Is it the proper office of the Law or of the Gospell to preach repentance?
If by the name of repentance, you vnderstand not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is not contrition and sorrow for sinne, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, a sauing conuersion to God by faith, it is the dutie and office of the Gospell, (being taken for the whole ministerie of the New Testament) not of the Law.
1 Because that which offereth us grace, to that also it belon∣geth to inuite vnto repentance: but the offer of grace is made by the Gospell. Therefore Christ will haue repentance to be prea∣ched in his name, Luke. 24.46.
2 Because Baptisme which is a visible preaching and marke of repentance which consisteth in mortification of sinne, and ray∣sing vp of the new mana 1.1, is not a Sacrament of the law, but of the Gospellb 1.2.
3 Because true repentance cannot be without regeneration: but no man is regenerated,c 1.3 but by the Gospell, the holy Ghost working within him by faithb 1.4.
4 Because faith and repentance are vnited by an inseparable coniunction: but faith is preached by the Gospell, and is infused into men by the meanes thereof, and is wrought in our heartes by the holy Ghostd 1.5. Thererfore also repentance.
5 Because the Law worketh death, 2. Cor. 7.10. therefore it worketh not that griefe which is according to God, and therefore not true repentance neither.
6 Because repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes are ioyned to∣gether by an vnseparable bonde 1.6.
7 Because that which Luke, 9.6. calleth to preach the Gospell, the same is expounded by Marke, to preach that men should repent, that he may teach vs thus much that the Gospell is the preaching of repentance and of forgiuenesse of sinnes in Christs name. Not∣withstanding we confesse that the law is a preparation to repen∣tance, and that it detecteth the sinnes knowne to itf 1.7, but the Gospell onely inuiteth vs to the true and sauing repentance for them.