Teachings of Menno Simons | 3

11. Repentance

Behold, dear reader, such repentance we teach, namely to die to the old sinful life and to live no longer according to the lusts of the flesh, but do as David did:

When he was reproved by the prophet for his sin, he wept bitterly, cried to God, forsook evil and committed such sinful abominations no more.

Peter sinned very grievously once and no more.
Matthew, after his call, did not return into his old life.

Zaccheus and the sinful woman did not again become guilty of the impure works of darkness. Zaccheus made restitution to those whom he had overcharged and defrauded and gave half of his goods to the poor and distressed.

The woman wept very bitterly and washed the feet of the Lord with her tears; she anointed them with precious ointment and sat humbly at His feet to listen to His blessed words.

These are the true fruits of that repentance which is acceptable to the Lord.

Such repentance we teach, and no other, namely that no one may rightfully glory in God’s grace, forgiveness of his sin and the merits of Christ, unless the fruits of true repentance are found in his life.

It Is not enough that we say: We are Abraham's children, that is that we bear the Christian name, but we must have the works of Abraham (John 8:39).

We must walk as all true children of God are bidden and commanded in the Word of the Lord; as John says:

"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and the truth is not in us.

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:6,7).

But if you would rightly confess and repent, and receive true absolution of God, approach Him with a believing, penitent, contrite heart, with a sorrowing, distressed mind, forsake sin, do justly and right to your neighbour, love, help, serve, reprove and comfort him, as you ought.

And if you have sinned against him or in any way taken unfair advantage of him, confess it to him and satisfy him. Behold this is the only true Auricular Confession and penance taught in the Word of God.

12. Faith

True faith which avails before God is a living and saving power which is, through the preaching of the holy Word, bestowed of God on the heart; moving, changing and regenerating it to newness of mind.

It destroys all ungodliness, all pride, unholy ambition and selfishness, makes us children in malice, etc.

Behold, such is the faith which the Scriptures teach us, and not a vain, dead, and unfruitful illusion, as the world dreams.

Yes, dear reader, true Christian faith as it is required in Scripture, is so living, active and strong in all those who through the grace of the Lord have rightly obtained it,

that they do not hesitate to forsake father, mother, wife, children, money and possessions for the Word and testimony of the Lord;

to suffer all manner of scorn, disgrace, hardship and prison, and finally to have their weak bodies burned at the stake, as may be frequently seen in many pious children of God and faithful witnesses for Christ especially in these our Netherlands.

Since then faith so fully realizes that God cannot break His promise, but must keep it, because He is the truth and cannot lie, as was said,

therefore faith makes the believers frank-hearted, joyous and cheerful in the Spirit, though they be confined in prisons and bonds, or suffer death by water, fire or the sword:

For they are assured in the spirit through faith that God cannot break His promise toward them, but will fulfil it in due time.

They believe in Christ in whom the promise has been sealed, they recognize through Him also His grace, word and will, notwithstanding that in former times they lived so ungodly and walked according to the flesh.

But you should know and understand that the righteousness which avails and ever will avail before God, consists not in ceremonies and works, but in a true, fruitful faith and nothing else:

For the faith which is born of the word of God cannot be without fruits, except in those who grieve the Holy Ghost, as said above.

True faith ever exercises itself in works of righteousness, it willingly shows all obedience and with cheerfulness and zeal submits not only to the ordinance of baptism,

but to all words and works which God, our gracious Father, through His beloved Son has so clearly taught and ordained in the holy Gospel.

All who can believe this from their hearts as certain and true, are sealed through the word of God in their heart and spirit, are changed in the inner man,

receive the fear and love of God, and out of their faith bring forth righteousness, fruit, power, an unblameable life and a new being, as Paul says, "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness."

Through faith, says Peter, God purifies our hearts. And thus the fruits of righteousness follow invariably out of an upright, unfeigned, true Christian faith. Observe this well.

Not, dear reader, that we believe that faith merits this on account of its own worth; by no means; but the pleasure of God has attached His promise to true, genuine faith through the Word.

Faith saves, not through its own worth or merit, but through the promise which is attached to it.

