HOw happy my God are those , whose offences thou hast pardoned , and whose sinns thou hast buried in a tombe of forgetfulnesse . For , alas ! what can become of him whom thou causest to endure the iust punishment for his sinnes ? an armie of miseries enuirons him , pouerty assailes him , sicknesse afflicts him , famine oppresseth him , and death it selfe , which he thinketh to bee the hauen of this tempestuous nauigation , is the bottomlesse pit to draw him into eternall torments .

2. Thrice and foure times happy then are they of whom God demandeth none account of their actions , but is satisfied so that they humble themselues before him , acknowledging their infirmity , and opening vnto him the depths of their hearts : For his mercy is to bee called vpon by true confession , and sincerity of conscience : hee that will be heard , must humble himselfe before him . As hee which goeth to a fountaine , puts downe the mouth of his vessell before hee can fill it with liqour , in like manner it behooueth him to cast himselfe down before his creator , which will draw and taste of the water of this sacred fountaine , from whence distilleth the humour , which alone can cleanse and purge our consciences .

3. I did thinke sometimes , oh my God , to hide my faults from thee , & haue said vnto my selfe ; How can hee tell , or not , what I haue done ? In this manner my sinne waxed old in my bones , and like the sores of a sick man , who is ashamed and dares not shew his disease to the surgeon ; they doe increase and waxe worse , till the whole body perrish : in like manner the sinnes which I haue hidden from thee , haue wholy infected me .

4. But at the last thou hast in such sort , day and night , layde thy heauy hand vppon mee , and hast caused mee to taste so many kindes of misfortunes , betwixt which my soule liueth without rest , quelled with a continual pricking in my conscience which pierceth the very bottom of my heart , as I haue acknowledged my falt , the which I now carry in my hand . Take notice of it ô my GOD , but not in thine anger : for the streaming teares which haue quenched with weeping the light of mine eyes , ought likwise also to haue extinguished the heate of thy iust indignation . And then , am I not the worke of thine hands , and that which is more , the liuely image of thy diuinity ? who is hee so transported with choller , which will breake in peeces the workmanship which hee hath so much delighted to polish and bring to perfection , because it is a little foule and slubberd ? This image is loden with filthinesse I confesse , but is it not much better to clense & burnish it then to destroy it and tread it vnder foote ?

5. Teach me then my God , what satisfaction I am to make , for I haue now discouered vnto thee all those faults which before I did conceale . The feare which possessed me then , when I hid my selfe from thee , now when I lay my selfe open vnto thee , is turned into hope of fauor and pardon . And now I cast my selfe into thine armes , as my surest refuge , with the selfe same countenance , as the poore patient , who shewing his wound to the Surgeon , lookes attentiuely vpon him , and manfully endureth the search and lancing , for the desire and hope which hee hath to bee healed . But that which giueth me most hope of health , is , that those vices wherein I delighted heertofore , doe now make mee afraide to behold them , as the meates where-with a man is stuffed in health doe afterwards make him sicke at the heart . That which made mee fierce , doth now make mee ashamed , when I consider the danger of death , wherevnto my pride had exposed my poore soule . I thanke that day which first gaue mee the light to acknowledge my fault . I did on that day , my GOD , receiue a singular testimony of thy goodnesse towards mee , let it please thee then , that the pleasure which I haue receyued in displeasing my selfe , may continue with me as long as that which I tooke in my vices : For if I can take as great contentment in my penitencie , as I haue taken in my sinne , my happinesse shall bee equall to that of thine Angels , and by my humilation before thee , I shall see my selfe exalted to the highest toppe of thy fauour .

6. Who doubteth ô Lord that thou wilt not receiue mee to mercy ? thou whose meekenesse and benignity , is not only vnspeakable but incomprehensible ? I did no sooner thinke of returning vnto thee , but thou diddest meete mee . I did no sooner say that I would confesse my misdeeds ; but thou diddest grant mee pardon . I did no sooner know what punishment belonged to my sinne , but thou forgauest it . I tooke the roddes in hand to chastice my flesh , and thou tookest them from mee . To bee short , I thought that thou wouldest haue proclaimed war against mee , and thou offeredst mee a charitable reconciliation . Oh how much more rather ô Lord doost thou pardon then punish ? Can a good Father more louingly receiue his Childe which beggeth his pardon , then thou hast receiued mee , when I did cast my selfe at thy feete ? Mine heart also leapeth for ioy , and boyleth with an holy heat to praise thy name ; it reioyceth in the fauor which thou hast shewed it , accusing none but it selfe for what is past , and cryeth out , it is I which willed it , it is I which haue done it , it is I which tooke pleasure therein : but my God was mercifull vnto mee ,

