John Trapp on Matthew 3:2

Verse 2. And saying, Repent ye] Change your mindes now atAd mentem redite. Erasm. the preaching of the Gospel, as they changed their garments at the promulgation of the Law, Rent your hearts and not your garments, As the Prodigall came to himself, who till converted, had been beside himself. plough up the fallows of your hearts; grieve for your sins, even to a transmentation, as those Corinthians did, and as Simon Peter counselled Simon Magus, that snake that had cast his coat, but kept his poison. For although he ca[illegible: 1 letter]ried the matter so cleanly and cunningly, that Philip took him for a true convert, andSee a like phrase, 2 Chro. 6. 37 baptized him; yet Peter soon saw that he was in the gall or venome of bitternesse (for the word used, Deut. 29. 18. whereunto theAct. 8. [illegible: 2 letters], 23. Apostle alludes, signifieth both) and therefore prescribes him an [non-Latin text not transcribed] Antidote, the very same that John doth here, this generation of [non-Latin text not transcribed] vipers, Repent, if perhaps the thoughts of thy heart may be forgiven thee. His wicked thought is called [non-Latin text not transcribed], the godly change of minde that the Apostle perswadeth him unto, is called [non-Latin text not transcribed], he that by some mischance hath drunk poison, must cast it up again as soon as he can, ere it get to the vitals. Repentance is the souls vomit, which is the hardest kinde of physick, but the wholsomest. Happy is he, that by the dung-port of his mouth (inNehem. 3. 14. a sorrowfull confession) can disburden himself of the sinne thatHeb. 12. 1. both clogs and hazards his soul to death eternall. We r[illegible: 1 letter]n from God by sin to death, and have no other way to return, but by death to sin. For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.] q. d. Ye have a price put into your hands, a fair opportunity of making your selves for ever. Will ye (like the vine and olive in [illegible: 1 letter]othams parable) not leaveJudg. 9. 9. your sweetnesse and fatnesse, your dilecta delicta, beloved sins, although it be to raign, yea and that in Gods kingdome? KnowestRom. 2. 4. thou not that the goodnesse of God should lead thee to repentance?Psal. 130. 4. Is there not mercy with God therefore, that he may beJoel 2. 12. feared? should not men rent their hearts, because God is gracious,Isa. 55 7. and turn to the Lord, because he will multiply pardon? To argue from mercy to liberty, is the devils logick; and makes God repent him of his favours to such, as David did of his kindenesse to Nabal. Rather we should argue from mercy to duty, as Joseph did to his master in a temptation: from deliverance to obedience, with David, Psal. 116 8, 9. And therefore return to our fathers house, with the Prodigall, because there is bread enough; therefore repent, because his Kingdome is at hand, and would be laid hold on. As John Baptist was Christs fore-runner into the world: so must repentance be his fore-runner into our hearts.