This, I say, is our fundamental doctrine and by the grace of God will ever so remain; for we truly know and confess that it is the invincible word and truth of the Lord.

Therefore we testify before you and before all the world that we do not agree with those who teach and introduce a historical, dead faith without a change of heart, Spirit, power and fruit.

Secondly we also disown the teaching of those who would be saved by their own works; and this for reasons that have been stated.

Behold, beloved sirs, friends and brethren, all who believe the Gospel are those of whom the Scriptures say:

"To them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh nor of the will of man, but of God, John 1:12, 13.

They are those who by faith are justified and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, Rom. 5:1,2.

This all is of grace and love, as Paul teaches and says.

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. Rom. 3:23-25.

There is none that of himself can rejoice in his faith; it is the gift of God, Eph. 2:8.

All who receive it from God, receive a tree full of all manner of good and precious fruit.

Blessed are they who receive this gift of God, for it surpasses all gold, silver and precious stone; there is nothing that may be compared with it. He who receives it, receives Christ Jesus, forgiveness of sins, a new mind and life eternal.

For the true faith which is acceptable to God cannot be idle; it must bring forth its fruits and prove its kind:

it works continuously in love, walks willingly in righteousness, mortifies the flesh, crucifies lusts and desires, rejoices in the cross of Christ, renews and regenerates, quickens, makes free, gives liberty and peace in Christ Jesus.

Behold, such a faith, we say, is God's gift by which the righteous lives, as the Scripture says, as did Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, and all the saints.

Every good tree brings forth good fruit after its kind, Matt. 7:17; every tree that brings not forth good fruit, however many leaves it may have, must be accursed and consumed by fire. Matt. 3:10.

So also an unfruitful, powerless faith, such as the whole world has, which does not work by love, be it ever so learned, wise, eloquent, and miracle working, is in the sight of God unclean, dead and accursed.

Therefore, we exhort you, with Christ Jesus, "Believe the gospel," that is, believe the joyful news, the message of divine grace through Jesus Christ.

Cease from sinning, manifest repentance for your past lives, submit to the word and will of the Lord, and you will become fellow citizens, children and heirs of the new, heavenly Jerusalem, freed of all your enemies, hell, death, sin and the devil, if you but walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh.

He that believes on the Son has everlasting life.

If you accept and believe these words of Christ with the whole heart, that the almighty, eternal Father has so loved you and the whole human family,

that He sent His incomprehensible, eternal Word, Wisdom, Truth and Son, by whom He created the heavens, earth, the sea and the fullness thereof.

His eternal glory, into this vale of tears, that He let Him become a poor, suffering man, that He let Him for the sake of the sins of us all endure hunger and thirst, be slandered, apprehended, crowned with thorns, scourged, crucified and killed,

it cannot fail that your old carnal mind must become a regenerated spiritual mind, your thoughts chaste and pure, your words discreet and well-seasoned and your whole life pious and unblameable.

Observe here that true Christian faith through grace is the only fountain whence flows not only the contrite new life but also obedience as concerns the evangelical ceremonies, such as baptism and the Lord's supper,

not as compelled by law, for the rod of the oppressor is broken, but through the voluntary, submissive spirit of love which by virtue of its Christ-like nature is willing and ready for every good work in obedience to the holy divine word.

13. Justification by Faith

Thirdly, we teach with Christ and say, "Believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15):

This Gospel is the joyful tidings of God's favour and grace toward us, and of the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ.

This message faith accepts through the Holy Ghost:

the believer does not behold his former righteousness or unrighteousness,

but, like Abraham, "against hope believes in hope" (Rom. 4:18) with the whole heart depends entirely upon the grace, word and promise of the Lord, since he well knows that God is true and His promises cannot fail.

Thereby the heart is renewed, converted, made spiritually minded, peaceful and joyous, a child of God is born. The believer approaches with full confidence the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16) and becomes a joint heir with Christ and of eternal life.

Behold, kind reader, we do not seek our salvation in works, words or sacraments, as do the theologians, although they ascribe this to us, but we seek it alone in Jesus Christ, and through no other means in heaven or earth. In this only means we comfort ourselves and in no other. We hope by the grace of God to abide in it unto death.

