Propiâ—iation for our sins 1 Jo. 2. 1. In the Visitation of the Sick O! Saviour of the World who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us save this thy Servant and help him we humbly intreat thee O! Lord. Amen In the Communion SPare him O! Lord who hath confessed his sins unto thee that he whose Conscience by sin was accused by thy merciful Pardon may be absolved through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Collect for the 21 Sunday after Trinity GRant we beseech thee merciful Lord to this thy Servant and to all thy faithfull People Pardon and Peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve thee with a quiet mind through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen In the Visitation of the Sick THe Almighty Lord who is a most strong Tower to all them that put their trust in him to whom all things in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth do bow and obey be now and evermore thy defence and make thee know and feel that there is none other Name under Heaven given to man in whom and through whom thou mayest receive Health and Salvation but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen Unto Gods gracious Mercy and Protection we commit thee The Lord bless thee and keep thee The Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee Peace both now and ever-more Amen And the Peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your heart and mind in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and the Blessing of God Almighty the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost be with you and remain in you always Amen After all this is done I would put the Penitent in mind of one thing viz. That the Holy Communion is still a further and Principal means to settle and secure both the Pardon and the Peace of his Soul The receiving it from the hand of God's authorized Minister acting therein by God's appointment and in God's name is the most effectual Absolution and one of the best Assurances and Seals of Pardon The Cup which he gives the Penitent to Drink from God is Christs Blood for the remission of sins or the remission of sins which he purchased by the shedding of his Blood And the method of the Church in the restauration of Penitents was to finish and consummate their Reconciliation by giving them the Holy Communion For as oft as sins are remitted or absolved in the Church they receive Christ's Body that the remission of sins which is granted may be conveyd by his Blood says St. Ambrose And therefore the sick Penitent when he has received the foregoing Absolution would provide well for the Peace and Comfort of his Soul if after some respite to recover his strength or at some convenient time soon after when he sees most fit he would Consumate his Absolution by receiving the Blessed Sacrament And other Penitents after the use of this Office would do well and wisely to do the same as soon after as conveniently they can AN OFFICE FOR One troubled in Mind SCRIPTURES Psalm 103. v. 8 to 19 Ezek. 18. v. 21. to the end Luke 15. Psal. 130. Ezek. 33. v. 11. to v. 20. 1. For Profession of Trouble I Am poor and needy and my heart is wounded within me Psal. 119. 22. Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are more than the hairs of my head therefore my heart faileth me Psalm 40. 12. Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth Job 13. 26. Lord why castest thou off my Soul why hidest thou thy face from me The Arrows of the Almighty are within me the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirit The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me Job 6. 4. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrors have cut me off While I suffer thy terrors I am distracted Psal. 88. 14 15 16. 2. Grounds of Comfort 1. From the Mercifulness of God WILT thou break a leaf driven to and fro and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble Job 13. 25. Will the Lord cast off for ever and will he be favourable no more Is his mercy clean gone for ever doth his promise fail for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious has he in anger shut up his tender Mercies And I said this is my infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High I will remember the works of the Lord surely I will remember thy wonders of old Psal. 77. 7 8 9 10 11. Thou hast always been a God forgiving iniquity transgression and sin Ex. 34. 6 7. The Lord is merciful and gracious he will not always chide neither will he keep his anger for ever Psal. 103. 8. 9. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Mat. 7. 18. 