Chapter 9: Of the Time of Repentance

The time of repentance is the time present, without any delay at all, as the Holy Spirit says: today, if you will hear his voice. And: exhort one another daily while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Reasons are these. 1. Life is uncertain, for no man knows at what hour or moment and after what manner he shall go forth of this world. Be also prepared, therefore, for the Son of man will come at an hour when you think not. This one thing should make a man to hasten his repentance, and the rather because many are dead who purposed with themselves to repent in time to come but were prevented by death and shall never repent. 2. The longer a man lives in any sin, the greater danger, because by practice sin gets strength. Custom is of such force that that which men use to do in their lifetime, the same they do and speak when they are dying. One had three pounds owing to him to be paid three several years; when he was dying, nothing could be got from him but 'three years, three pounds.' Again, by deferring repentance, men treasure up wrath against the day of wrath — as if a malefactor for his punishment should be appointed to carry every day a stick of wood to a heap to burn him twenty years after. 3. The more the time is prolonged, the harder it is to repent; the longer a man goes in his sickness without medicine, the harder is the recovery. And where the devil dwells long, he will hardly be removed. The best way to kill a serpent is to crush it in the head when it is young. 4. It is as meat and drink to the devil to see men live in their sins deferring repentance, as on the contrary there is great joy among the angels of God in heaven when a sinner does repent. 5. Late repentance is seldom or never true repentance. For if a man repents when he cannot sin as in former time — as namely in death — then he leaves not sin but sin leaves him. Therefore the repentance which men frame to themselves when they are dying, it is to be feared lest it die with them. And it is very just that he should be despised by God in his death who despised God in his life. Chrysostom says that the wicked man has this punishment on him, that in dying he should forget himself, who when he was living did forget God. 6. We are with Abel to give to God in sacrifice even the fat of our flock; now they which defer repentance to the end do the contrary. Late repenters offer the flower of their youth to the devil, and they bring the lame and broken sacrifice of their old age to God (Hebrews 3:7-13; Luke 12:40).

The time for repentance is now — without any delay — as the Holy Spirit says: 'Today, if you hear His voice.' And: 'Encourage one another every day, as long as it is called today, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.' The reasons are these. First, life is uncertain. No one knows at what hour or moment, or in what manner, he will leave this world. 'Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.' This alone should make a person hasten his repentance — all the more because many people who intended to repent at a later time have been prevented by death and will never repent. Second, the longer a person lives in any sin, the greater the danger, because through habit sin gains strength. Custom is so powerful that what people do throughout their lives, they say and do even as they are dying. One man had three pounds owed to him to be paid over three separate years. When he was on his deathbed, nothing could be gotten from him but 'three years, three pounds.' Beyond this, by deferring repentance, people store up wrath against the day of wrath — like a criminal sentenced to carry a stick of wood every day to a pile meant to burn him twenty years later. Third, the longer repentance is put off, the harder it becomes. The longer a person is sick without receiving medicine, the harder the recovery. And where the devil has lived long, he will not be easily driven out. The best way to kill a serpent is to crush it in the head while it is young. Fourth, it is as sweet as food and drink to the devil to watch people living in their sins and putting off repentance. On the other side, there is great joy among the angels of God in heaven when even one sinner repents. Fifth, late repentance is rarely, if ever, true repentance. If a person repents only when he is no longer able to sin as before — as when he is dying — then it is not he who has left sin, but sin that has left him. Therefore the repentance people prepare for themselves on their deathbeds is likely to die with them. And it is entirely just that a person should be despised by God in death who despised God in life. Chrysostom says that the wicked person receives this punishment: that in dying he forgets himself, just as when he was living he forgot God. Sixth, like Abel, we are to offer God the best of our flock. But those who defer repentance to the end do the opposite. Late repenters offer the flower of their youth to the devil, and bring the lame and broken sacrifice of old age to God (Hebrews 3:7-13; Luke 12:40).