Andrewes repentance, sounding alarum to returne from his sins vnto Almightie God. Perfectly guiding all those that hope to bee saued, in the direct way of repentance, whereby they may attain eternall life: : newly made in the autumne or declining of his age ...

Now whereas I haue laid open the cer∣tainty of mans saluation; as farre, and as faire as I can, by the authority of Gods word, I purpose in this second Chapter, by the helpe of God, to set forth the doctrine of repentance, and shew the necessity thereof: and so conclude according vnto this Text of Scripture, Matth. 3.2. Re∣pent yee.

GOod Christian Readers, if yée looke thorow the whole booke of God, from the Alpha of Genesis, vnto the Omega of the Reuelation; you shall finde scarce any Text to be shorter than this; yet howso∣euer there is none more néedfull, nor any more profitable; neither doth the Holy Ghost so much labour in all the Scrip∣ture, as he doth to draw men vnto repen∣tance, Repent yeea.

Great néed requires great haste, and the wound that is déepest, hath néed of the diligentest cure, so that the longer I haue continued in sinne, the more earnestly I doe returne vnto my God by repentance; for repentance ought to bring forth as much sorrow, as sinne gaue delight; ex∣ample in Manassesb, Mary Magdalenc, and the like.

Saint Augustine was a great sinner, and wrote many bookes of repentance: which

sheweth to whom much is forgiuen, they ought to loue much: and the greater their sinnes are, the more néed they haue of re∣pentance, Repent yee.

And I which am the vnworthiest of all men, haue wrote, (for the benefit of o∣thers, as well as my selfe) almost all the bookes that euer I made, concerning re∣pentance: and the longer I haue writ∣ten of it, the more tender my heart is, and the more earnest my desire is to re∣turne vnto my God by repentance, and a∣mendment of life, in the which I pray God to gire me his grace to continue vn∣to my liues end.

And as a Traytor that is condemned to die, (if he loued his Prince,) he would goe neare to breake his heart with griefe, to thinke that he should be so villanous vnto so gracious a Prince that would forgiue al•• his fact, if he would but aske for pardon, become a new man, and true subiect vnto him:

Euen so it is with me, (through griefe for my sinnes,) each time I behold Gods mercies towards me, (a miserable and most wretched sinner,) in sparing me so long, and giuing me such a large time of repentance. Repent yee. Duo verba, duo luminaria, These two words are like the two great lights in Heauena, which serue to direct vs in all our wayes, they are the Supersedeas and discharge of sinb through the merits of Iesus Christc: And the

cause of vnity betwéene God and man. They are Imperatoria breuitas, a Lord∣like breuity: Tis short, for feare lest mans brittle memory should come short of it: and it is the full weight of a few words, Virtus maxima in mole minima, very much in a little. And they are more precious than any pearle, or pure gold, and as néed∣full to direct me that made this booke, as you that reade it: wherefore if euer wée hope to be saued, we must needs forsake our sinnes, and with all humility returne vnto God by repentance, according vnto my Text, Repent yee.

For as God is mercifull vnto the pe∣nitent sinnerg, he also sheweth his iustice vnto the reprobateh, whose anger vnto them is most dreadfulli, Odio est Deo im∣pius & impietas eius, God hateth the wic∣ked man, and his wickednesse took, Yea, their very thoughtsl, words and worksm God hateth: and therefore without re∣pentance there is no saluationn.

Againe, Inanis poenitentia, quam sequens culpa de nouo iterat: Vaine is that repen∣tance which an after fall defileth: It a∣uaileth a man nothing, to aske of God for pardon of his sinnes, and fall like an hog into the mire of his sinnefull life afresh againe.

Wherefore if yée will truly repent, yée must forsake all your sinnes for euer, and returne vnto God by repentance, as these Scriptures teach you. O yee children of

Israel (saith Esay) turne againe from your euill wayes, wherein you haue drowned your seluesa, turne you, turne you from all your euill wayes, for why will yee die, O yee house of Israelb? Returne vnto me, and I will returne vnto you, saith the Lordc. A∣gaine, O Ierusalem, wash thine heart from wickednesse that thou mayest bee sauedd. And againe, Let the wicked forsake their euill wayes, and returne vnto the Lord, and he will haue mercie on them, for he is merci∣full, and very ready to forgiuee: So that, Nemo ad Deum flens accessit, qui non quod postulauit, accepit; No man came euer wéeping vnto God, who did not receiue that which he required, (especially if he sought it through faith in his repentance:) wherefore Saint Peter wept bitterly, that his teares might wash away his sinnesf.