2. From Promises to the Penitent WHen the wicked Man turneth away from his Wickedness that he hath Commited and doth that which is Lawful and Right he shall save his Soul alive Because he considereth and turneth away from his Transgressions that he hath Committed he shall surely live he shall not Dye Repent therefore and turn your selves from all your Transgressions so Iniquity shall not be your Ruine Ezek. 18. 27 28 30. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will you Dye Ezek. 33. 11. Go and sin no more then will not I condemn thee Jo. 8. 11. Come unto me all ye that Labour and are heavy Laden and I will give you Rest. Mat. 11. 28. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am Chief 1 Tim. 1. 15. If any Man Sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the Propitiation for our Sins 1 Jo. 2. 1 2. The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin 1 Jo. 1. 7. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 1. 3. From the Compassionateness of our High Priest THe Lord Pityeth those that fear him like as a Father Pityeth his own Children For be knows our Infirmityes he remembreth that we are Dust. Psal. 103 13 14. We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without Sin Heb. 4. 15. He was made like unto his Brethren that he might be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he
1 Jo. 1. 19. I will arise therefore 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 Luk. 15. 18 19. Behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did my Mother conceive me Psal. 51. 5. And since I was born I have gone astray like a lost Sheep Ps. 119. 176. Mine Iniquities are increased over my Head and my Trespasses are grown unto the Heavens Ezr. 9. 6. But Lord I acknowledge my Sins unto thee and mine Iniquities have I not hid Psal. 32. 5. I acknowledge my Transgressions and my Sins are ever before me Against thee have I sinned and done these Evils in thy Sight that thou migbtest be Justified when thou speakest and clear when thou judgest Psal. 51. 3 4. God be merciful to me a Sinner Luk. 18. 3. To me the chief among Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. To me that have been at agreement with Hell and made a Covenant with Death Isa. 28. 15. And whose Destruction is of my self Hos. 13. 9. 3. For Resolution of Amendment I. IF I regard Iniquity in my Heart the Lord will not hear me Psal. 66. 18. Goe therefore and sin no more Jo. 8. 11. Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee Jo. 5. 14. And Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly Rev. 2. 5. Repent and turn your selves from all your Transgressions so Iniquity shall not be your Ruin Cast away from you all your Transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will ye dye O! House of Israel Ezek. 18. 30 31. Wash you make you clean put away the Evil of your Doings from before mine Eyes cease to do Evil learn to do well seek Judgment relieve the Oppressed judge the Fatherless and plead for the Widow Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord tho' your Sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow tho' they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wool Isa. 1. 15 16 17 18. II. CReate in me a new Heart O! God and renew a right Spirit within me Psal. 51. 10. I thought on my ways and turned my Feet unto thy Testimonies I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments Psal. 1 19. 59 60. Lord Incline not my Heart to any evil thing Psal. 141. 4. Turn away mine Eyes from behold Vanity Psal. 119. 37. I have made a Covenant with mine Eyes Job 31. 1. Set a Watch before my Mouth and keep the Door of my Lips Psal. 141. 3. Remove my Foot from Evil Prov. 4. 27. Hedge up my way with Thorns and make a Wall that I may not find my former Paths to Evil Hos. 2. 6. Keep back thy Servant from Presumptuous Sins let them not have Dominion over me then shall I be upright and innocent from the great Transgression Let the words of my Mouth and the Meditation of my Heart be acceptable in thy Sight O! Lord my Strength and my Redeemer Ps. 19. 13 14. 4. For Fruits worthy of Repentance BRing forth Fruits meet for Repentance Mat. 3. 8. This self same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly sort Behold what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what Indignation yea what Fear yea what Vehement Desire yea what Zeal yea what Revenge or punishing of your selves 2 Cor. 7. 11 If the Wicked restore the Pledge give again that he hath Robbed and walk in the Statutes of Life without Committing Iniquity none of his Sins shall be mentioned to him he shall surely Live he shall not Dye Ezek. 33. 15 16. If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee Leave there thy Gift before the Altar and go thy way fâ— st be reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer thy Gift Mat. 5. 23 24 Forgive and you shall be forgiven Luk. 6. 37. If ye forgive Men their Trospasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not Men their Trespasses neither will your Father forgive your Trespasses Mat. 6. 