John Trapp on Matthew 3:8

Verse 8. Bring forth therefore fruits] q. d. You cannot wash your hands in innocency, wash them therefore in tears: there's no way to quench hell flames, but by the tears of true repentance; to prevent the wrath to come, but by bearing those fruits of righteousnesse that are by Christ Jesus to the glory and praise of God, Phil. 1. 11. Optima & [illegible: 2 words] est nova vita, saith Luther. Which saying, though condemned by Pope Leo, is certainly an excellent [illegible: 1 word]. Meet for repentance.] That weigh [illegible: 1 word] as much as repentance, that may parallel, and [illegible: 1 word] it to be right, [illegible: 1 word] and evidence it to be a repentance never to be repented of. There is no grace butCor. 7. hath a [illegible: 1 word]. See therefore that your graces be of the right stamp, an effectuall faith, [illegible: 1 word] love, patient hope, &c. as the Apostle [illegible: 1 word] Thess. 1 3. hath it. See that your performances and whole course be such as becomes repentance, and may justifie it; as may bear [non-Latin text not transcribed] weight in the balance of the sanctuary, and amount to as much [illegible: 1 word] 64 6. as repentance comes to. And [illegible: 1 word] your righteousnesses be but1 [illegible: 2 words]. as a [illegible: 1 word] clout, and your works at best (if tried by the fire [illegible: 1 word]. 13. [illegible: 1 word]. of the Word) would burn (which made [illegible: 1 word] Nehemiah to pray for pardon of his reformations) yet upon your true repentance for the evil that cleaves to your best works, your [illegible: 1 word] may be saved from the wrath to come; yea they are such as accompany salvation, and comprehend it, as the [illegible: 1 word] Scholiast expounds thatHeb. 6. [illegible: 1 word]. text. Labour ther fore to [illegible: 1 word] a heart full of goodnesse, as those [non-Latin text not transcribed], i. e, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Romans, Chap. 15. 14. and a life full of good works, as Tabitha, Act. 9. 33. such as may beseem amendment of life.