impossible to count the multitude of the mercies of God, or
measure the greatness of his compassion: whereas sins and
offences, of whatever kind, are subject to measure and may be
numbered. So our offences, being subject to measure and number,
cannot overcome the immeasurable compassion, and innumerable
mercies of God.

"Wherefore 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 saith, `From that time began Jesus to preach and
to say, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."'
Moreover he setteth 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, who sent him into
his fields to feed swine, -- thus doth he designate the most
coarse and loathsome sin. When, after much labour, 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 unto him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before
thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one
of thy hired servants."' And he arose, and came to his father.