14 15. Break off thy Sins by Righteousness and thine Iniquities by shewing Mercy to the Poor Dan. 4. 27. Thine Alms are come up for a Memorial before God Acts 10. 4. They lay up in Store for us a good Foundation against the time to come that we may lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6. 18 19. Blessed are the Merciful for they shalâ— obtain Mercy Mat. 5. 7. He shall have Judgment without Mercy who hath shewed no Mercy but Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment James 2. 13. 5. For Pardon of Sins and Ground for the Hopes thereof ENter not into Judgment with the Servant for in thy sight shall nâ—â— Man living be Justified Psal. 143. â— If thou Lord shouldest mark Iniquities O! Lord who shall stand But there is Forgiveness with thus that thou mayest be feared With the Lord is Mercy and plentious Redemption Ps. 130. 3 4 7. He knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are but Dust and pitieth those that fear him as a Father pitieth his own Children Ps. 103. 13 14. Likewise the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sins 1 John 1. 7. The Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and through his stripes we are healed Isa. 5. 3 5. And if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the Propitiation for our Sins 1 John 2. 1 2. For him hath God exalted to give Repentance and forgiveness of Sins Acts 5. 31. And that Repentance and Remission of Sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24. 47. This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. He came not to call the Righteous but Siâ—ners to Repentance Mat. 9. 13. And there is Joy in Heaven over one Sinner that repenteth more than over Ninety and nine just Persons which need no Repentance Luke 15. 7. Create in me a clean Heart therefore O! God and renew a right Spirit with â—n me And hide thy Face from my Sins and blot out all mine Iniquities Ps. 51. 9 10 6. For Comfort in the same PUrge me with Hysop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow Make me to hear of Joy and Gladness that the Bones which thou has broken may rejoyce Restore unto me the Joy of thy Salvation and uphold me with thy freâ— Spirit Then will I teach Transgressors thy ways and Sinners shall be converteâ— unto thee Ps. 51. 7 8 12 13. Blessed are they that Mourn for they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. He will speak Peace to his People and to his Saints but let them not turn again to folly Ps.
Sins Let his Intercession for me in thy Presence make my Peace and appease thy Wrath. Shut not thine Ears against the Voice of his Blood nor be deaf to his Meditation but hear him my Advocate for my Pardon And let me find the Forgiveness of all my Sins that thy troubled and trembling Servant may have Peace and that thou may'st be sought unto and feared and served by Sinners who will return unto thee in hopes of thy Grace and pardoning Mercy thro' Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen Two Collects in the Office of Commination I. O! Lord we beseech thee mercifully hear our Prayers and spare all those who confess their Sins unto thee that they whose Consciences by Sin an accused by thy merciful Pardon may be absolv'd thro' Christ our Lord Amen II. O! Most mighty God and Merciful Father who hast Compassion upon all Men and hatest nothing that thou hast made who wouldest not the Death of a Sinner but that he should rather turn from his Sin and be saved mercifully forgive me my Trespasses receive and comfort me who am grieved and wearied with the Burthen of my Sins Thy property is always to have Mercy to thee only it appertaineth to forgive Sins Spare me therefore good Lord spare me whom thou hast redeemed enter not into Jugdment with thy Servant who am vile Earth and a miserable Sinner but so turn thine Anger from me who meekly acknowledge my Vileness and truly repent me of my faults and so make haste to help me in this World that I may ever live with thee in the World to come thro' Jesus Christ my Lord Amen 5. A Prayer for Peace of Mind and Comfort upon the same LET me have thy Peace O! Gracious Father and comfort my trembling and broken Heart with the Hopes thereof Cause me to hear the Voice of Joy and Gladness and revive me with the Assurance of thy Love O! that I may be able from my own Experience to speak great things of thy readiness to receive and comfort returning Sinners and thereby draw back others to thy Service who are still running astray from the same O! that by seeing thy Goodness upon me every one that is Godly may seek to thee in their Distress and find Mercy as I have done But Lord having found thy Mercy to poor Sinners let me not abuse it or presume upon it Let me not take