509. 第9章 悔改
阐述了信, 仁与选择自由之后, 接下来自然要探讨悔改, 因为若没有悔改, 不可能有真正的信与仁, 若没有选择自由, 人不可能悔改。 在此论述悔改的另一原因是: 下一章要讨论有关重生的主题, 在除掉神眼里看为可憎的严重罪恶之前, 没人能被重生, 而这一切只有通过悔改才能做到。 未重生者不就是那不知悔改之人吗? 一个不知悔改者, 不就象一个昏昏噩噩, 丝毫不知罪, 因此将罪当宝一样搂在怀里, 每天亲吻它, 如同奸夫吻他床上妓女之人吗? 但为了清楚说明何为悔改, 以及它产生的果效, 这一章必须分成若干节。
509. Chapter 9: Repentance
Now that faith [336-391], goodwill [392-462], and free choice [463-508] have been treated, the related topic of repentance comes next, because without repentance there can be no true faith and no genuine goodwill, and no one could repent without free choice. Another reason why there is a treatment of repentance at this point is that the topic that follows is regeneration [571-625], and none of us can be regenerated before the more serious evils that make us detestable before God have been removed; repentance is what removes them.
What else are unregenerate people but impenitent? And what else are impenitent people but those who are in a drowsy state of apathy? They know nothing about sin and therefore cherish it deep within themselves and make love to it every day the way an adulterous man makes love to a promiscuous woman who shares his bed.
To make known what repentance is and what effect it has, this treatment of it will be divided into separate headings.
509. CHAPTER NINE
REPENTANCE
The chapters on faith, charity and free will naturally lead on to the subject of repentance, since true faith and genuine charity cannot exist without repentance, and no one can repent without free will. Another reason why repentance must come here is that the next chapter deals with regeneration; and no one can be regenerated until the more serious evils, which render a person loathsome before God, have been removed. What is an unregenerate person but one who is impenitent? And what is an impenitent person but one stricken with a kind of lethargy, knowing nothing about sin and therefore embracing it in his bosom, kissing it every day, as an adulterer does the trollop in his bed. To show what repentance is, and what it does, the chapter needs to be split up into sections.
509. CHAPTER 9
REPENTANCE.
After treating of Faith, Charity, and Freedom of Choice, next in connection comes Repentance, because without repentance true faith and genuine charity are impossible; and without freedom of choice no man can repent. Repentance is now treated of for the further reason that the subject of Regeneration follows, and no man can be regenerated until the more grievous evils, which render him detestable in the sight of God, are put away, and this is done by means of repentance. What is an unregenerate man but an impenitent one? And is not an impenitent man like one who is in a state of lethargy, who knows nothing of sin, and therefore cherishes it in his bosom, and kisses it every day, as an adulterer kisses a harlot in his bed? But to make clear what repentance is, and what it accomplishes, the treatment of it shall be separated into sections.
509. CHAPTER IX
REPENTANCE
After treating of faith, charity and free will, repentance comes next in order, since true faith and genuine charity are not attainable without repentance, and none can do the work of repentance without free will. Further, repentance is treated at this point because the chapter on Regeneration immediately follows; and no one can be regenerated before the more grievous evils, which render a man detestable in the sight of God, are removed; and their removal can only be effected by repentance. What is an unregenerate man but an impenitent one? And an impenitent man is like one in a state of lethargy, knowing nothing of sin, and therefore cherishing and constantly fondling it as an adulterer fondles a courtesan. In order that there may be a proper understanding of what repentance is, and what it effects, it shall be treated under separate heads.
509. CAPUT NONUM
DE POENITENTIA.
Post transactiones de Fide, Charitate, et de Libero Arbitrio, in nexu sequitur de Poenitentia, quoniam vera Fides et genuina Charitas absque Poenitentia non dabiles sunt, et poenitentiam agere absque Libero arbitrio nemo potest: quod hic de Poenitentia agatur, est quoque causa, quia sequitur de Regeneratione, et nemo potest regenerari, priusquam graviora mala, quae hominem coram Deo detestabilem faciunt, remota sunt, et haec per Poenitentiam removentur; quid irregenitus nisi impoenitens, et quid impoenitens nisi sicut qui in lethargia est, et scit nihil de peccato, et ideo fovet illud in sinu suo, et illud quotidie osculatur sicut adulter scortum in lecto suo. Sed ut sciatur quid Poenitentia, et quid efficit, transactio de illa dispertienda est in Articulos.