The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

CHAP. XVIII. Concerning Repentance.

ALthough all these, faith, hope, and charitie, repen∣tance, justification, the stu∣dy of good works, and a holy life cannot really be separated one from another: Yet forasmuch as they de∣pend one upon another, we know that in this regard they are to be di∣stinguished, and we are to take them

into consideration each apart, and enquire what they are, and what their efficacie is. We think good therefore briefly to set down our opinion and deliver our judgement concerning each of them, beginning with Repen∣tance which is the perpetuall indivi∣duall, and inseparable companion of faith: For, although after Iustifica∣tion it is perfected every day more and more: yet because no man is ju∣stified without Repentance, and the beginning thereof goeth before Iusti∣fication it self; Therefore in the first place we are resolved to declare what our faith and belief is concerning this.

DOCTRINE I. That Repentance is necessarie to our Iustification and so also to our Communion with Christ.

WE believe that, to our true par∣taking of Christs righteousnesse, and our communion with him, Re∣pentance is necessarie, whereby, turning from sin and from the world by change of mind and will, we may

turn unto Christ, cleave unto him, and obtain in him and from him re∣mission of sins, and be endued with his righteousnesse and holinesse. For the first thing thata 1.1 Iohn the Baptist and our Saviour preached was the Doctrine of Repentance, for the re∣mission of sins. And Except ye Repent (saith our Saviour) ye shall all likewise perish.

DOCT. II. What we understand by the name of Repentance.

BY the name of Repentance we understand two things more espe∣cially. The first is true and serious grief and sorrow for sins committed against God; and that not so much for fear of punishment due unto sin, as that we have offended God him∣self the chiefest good, who is our Fa∣ther and Maker. The second is a true change of heart and mind, will and purpose, and of our whole life: This part of Repentance, which properly is by Christ called Resipiscence, and by the Prophets, Conversion unto God, and Circumcision of heart, according

to the Doctrine of the Apostle pro∣ceedeth from the former: for he joy∣neth both together, saying,a 1.2 Godly sorrow worketh Repentance to salvation not to be repented of.

DOCT. III. That Repentance is the gift of God.

WE believe that Repentance is the gift of God, proceeding from his mere grace, not due to any meries or preparations of ours: according to what the Apostle saith,b 1.3 If God peradventure will give them Repen∣tance to the acknowledgement of the truth,c 1.4 And that they may recover themselves out of this snare of the devil: and according to the Prophet,d 1.5 Turn thou me; and I shall be turned: For thou art the Lord my God.

DOCT. IV. That, for the stirring up of Repentance in us, God ordinarily useth the word of the Law and Gospel: and, That the hearing of them both in the Church is therefore necessarie.

GOd, to stirre up Repentance in us, doth ordinarily use the ex∣pounding

of the Law, which disco∣vereth our sins unto us, and Gods wrath against sin; as likewise the preaching of the Gospel, which de∣clareth unto us remission of sins, and the grace of God in Christ: As it is manifest to every godly man which looketh into the holy Scripture: And therefore we judge that in the Church both are necessarie, both the ex∣pounding of the Law and the preach∣ing of the Gospel.

DOCT. V. The summe of the Doctrine concerning Repentance, and in all every where, and alwayes necessarie unto salvation to as many as are of years.

THe summe then of our belief con∣cerning Repentance every where and alwayes necessarie unto salvation to as many as are of yeares, is this; That Repentance is the change of heart and mind wrought in us by the holy Spirit, by the word of the Law and of the Gospel: whereby, Foras∣much as our sins and corruption of nature are (as the Law teacheth) things repugnant to the will of God,

and so stand in need to be purged a∣way (as the Gospel preacheth) by the death of the Son of God; We from our souls lament and bewail them, detest and abhorre them, humbly confessing them before God, and begging pardon for the same, resol∣ving upon amendment of life, and a constant studie of innocency, and all Christian vertues, and therein ex∣ercising our selves diligently all the dayes of our life, to the glorie of God, and the edifying of the Church.

DOCT. VI. That simply and absolutely we condemne not those parts of Repentance common∣ly so called, viz. Contrition, confes∣sion of sins and satisfaction.

COncerning the parts of Repen∣tance before spoken of, we list not much further to dispure, being thoroughly perswaded out of the holy Scriptures that in brief it con∣sists in a serious and earnest morty∣fying of the old man and quickning of the new: the former whereof hath force and efficacie from the death of

Christ, and the latter from his resur∣rection; the holy Spirit communi∣cating both unto us. Yet simply and absolutely we condemne not that long agoe received and yet retained distinction in the Schooles, of the parts of Repentance, into contrition, confession of sins, and satisfaction: with this proviso that they be exami∣ned at the rule of the holy Scriptures, and not found to decline from the godly customes of the ancient Church. As concerning contrition, and confession of sins likewise both before God, and our brother whom we have offended; and before all the Church also, when it is expedient; they are not without testimonie in the holy writ. Moreover if any man oppressed with the waight of his sins, and perplexed with tentations, is de∣sirous to receive counsell, instruction, and consolation privately, either from a Minister of the Church, or any other Christian brother that is exercised in the Law of God: we dislike it not. Neither condemne we those Ecclesiasticall satisfactions, of which Tertullian, Cyprian, and other

Fathers speak, which consisted one∣ly in this, that the persons delinquent and offending should give unto the Church publikely some certain out∣ward testimonie of their true Repen∣tance, which they called doing of pe∣nance. But we condemne those super∣stitions which having since been su∣peradded, butchering of consciences, and wicked and ungodly opinions: whereby the benefit of the death and satisfaction of Iesus Christ, who alone hath purged away our sinnes, and perfectly redeemed us from guilt and punishment, is much impaired.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Matt. 1.4, 15.
• a 1.2

  2 Cor. 7.10.
• b 1.3

  2 Tim. 2.25.
• c 1.4

  26.
• d 1.5

  Ier. 31.18.