He can grant forgiveness; he can turn aside his sentence.” Ibid. p. 193.
CENT. IV.
St. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM, G. C.--Having given from the old Testament many examples of sincere repentance, he says: “ Of these God reversed the sentence: and shall not Christ grant the pardon of sins? Be converted; groan in spirit; shut the door ; and pray for forgiveness.-Peter, the supreme head of the Apostles, thrice denied his Master, but he repented, and wept bitterly.—Tears denote true and hearty repentance: on which account, he not only obtained pardon, but received an Apostolic dignity not to be taken from him." Cat. 11. n. xix. p. 37.
St. AMBROSE, L. C.-“ Let those who do penance, hear, in what manner they should proceed; with what earnestness and affection of mind, with what interior agitation, with what change of the heart: Behold, O Lord, says the prophet, (Lament. i. 20.) for I am in distress; my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me, for I have grievously rebelled.” De Pænit. L. ii. c. vi. T. 11. p. 427. “ Should any one, being guilty of secret sins, in obedience to the command of Christ, heartily do penance for them, how shall he receive the reward, unless he be restored to communion? I would have the guilty hope for the pardon of his sins; yet he should beg it with tears; yet he should beg it with sighs; yet he should beg it with the lamentations of all the people. I would have him pray for absolution.” Ib. P. 414.
St. PACIANUS, L. C.—“I am sensible, that the pardon of sins is not to be granted indifferently to sinners, and that they are not to be loosed, before there be signs of the will of God,