Oh, let vs dayly labour with all humi∣lity, to wash away the pollution of our sinnes with teares in our repentance, that we may be saued.

Now good Christian Readers, I would haue you to consider, that I made not this booke onely for mine owne priuate vse, with an Attende mihi, a suit vnto God for my selfe, (which of all men haue most néed of repentance,) but also like the poore Italian begger, with an Attende tihi: Now for Gods sake, your owne sake, and your soules sake, be mrecifull, be cha∣ritable, and comfortable vnto your owne soules, and Repent yee.

So that you with me, and I with you, may all from the bottome of our hearts, returne vnto the Lord by true repen∣tance: And as Tertullian saith, Sperando ti∣mebimus, timendo cauebimus, cauendo salui eri∣mus: In hoping or desiring to repent, we shall feare our sinnes, in fearing take héed to amend our liues, and in taking héed, (through our true repentance) by the merits of our Sauioura Iesus Christ, be saued.

For, God assures no man pardon for his sinnesb, but such as returne vnto him by true repentance, become new crea∣turesc, and walke in newnesse of lifed.

Wherefore beloued, séeing that mine, and all our soules are infected with the poyson of sinne, let vs not looke, or thinke on our worldly businesse; nor let our soules gad abroad with Dinah, but com∣mune with our owne hearts, and returne vnto God by spéedy repentance; for Peri∣culum est animae, our soules lie at the stake, or point of death, bléeding with the heauie burthen of our sinnes, and can be no way cured or saued, but by repentance, whom none can pardon but Goda.

Therefore let vs repent while me may haue time, and deferre it not vntill here∣after; for, Qui non est hodie, cras minus aptus erit; He that is not ready to repent to day, will be lesse ready to morrow; because

his heart will be more hardened, his con∣science more seared, his soule more stung with sinne, and himselfe more weake to get out of the clawes of the Deuill.

O Lord my God,b it is my sinnes, oh, it is mine vnrepented sinnes, that kind∣leth the fire of thy wrath against me, and nothing but my teares I shed for them in my dayly repentance, through the merits of my Lord and Sauiourc Iesus Christ, will be the water to quench them. Re∣pent yee.

If euer precept came home vnto our hearts, to warne vs to forsake our sinnes, it is this: if euer charge was reasonable, or most néedfull for our soules saluation, it is this, Repent yee.

God hath giuen vs, membra duplicia, two members, two eyes, two eares, two armes, two legges: that the failing of the one, may be supplyed by the other; animam vero vnam, he hath giuen vs but one soule; when that is lost there is no sup∣plie.

I sée (gentle Readers) the more I en∣ter into repentance, the more tender mine heart is, and the more my vnrepented sinnes doe grieue me, so that the griefe of mine heart is so great, for my sinnes, that I can goe no further to instruct you in the doctrine of repentance, before I haue eased mine owne heart, by bewailing my sins vnto Almighty God: and like the poore Lazarus, or wounded begger, lay

ouen all my wounds, blaines, and putri∣fying sores of sinne, vnto my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ.

Now I know no way better to grieue and lament for my sinnes, than with Aannahb, to powre out my soule vnto thée, O Lord my Godc, by my most humble fasting, and deuout praying, with all humility vnto thée, thot through thy merits dnd bitter passion on the crosse) vpon my true repentance) thou wilt haue mercy on me, O Lord haue mercy on me.

Wherefore with griefe for my sinnes, from the bottome of mine heart, I will prostrate my selfe before thée, my swéet and louing Sauiourd, most humbly desi∣ring thy mercifull eares to heare, and pitifull eyes to looke backe vpon me, as thou diddest on the woman of Canaane, the poore Publicanf, on Mary Magdaleng, or the penitent theefeh, which came vnto thée in his last houre.