7. How could he haue refused me his mercy , seeing Christ Iesus is my Aduocate , and thy Saints , whose prayer is so deere vnto him , haue prayed , doe pray , and will continually pray vnto him for mee ? They are those who make intercession for mee ; who procure his fauour for mee ; who implore his goodnesse , for in those prayers which they powre out for thy vniuersall Church I hope to haue my part ? They haue need alas to intercede for mee , seeing that the impiety of my heart hath in such sort blinded mine vnderstanding by her euill thoughts , as my soule could not looke vp towards heauen , to lift vp her hand to him , who onely can and will saue it : what remained for mee more , but that those whom thou drawest neere to thy selfe , and whom thou hast receiued into the sacred consistory of thine eternity , should beseech thee to haue pitty vppon mee ? Vpon me , who ( a cheife enemy to my selfe ) haue neuer , could , nor would haue prayed vnto thee for mine offence . I doe now then comfort my selfe , for that thou hast opened mine eyes to see the lothsomnesse of my conscience , for that thou hast mollified my heart to make true contrition to lodge therin . If it hath not beene so soone as it shold , it hath not at the leastwise beene so late , but thou hast vouchsafed to receiue mee as thou art wont to doe those who let slippe no time of repentance .

8. For those which make haste to sinne , and do willingly neglect repentance , when they perceiue their faults , and haue meanes to doe it , deferring till their liues end , to craue thy mercy & louing kindnesse , and to make a deluge of their eyes , they are in great danger of deceiuing themselues , and true repentance cannot afterwards enter into their hardned hearts ; their sorrow will be like that of desperate people , and thy mercy prooue deafe to their too late repentance .

9. But I runne in time to thee as vnto the refuge and end of my hopes , to my comfort in tribulation which hath enuironed mee in the same manner as the feare of death sezeth vpon him that is appointed to some shamefull punishment . Cause mee then now to taste the pleasure which that man feeleth in his heart who is freed from Irons , deliuered out of prison , and defended from the punishment , wherein his enemy hath a long time held him captiue . And on the contrary , let the enemy of my soule blush for shame when hee shall perceiue mee so deuoutly to craue the assistance of my God , who with the onely twinckling of his eye , can deliuer me from the voluntary bondage which I vowed to damnable voluptuousnesse , at such time as I drank the sweet honney of delicious pleasures which it presented vnto mee with a deceitfull hand in the loathsome cuppe of this world .

10. Alas ! when I call to minde the time that thou diddest thus returne vnto mee , and when with that eye of mercy thou madest a signe vnto me of pardon mercy , and saluation , it seemeth vnto mee that I doe verily behold a cleere sunne-shine to arise amiddest the stormes and tempests of the sea , who by little and little perceiuing the clowdes bringeth back a cleere and calme season , and vniteth the raging waues of the water . Euery houre I seeme to vnderstand that sweet and gracious word , when thou diddest say ; Feare no more , for behold my spirit shall direct thy pathes , and shall not lose the sight of thee , thou shalt walke now vnder his conduct , who bringeth in pure & cleane soules into my glorious kingdome . So soone as I heard this word , I fixed mine eyes on my guide , like the attentiue Pilot on the shining starre that directeth the course of his Nauigation . O God! how sweet shall that rest bee which I shall enioy , after that I haue walked in those wayes which thou hast taught mee ; I which went astray out of the path which leadeth to thy holy Tabernacle ? I was already entred into the thick forrest of this world , where such doe easily loose them selues , who to enioy tho pleasure and sweetnesse of the shades , doe flye from tho light of the day , which should direct them in their iourney : for soone dooth the fearfull face of night afright them , and deliuers them for a prey vnto wilde beasts that cruelly teare & deuoure them . I did already wander in this Labyrinth , and I was hopelesse to get forth of it , but that thou diddest put the thred into my hand , which brought mee out of this dangerous prison .

