mandments than the judgment of the world. And what doth it profit thee, if thou gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of thy own soul? Is this the return thou makest me, O foolish and senseless man?
Man. Who shall stand up to plead with thee, or shall answer thee one for a thousand? I acknowledge that thou art a God long-suffering and patient, and of great mercy, who hast mercy upon all, and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance. Oh, who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my eyes, because I have not kept thy law, and have received my soul in vain, for which thou gavest thy own beloved soul to death? What shall I say to thee, O immeasurable goodness? I have sinned; but spare me, and condemn me not, who wast willing to be condemned for me.
Christ. With what unceasing affection have I loved thee; with what sweetness, what promises of reward have I invited thee to return my love! But thou hast run like an adulteress after many lovers, and hast not been afraid to become my enemy, that thou mightst be the friend of the world. Thou hast forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and hast dug to thyself broken cisterns, that can hold no water, when thou mightst have drawn waters with joy out of the Saviour’s fountains. Thou hast chosen, I say, rather to follow an enemy, who requites the service rendered him with eternal punishments, and the short-lived pleasure that attends it, than me, who crown my followers with glory and honour.
10. Sorrow for sins with hope of pardon.
Man. I have sinned, O Lord, and have done evil before thee. But far be it from me to say with the wicked, My iniquity is too great for me to obtain pardon. For I know thou art bountiful to forgive; and although my sins are multiplied exceedingly, yet of thy mercy also these is no number. I should despair indeed, did I not know the mercies of the Lord. And the tempter, too, does not sleep; but to him, my Jesus, I oppose the memory of thy abundant sweetness, which thou hast displayed to David when he grievously sinned, to the adulteress, to thy betrayer, to Mary the sinner, to Peter when he denied thee, to the woman of Canaan who cried out to thee, to the seditious robber on the cross; nay, to those even who crucified thee. Let those therefore hope in thee who know thy name, since thou, O Lord, forsakest not
