Jane! you think me, I daresay, an irreligious dog: but my heart swells with gratitude to the beneficent God of this earth just now. He sees not as man sees, but far clearer; judges not as man judges, but far more wisely. I did wrong: I would have sullied my innocent flower – breathed guilt on its purity: the Omnipotent snatched it from me. I, in my stiff-necked rebellion, almost cursed the dispensation: instead of bending to the decree, I defied it. Divine justice pursued its course; disasters came thick on me: I was forced to pass through the valley of the shadow of death…Of late, Jane – only – only of late – I began to see and acknowledge the hand of God in my doom. I began to experience remorse, repentance; the wish for reconcilement to my Maker. I began sometimes to pray: very brief prayers they were, but very sincere.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 37. Rochester apologizes to Jane for his attempt to marry her in deceit and then trying to make her his mistress. He metaphorically compares Jane to an “innocent flower” that he would have sullied. Now a profoundly changed man, he reveals how he has turned to God and repented the wrong he did Jane. The disasters that he suffered were, he believes, divine justice for his transgression against Jane. He is now grateful to God for returning Jane to him.