, like a skilful leech, he hath mixed for our unsteady and
sin-loving heart the potion of repentance, prescribing this for the
remission of sins. For after that we have received the knowledge of
the truth, and have been sanctified by water and the Spirit, and
cleansed without effort from all sin and all defilement, if we should
fortune to fall into any transgression, there is, it is true, no second
regeneration made within us by the spirit through baptism in the water
of the font, and wholly re-creating us (that gift is given once for
all); but, by means of painful repentance, hot tears, toils and sweats,
there is a purifying and pardoning of our offences through the tender
mercy of our God. For the fount of tears is also called baptism,
according to the grace of the Master, but it needeth labour and time;
and many hath it saved after many a fall; because there is no sin too
great for the clemency of God, if we be quick to repent, and purge the
shame of our offences, and death overtake us not, and depart us not
from this life still defiled; for in the grave there is no confession
nor repentance. But as long as we are 'among the living, while the
foundation of our true faith continueth unshattered, even if somewhat
of the outer roof-work or inner building be disabled, it is allowed to
renew by repentance the part rotted by sins. It is impossible to count
the multitude of the mercies of God, or measure the greatness of his
compassion: whereas sins and offences, of whatever kind, are subject to
measure and may be numbered. So our offences, being subject to measure
and number, cannot overcome the immeasurable compassion, and
innumerable mercies of God.

"Wherefore we are commanded not to despair for our trespasses, but to
acknowledge the goodness of God, and condemn the sins whereof
forgiveness is offered us by reason of the loving-kindness of Christ,
who for our sins shed his precious blood. In many places of Scripture
we are taught the power of repentance, and especially by the precepts
and parables of our Lord Jesus Christ. For it saith, 'From that time
began Jesus to preach and to say, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand."' Moreover he setteth before us, in a parable, a certain
son that had received his father's substance, and taken his journey
into a far country, and there spent all in riotous living. Then, when
there arose a famine in that land, he went and joined himself to one of
the citizens of