The Exaltation of the Soul, Prayer 5
A Prayer for pardon of sins, and restitution of God's favour.
HIde not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble. O haste thee, O God, to deliver me. Make haste to deliver me, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul. Let them be turned backward, and put to confusion that wish me evil. Let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee; and let all those that delight in thy salvation, say alway, The Lord be praised, for me, I am poor and in misery, haste thee unto me, O my God, thou art my helper and my Redeemer, O Lord, make no long tarrying: in thee, O Lord have I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion, but help me, and deliver me in thy Righteousness; incline thine Ear unto me and save me; be thou my strong hold, whereunto I may alway resort: thou hast promised to help me, for thou art my house of defence, and my Castle: deliver me, O my God out of the hand of ungodly men, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man; for thou O God art the thing that I long for, for thou art my hope even from my youth; through thee have I been holpen up; ever since I was born thou art he that took me out of my Mother's womb, my praise shall be alwaies of thee: O let my mouth be filled with thy praise, that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long. O cast me not away in the time of age. Forsake me not when my strength faileth me. Go not far from me, O my God; O God, haste thee to help me. Forsake me not, O my God, when I am gray-headed, until I have shewn thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to all them that are yet for to come. What great trouble and adversity hast thou shewed me, and yet didst thou turn and refresh me, yea and broughtest me from the depth of the Earth again. O let not the simple go away ashamed, but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy name. O remember not my old sins, but have mercy upon me, and that right soon; for I am come to great misery, help me, O God of my salvation, for the glory of thy Name. O deliver me, and be merciful unto my sins, for thy Names sake. Turn us, O God of our salvation. Shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole. O God of Hosts, how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that pray. O most merciful God, who art great, and the multitudes of thy mercies are innumerable, Have mercy upon me, for my sins are before me presented by the continual accusations of a troubled conscience. I have sinned against thee, and done evil in thy sight, and yet because thou art the God of mercy, and fountain of eternal life, delighting in the conversion and salvation of a sinner, I present unto thee the sacrifice of a troubled spirit, of a broken and a contrite heart; beseeching thee to let the dew of thy favour, and the fire of thy love wash away my sins, and purifie my soul. Make me a clean heart, O God, and pure hands, though my sins be as scarlet, yet make them like wooll; though they be as purple, yet make them as white as snow. Restore the voice of joy and gladness unto me: Let me not be ever separated from the sweet refreshings of thy favour and presence, but give me the comforts of thy help again, and let thy free Spirit loose me from the bondage of sin, and stablish me in the freedom and liberty of the Sons of God, so shall I sing of thy Righteousness, and my Lips shall give thee praise in the Congregations of thy Redeemed ones; now, henceforth, and for ever-more. Amen.
The Collect.
ALmighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and doest forgive the Sins of all them that be penitent; create and make in me a new and contrite Heart, that I may worthily lament my Sins, and acknowledge my Wickedness, that I may obtain of thee, the God of all comfort, perfect Remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
Another Collect.
ALmighty God, who through thy only Son Jesus Christ, hast overcome Death, and opened unto us the Gate of Everlasting Life: I humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace preventing us, thou doest put in our Minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who Liveth, and Reigneth with thee, and the Holy Ghost, ever one God; world without end. Amen.