第九章 论悔改
509# 在论述信仰、仁义与自由选择之后，按其内在关联，接续当论悔改；因为没有悔改，真实的信仰与真正的仁义皆不能存在；而若无自由意志，也无人能够悔改。此处论悔改，还有另一原因：下文将论重生；而人若不先除去那些更严重的恶——这些恶使人在上帝面前成为可憎之物——便不能重生；这些恶乃是藉悔改而被除去的。
未经重生之人，若非不悔改之人，又是什么？不悔改之人，又岂不像陷于昏睡之疾者，对罪毫无所知，因而把罪怀藏在自己胸中，并且天天亲吻它，如同奸夫在床上亲吻娼妓一般？
然而，为使人知道悔改是什么，以及悔改产生什么功效，关于悔改的论述须分为若干条目。
509# 论述了信仰（TCR 336-391节）、仁爱（TCR 392-462节）和自由意志或自由选择（TCR 463-508节）之后，按顺序接下来是悔改，因为没有悔改，真实的信仰和真正的仁爱是不可能的；没有自由意志或自由选择，没有人能悔改。此外，现在论述悔改，是因为接下来的一章论述的主题是重生（TCR 571-625节）；在使人在神眼里可憎的更严重的邪恶被移除之前，没有人能重生；而邪恶的移除只有通过悔改才能实现。一个未重生的人不就是一个不悔改的人吗？一个不悔改的人不就像一个处于昏睡状态，对罪一无所知，因而把它珍藏在怀里，每天亲吻它，就像通奸者亲吻他床上的妓女一样的人吗？但为了清楚说明什么是悔改和它所产生的效果，对它的论述要分为几个章节。
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.