Chapter 5: Of the Persons Which Must Repent

Men are of two sorts: the natural man, and the regenerate. Repentance is needful for both. For the natural man, that he may be brought from his sins and the image of God renewed in him. Some may say that many natural men live civilly, abstaining from all outrageous behavior, and therefore need no repentance. I grant indeed they do so; yet repentance must go withal. For civil life without grace in Christ is nothing else in God's sight but a beautiful abomination. The Pharisees were civil, yet Christ says of them: except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not see the kingdom of heaven. Repentance is also required in the regenerate, because they have many known and secret corruptions in them which must be mortified, and sometimes they fall grievously, and therefore that they may rise again they must be daily practiced in the spiritual exercises of repentance.

There are two kinds of people: the unregenerate and the regenerate. Repentance is necessary for both. For the unregenerate, so that they may be brought out of their sins and the image of God renewed in them. Some may say that many unregenerate people live decently, keeping away from outrageous behavior, and therefore have no need of repentance. I grant that they do. Yet repentance must still accompany this. A decent life without grace in Christ is nothing but a beautiful abomination in God's sight. The Pharisees were decent people, yet Christ said of them: 'Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.' Repentance is also required of the regenerate, because they carry many known and secret corruptions within them that must be mortified. They sometimes fall seriously, and therefore, in order to rise again, they must be daily practiced in the spiritual exercises of repentance.