But that we avoid sinful works and desire to conform ourselves in our weakness to His word and commandment, this we do because He has thus taught and commanded us:

For whosoever does not walk according to His doctrine, testifies by his deeds that he does not believe in Him nor know Him, and that he is not in the communion of the saints. (John 15:7; I John 3:10; 5:10; II John 6).

All those, now, who with believing hearts accept and receive this means of divine grace, Christ Jesus, and believe and confess that through His sacrifice, death and blood their sins are forgiven,

that His wrath will nevermore be upon them, that they will not be lost, that He accepts them as His beloved sons and daughters and gives them eternal life;

all such are of a peaceable and joyous spirit and give thanks to God with renewed hearts:

for the power of the Spirit quickens and changes them into newness of life, and they walk thus by the gift and grace of the Holy Spirit in the power of the new birth, according to the measure of their faith, in obedience to their God who has shown them so great love.

Those who trust in their works or ceremonies for salvation deny thereby the grace and merits of Christ:

For if our reconciliation consisted in works and ceremonies, grace would come to naught and the merits and virtue of the blood of Christ would all be void.

O no! it is grace and will be grace in all eternity, all that the merciful Father through His dear Son and Holy Spirit has done for us grievous sinners.

He [Gellius Faber], I presume, well knows that we emphatically teach that by no outward works, however great and good they may appear, we could be saved or entirely please God,

for they all are in every instance mixed with imperfection and weakness, and through them, on account of the corruption of the flesh, we cannot acquire the righteousness required in the commandments.

We point therefore alone to Jesus Christ who is our only and eternal righteousness, reconciliation and propitiation with the Father, and know of no trust in our own works.

My reader, I write the truth in Christ and lie not.

If God should judge us according to our own worthiness, righteousness, works and merits, and not according to His great goodness and mercy, then I confess with holy David, that no man could stand before His judgment (Psa. 143:2; 130:3).

Therefore it is far from us that we trust in or console ourselves with anything but the grace of God though Christ Jesus; for it is He and none other who has perfectly fulfilled and satisfied the righteousness required by God.

We are also aware, by the grace of God, that all saints, from the beginning, have lamented the proneness to sin, of their flesh, as e. g. Moses, David, Job, Isaiah, Paul, James, and John.

But for Christ's sake we are in grace, for Christ's sake we are heard, for Christ's sake our failings and weaknesses which are committed involuntarily, are remitted.

For it is He who stands between His Father and His imperfect children with His perfect righteousness, and with His innocent blood and death,

and intercedes for all those who believe on Him and who by faith are guided through the divine word, turn from evil, follow that which is good, and who sincerely desire with Paul that they may attain the perfection which is in Christ.

Notice, beloved reader, we do not believe nor teach that salvation is of our merits and works, as our opponents accuse us without any truth, but solely by grace, through Christ Jesus, as has been said.

14. Regeneration

Do you think, beloved, that the new birth is nothing else but that which the poor world hitherto has thought it to consist in:

namely immersion in the water or the saying of the words, "I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost?"

No, dear brethren, no!

The new birth consists verily not in water nor in words, but it is the heavenly, quickening power of God in our hearts which comes from God and through the preaching of the divine word, if we accept the same by faith, touches, pierces, renews and changes our hearts,

so that we are converted from unbelief to faith, from unrighteousness to righteousness, from evil to good, from carnality to spirituality, from the earthly to the heavenly, from the evil nature of Adam to the good nature of Jesus Christ.

God does not seek words nor appearance but power and deed:

Do you think it sufficient if you know Christ only according to the flesh?

Or if you but say that you believe on Him, that you are baptized and are Christians, and that you are purchased by the blood and death of Christ?

Ah no! I have told you often and tell you again, you must be born of God and your life changed and converted in such a manner that you are new men in Christ,

that Christ be in you and you in Christ, or you can never be Christians, for, If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature".

