Chapter 11: Of the Contraries to Repentance
Contrary to repentance is impenitence, by which men continue in one estate, neither sorrowing for sin nor turning from it.
It is one of the most grievous judgments that is, if it be final. For as a sick man is then most sick when he feels the least sickness and says he is well, so miserable man is in most misery when he feels no misery and thinks himself in good estate.
This sin befalls them that judge themselves righteous, needing no repentance. As the Pharisees in the days of Christ, the Catharists in the Primitive Church, and the Anabaptists in our age. Add to these such as have hardened their hearts, so that they cannot discern between good and evil, nor tremble at God's judgments, but rather fret and rage against them, till God in his wrath either destroys them or casts them to final despair. As it befell Julian the Apostate, who died blaspheming and casting his own blood into the air.
Between the two extremes, repentance and impenitence, is placed counterfeit repentance. For the wicked nature of man can dissemble and counterfeit God's grace. As the Lord complains of the Jews: her rebellious sister Judah has not returned to me with her whole heart, but feignedly, says the Lord (Jeremiah 3:10).
Counterfeit repentance is either ceremonial or desperate.
Ceremonial, when men repent in outward show but not in the truth of heart. As Saul: then said Saul to Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandments of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore I pray you take away my sin and turn again with me that I may worship the Lord, etc. Again: I have sinned; but honor me, I pray you, before the elders of my people. Of Ahab: when Ahab heard these words he rent his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted and went softly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah saying, do you see how Ahab is humbled before me (1 Samuel 15:24-30; 1 Kings 21:27-29)?
Dissembled repentance may be discerned because men after a time return to their old ways again. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, said to Moses and Aaron: pray to the Lord that he may take away the frogs from me and from my people. And when Egypt was struck with hail he said: I have now sinned, and the Lord is righteous, but I and my people are wicked; pray to the Lord that there be no more mighty thunders and hail. Again, troubled with grasshoppers, he said: I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you, and now forgive me my sin only this once, etc. Now mark the issue of all: when Pharaoh saw that he had rest given him, he hardened his heart and listened not to them, as the Lord had said. This is the ordinary and common repentance that most men practice in the world (Exodus 8:8; Exodus 9:27; Exodus 10:16; Exodus 8:15).
Desperate repentance is when a man having only God's judgments before his eyes is struck with horror of conscience and, wanting assurance of God's mercy, despairs finally. This was Judas's repentance, who when he had brought again the 30 pieces of silver confessed his fault and went and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3).
The opposite of repentance is impenitence — when people remain in a fixed state, neither grieving over sin nor turning from it.
If it is final, impenitence is one of the most terrible judgments there is. Just as a sick person is most dangerously sick when he feels the least illness and thinks he is well, so a miserable person is in the deepest misery when he feels no misery and thinks his situation is fine.
This sin overtakes those who think themselves righteous and in no need of repentance. This was true of the Pharisees in the days of Christ, the Catharists in the early church, and the Anabaptists in our own age. Add to these those who have so hardened their hearts that they can no longer distinguish between good and evil, nor tremble at God's judgments — but instead rage against them, until God in His wrath either destroys them or casts them into final despair. This is what happened to Julian the Apostate, who died blaspheming and throwing his own blood into the air.
Between the two extremes of repentance and impenitence lies counterfeit repentance. The corrupt nature of man is capable of simulating and faking God's grace. As the Lord complains of the Jews: 'Her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with her whole heart, but only in pretense, declares the Lord' (Jeremiah 3:10).
Counterfeit repentance takes two forms: ceremonial and desperate.
Ceremonial repentance is when people repent outwardly but not in the truth of their hearts. Saul is an example: 'Then Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. Now therefore please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.' And again: 'I have sinned; but please honor me before the elders of my people.' Ahab is another example: 'When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about despondently. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me?' (1 Samuel 15:24-30; 1 Kings 21:27-29).
Fake repentance can be recognized because people eventually return to their old ways. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, said to Moses and Aaron: 'Pray to the Lord to take away the frogs from me and my people.' When Egypt was struck with hail, he said: 'I have sinned this time; the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Pray to the Lord that there be no more thunder and hail.' Then, when struck with locusts, he said: 'I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. Now please forgive my sin only this once.' Now notice what happened: 'But when Pharaoh saw that the relief had come, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.' This is the common and ordinary repentance that most people practice in the world (Exodus 8:8; Exodus 9:27; Exodus 10:16; Exodus 8:15).
Desperate repentance is when a person, seeing only God's judgments and feeling the horror of a guilty conscience, reaches a point of despair without finding any assurance of God's mercy — and that despair becomes final. This was Judas's repentance: he returned the thirty pieces of silver, confessed his fault, went and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3).