Be hold I am now at liberty , to doe homage and seruice vnto that GOD which did deliuer mee , to present vnto him his image pure and vndefiled , and to acknowledge all those fauors , which it hath pleased him to bestow on mee , to proceed from his onely goodnesse . Hee hath not onely heard mee aboue his other creatures , giuing mee the vse of diuine reason , but hee hath likewise among men lifted mee vp into a throne of honor and magnificence , so that there was nothing left to perfect my happinesse , but onely to bee able to know it : and after that I had forgotten my selfe he did enlighten me by his holy light , and gaue mee time and will to bewaile my life past , and to amend in time to come .

11. Doe then like mee that are my friends , and haue recourse in time to his mercy , for he himselfe calleth you into the way of saluation : and bee not like to the stubborne Mule which kicketh against the spur , hee wanteth reason , knowledge and iudgement .

12. For a bit is put into his mouth , and he doth continually feele the spurre in his side . In like manner , if at the first warning , which the Lord giues you , to returne into his wayes , you doe not obey his will , hee will raine vppon you showers of calamities , which will make you more miserable then misery it selfe .

13. You see the starres which twinckle in the firmament , the sand which lyeth on the Sea shoare , but neither hath the sea so much sand , nor the heauens so many starres , as there are punishments prepared for the obstinate . Their miserie hangs ouer their head , misfortunes follow them at euery steppe , vntill they haue throwne them head-long into that gulph , the onely thought whereof is fearefull to all those which do remember it , whose easiest places of retreate are full of cryes , groanings , and lamentations : Where paine is without end , griese without remedie , repentance without mercy , where death is immortall , the body liuing but to dye , and the soule to suffer ; where the soule feeles nothing but her sinne , and the body but his punishment . On the contrary , those which couer themselues with the Lords fauour , which make his mercy their buckler , who haue no other hope but in his goodnesse , who follow his comandements and are iealous of his will and pleasure , what felicitie is there but they may attaine to ? what precious thing is there in heauen , but shall bee opened vnto them ? They shall sitte side by side with their God , and beeing enuironed with glory , so much happinesse shall be heaped vpon them , as the soule of man is not able to conceiue the least part thereof , much lesse can my barren tongue expresse it .

14. I will then reioyce ô my God in the hope of such and so many benefits as thou reseruest in heauen to crowne the iust withall . Vnto this ioy I inuite you all which trust to the wordes of our Sauiour , which loue iustice and righteousnesse , there doth the reward of your labours attend you , there you shall be placed in honor and glory , there shall you exchange the sharpe thornes of this world , for flourishing Lillies of all eternity ; Oh then shall the sweate of your afflictions finde most sweete rest . Gold comes not forth of the flames in the Furnace more pure and shining to bee stamped with the Image of a great Prince , and then to serue for the adornment of some rich cabinet , as the hart of that man which loueth his God shall be drawne pure and cleane from the miseries of this world , to be inuironed with splendor and glory . What day can now displease mee in this world ? who shall hinder and stay me from entring into the howse of the Lord , for to liue in his seruice ? vpon what day of my life shall I ceasse from bewailing those sinnes which kept me forth of his fauor ? vnite then in me , ô my God these two contrary passions , ioy and repentance , to the end that like as the pilgrim , who hath lost his way in a desert , reioyceth when hee beholds the dawning of the day , and yet for all that cannot forget the obscure darkenesse out of the which hee is yet scarce come , nor lay aside his feare of so troublesome a night : euen so haue I alwayes abhorred my sinnes past , and haue neuerthelesse a certaine and liuely hope to enioy that eternall happinesse which thou hast purchased for vs by the price of the bloud of thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ . Alas ! how great is this loue , when the Maister spareth not the life of his childe to redeeme his seruant ? Beeing then formed by thy hand , redeemed by thy bloud , and purified by thy mercy , I offer my selfe vnto thee for a sacrifice of obedience ; reiect mee not ô my God .

HAue pitty vpon me ô my GOD , according to the greatnesse of thy louing kindnesse , and by thine immense mercy pardon the punishment which I most iustly haue deserued . For if thou expectest that my fasts , watchings , and prayers should make satisfaction for my sinnes , alas ! ô Lord , that wil neuer be . Mine offence beeing measured by the compasse of heauen and earth , surpasseth the greatnesse of the whole world , who then can enuiron and wholy blot it out , but only thy holy mercy , which is by so much greater , as thy righteousnesse exceedeth ours ? It is thy mercy ô Lord which cricleth the whole vniuerse , which keepeth fast together the parts of the world which shake and are ready to fall vpon our heads , to bury with vs in their ruine the memory of our sinnes , to turne away thy sight from our ingratefull , disloyall and disobedient generation , which disadvoweth her birth , creation , and conseruation from thee . Let then this mercifull goodnesse which shineth in thy diuinity , aboue al thy other vertues , spred it selfe now vpon me , not in a sparing manner , but prodigally and without measure . And as thou diddest once cause the waters to ouer-runne the tops of the highest mountaines , for to smother and ouer-whelme the wicked , cause in like manner a torrent of mercy to ouer-flowe me , not O Lord to drowne , but to bathe and purifie mee .

