Chapter XXIV. Of Mercy which is promised to the Merciful

But now to him making supplication for remission, it is congruously answered; Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy, Mat. 5. Have pitty therefore on thy Soul, who wouldst have God have pitty upon thee. Wash thy Bed every night, remember to water thy Couch with thy tears. If thou hast compassion on thy self, if thou labourest in the groans of repentance, (which is the first degree of mercy,) thou shalt assuredly obtain mercy. But if perhaps thou hast been a great and manifold Sinner, and seeks great mercy, and a multitude of miserations, do thou also strive to magnify, and to multiply thy mercy, be reconciled unto thy self; for thou wast made grievous to thy self, because thou wast put contrary to God. And this peace being restored in thy own House, it is necessary then that it be dilated towards thy Neighbours, that last of all thy Beloved may kiss thee with the kiss of his mouth; and as it is written; Being reconciled, thou maist have peace with God, Rom. 5. Forgive those who have sinned against thee, and it shall be forgiven thee what thou hast sinned, Mat. 6. v. 14. Whilst with a secure Conscience thou shalt pray to thy Father, and say; Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors, v. 12. If perhaps thou hast defrauded any one, restore, if not doubly, at least simply; what is over and above, give to the Poor, and shewing mercy, thou shalt obtain mercy. If thy sins shall be as Scarlet, they shall be made white as Snow; and if they be red as Vermilion, they shall be white as Wooll, Isa. 2. That thou maist not be confounded for all thy inventions by which thou hast prevaricated, and in which thou now blushest; give Alms, if thou canst not of earthly substance, of a good will, and all things shall be clean, not only thy Reason shall be enlightned, and Will corrected, but also thy very Memory shall be clean; that henceforth thou maist be called to our Lord, and maist hear the Voice of him saying; Blessed are they whose hearts are clean.