The Exaltation of the Soul, Prayer 2
A Prayer for a penitent Person for Remission of his sins.
HOw long shall I seek Counsel in my Soul, and be so vexed in my heart? how long shall my Enemies triumph over me? consider and hear me, O Lord my God; lighten my eyes that I sleep not in Death, least mine Enemies say, we have prevailed against him: If I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoyce at me, but my trust is in thy Mercy, and my Heart is joyful in thy Salvation; I will sing of the Lord because he hath dealt so lovingly with me; yea, I will praise the Lord most high. Preserve me, O God, for in thee have I put my trust; O hold up my going in thy path, that my footstep slides not; I have called upon thee, O God, for thou shalt hear me; incline thine Ears unto me, and hearken unto my words; shew thy marvellous loving kindness unto me, thou that art the Saviour of them that put their trust in thee, from such that resist thy right hand; keep me as the Apple of thy Eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wing from the ungodly that trouble me; mine enemies compass me round about, to take away my Soul, disappoint him and cast him down; deliver my Soul from the ungodly, which is a Sword of thine; I will call upon the Lord which is worthy to be praised, so shall I be safe from mine enemies; in my trouble I will call upon the Lord, and complain unto my God, so shall he hear my voice out of his holy Temple; my complaint shall come before him, it shall enter even into his Ear; the Lord shall reward me after my Righteous dealing, and according to the cleanness of my hand shall he recompence me; but Lord deal not with me according to my sins, neither reward me after mine Iniquities; who can tell how oft he offendeth? O cleanse thou me from my secret sins, keep thy Servant also from presumptuous sins, lest they get the Dominion over me, so shall I be undefiled and innocent from the great offence; save Lord, and hear me, O King of Heaven when I call upon thee; the Lord is my Shepherd, therefore shall I lack nothing, but be not thou far from me; O Lord thou art my succour, haste thee to help me; unto thee, O Lord, will I lift up my Soul; my God, I have put my trust in thee, let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies triumph over me; shew me thy ways, O Lord, and teach me thy paths: lead me forth in thy Truth, and learn me, for thou art the God of my Salvation, in thee hath been my hope all the day long: call to remembrance, O Lord, thy tender mercy, and thy loving kindness which hath been ever of old: O remember not the sins and offences of my youth, but according to thy mercy think upon me, O Lord, for thy goodness, for thy Name sake; O Lord, be merciful to my sin, for it is great; turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and in misery, the sorrows of my heart is enlarged: O bring thou me out of my trouble; look upon my adversity and misery, and forgive me all my sins; consider mine enemies how many they are that bear a tyrannous heart against me; O keep my Soul and deliver me; let me not be surrounded, for I have put my trust in thee; let perfect and righteous dealing wait upon me, for my hope hath been in thee; deliver Israel, O God, out of all his troubles; be thou my Judge, O Lord, for I have walked innocently; my trust hath been also in the Lord, therefore shall I not fall; examine me, O Lord, and prove me: try out my Reins and Heart, for thy loving kindness is always before mine eyes; and I will walk in thy Truth: But as for me, I will walk innocently: O Lord, deliver me, and be merciful unto me; hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I call unto thee; have mercy upon me, and hear me: my heart hath talked of thee; seek ye my face, thy face, Lord, will I seek; O hide not thou thy face from me, nor cast away thy Servant in displeasure; thou hast been my succour, leave me not, nor forsake me, O God of my Salvation; teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in the right way, because of mine enemies: Hear the voice of mine humble petitions when I cry unto thee: when I hold up mine hand towards thy mercy Seat, of thy Holy Temple; O pluck me not away, neither destroy me with the ungodly and wicked doers, which speak friendly to their Neighbours, but imagine mischief in their hearts: Save thy people, and give thy blessing to thine Inheritance; feed them and set them up for ever: I will magnifie thee, O Lord, for thou hast set me up, and made my foes to triumph over me; O Lord my God, I cry unto thee, and thou hast healed me: Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; Lord be thou my helper, O most merciful God, whose property is always to have Mercy, and to forgive; behold with the eyes of thy pity, and compassion, the state of thy humble Servant, made most miserable by reason of my sins; hear the voice of my weeping; pity my groaning; strengthen me, for I am weak, for my bones are vexed, and deliver my Soul from Death; that being saved from the bottomless pit, I may give thanks to thy Holy Name; O turn from the severity of thy displeasure, and visit me with thy mercy and salvation, for all my sins procure great sorrow and contrition, and in my sickness let thy comfort sustain me, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
The Collect.
O God, who knowest me to be set in so many great dangers, that by reason of the Frailty of Man, I cannot always stand upright, grant to me such strength and protection, that may support me in all dangers, and carry me through all Temptations, through Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Another.
ALmighty and Everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that be penitent; create and make in me a new and contrite Heart, that I may worthily (lamenting my sins, and acknowledging my wretchedness) obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.