But the people [are] many, and [it is] a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither [is this] a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.
Ver. 13. Neither is this work of one day or two] No more is repentance, that first and continual work of every Christian. This made Tertullian say, that he was born for nothing else but for repentance, Nulli rei natus nisi poenitentiae. Surely, as in a ship there is continual pumping; and as in a beggar's coat continual piecing; so in the best soul there wants not matter of daily repenting: this house must be every day swept; this candlestick every day scoured. Besides, some sins are past in time that are not past in deed, if we dwell not in the undoing and reversing of them. The best of these hereafter mentioned were to begin anew their repentance, because they had not considered their marrying strange wives.
For we are many that have transgressed] Heb. We have multiplied to transgress. The comfort is, that God will in like sort multiply to pardon, if we return unto him; that is the expression, Isaiah 55:7 .