Here I would call on all the high and mighty lords, princes, and rulers under all the canopy of heaven, also on all the popes, cardinals, bishops, all the learned and scholars

who from the beginning have broken and obscured the Scriptures, to show us one single word in the whole Bible (I say in the Bible, for human fables and lies we do not regard)

that an unbelieving, refractory, carnal man, without true repentance and regeneration, ever was or ever will be saved, simply because he boasts of faith and the death of Christ, or attends the mass and services of the priests, as the whole world does.

If so, they would have gained the point. But from the beginning this never has been, nor will be to the end of time.

For if such impious men without repentance and regeneration could be saved by hearing masses and confessing, as they, poor people, without the warrant of Scripture hope,

then it might of a truth be said that the aforementioned means (though they are idolatrous) were stronger than the word of the Lord.

For the Word knows no mass, but says: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Then would also Moses and the prophets, Christ and His apostles, have been false [witnesses]; they would have miserably deceived us poor people by directing us upon so narrow a path.

All who accept by faith this grace in Christ which is preached through the Gospel, and adhere to it from their hearts, are born anew of God, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Their heart and mind is changed and renewed; yea, they are transferred from Adam into Christ. They walk in newness of life, as willing and obedient children, in the grace that is extended to them.

They are renewed, I say, have become poor in spirit, meek, merciful, compassionate, peaceable, patient, hungry and thirsty after righteousness, ready to suffer for the truth;

they strive steadfastly by good works after eternal life; for they are believing, they are born of God, they are in Christ and Christ is in them; they partake of His Spirit and nature and thus live by the power of Christ which is in them, according to the Word of the Lord.

This is what it means, according to the Scriptures, to believe, to be Christians, to be in Christ and Christ in us.

My dear reader, here take notice how vastly this sinful woman differs after conversion in her faith and conduct, from the faith and conduct of the world:

They are like the sinful woman before her conversion, but not after conversion.

Whether such are believers, I will let the intelligent reader to reflect upon with the Spirit and word of the Lord.

I know of a certainty that a proud, haughty, man whoever he may be, is no Christian,

neither is an avaricious, selfish man, or a drunken, intemperate man, or an unchaste, lustful man, or a wrangling, envious man, or a disobedient, idolatrous man, or a false, lying man, or an unfaithful, thievish man, or a defaming, backbiting man, or a bloodthirsty, unmerciful, revengeful man a Christian,

even if he were baptized a hundred times and kept the Lord's supper daily;

for it is not the ordinances or rites, such as baptism and the Supper, but a true Christian faith with its unblameable good fruits, of which the ordinances testify, that makes a true Christian and has the promise of life.

Here neither masses, holy water, holy days, rosaries, auricular confession or absolution avail, but only a believing, contrite, broken heart, spirit and mind, a penitent, regenerated, new heart, a pious, fully surrendered life.

To teach and believe that regeneration is obtained through baptism, my brethren, is terrible idolatry and blasphemy against the blood of Christ:

For there is neither in heaven nor on earth any other remedy for our sins, be they evil propensities or transgressions, than the blood of Christ alone, as we have often shown in our first writings (I Pet. 1:19; I John 1:7; Col. 1:20).

If then we ascribe remission of sin to baptism and not to the blood of Christ, we make of baptism a golden calf and place it in Christ's stead.

For if we could be washed or cleansed by baptism, then Christ and His merits would be displaced, except we confess that there are two means for the remission of our sins, namely baptism and the blood of Christ:

But this is not the case, nor will be in eternity, for the immaculate, most precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ shall and must have the glory, as all prophets and apostles have so clearly prophesied and testified throughout the Scriptures.

My dear reader, I warn you with a faithful heart to take heed:

He cannot save you, nor pardon your sins, nor show you His mercy and grace, except according to His word:

namely, if you repent, if you believe, if you are born of Him, if you do what He has commanded you and walk even as He walked.

For if He could save sinful, carnal man without regeneration, faith and repentance. He would not have taught us the truth. He is the truth and there is no lie in Him.

Therefore I tell you again that ye cannot be reconciled with all your masses, matins, vespers, ceremonies, sacraments, councils, statutes and commandments which are under the whole heavens and which the popes and their followers have made from the beginning.