Heart to repeat my Sins because thou art ready and glad to grant Forgiveness When thou hast spoke comfortably to me make me carefull to sin no more lest a worse thing come upon me but to keep on in all holy and thankful Obedience unto thee and never more to return to folly Let the Sence of thy Mercies O! My God serve no other use in me but to encourage my Repentance and to support me in thy Fear till I come at length to enjoy thy Eternal Favour through Jesus Christ my Lord Amen For Peace of Mind and favourable Allowances and hopes of Mercy the Penitent may have more particular Provisions if he is desirous thereof in the Office for one troubled in Mind 2. Prayers for Confession Sin and Repentance of the same in one continued Form 1. A Form and Confession of Sins and of Repentance for the same I. O! Almighty and most Righteous Lord I do here with grief of Heart and with shame and deep Humility confess unto thy dreadful Majesty that my Sins are exceeding many and great and have been frequently Repeated I have oft-times transgressed out of Ignorance O! that I could not say careless Ignorance under Opportunities of Knowledge yea or affected Ignorance espoused for Earthly ends against Light and clear Evidence which was enough to shame and silence me tho' not to gain and convince me But I have transgressed oftner out of Negligence Worldly Fear or Desire yea alass too oft out of presumptuous Wilfulness condemning the Evil while I was a doing it and offending wiâ—tingly and with Checks and Convictions to the contrary And these Sins I have been draw to against all the Endearments of thâ— Mercies and all the Alarms and louder Warnings of thy Punishments against all the Rebukes and Strivings of thy Grace and of my own Conscience and of other faithful and seasonable Admonishers And against all mine own Purposes and Engagements Deliberately made and solemnly profess'd and frequently Repeated that I would offend therein no more Lord be merciful to me a Great and Wretched Sinner II. BUT thou O! Blessed Jesus by making thy self a Sin-Offering for us art come to take away the Sins of all who truly Repent thereof And O! merciful Lord thoâ— my Sins are many and grievous yet 〈…〉 desire to overlook them but would gladly see and discover them â—l that I may penitently bewail and forsake them And Oh! That so corrupt Passions nor love of Worldly or Carnal Interests may â—ver byass me or blind my Eyes â—rom seeing of the same whilst â—here is space left me to repent of them And as for those Sins which do know my self to be guilty of I do not cover but with shame coness them I do not justifie nor excuse but condemn my self for the same I stand thereby Guilty O! Lord of highest Disobedience against the strictest Obligations of wretched Disingenuity and unthankfulness against the most endearing Mercys and of most stupid Folly against my own clearest highest and most lasting Interests throwing away thy favour and future Joys for empty shows and shadows and a blessed Eternity for moments of Vanity I reflect on all this O! Merciful God with bitterness and with a Spirit wearied with mine own ways I see and lament my oâ—folly and abhor mine own vilent on account thereof I wish wiâ—â— all my Soul that those Sins had nâ—ver been done and would take anâ— way to undoe them and most eaâ—nestly desire and fully propose bâ— thy Grace that I may doe so nâ— more God be merciful to me a self condemning and repenting Sinner III. LOrd I am burden'd and heavy laden with my Sins Oh! Dâ— thou who callest out to the heavy laden to seek refeshment at thinâ— Hands give me ease I confess them and desire above all things else that I may utterly forsake them Let me according to my Promise find Mercy From mine Heart â— forgive all Persons who have offended me even my bitterest Enemies and most earnestly entreat thee that thou would 't forgive them Oh! Do thou who offerest forgiveness to those who are ready to grant it for Jesus Christ's sake forgive me I repent unfeignedly of all my Sins and am ready to make all just amends at least as far as I am able to any whom I have ever â—njured whether they be of low or â—f high Degree or even the highest of all O! God of all Grace perfect my Repentance and accept it and blot out all my misdeeds as thou engagest to do unto all those who sincerely repent of the
