The tenth Chapter. Of Teares, fasting, and watchings, being the outward exercises of repentance: & first concerning teares.
TEares are counted as certeine thinges added and ioined with repentance, 1 2 and also vnto praiers: for not onelie the repentants are woont to wéepe, when they detest their sins with gréeuous sorrowe; but also, as manie as doo earnestlie and vehementlie striue to obteine anie thing. Howbeit, 3 the tokens of true repentance are not alwaies measured by teares: for we read, as well in the booke of Genesis, as in the epistle to the Hebrues, that Esau also wept. Praiers in like maner to be effectuall to obteine that which is desired, is not alwaies iudged by teares: for Dauid, after his adulterie, fasted and wept, whilest he earnestlie praied; that the life of his son, 4 which was borne vnto him by Bethsabe, might be spared: which neuertheles he could not obteine. But in that teares in those examples had no good successe, there were diuers causes: for Esau (as we will straitwaie declare) moorned not in faith: and Dauid obteined not that which he desired, bicause God had determined to giue him that, which was much better, and more honourable than that which he desired. Indéed the sonne, which was conceiued in adulterie remained not aliue: but of the same mother he afterward had Salomon, whom God did substitute vnto a most ample and peaceable kingdome after his fathers death; yea and whilest he yet liued. But on the other side, let vs consider how that teares in Peter were tokens of verie true repentance: and also in that woman, 5 which (as the Euangelists declare) with hir teares washed the Lords féet. 6
And as touching praiers, 7 Ezechias was heard, when he praied with wéeping; and death being shewed vnto him, was deferred vntill another time. Iosias likewise was heard, 8 who praied vnto God with manie teares. The 126. psalme speaketh thus of the fruit of praier, which hath sorrowe and teares ioined therewith; 9 They went and wept, casting their seeds, but doubtlesse they shall come againe, and with ioie shall bring their sheaues with them. And they which sowe in teares, shall reape in ioie. It is also written in the sixt psalme; 10 The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. And in the 56. psalme; 11 The teares of the saints are as it were put in a pot or bottle before God, and faithfullie sealed in his booke. 12 Dauid also in the 95. psalme stirreth vs vp by these words; Let vs weepe before the Lord that made vs, &c. But much more are we stirred vp thervnto by the example of Christ; who (as it is written in the epistle to the Hebrues) With a lowd crie, 13 and with teares praied for vs. 14 Paule also, in the 20. chapter of the Acts saith, that he had long serued the Lord with an humble hart, and with teares.