"You know that I have often attempted to reclaim you."
"But did you not first lead me astray? Till I knew you I was a happy, because a religious man; but from that ill-fated hour when, enticed by your influence and example to abandon the house of prayer for the theatre and ball-room, I have had no mental peace. I have forsaken God, and he, in anger, has forsaken me."
"But why recriminate on me the guilt of your own sin? You have withdrawn from me your love and your society, and will you now in exchange give me your reproaches? If we have sinned together, and provoked the Lord to anger, let us now kneel together before his mercy-seat, and together confess our sins, and implore forgiveness."
"You may pray and obtain mercy, but I cannot; no, I cannot."
"The Lord waits to be gracious."
"Yes, to the penitent, but my heart is too hard to feel penitential sorrow."
"But is not the Redeemer exalted to give repentance?"
"To you he will give it, but not to me. I have fallen away, and incensed justice renders it impossible to renew me again to repentance, for I have crucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."
"But justice relents when a sinner prays, and mercy"—
"Oh! speak not of mercy."