trouble thee, for any euill conceiued or done; confesse thy fault speedily, deferre not the time; dally not with God; but bee earnestly repentant; trust in his mercy, and seeke not to hide thine iniquity from him: so will he haue compassion on thee, & not impute sinne vnto thee.

Besides; when thou truly repentest, and askest pardon of God for thine offences: then cannot thy sinnes disquiet thee, nor haue any power to hurt thee. But vvhen thou art vnrepentant, and cea••est to call for mercie, then thy sinnes rage ouer thee, and cry dailie vnto God for vengeance against thee.

Also; the sinne that is not foorth-with clensed, and purged by repentance, doth speedily draw on another with his weight.

Sleepe not therefore without repentance for thy sinnes done and past.

Notes

• Lament. 3. 40, 41.
• Erasmus.
• 1, Ioh, 1, 9.
• Prou, 28. 13
• Pacuuius.
• Bo••tius.
• Gregory.
• Plato.