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 passions of fear and grief; God did not suffer thee to be tempted above measure; whom he loves (I say) he loves to the end; hope the best.  David in his misery prayed to the Lord, remembering how he had formerly dealt with him; and with that meditation of God’s mercy confirmed his faith, and pacified his own tumultuous heart in his greatest agony.  “O my soul, why art thou so disquieted within me,” &c.  Thy soul is eclipsed for a time, I yield, as the sun is shadowed by a cloud; no doubt but those gracious beams of God’s mercy will shine upon thee again, as they have formerly done:  those embers of faith, hope and repentance, now buried