Matisse's toperfrrade vs tóbailen or repentance. 40l- Ieaue vs, to renounce the world with the riches, honours, atndpleafures thereof, when they are readie to abandonvs; to imbrace mortification, when as our bodiesare mortified with fickneflle, andbrought to the gates ofdeath ; to give to the poore,whenwe can keepour goods no longer; to for- giue our enemiesAen as wecannot offer themany further wrong or violence ; to commend our wines and children into thehands ofGod,*henas weeour-feIues canno lifnger defend andprouidefor them; to ceafe to fweare andblaf- phemeGodsname, when as Toone after wee (hail ceafe to fpeake_? Moreouer,how can we thinke thatthis will"bee. ac- ceptablevntoGod,tvhen as wee doe not comeuntohimbe- fore all the world forfakes vs?nor crane his helpe till we are abandoned ofal amber fuccour,noroffer to come intohis fer- uice,before we are ready togoout of thevvorld,andthat ra ther for feare ofpunifhment, and hope ofreward, then for any loue we beare to our Lord and matter. But let it begran- ted(as in truthcannotbe denied) that whenfoeuer we mt- lie repent vsifour finnes,and turne.wtto Cod, hewil receive vs tomercie; fhould wee take.occafionhereofto deferre our ..conuerfion, and to continue in our 'tiinnes? fhould 'his loue -andmercie towardsvs, tnooue vs to rebellion, and impie- tie towards him,. and'becaufe hee isgratious and long fuf_ feting, "hall wee therefore the more offend him, and as it were, whet the edge of his wrath again"} vs ?'bee it farce from vs. Nayrather ifGodbe-gratious andmercifull, let vs bee.afhatned to offendfogracious andmerciful! a God,and thoughwee.fhould -bee fo hard hearted, as not to fearehis iutlice, and fearefull iudgements, yet euen in common hu- manitie let vs'blufh for fhame to offend him in confide rationofhis infinite loue and mercie. Ifwee haue a friend, who by reafon of the loue he beareth vs, would hardlie beedifpleafed, ormooned to anger againft vs, -would wee. makethisvfe ofhisloue and patience, Rill to prouoke him with newiniuries?`Nay, ifthere bee any good nature -and + ciuilitie -invs, would not his loue towards vs, -mooue vs .t loue :him againe, and would not this loue worke in -vs P tare . a d feare not to difpleafehim? Yes affuredly. O let :D .d n
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