the redemption of the world, by thy Son Jesus Christ; that alone is the support of my soul under all its sorrow and anguish; in him I know, and am assured, that thou art a merciful: God, full of compassion, long-suffering, and of great pity; thou sparest when we deserve punishment, and in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy: Spare me, therefore, O good Lord, spare me, and be not angry with me for ever. Wash away all my sins in the blood of thy dear Son, who came into the world to save sinners; and for the sake of his meritorious death and passion, and for all the sufferings which he underwent for the sins of the whole world, pardon, and forgive, I most earnestly, and most unfeignedly beseech thee, all the sins. and transgressions of my past life, more particularly Cleanse thou me, O my God, from all my secret and unknown sins; and O be thou reconciled unto me, and receive me to thy favour, which though I have hitherto so foolishly slighted, yet I now value and prefer above all the pleasures of this world. Alas! my lusts and passions have for a long time had the dominion over me; they have blinded and seduced me, and my whole life has been one continued error and mistake; but, Lord, thou hast been pleased to open my eyes, when I was just at the very brink of destruction, and and now I see and condemn the folly of my past life, and am sensible, that unless thy pity had interposed, I must have perished for ever. O let that infinite love, which moved thee to so astonishing a mercy, be still continued to me, a poor, wretched, helpless creature; show thou me the path that leads to everlasting life, and give me such a sense of thy amazing goodness to me, that I may never again wander into those ways that lead to death and destruction. Take from me, O God, this hardened and corrupt heart, and give me a new heart, new affections, and new desires, that I may become entirely a new creature, dedicated to thy service, and devoted to thy fear and love. Give me, O Lord, such an unfeigned repentance of all my past sins, such hatred and abhorrence of my former evil ways, that I may from this moment take a final leave of all my beloved lusts and sinful pleasures. Give me that humble and contrite spirit, whose groans thou dost never refuse; that faith which overcometh the world, and which will enable me to conquer my most inveterate habits; and that love, which will make me afraid to offend thee; and which will inspire me with resolutions active and vigorous, honest and sincere ; such as, by the assistance of thy grace and Holy Spirit, may carry me through all diffi culties, and be proof against all the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. O Lord, hear me; O Lord, help me, and have mercy upon me; O Lord, pity and save my soul, for thy truth and mercy's sake in Jesus Christ. Amen. Blessed Lord. Amen. Prayers containing a Profession of Godly I CALL my ways to remembrance, O Lord, with But now, O my God, with a heart sorrowful and penitent, I turn from my evil ways, resolving by thy grace to become a new creature; from this day forward, I am fully purposed to betake myself to a religious course of life; O let not iniquity be my ruin. II. And from my sins, O holy Father, which are the shame and burden of my life, I turn unto thee, who art the glory and comfort, and shall for ever be the guide and governor ་ 3 ith Ore nor Ind Ind despise not, I beseech thee, the work of thine own hands. I turn to thee with my whole heart, and make no reserves, nor will retain any allowance of my former sins; no, not of those which have been most delightful to me, and are hardest to be parted with; for if I regard iniquity in my heart, I know thou wilt not hear me; and therefore I will make haste, and not delay to keep thy commandments. O Lord, I beg no greater mercy than to be found steadfast in thy ways; nor shall account any thing so great a happiness as that which serves to keep me faithful unto thee. I am content that my ways should be hedged up with thorns, with troubles, and afflictions, or any thing that is grievous to flesh and blood, rather than I should ever forsake the paths of righteousness, to wander again after my former vanities; for it is the unfeigned desire of the heart, and shall be the great endeavour of my life, above all things to serve and please thee, and to hold me fast by thee, who art the faithful guide and keeper of my soul; and my earnest prayer to thee is, that thou wouldst preserve me from falling away from thy fear, and forfeiting that mercy which thou hast promised to the returning sinner. III. And having now, by thy grace, O merciful Father, these holy thoughts and desires in my heart. I earnestly beg of thee who art the blessed author and giver of all grace, that I may never lose or forget them. I give my heart entirely to thee, and I humbly pray that it may be always in thy hands, since it is so inconstant in what is good, and so prone to what is evil, when it is in my own keeping. O Father! keep it steadfast and unmoveable in thy ways; let it not be inclined to any evil thing, nor lean towards my former vanities; keep my eyes from beholding wickedness, and my ears from listening to the deceitful tempter; let not my lips utter any thing that is evil, nor my feet move a step in the paths of death; but let every member of my body, every faculty of my soul, be employed in thy service, till thou bringest me to the enjoyment of thy blessed self, in that place of bliss and happiness, where thou dwellest for evermore. Grant this, O God, for the sake, and through the intercession of my dearest Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.` IV. O Lord, I am not worthy to lift up my eyes unto thee; but whither should a wretch in guilt and misery look but unto thee, the fountain of all mercy; whither, but to a God, whose mercy is greater than our wickedness? To a God, whose property it is to be kind to his enemies; and whose patience to bear our to sh W pa th in 0 rea an m al: ve pr fu us th I F |