my own Praise and of detracting from the praise of others How liable is my Heart to give way to Discontents To harbour uncharitable surmises yea sometimes of those who are the proper Objects of Charity and stand in need of my Relief or Assistance To grow impatient and angry upon any â—â—ovocation and in such Anger to utâ—â—â— some indecent bitter or reproachâ—â—â— words especially to my inferiours and to retain such resentment of their Offences as renders me either prone â—o return ill Offices or at least backward to shew kindness to them on any fit occasion afterwards I am still offending O! Almighty Lord either by uncharitable Provocations or sinful Complyances or by Negligence and Remissness in governing my Self or my Dependants or by Irreverence and undutifulness to my Superiours or by want of Affection Fidelity or due regard to my Relations or by proud Thoughts or vain glorious Speeches or harsh Censures or by Lust Anger Envy Peevishness sinful Fear mistrustful Care covetous Desire or some other inordinate or unlawful Passions or by being guilty of some Thoughts Words or Actions which are contrary to thy Laws and to that excellent pattern of all Virtue which my dearest Lord has set me to walk by Lord be merciful to me an unrighteous Selfish proud and impatient Creature V. THese O! Most great and jusâ— God and many others which I am not able to recount are mine Offences Which I have committed several of them ordinarily others frequently and all of them even those which most seldom yet alass too often either by the frailty and violence of my Passions or by my Ignorance Negligence or Wilfulness against all the endearments of thy Mercys and the Terror of thy Judgments and all the warnings of thy Providence and the Suggestions of thy Spirit and the Bonds of my own most solemn Vows and Promises and against all other Methods of thy preventing assisting and recovering Grace which should have kept me from them All these my Transgressions testifie against me and my own Conscience accuseth me and thou Holy Lord art an upright judge who wilt doe Justice and not justifie a Sinner in any Wickedness and whither then shall my guilty and fearful Soul flye But thine own Dearly Beloved on O Gracious God hath paid his Life a Ransome for my Sins and through the Merits of his Blood thou art most ready to embrace a Returning Penitent and to make thy Mercy glory over Judgment O! Lord I repent of all these my Sins from my very Heart and freely forgive all who have trespassed against me as I now desire that thou wouldest freely forgive me O! suffer me not to be swallowed up either in Death or Despair but in the multitude of thy Mercys do away all mine Offences and give me comfort and peace of Conscience that being cleansed from all my Sins I may serve thee with a quiet mind Consider my Weakness O! Father of Mercies and how frail my Nature is And that frail and sinful as I am I am still the work of thine own Hands and am called upon by thy Name And how I am heartily ashamed and sorry for what I have done and for Jesus Christ's sake the Son of thy Love do earnestly Implore thy Pardon And how the Saviour of the World dyed to save Sinners and how thou anâ— my Father and I thy Son in Christ Jesus Accept me therefore good Lord in thy beloved Forgive mè freely all that is past and keep up in me by thySpirit such vigour of holy Resolution and such watchfulness and circumspection for the time to come that I may never return to them again I know O Gracious Father the falseness of my own Heart and the instability of my Spirit But it is not in my self but in thee that I trust My Faith is in thine Almighty Aid which thou hast bountifully promised and which thy Son has dearly purchased for us with his most precious Blood Oh! Let that always be my Guard and then my Sins shall no more prevail over me but I shall finish my days in thy Righteousness and rest at last in thine Everlasting Peace through Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen 4. Another particular Enumeration of Sins and Repentance of the same in a short Form I. O! Almighty Lord I thy poor Creature who am a vile and miserable Sinner do here in great Humility lament before thee and am most heartily ashamed and troubled for my having lived so long in the World as through thy Mercy I have done and yet having done so little good in it and being still so unfit to leave it and so little qualified for a better I am grieved O! Blessed God for having lived so long a stranger to thee and for my loving and obeying thee no better and having no greater Zeal for thee since by thy Grace I have been brought to know and fear thee For all my neglects of thy Service and for my insincerity and unaffectedness in performing it For all the Lightness and evil wandrings of my Thoughts in my Prayers and my great and daily unthankfulness forthy great and innumerable Mercys for my solicitude about wordly things and mydistrust of thy Paternal Care and sure Promises For all my negligence yea and averseness in studying and learning thy Holy Will and all my remissness and forgetfulness in doing it and for all the defects and difficulties which I have ever found in suffering and submitting to the same For all my corrupt averesness and shameful refusal to take