“Therefore we are commanded not to despair for our trespasses but to acknowledge the goodness of God and condemn the sins whereof forgiveness is offered us by reason of the loving-kindness of Christ who for our sins shed his precious blood. In many places of Scripture we are taught the power of repentance, and especially by the precepts and parables of our Lord Jesus Christ. For it says, From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Moreover, he set before us, in a parable, a certain son that had received his father’s substance and taken his journey into a far country and there spent all in riotous living. Then, when there arose a famine in that land, he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that land of iniquity^[1], who sent him into his fields to feed swine, thus does he designate the most coarse and loathsome sin. When, after much labor, he had come to the utmost misery, and might not even fill his belly with the husks that the swine did eat, at last he came to perceive his shameful plight, and, bemoaning himself, said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father,I have sinned against heaven and before you and am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants.” And he arose and came to his father. But, when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him tenderly, and restoring him to his former rank, made a feast of joy because his son was found again and killed the fatted calf. Lo, this parable, that Jesus spoke to us, concerns such as turn again from sin and fall at his feet in repentance.

“Again, he represents a certain good shepherd that had a hundred sheep, and when one was lost left the ninety-nine and went forth to seek that which had gone astray until he found it: and he laid it on his shoulders and folded it with those that had not gone astray and called together his friends and neighbors to a banquet because it was found. Likewise, says the Savior, joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents more than over ninety-nine just persons which need no repentance.

“And, in sooth, even the chief of the disciples Peter, the Rock of the Faith, in the very season of the Savior’s Passion, failing for a little while in his stewardship, that he might understand the worthlessness and misery of human frailty, fell under the guilt of denial. Then he straightaway remembered the Lord’s words and went out and wept bitterly, and with those hot tears made good his defeat and transferred the victory to his own side. Like a skillful man of war, though fallen, he was not undone nor did he despair, but, springing to his feet, he brought up as a reserve bitter tears from the agony of his soul; and straight away when the enemy saw that sight, like a man whose eyes are scorched with a fierce flame, he leaped off and fled afar, howling horribly. So the chief became chief again, as he had before been chosen teacher of the whole world, being now become its pattern of penitence. And after his holy resurrection Christ made good this three-fold denial with the three-fold question, Peter, do you love me? the Apostle answering, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

“So from all these and many other examples beyond count we learn the virtue of tears and repentance. Only the manner of it must be noted—it must arise from a heart that abominates sin and weeps, as says the prophet David, I am weary of my groaning: every night will I wash my bed and water my couch with my tears. Again the cleansing of sins will be wrought by the blood of Christ^[2], in the greatness of his compassion and the multitude of the mercies of that God who says, Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow, and so forth.

“Thus therefore it is, and thus we believe. But after receiving the knowledge of the truth and winning regeneration and adoption as sons, and tasting of the divine mysteries, we must strive hard to keep our feet for fear we fall. For to fall becomes not the athlete, since many have fallen and been unable to rise. Some, opening a door to sinful lusts, and clinging obstinately to them, have no more had strength to hasten back to repentance; and others, being untimely snatched by death, and having not made speed enough to wash them from the pollution of their sin, have been damned. And for this cause it is hazardous to fall into any kind of sinful affection whatsoever. But if any man fall, he must at once leap up and stand again to fight the good fight: and, as often as there comes a fall, so often must there at once ensue this rising and standing, to the end. For, Turn you to me and I will turn to you, says the Lord God. (Zech 1:3).