2. And be not satisfied with once clensing mee : doe not tell mee that thou hast regenerated and washed mee in the bloud of the chaste and innocent lambe , for notwithstanding my purenesse then , thou shalt now finde mee foule and deformed . I did plunge my selfe in a deep filthy vault , and am so durty and disfigured , as thou wilt no more know mee . I doe sometimes question with my selfe , whether I am hee whom thou diddest create with thine owne hands , or no , but my heart beeing confounded and ashamed dares make mee none answer . O my God thou hast created mee of dirt and clay , and loe , I am now such an one as I was before thou tookest me in hand , I haue put off my beauty and comlinesse , and put on dirt and filthinesse . But my God , wherefore doost thou not new make me ? is thine arme waxed short ? doost thou want will to doe good to thy creature ? alas ! thou art Almighty , all good , wherefore then dooest thou tarry ? Thy workemanship ô Lord grew obstinate against thee , and tooke pleasure in diffiguring and deforming it selfe : bee thou obstinate against thine handy-worke , and make it faire and perfect , yea , euen in despight of it : but my God , I will bee no more stubborne , hold mee , take mee in hand , turne mee as thou pleasest , repayre this dirte , renew it , refresh it with new coullours , it is ready to obey thy will . But ô Lord , when as thou shalt haue wholy renewed it , forsake it not for all that , put a bridle in his mouth , which by abstinence may keepe it from gluttony wherevnto it is proane : by chastitie it may quench the impudent heates of voluptuousnesse which warmeth it , by humility it may beat downe pride , which biting enuie raiseth vp in her , let pittifull charity driue hatred and the hunger of couetousnesse farre from it , let the care to serue and honor thee be a continuall spurre in the sides of her slothfull and blockish negligence .

3. For otherwise my God , I haue made too great proofe of these vices which enuiron mee ; they will in such sorte teare and dismember thy workmanship , as at thy comming , thou shalt find nothing but the fragments thereof all bruzed and broken . I haue had such experience of them , it is they who haue brought mee into the state wherein now I am ; and I now perceiue them standing round about mee , to reproach mee with those blottes where with they themselues did defile me , and to make me guilty of the wrongs which they haue done to mee . How hast thou sinned , say they ? how foule and deformed art thou become ?

4. Indeed , I haue sinned , I confesse it my God , behold , I offer the bottom of my heart vnto thee , take notice of my whole life . I haue sinned before heauen and earth , and the whole world is witnesse of my misdeeds . But if I had not sinned , vnto whome wouldest thou shew mercy ? how wouldst thou discharge thy selfe of the promises of grace , which thou hast so long declared by thy Prophets ? when thou shalt come to sit vpon the eternall throne of thy Iustice , if wee were all iust , who would stand in feare of thee ? But , to the end thy greatnesse may bee knowne , it behooueth vs when wee shall bee summoned before thee , humbly to fall downe vpon our faces , and to cry out ; Bee midle ô Lord , for wee come not to excuse our selues before thee , our fault is notorious , but loe , our pardon stands ready , thou thy selfe hast giuen it vs , behold it signed with thy bloud , sealed with thine image , which for our redemption was imprinted in the weakenesse of the flesh .

5. Diddest thou expect O my God , that when I should present my selfe before thee , I would make a rampier of mine innocencie , or that I was so blinde of vnderstanding to go about to iustifie my selfe in thy presence ? Alas ! ô Lord , I know that I was nothing but sinne before I was borne , my mother thought to bring forth a childe , and shee was deliuered of sinne , it had been much better for her , if so prodigious a burthen had prooued abortiue , which shameth the tree which bare it , the earth which nourished , and heauen which ripened it . I was fedde with sinne in my mothers wombe , I suckt it with her milke , and loe , it grew vppe in such sort with mee , as it ouer-shaddoweth mine head , and blindeth mine eyes .