Notes

• a

  Ezech. 18.21. Eccles. 8.21 22. Ier. 18.11. Acts 17.30. 2 King 17.13. Ier. 25.5. Acts 11.18. Luk 3 3. Ier 36.3. Mat. 3.2, 8. 2 Pet. 3.9. Mat. 4.14.17. Act. 2.38. Hos. 14.1, 2. Esay 31 6. Mal. 3.7. Ezech. 33.11 Ierem. 4.14. Esay 1.16. Esay 55.7. Luk. 13 3. 2 Chro. 33.6
• b

  Manass. pr.
• c

  Luk. 7.18.
• a

  Gen. 1.16.
• b

  Iam. 3.5. Mat. 12.41 Luk. 11.32. Esay 1.16. Gen. 50 17. 2 Pet. 3.9. Ezech. 18.20, 21. Mal. 13.7. Esay 55.7. Zach. 1.3. Ezech 33.5. Esay 56.2. Ier. 4.14.
• c

  1 Pet 1 18, 19. Heb 9.14. Reuel. 1.5.
• g

  Exod. 34.5 6, 7. Psal. 145 9. Exod. 20 6.
• h

  Deut 32.4. Psal. 55.6. Exod. 20.7. Nahum. 1.2, 3. VVisd. 14.9.
• i

  Psal. 18 7. Reuel. 6 15. Heb. 12.16.
• k

  Pro. 15.8, 9, 29. 1 Ioh. 3.8. Pro 11.6. Pro. 1.28.
• l

  Wisd. 1.9. Mar. 12.36.
• m

  Rom. 1.18. Psal. 5.6. Exod 20.5. Ephes. 5 6.
• n

  Luk. 13.3. Esay 59 2. Mal 1.2.
• a

  Esay 31 6.
• b

  Ezech. 33.11
• c

  Mal 3.7.
• d

  Ier. 4.14.
• e

  Esay 55.7.
• f

  Mat. 26 75.
• a

  Psal. 18.1. 2 Sam. 22.3 Acts 5.31. Luk. 2.11. Mat. 1.21. 1 Tim. 4 1••.
• b

  Luk. 13.3. Nahum. 1.2. Esay 59 2. 1 Ioh. 1.9. 1 Ioh. 3.8.
• c

  1 Pet. 1.23 Gal. 6 15. 2 Cor 5.17. Rom 11.5.
• d

  Rom. 6.4. 1 Pet. 2 9, 10, 11, 12. Acts 3 16. Ephes. 4 1. Gal 5 10. 1 Ioh. 2 3, 5, 6.
• a

  Luk. 5 21. Dan 9 9. Hest. 13 4. Hos. 14.1, 4. Ioh. 1.29. Psal. 32.1, 2, 3 Ioh. 1.15, 16. Psal. 3.8. Psal. 49.7, 8. Mat. 1.21. Psal. 17.7. Luk. 17.30. Ioh. 6.36. Luk. 1.77. Iohn 4 10. Psal. 79 9. Psal. 51.12, 13. 1 Tim. 1.15. 1 Iohn 3.5, 6. 1 Ioh. 1.7. Psal. 4.8.
• b

  Psal. 109.25. Psal. 7.2. Psal. 40 6. 1 King. 7.20, 21. Psal 18.1. Psal. 30.2. Psal. 99.8, 9.
• c

  Acts 5.31. Psal. 18.1. Luk 2.11. 2 Sam. 22.3. Mat. 11.21. 1 Tim 4.••.
• b

  1 Sam. 1.10.
• c

  Psal. 30.2. Psal. 7.••. Psal. 109.25. 1 King. 17.20 21. Psal. 18.1. Psal. 40.6. Psal. 7.2. Psal. 99.8, 9.
• d

  2 Sam. 22.3 Acts 5.31. Psal. 18.1. Luk. 2.11. 1 Tim. 4.10. Mat. 1.21.
• e

  Mat. 15.28
• f

  Luk. 18.13.
• g

  Ioh. 20.15:
• h

  Luk. 23.40