ing to pardon me the sin, and to change the eternal into temporal punishment, it is reasonable to animate myself to receive with a good will that penance which my confessor shall assign me to perform, saying with David, "Ego in flagella paratus sum," " I am ready for the scourges " that my sins deserve, and " my sorrow is continually before me, for I will declare my iniquity "et cogitabo pro peccato meo," " and I will think for my sin," [1] endeavouring that neither my memory may forget it, nor my eyes cease to bewail it, nor my hands to chastise it, until it be wholly blotted out. 2. To this end it will help me to consider —
i. The terrible penance that Christ our Saviour did in satisfaction of my sins. What more rigorous discipline could there be than that of His whippings? What rougher hair-cloth than the prickles of the thorns of His passion? What bed harder than that of His cross? And what fast more terrible than all day to suffer hunger and thirst, and to break His fast with gall and vinegar?
Colloquy. — O my soul, seeing Christ suffered so much for the sins that He committed not, suffer somewhat for those that thou hast committed. "Bring forth" " fruit worthy of penance," [2] for the tree that bears not such fruit as Christ shall have no part with Christ!
ii. It will much help me likewise to consider the pains of purgatory, of which soon after we shall speak. For it is a great folly not to be willing to pay the debt until the creditor lay his execution upon me, and cast me into prison with costs and charges; paying in purgatory, with terrible pains, that which in this life I may pay with my short satisfaction and great profit. For such is the liberality of Almighty God, that He rewards with new pay the work that