up thy Cross and preferring World Ease and Interest before a good Conscience and for having chosen at any time rather to part with the way of thy Truth and Righteousness than to follow thee O! Holy Jesu in patient and faithful Suffering for the same For all my prophanations of thy Sacred Name by irreverent use thereof especially by careless and common swearing but most of all by the horrible wickedness of false or faithless Oaths For all which and all other my offences of this kind which either I can remember or have forgotten Lord be merciful to me a contrite Sinner II. I Am troubled O! Lord for all the discontentedness which I have ever shewn with my own Condition and for all the Envy and Evil Eye which I have cast upon the happier Lot of other Men. For all the pride of my Heart and all the sinful lightness of my Spirit and for all my immoderate Love of this World For all my unclean Thoughts and unchaste Carriage and for all the Unthankfulness or Uncharitableness or Intemperance which I have ever shewn in my use of outward enjoyments For all which and all my other like offences which either I can remember or have forgotten Lord be merciful to me a Contrite Sinner III. I Am heartily sorry O! Holy Father for all my deceitful and insincere Expressions and feigned or faithless promises for my having at any time divulged secrets which I ought to have concealed or
dissembled things which I ought openly to have professed for all my unjust and hard censures and for all my detracting Speeches against any of my Brethren For all the Advantage which I have ever taken of the Ignorance and and for all the sport and pastime which I have ever made with the folly and weakness of my Neighbours For all my covetous desires and all my wrongful Gripings or hard dealings towards any whom I have at any time been concerned withall For all the over reaching which I may have been guilty of in gaming or other ways and for all the excesses and offences of my Recreations I lament O! Lord for all the countenance which I have given to other Mens Sins or complyance with them or neglect to reprove the same when I had an obliging call so to do For all the Provocation which I have ever given others and for all the sinful Passion which I have ever shewn and opprobrious Speeches which I have ever used and ill will which I have ever retained towards them when at any time they have provoked me For all the ungrounded Jealousies and evil and uncandid surmises and for all the Back-bitings and Evil-speakings which I stand guilty of towards any For all my Deafness to the cries or narrowness of Heart in Relieving the wants of the poor and needy For all which and all my other offences of the like sort which either I can remember or have forgotten Lord be merciful to me a contrite Sinner IV. I Humble my Self before thee O! Almighty God for all my irreverence Disloyalty or Breach of Faith and due Obedience whereby I have trespassed against those who have had the Right to reign over me For having ever offered a deaf or disobedient Ear to my Ghostly Rulers for all my undutyfulness to my Parents or unkindness to my Wife or Husband or remissness in governing my Dependants and training up all that serve or are any way subject unto me to fear and serve thee For all the Evil thoughts of my Heart and sinful words of my Mouth and unrighteous Actions of my Life wherein I have grievously offended thee either this Day or at any other times For all these and all other Sins O! Almighty and most Righteous Lord which either mine own Heart or thou who knowest better than my Heart seest me to be guilty of I am sorry at my very Soul and here humbly confess them before thee with shame and a broken Spirit and with stedfast Resolution by thy Grace to watch and strive against them for the time to come Where I have wickedly broken thy Statutes my Study shall be religiously to keep them And where I have done wrong to any Person I am ready and willing according to the utmost of my Power to repair the same Lord I Repent encrease my Repentance And for Jesus Christ's Sake pardon me a poor repenting Sinner Oh! Let his Blood wash me from all my Sins and let his peace rid me of all my Fears and let his Spirit preserve me from all Relapses Oh! That having utterly abandoned all my former evil ways I may eveâ—hence forward be fixt in thy Fear and be duly disposed for thine Eternal Mercy and favour though the Merits of my only Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ. Amen Short Prapers and Ejaculations for the Penitent to use at any time as he sees cause EJACULATIONS I Am a Sinful Man O! Lord Luke 5. 8. And mine Iniquities are gone over my Head as an heavy Burden they are too heavy for me Psal. 38. 4. Lord carest thou not that I perish Mar. 4. 38. Jesus Master have Mercy upon me Luke 17. 