_That a man ought to esteem himself not worthy of any comfort._
_Christian._ LORD, I am not worthy of any comfort nor of any spiritual
visitation.
And therefore thou dealest justly with me; when thou leavest me poor
and desolate.
For though I could shed a sea of tears, yet I were not worthy of thy
comfort.
For, alas, I deserve nothing but to be punished, in that I have
grievously offended thee in many things.
But thou, O merciful God, who willest not that any should perish, to
shew the riches of thy goodness, vouchsafest to comfort thy servant
above the manner of men:
For thy comforts are not like the words of men.
2. What have I done, O Lord that thou shouldest bestow any heavenly
comforts upon me?
I remember not that I have done any good, but have been always prone to
sin and slow to amendment.
This is true, and I cannot deny it: if I should say otherwise, thou
wouldst stand against me, and there would be none to defend me.
What have I deserved but hell and everlasting fire?
I confess in very truth, that I am worthy of all scorn and contempt,
and it is not fit that I should be numbered among thy saints.
3. What shall I say, guilty as I am, and full of all confusion?
I have nothing to say but this; I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned;
have mercy on me, pardon me;
*Suffer me a little, that I may vent my grief, before I go into the
land of darkness, a land covered with the shadow of death.
What dost thou require of a guilty and miserable sinner, but that he
humble himself for his offences?
Of true contrition and humbling of the heart, ariseth hope of
forgiveness; the troubled conscience is reconciled to God; the favour
of God which was lost, is recovered; man is preserved from the wrath to
come, and God and the penitent soul meet together with an holy kiss.
4. Humble contrition for sin is an acceptable sacrifice unto thee, O
Lord, savouring much sweeter in thy presence than the perfume of
frankincense.
This is also the pleasant ointment which thou wouldst should be poured
upon thy sacred feet.
For thou never despisest a contrite heart.