Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

VVhat things are contrarie to repentance?

The errour of the Nouatians, and Catharists or Puritans iustly so called, who denie repentance, and comming againe to the

Communion of the Church to those that did fall from the faith in time of persecution, or after baptisme did fall into open wic∣kednesse. Contrarie to that Ierem. 3.1. Thou hast plaid the harlot with manie louers, yet turne againe to mee saith the Lord, and I will receiue thee; and contrarie to the example of Peter, who after his denyall, was receiued into fauour and to the execution of his A∣postleshippeb 1.1; and contrarie to the example of the incestuous man at Corinth, who when hee repented, was receiued of Paulec 1.2; and contrarie to the speach of Christ, who will haue vs to forgiue our brethren till seuentie times seauen times, that is, how often soeuer hee shall repent. Mat. 18.22. And to the speach of Chry∣sostome, He that repenteth a thousand times receiue him. And to the action of Christ, who leauing ninetie nine sheep that were whole, sought out that which was gone astray & was tired, and when shee was found, caried her home vpon his shoulders. Mat. 18.12. 2. That foolish iangling of th•• P••pists, who teach. First, that Re∣pentance is a worke of free will, or of mans power, whereas an ill tree cannot bring forth good fruite. Mat. 7.18. 2. That Repen∣tance is a Sacrament, and that the action of the man repenting, is the matter of this Sacrament, whereas indeede, Baptisme is the Sa∣crament of Repentancea 1.3. And they adde moreouer that it is after shipwrack a second board, to swimme out, wherby the sinners af∣ter baptisme receiued, doe come againe into fauour with God. 3. (Which is their greatest lie of all) they apply the ceremonies of the publick or Ecclesiasticall and disciplinarie Repentance, which is made before the Church, namely Contrition, Confession, and Sa∣tisfaction, vnto the generall doctrine of repentance, which is made before God, and they alledge them to bee parts thereof. 4. That contrition of the heart is a sorrow voluntarily taken vpon them for sinnes, which doth deserue the mercie of God. 5. That auricu∣lar confession of the mouth, that is to say, an exact reckoning vp of al our sinnes, laying open also the circumstances of euery one of them in the eares of our owne parish Priest is commaunded by the lawe of God, to be performed of all men vpon paine of ex∣communication, and is necessarie for the obtaining of remission of sinnes, and that the neglect thereof is deadly. But of all other that confession that is made in the time of Lent is most of al plea∣sing, and acceptable vnto God; Contrarie to the expresse doctrine

of Paul. Ro. 14.5.6. Col. 2.16. Gal. 4.10.11. Sixtly, that it is not e∣nough for him that repenteth to abstaine frrm the euill course of his life past, and to change his manners for the better, vnlesse hee doe satisfie God for the things he hath done, and this they call specially Penance; whereupon is that vulgar Phrase, to doe Pe∣nance. Now this satisfaction for sinnes, and for the punishment of sinnes, at least for the paines of Purgatorie, they say is made vnto God, either by workes, of Supererogation, that are more then duetie, that is to say, such as are not cōmaunded in the word of God, as by building of Churches, by a certaine nūber of praiers, by pilgrimages to this or that Sepulcre, tapers, hoodes, sleeping vpon the ground, almes deedes, buying of Masses, pardons and such like; or else by punishments enioyned by the Priests, or by the sufferings which godly men suffer; all which are meerly con∣trarie to the free satisfaction of Christ, who by the power of his death and obedience hath taken away the guilt and punishment due to our sinnesa 1.4.

3. The endeauour of hypocrites, who doe indeede, goe about an outward repentance, after an externall maner: but in the mean time doe not dissolue the internall bandes of wickednesse within.

Lastly, the error of the Anabaptists, and Perfectists, who dreame they haue attained a perfect degree of regeneration; con∣trarie to that perpetuall combat of the flesh and the spirit, which the Saints doe feele in this life. Gal. 5.17.

Notes

• b 1.1

  Ioh•• 21.15 16.17
• c 1.2

  2. Cor. 2.7
• a 1.3

  Mark. 1.4 Luk, 3, 3 Acts. 2, 38
• a 1.4

  Isa. 44, 4.5. 1. Iohn, 1,