For they are detestations and not reconciliations; of this I warn you. Christ says:

"In vain do they honour me, for they teach the commandments of men."

But, first and above all, if you would be saved, your earthly, carnal, ungodly life must be changed:

For all the Scriptures, with all their admonitions, threatening, reproving, miracles, examples, ceremonies and ordinances teach us nothing but repentance and a new life.

And if you do not repent, there is nothing in heaven or on earth that can help you, for without true repentance one is comforted in vain.

We must be born from above, must be changed and renewed in our hearts and thus be transplanted from the unrighteous and evil nature of Adam into the righteous and good nature of Christ, or we cannot be helped in eternity by any means, whether divine or human.

That regeneration, of which we write, from which follows the contrite, pious life having the promise, comes alone from the Word of the Lord if it is rightly taught and is through the Holy Spirit rightly received into the heart through faith.

15. The New Life

Behold, beloved reader, thus true faith or true knowledge begets love and love begets obedience to the commandment of God, as said above.

- For true evangelical faith is of such nature that it cannot be workless or idle:

it ever manifests itself in all righteousness and works of love, it dies unto self, seeks and fears God and serves Him from the inmost soul,

it clothes the destitute, feeds the hungry, consoles the comfortless, shelters the homeless, aids the oppressed, returns good for evil, serves those that injure, prays for those that persecute, teaches, admonishes, and reproves with the word of the Lord,

seeks that which is lost, hinds up that which is wounded, heals that which is sick, and protects that which is sound.

The persecution, suffering and anxiety which befalls it for the sake of the truth of the Lord is to it a glorious joy and consolation.

For this can never fail; where there is true Christian faith, there is also dying to sin, a new creature, true repentance, a sincere, regenerated, unblameable Christian.

One does no longer live according to the lusts of sin but according to the will of Him who purchased us with His blood, drew us by His Spirit and regenerated us by His Word, namely Jesus Christ.

But where faith exists only in the mouth, and where righteousness, a new mind and a pious life do not follow, there is nothing but unbelief, hypocrisy and falsehood, no matter how much talking and disputing about the Scripture there may be.

This rule will remain firm and can never be broken:
"If ye live after the flesh ye shall die".

I say again, he who believes and accepts this can never be prevented, by angel or devil, life or death, but he will and must love again from his inmost heart the merciful Father who has manifested so great grace and love toward us grievous sinners,

yea praise, honour, thank, serve Him and be obedient to Him all the days of his life:

For this is the greatest delight and joy of the believers, that they in their weakness may walk and live according to the will and word of the Lord.

It cannot be otherwise, but where the unfeigned pure love of God dwells, there must be the voluntary ready service of that love, namely the keeping of His commandments.

True evangelical faith looks upon and has respect unto the doctrine, ceremonies, commands, restrictions and unblameable example of Christ alone and strives to conform thereto with all its powers.

For as it is the nature of fire to produce nothing but heat and flame, of the sun nothing but light and heat, the water moisture, and a good tree good fruit after its natural properties,

so also true evangelical faith brings forth true evangelical fruit, in accordance with its true, good, evangelical nature;

Yea, even as a virtuous bride, through natural love, is ever ready to hear and obey the voice of her bridegroom,

and from a sincere, good, loyal disposition, good-will and love which she has toward him, will ever so conduct herself before her most faithful friend and beloved husband whom she respects and loves with all her heart

that for his sake she willingly endures whatever may befall her, even so it is with a true regenerated believer who has been joined to Christ by grace through faith:

He has become one with Christ and grafted into Him through ardent, fervent love and is ever willing and ready to do His bidding and will whether it be difficult or easy.

For His holy name's sake he is willing to endure all things that may befall him at any time,

be it joy or tribulation, satiation or hunger, refreshing or thirst, honour or dishonour, good or evil report, imprisonment or liberty, to live in the land or be exiled, ease or discomfort, life or death.

