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LOrde, I am not woorthy to haue thy consolation, nor any spirituall visitatiō, and there∣fore thou doest righteously to me, when thou leauest me needy and desolate: for though I might weepe water of teares like to the Sea, yet were I not woorthy to haue thy con∣••olatiō, for I am worthy to haue nothing
but sorowe and paine, for I haue so gree∣uouslye and so ofte offended thee, and in so many things greatly trespassed against thee. Therefore I may well saye and con∣fesse for truth, that I am not woorthy to haue thy leste cōsolation. But thou Lord benigne and mercifull, that wilt not thy workes doe perish, to shewe the greatnes of thy goodnes in the vessels of thy mer∣cy, aboue all my merites or desert, doest vouchsafe sometime to comforte me thy seruaunt more then I can thinke or de∣uise. Thy cōsolations be not like to mens fables, for they be in them selues sooth∣fast & true. But what haue I done Lorde, that thou wilt vouchsafe to geue me any heauenly consolation? I knowe not that I haue done anye thing well as I should haue done, but that I haue bene prone and readie to sinne, and slowe to amend∣ment. This is true, and I can not deny it: for if I would deny it, thou shouldest stand against me, and no man might de∣fend me. VVhat haue I then deserued, but hell and euerlastinge fire? I confesse for truth, that I am woorthy in this worlde of shame and despite, and that it becommeth not me to be conuersant with deuout people. And though it be gree∣uous to me to say thus, yet (sith the truth is so) I wil confesse the truth as it is, and openlye will reproue my selfe of my de∣faultes, that I may the rather obteine of
thee mercy & forgeuenes. But what maye I then say Lorde, that thus am giltie and full of cōfusion? truely I haue no mouth nor tonge to speake, but onely this word: I haue sinned Lorde, I haue sinned, haue mercy on me, forgeue me, and forget my trespasse, suffer me a litle, that I maye weepe & waile my sinnes, or that I passe hence to the lande of darknes couered with the shadowe of death. And what doest thou Lord aske most of such a wret∣ched sinner, but that he be contrite, and meeken him selfe for his sinne, for in true contrition & meekenes of heart, is found the very hope of forgeuenes of sinne, and the troubled conscience is therby cleered, and the grace before lost is recouered agayne. Man also is thereby defended fro the wrath to come, & almightie God, and the penitente soule mete louinglie together in holie kissinges of heauenlye loue. A meeke contrition of heart is to thee Lorde a right acceptable Sacrifice, more sweetlie sauouringe in thy sight, then burnynge incence. It is also the precious oyntment, that thou wouldest should be shed vpon thy blessed feete, for a meeke and contrite heart thou neuer despisest. This contrition is the place of refuge, from the dreade and wrath of the enemie, and therby is washed & clensed, whatsoeuer is before misdone, or that is defiled through sinne in any maner.