Commodian — Instructiones 48 (to penitents)
You have become a penitent: pray night and day, yet do not go far from the mother, and the Most High will be able to be merciful to you. Confusion of fault will not happen into a void; in your guilt you ought to weep things openly; if you have a deep wound, seek also a physician, and yet in punishments you will be able to ease your losses. For I will confess I was one of you and long felt the terror of ruin. Therefore I warn the wounded to go more carefully, to foul beard and hair in the dust of the earth and to roll in sackcloth and to ask of the highest King that he help you, lest you happen to perish from the people.
Latin
48 PAENITENTIBUS. Paenitens es factus: noctibus diebusque precare, Attamen a matre noli discedere longe, Et tibi misericors poterit Altissimus esse. Non fiet in uacuum confusio culpae perinde In reatu tuo debes manifesta deflere, Tu si uulnus habes altum, medicumque require, Et tamen in poenis poteris tua damna lenire. Namque fatebor enim unum me ex uobis adesse Terroremque diu quondam sensisse ruinae. Idcirco commoneo uulneratos cautius ire, Barbam <atque> comam foedare in puluere terrae Uolutareque saccis et petere summo de Rege Subuenire tibi, ne pereas forte de plebe.