X. PSALM Cxliii. 2. Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. JESUS. JUSTICE. SINNER. [commands Jes. RING forth the pris'ner, Justice. Just. Thy Of that great Majesty that gave him breath, Jes. How know'st thou this? Just. Ev'n by his own His sins are crying; and they cry'd aloud: [confession: They cry'd to heav'n, they cry'd to heav'n for blood. Fes. What sayst thou, sinner? hast thou aught to plead, Sin. Ah me! I dare not: I'm too vile and base What flesh can stand? I have transgress'd thy laws. * Shrift; i. e. confession: an old word for auricular coufession, with papists. Fus Jus. Lord, shall I strike the blow? Jes. Hold, Justice, Sinner, speak on; what hast thou more to say? Sin. Vile as I am, and of myself abhorr'd, [stay: [greater. Here, trembling at thy bar. Just. Thy fault's the Lord, shall I strike the blow? Jes. Hold, Justice, stay: Speak, sinner; hast thou nothing else to say? Sin. Nothing but mercy, mercy, Lord; my state Is miserably poor and desperate: I quite renounce myself, the world, and flee Just. Cease thy vain hopes; my angry God has vow'd, Abused mercy must have blood for blood: Shall I yet strike the blow? Jes. Stay, Justice, hold; Just. I cannot hold. Jes. Then turn thy thirsty blade * Groundless; i. e. without bottom. 3 S. AU me; S. AUGUST. Lord, if I have done that, for which thou mayest damn thou hast not lost that whereby thou mayest save me. Remember not, sweet Jesus, thy justice against the sinner, but thy benignity towards thy creature: remember not to proceed against a guilty soul, but remember thy mercy towards a miserable wretch: forget the insolence of the provoker, but behold the misery of the invoker; for what is Jesus but a Saviour? ANSELM. Have respect to what thy Son hath done for me, and forget what my sins have done against thee: my flesh hath provoked thee to vengeance; let the flesh of Christ move thee to mercy: it is much that my rebellions have deserved; but it is more that my Redeemer hath merited. EPIG. 10. Mercy of mercies! He that was my drudge, PSALM |