d himself,
Psal. xxxi. and upon his confession received mercy. Faith, hope,
repentance, are the sovereign cures and remedies, the sole comforts in this
case; confess, humble thyself, repent, it is sufficient. _Quod purpura non
potest, saccus potest_, saith Chrysostom; the king of Nineveh's sackcloth
and ashes "did that which his purple robes and crown could not effect;"
_Quod diadema non potuit, cinis perfecit._ Turn to Him, he will turn to
thee; the Lord is near those that are of a contrite heart, and will save
such as be afflicted in spirit, Ps. xxxiv. 18. "He came to the lost sheep
of Israel," Matt. xv. 14. _Si cadentem intuetur, clementiae manum
protendit_, He is at all times ready to assist. _Nunquam spernit Deus
Poenitentiam si sincere et simpliciter offeratur_, He never rejects a
penitent sinner, though he have come to the full height of iniquity,
wallowed and delighted in sin; yet if he will forsake his former ways,
_libenter amplexatur_, He will receive him. _Parcam huic homini_, saith
[6811]Austin, (_ex persona Dei_) _quia sibi ipsi non pepercit; ignoscam
quia peccatum agnovit_. I will spare him because he hath not spared
himself; I will pardon him because he doth acknowledge his offence: let it
be never so enormous a sin, "His grace is sufficient," 2 Cor. xii. 9.
Despair not then, faint not at all, be not dejected, but rely on God, call
on him an thy trouble, and he will hear thee, he will assist, help, and
deliver thee: "Draw near to Him, he will draw near to thee," James iv. 8.
Lazarus was poor and full of boils, and yet still he relied upon God,
Abraham did hope beyond hope.

Thou exceptest, these were chief men, divine spirits, _Deo cari_, beloved
of God, especially respected; but I am a contemptible and forlorn wretch,
forsaken of God, and left to the merciless fury of evil spirits. I cannot
hope, pray, repent, &c. How often shall I say it? thou mayst perform all
those duties, Christian offices, and be restored in good time. A sick man
loseth his appetite, strength and ability, his disease prevaileth so far,
that all his faculties are spent, hand and foot perform not their duties,
his eyes are dim, hearing dull, tongue distastes things of pleasant relish,
yet nature lies hid, recovereth again, and expelleth all those feculent
matters by vomit, sweat, or some such like evacuations. Thou art
spiritually sick, thine heart is heavy, thy mind distressed, thou mayst
happily recover again, expel those dismal pas