Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Ver. 8. Bring forth therefore fruits] q.d. You cannot wash your hands in innocence, wash them therefore in tears: there is 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 righteousness that are by Christ Jesus to the glory and praise of God, Philippians 1:11. Optima et aptissima poenitentia est nova vita, The best and most appropiate repentance is a new life, saith Luther; which saying, though condemned by Pope Leo, is certainly an excellent saying.
Meet for repentance] That weigh just as much as repentance, that may parallel and prove it to be right, evince and evidence it to be a "repentance never to be repented of," 2 Corinthians 7:10. There is no grace but hath a counterfeit. See therefore that your graces be of the right stamp, an effectual faith, laborious love, patient hope, &c., as the apostle hath it. See that your performances and whole course be such as becomes repentance, and may justify it; as may bear weight in the balance of the sanctuary, and amount to as much as repentance comes to, 1 Thessalonians 1:3; (αξιον παρα του αγειν). And albeit your righteousnesses be but as a menstruous clout, and your works at best (if tried by the fire of the word, Isa 64:6; 1Co 3:13) would burn (which made good Nehemiah,Nehemiah 13:12, to pray for pardon of his reformations), yet upon your true repentance for the evil that cleaves to your best works, your souls may be saved from the wrath to come; yea, they are such "as accompany salvation," and comprehend it, as the Greek Scholiast expounds that text, Hebrews 6:9; (εχομενα, i.e. κατεχομενα σωτηριας). Labour, therefore, to have a "heart full of goodness," as those Romans,Romans 15:14, and a life "full of good works," as Tabitha, Acts 9:36, such as may beseem amendment of life.