that is over all thy works! Behold, I, a wretched pilgrim and exile, in going down from the heavenly Jerusalem, have fallen among robbers; I have been stripped of my robe of immortality, and, with many wounds, have been left half-dead; and now my sores are putrified and corrupted because of my foolishness, and there is no health in my flesh. If thou neglect me, and pass me by, who will have pity upon me, or who will bind up my wounds? If thou pour not in the wine of consolation, and the oil of mercy, who shall prepare for me the medicine that I need? And if thou pay not the penny, the price of my salvation, who shall be able beside?
3. The sinner urged to penance from the motive of its necessity.
Christ. My son, be of better comfort, and be not afraid. Thy ruin is from thyself alone, but thy help is from me. I am the Samaritan, that true physician, who came for this into the world, to heal the contrite of heart. It is I myself who have borne thy infirmities, and even of my own blood have prepared a remedy for thy wounds. For I desire not the death of a sinner, but that lie turn from his way and live; and therefore I came to seek and to save that which was lost. I came not to call the just, but sinners. For they that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. Remember my words, by which I invited to myself all the sinners of the earth, saying, Come to me, all you that labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you.
Come, then, too, and return by another way to the heavenly country, the way which I have shown to sinners, that they might walk in it; I mean the way of penance. If, then, thou desirest life, turn away from evil, and do good; be mindful from whence thou art fallen, and do penance, and do thy first works. Return, transgressor, to the heart, and see that it is a bitter thing to have forsaken the Lord thy God, thy Creator. Lay aside all malice; cast off the works of darkness; bring forth fruits worthy of penance; deny thyself ungodliness and worldly desires, and live henceforward soberly, justly, and godly in this world. This is the way that leads to life, and beside it there is no other.
Man. Oh, how sweet are thy words to my palate, O Lord, more than honey and the honeycomb to my mouth! Now, indeed, according to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, thy comforts have given joy to my soul. Oh, faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ
