Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/93

 press them  to  His  Heart! He declares:  "  As  I  live, saith  the  Lord  God,  I  desire  not  the  death  of  the wicked,  but  that-  the  wicked  turn  from  his  way  and Live"  (Ezech.  xxxiii.  11). He even  says:  "And  then come  and  accuse  Me,  saith  the  Lord:  if  your  sins  be as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  made  as  white  as  snow  " (Is. i.  18). As though  He  had  said:  Sinners,  repent of having  offended  Me,  and  then  come  unto  Me:  if I  do  not  pardon  you,  "  accuse  Me;"  upbraid  Me,  and treat Me  as  one  unfaithful. But no,  I  will  not  be wanting  to  My  promise. If you  will  come,  know this, that  though  your  consciences  are  dyed  deep as crimson  by  your  sins,  I  will  make  them  by  My grace  as  white  as  snow.

In a  word,  He  has  declared  that  when  a  soul  repents of  having  offended  Him,  He  forgets  all  her  sins: " I  will  not  remember  all  his  iniquities"  (Ezech. xviii.  22). As soon,  then,  as  thou  tallest  into  any fault, raise  thine  eyes  to  God,  make  an  act  of  love, and with  humble  confession  of  thy  fault,  hope  assuredly for  His  pardon,  and  say  to  Him,  "  Lord,  behold he  whom  Thou  lovest  is  sick;"  that  heart which Thou  dost  love  is  sick,  is  full  of  sores:  "heal my  soul;  for  I  have  sinned  against  Thee." Thou seekest after  penitent  sinners;  behold,  here  is  one  at Thy  feet,  who  is  come  in  search  of  Thee. The evil is done  already;  what  have  I  now  to  do? Thou wilt not have  me  lose  courage;  after  this  my  sin  Thou dost still  love  me,  and  I  too  love  Thee. Yes, my God,  I  love  Thee  with  all  my  heart;  I  repent  of  the displeasure I  have  given  Thee;  I  purpose  never  to do  so  more. Thou, Who  art  that  God,  "  merciful and  gracious,  patient  and  of  much  compassion,"  forgive me;  make  me  to  hear  what  Thou  didst  say  to the  Magdalene:  "  Thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee;"  and give me  strength  to  be  faithful  unto  Thee  for  the time to  come.

That thou  mayest  not  lose  courage  at  such  a  mo-