grace complete that work in me which thy infinite mercy has begun. Let thy clemency come to the succour of thy miserable creature: take pity and compassion on my poor soul. I am firmly resolved, with the aid of thy grace, to amend my life, confess my sins, and persevere in thy service — to pardon injuries, avoid the occasions of evil, and abhor my vices — to make such restitution as I am able, and to observe, as in duty bound, all thy Commandments. I trust, O Lord, in thy infinite goodness, that thou wilt pardon all my sins through the death and passion of my Lord Jesus Christ; for though in his wounds there is justice to punish me, yet in the same wounds there is likewise mercy to forgive me. Mercy! mercy! mercy! Jesus have mercy on me.
I. Consideration. Of the enormity of sin.
Consider, first, the enormity of a mortal sin. It is an insult to Almighty God, and a contempt of his holy law. Call to mind that you have sinned before him who knows all things, and sees the most secret actions and the silent thoughts of the heart; that you have given the death blow to your immortal soul; that you have drawn down upon yourself the anger and punishment of the living God, a God who in his just vengeance is awful and terrible; that he it is who cast for ever into hell the holy Angels when they first rebelled against him; that, alas! many of the damned who are now groaning in the eternal pains of hell, have not committed so great and so many sins as you; and that while death is perhaps already very near, it is only the infinite patience of this most merciful God that makes him wait until now for your conversion.
