43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.
HOW ready is Christ to cherish the Penitent, that abhors himself for his Deformity, and sees greater Beauty, and Excellency, and Satisfaction, in the Ways of Holiness, and a Spiritual Life, than in all the Com∣forts of this World. Blessed Saviour! How ready art thou to stretch forth thine Arms to such humble and contrite Spirits! Thou art readier to grant, than they to ask; and even before they cry, thou hearest them! Oh, let this be an Encouragement to me, to deplore my Sins, and to bewail mine Offences; to detest what I have been doing against thee, and to seek first thy Kingdom, and its Righteousness; that now that thou art in thy Kingdom, thou may'st remember me; and when I leave this World, may'st bid me enter into my Master's Joy.