13. Thou that camest into the World to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Be merciful to me a Sinner Luke 18. 13. Thou that takest away the Sins of the World Jo. 1. 29. And hast abolished and overcome Death 2 Tim. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 15. 54 57. And destroyed him that had the Power of it Heb. 2. 14. Deliver me from the Body of Sin and Death Ro. 7. 24. Short Prayers I. LOrd I am not worthy to lift up my polluted Eyes unto thee But whither should a Wretch Guilt and Misery look but unto the Fountain of Mercy Whither â—â— to a God whose Mercy is greater than our Wickedness To a God whose property it is to be kind â—â— his Enemies and whose patience â—â— bear our Sins is as great as his power to punish them and who has much rather be reconciled to us than take Vengeance on us Whither indeed but to thee O! God of all Grace and Comfort who shewest mercy on the unworthy and who art most Graciously pleas'd to fit and qualifie them for thy Mercy that so thou mayest bountifully confer it on them for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake Amen II. LOrd under my heavy load oâ— Guilt and Misery I address my Self unto thee But I make no Plea but for thy Mercy Nor have any pretence to claim it O! Father of Mercies but only because I infinitely need it and because thou lovest to shew it and art more ready to look at our needs which move thy Pity and Tenderness than at our Deserts which cry aloud to thee for Wrath and Vengeance upon our Heads And because unworthy as I am yet through thine inexpressible Love and his I have a most mercyful Saviour who has born all the punishment of my Sins to purchase Mercy for me a Sinner and who now powerfully intercedes with thee for Mercy for me if being weary of my Sins I turn to seek and serve thee through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen III. AND my Soul O! Gracious God is wearied out and filed with the bitterness of mine own ways I accuse my Self and need â—o Witnesses I condemn my Self and need no other Judge to proâ—ounce me Guilty I punish and afâ—ict my Self for all my Sins that I â—ay prevent thy Justice for the same And by thy Grace I am resolved to â—rn from them all that they may â—o longer provoke thee and as far as I am able to repair the harm which my Brethren have sustained thereby that they may no longer damnifie or disturb them Father forgive me for I am heartily sorry for all the Evils which I have done Forgive all my Sins for I am fully resolved by thy Grace to forsake them Forgive me O! Dear God for I forgive others yea I forgive all Do not go to exact punishment of me for my Sins but extend thy Mercy and Pardon to my true Repentance for my dearest Lord and only Saviour Jesus Christ's sake Amen IV. AND having thus utterly renounced my Sins O! Holy Father I desire above all things to partake of thy Righteousness Having utterly defaced and corrupted my self I would gladly be new made by thee Having hitherto miscarryed whilst I would be in mine own Hands I desire now to be altogether in thine I loath my self O! My dear God whilst I am without thee and whatever else I loose my earnest
and in regard to the Merits of his Death who by his dying on the Cross for our Sins purchased all this Mercy for all truly Penitent Believers 3. Are you truly sensible of his Exceeding Great Love therein and from the Bottom of your Heart are you Thankful to him for the same After which questions the Guide of Souls if he is the asker of them in visiting the Sick and Dispensing Absolution or the Penitent himself when he is his own Examiner may go on to this effect Now know therefore Brother or Sister that altho you are a Sinner yet Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners Altho you have been a lost sinner yet he is come to save and seek after that which was lost Altho you have sind yet you do not cover your Sins or Justifie them but with grief of Heart confess them and condemn your self for the same And if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins You confess them to him with a resolved aversion and turn away from the same having by the help of his Grace already forsaken some and studying and being resolved in Heart to forsake all And who so Confesseth and forsaketh his Sins shall find mercy If you have sinned against your Brethren you are ready to submit your self and seek to reconcile your self to them and to the utmost of your Power to make them any reasonable satisfaction And if a Man has first reconciled himself to his Brother he may come to God with a good heart and offer his gift If he hath Repented and given again what he hath Robbed his Sin shall not be mentioned Whilst with an Humble a Contrite and a returning Heart you are thus seeking to the Father of mercys