The true believers show in act and deed that they believe, are born of God and spiritually minded:

They lead a pious, unblameable life before all men, they are baptized according to the Lord's command, as a proof and testimony that their sins are taken away through Christ's death and that they desire to walk with Him in newness of life;

they break the bread of peace with their beloved brethren, as a proof and testimony that they are one with Christ and with His church

and that they have or know no other means of grace and of remission of their sins, neither in heaven nor upon earth, than the innocent body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ alone, which He once through His eternal Spirit, in obedience to the Father, has offered up and shed upon the cross for us poor sinners.

They walk in all love and mercy, they serve their neighbours, etc. In short, they order their lives, in their weakness, according to all the words, commandments, ordinances.

Spirit, rule, example and measure of Christ, as the Scriptures teach; for they are in Christ and Christ is in them:

And therefore they live no longer in the old life of sin after the first earthly Adam (weakness excepted), but in the new life of righteousness which is by faith, after the second and heavenly Adam, Christ;

as Paul says, "I do not now live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

And Christ says, that those who love Him will keep His commandments. (John 14:15).

If you believe truly in Christ as you boast, then show by your works that you believe; for "the just shall live by faith," as the Scriptures say.

And that this is the truth has been fully testified and shown by the works of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Samuel, David, Matthew, Zaccheus, Magdalene, Paul and all the true children of God who were from the beginning and even to this day.

The regenerated put on Christ and manifest the nature and power of His Spirit in all their fruits:

They fear God with all their heart and with all their thoughts, words and works, seek nothing but the glory of God and the salvation of their beloved brethren.

Hatred and vengeance they know not, for they love those who hate them, do good to those who despitefully use them and pray for those who persecute them;

they hate avarice, haughtiness, unchastity, pomp, wantonness, drunkenness, adultery, fornication, hatred, envy, backbiting, lying, defrauding, quarrelling, blood shedding, false sanctity and idolatry, in short all impure, carnal works,

and forsake the world with all its lusts.

They meditate upon the law of the Lord by day and by night, rejoice over the good and are grieved over the evil.

Evil they do not repay with evil, but with good. They seek not self nor their own good alone, but also the good of their neighbour, both as to body and soul.

They feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty, entertain the needy, visit the sick, comfort the fainthearted, admonish the erring and are ready after their Master's example to give their lives for their brethren.

Again their thoughts are pure and chaste, their words are true and seasoned with salt; with them yea is yea and nay nay, and their works are done in the fear of the Lord.

Their hearts are heavenly and renewed, their minds peaceful and joyous; they seek righteousness with all their heart.

In short, they have through the Spirit and word of God such assurance of their faith,

that they will through such faith valiantly overcome all bloodthirsty, cruel tyrants with all their tortures, imprisonments, exiling, spoiling of their property, stocks, stakes, executioners, tormentors and henchmen;

and out of a godly zeal, with an innocent, pure heart, with simple yea and nay they are willing to die:

The glory of Christ, the sweetness of the Word and the salvation of their souls are dearer to them than all that is under heaven.

Besides we teach the true love and fear of God, the true love of our neighbour, to serve and aid all mankind and to injure none, to crucify the flesh and its desires and lusts,

to prune the heart, mouth and the whole body with the knife of the divine word, of all unclean thoughts, unbecoming words and actions.

Consider now whether this is not the will of God, the true doctrine of Jesus Christ, the rightful use of the ordinances, and the true life, which is of God, although all the gates of hell may wilfully oppose it.

In short, we teach and urge, as far as in us lies, from the Word of the Lord:

to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, I Pet. 2:11,
to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts. Gal. 5:24,
not to be conformed to this world, Rom. 12:2,
to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, Rom. 13:2,
to love not the world, I John 2:15,

put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, Eph. 4:22, such as pride, avarice, unchastity, hatred, envying, gluttony, drinking, idolatry;

and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness, whose fruits are faith, love, hope, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, Eph. 4:24; Rom. 14:17, Gal. 5:16, longsuffering, charity, compassion, chastity, earnest hatred and rebuke of sin and a sincere, true love of and zeal for God and His word.

I repeat it, such repentance is sincere, fruitful and acceptable to the Lord according to the teaching of His Word.