Rom t4.L3. YVby tearer arcnot 111071- bredaruongii the frgnes of vnfainedre- pentance. Gen 27.4r. NuCrl, 1 1 , 2 . 51 2 Igo* the ;nay be ajirredthat our repentance is vnfained. we haue thereby difpleafed God, as for thofe torments of confcience which we prcfenly endure, and the torments of hc11, \ hich for the time to corne we fcare. And therefore this defperate forrow is it felfe to be forrowed for, as being feue- red from faith, and therefore finnefull, andnot proceeding from any loue ofGod, or hatredof finne, but from the fears ofpunifhn ent and condemnation. But it may be demanded, why amongfl the lignes oftrue repentance, Ihaue not nunrbred teares and weeping forour finnes ; towhich I anfweare, becaufe hove foeuer it is a nota- ble fruite ofvnfainedrepentance,vnto which eueryChrifiian with truecompunuion ofheart is to accuflome hitnfelfe,yet notwithfianding it is not an infeparable propertie thereof; for oftentimes thereare teareswhereas there is no true repen- tance, and there is true repentance whereas there are few or no teares. For the firfi, we may plainely perceiue by conti- nuall experience that teares proceed from diuers other caué fes then from truerepentance; fometimes from exceiìue ioy, whereby the pores and paffages of the eyes are loofed and opened; and fometimes from naturali and worldly forrow, whereby the Paid paffages are conflringed and flraitened., Sometimes from furious anger,and fometimes from compaf Pion and pitie ; and in fpirituall things,fometimes thefe teares flow from vnfained repentance, fomtimes from defperat for- row, conceived vpon the apprehenfion of Gods horrible wrath,or ofthe fearcful torments and eternall condemnation prepared for them. Wherefore it commeth to paffe that in the abundance oftheir teares, they vtter from a heart full of ragingmalice, horribleblafphemies againfi God. An exam- ple hereofwehaue inEfau,who in the middetlofhis weeping and hòuling comforted himfelfe with the remembrance of his fathersdeath, and of that rncfl wicked murther whichhe intended veto his innocent brother, Gen.27.41. So the re. beliious Ifraelites being difcouraged with the newes which the (pies brought who were fent to fearch the land, are Paid tohaue coed and wept,andyet in the middefl or.their lamen- tation tohaue n u'inuredagainfi God and his feruants'Mors ,aid e, .'aroi. So.that fmplie teares are nota, Ggneof true re- pentance
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