to forgive you your trespasses you do from your heart forgive all other persons who have sinned against you their Trespasses And †if we forgive men their trespasses our Heavenly Father will also forgive us As you earnestly seek mercy â—ou are ready to show it and according to your ability to give Alms to the needy And blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy and mercy rejoyceth against judgment Upon such Faith and Repentance and Satisfaction for Injuries and shewing Mercy and forgiveness of others when they are sincere and right our most merciful God and Saviour will most graciously forgive us at the great Day of Judgment And he he has committed the Ministry of reconciliation to his Ministers that upon appearance of the same they may declare and deal it out for for the Comfort of such truly faithful and Penitent Persons here in this world And now upon this profession which you have here made of this Christian Faith and Repentance and reparation of injuries and of forgiveness of others and having charity towards all persons and of shewing mercy to the miserable all which you declare is unfeigned and from the Bottom of your Heart do you desire from the mouth of Christ's Minister to receive the benefit of Absolution Then may the Minister proceed as he sees fit to lead the Penitent on in this form of Confession taken out of the Office for the Communion ALLmighty God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ maker of of all things Judge of all Men we humbly acknowledge and bewail and especially this humble Penitent doth hereby acknowledge and bewail his manifold sins and wickedness which he from time to time most grieviously hath comitted by thought word and deed against thy Divine Majesty Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against him He doth earnestly repent and is heartily sorry for these his misdoings The remembrance of them is grievious unto him The burden of them is intolerable Have mercy upon him have mercy upon him most merciful Father For thy Son Lord Jesus Christ's sake forgive him all that is past and grant that he may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life to honour and glory of thy name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen And then Pronounce the Absolution following ALmighty God our heavenly Father who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty Repentance and true Faith turn unto him have mercy upon you Pardon and deliver you from all your sins confirm and strengthen you in all Goodness and bring you to everlasting Life through Jefus Christ our Lord Amen Or instead of this Form of Absolution if he think that fitter he may use the form in the Visitation of the Sick Our Lord Jesus Christ who hath left power to his Church to Absolve all Sinners who truely repent and believe in him of his great mercy forgive thee thine Offences And by his Authority committed to me I absolve thee from all thy sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen After which the Minister may go on with the Collect that follows the Absolution in the Office of the Visitation of the Sick O! most Mercyful God who according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those who truly repent that thou rememberest them no more open thine Eye of Mercy upon this thy Servant who most earnestly desireth Pardon and Forgiveness Renew in him most loving Father whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the Devil or by his own carnal will and frailness Preseve and continue this Sick member in the Unity of the Church consider his Contrition accept his Tears asswage his Pain as shall seem to thee most expedient for him And for as much as he putteth his full trust in thy mercy impute not unto him his former sins but strengthen him with thy Blessed Spirit and when thou art pleased to take him hence take him unto thy Favour through the merits of thy most Dearly Beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen And if the Penitent is visited as a sick Person he may then use the Psalm after it In thee O! Lord have I put my trust let me never be put to Confusion but rid me c. But else instead thereof he may use these Sentences and Prayers Sentences after the Absolution in the Communion Service Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn unto him Come unto me all that travel and are heavy laden and I will refresh you Mat. 11. 28. So God loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son to the end that all that believe on him should not perish but have everlasting life Jo. 3. 16. Hear also what St. Paul saith This a true saying and worthy of all men to be received that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Hear also what St. John saith If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the