Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/212

 them that  seek  thee; nay, thou even  invitest  those  who seek thee  not.

I have gone  astray  like  a sheep  that  is  lost. For the love of  thee  I grieve  from  the bottom of  my  heart. Oh, that I had  never  offended thee! Oh, that  I may  offend thee no  more  for  ever! Oh, who will  grant  me,  that  I might  be  according  to  the months past,  and  according to the  days  when  I yet  enjoyed the  fatherly  sweetness of thy  countenance! Nevertheless, even now  look  upon me, and  pity  me,  because  I am poor  and  alone. Uphold thy servant unto  good,  for  whither shall  I fly  from  thy  face any more? Without thee  it has  nowhere  been  well  with me, since  I have  been  a fugitive from  thee. Cast me not  away  from  thy  face,  and draw me  not  away  together with the  wicked. A sacrifice to thee  is  an  afflicted  spirit, a contrite  and  humbled heart, O God,  thou  wilt  not despise. Thou who  search est  the  heart  and  reins  knowest  the  desire  of  my  heart, and my  groaning  is  not  hid from thee.

Christ. Can a mother  forget her  infant,  so  as  not  to have  pity  on  the  son  of  her womb? But if  she  should forget, yet  will  not  I forget thee; for I have  given  my life  for  thee,  and  have  washed thee in  my  blood. If thy  sins be as  scarlet,  they  shall  be made  as  white  as  snow; and if they  be  red  as  crimson,  they shall be  white  as  wool.

Man. Oh, how  good  and tender, O Lord,  in  all  things  is thy  spirit! Bless the  Lord, O my soul,  and  never  forget all that  he  hath  done  for  thee, who forgives  all  thy  iniquities, who  heals  all  thy  diseases, who  redeems  thy  life from destruction,  who  crowns thee with  mercy  and  compassion,  who  satisfies  thy desire with  good  things; thy youth shall  be  renewed  like the eagle’s. I thank thee, O Lord, from  the  inmost marrow of  my  soul,  that  thou hast given  me  life  and  mercy until now,  and  hast  not  destroyed me,  as  thou  mightst have done,  in  the  midst  of my  sins,  doubtless  in  order that thy  goodness  might  lead me to  penance.

Christ. But, that  thou mayest be  the  more  fully restored to  my  favour,  when thou hast  confessed  against thyself thy  injustice  to  me, go and  show  thyself  also  to the  priest,  to  whom  I have given the  power  to  bind  and to loose. For he  that  hides his sins  shall  not  prosper; but he  that  shall  confess,  and forsake them,  shall  obtain mercy. My son,  for  thy  soul be not  ashamed  to  tell  the truth. For there  is  a shame