" "Likewise," said Christ, "it is by this woman: she hath loved me
most, therefore most is forgiven her; she hath known her sins most,
whereby she hath most loved me. And thou hast least loved me, because
thou hast least known thy sins: therefore, because thou hast least known
thine offences, thou art least forgiven." So this proud Pharisee had an
answer to delay his pride. And think you not, but that there be amongst
us a great number of these proud Pharisees, which think themselves worthy
to bid Christ to dinner; which will perk, and presume to sit by Christ in
the church, and have a disdain of this poor woman Magdalene, their poor
neighbour, with a high, disdainous, and solemn countenance? And being
always desirous to climb highest in the church, reckoning themselves more
worthy to sit there than another, I fear me poor Magdalene under the
board, and in the belfry, hath more forgiven of Christ than they have:
for it is like that those Pharisees do less know themselves and their
offences, whereby they less love God, and so they be less forgiven.
I would to God we would follow this example, and be like unto Magdalene.
I doubt not but we be all Magdalenes in falling into sin and in
offending: but we be not again Magdalenes in knowing ourselves, and in
rising from sin.
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