The Exaltation of the Soul, Prayer 97
Another Short Evening Prayer.
O Eternal God, and heavenly Father, if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy Gospel, and the example of Peter, Mary Magdalen, the Publican, the Prodigal Child, and many other penitent sinners, that thou art so full of compassion, and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners who are heaviest laden with sin, at what time soever they return unto thee, with penitent hearts, lamenting their sins, and imploring thy grace, I should despair for my own sins, and be utterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence, considering the hardness of my heart, and the unruliness of my affection, and the uncleanness of my conversation, by means whereof I have transgressed all thy holy Laws and Commandments, and deserved thy Curse, which might cause my body to be smitten with some fearful disease, my soul to languish with the death of sin, my good name to be traduced with some scandalous reproaches, and make my self liable to all manner of crosses and casualties. And I confess Lord, that thy mercy is the cause I have not been long ago consumed and confounded: But, O my God, as thy mercy only stayed thy judgments from falling upon me hitherto, so I humbly beseech thee, in the bowels of thy mercy in Jesus Christ, in whom only thou art well pleased, that thou wilt not deal with me according to my deserts, but that thou wouldest freely and fully remit unto me all my sins and my transgressions, and that thou wouldest wash them clean from me, with the vertue of that precious blood, which thy Son Jesus Christ hath shed for me; for he alone is my Physician, and his blood only is the medicine that can heal my sickness; and is the true brazen Serpent that can cure that poison wherewith the fiery serpents of my sins have stung and poisoned my sick and wounded soul; and give me, I beseech thee, thine holy Spirit, which may assure me of mine Adoption, and that may confirm my Faith, increase my Repentance, inlighten my Understanding, purifie my Heart, and rectifie my Will and Affection, and so sanctifie me throughout, that my whole Body, and Soul; and Spirit may be kept unblamable until the glorious coming of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And now, O Lord, I give unto thee, most humble and hearty thanks and praise, for that thou hast this day preserved me from all harm and dangers, notwithstanding all my sins and evil deserts; and I beseech thee likewise to defend me this night from the roaring Lion, which night and day seeketh to devour me: Watch thou, O Lord, over me this night, to keep me from his temptations and tyranny, and let thy mercy shield me from his unspeakable rage and malice; and to this end I commit my self into thy hands, and almighty protection, beseeching thee, O my Lord and my God, not to suffer Satan, or any of his evil members to have power to do me any hurt or harm this night; and grant, good Lord, that whether I sleep or wake, live or die, I may sleep, wake, live or die unto thee, and to the glory of thy Name, and the salvation of my soul. Lord, bless and defend all thy chosen people every where; Grant our gracious Soveraign long life, and a happy Raign over us: Bless our gracious Queen Katherine, James Duke of York, and all the Royal Family, together with all our Magistrates and Ministers; comfort them who are in misery, need or sickness, or under any kind of Cross or Calamity; give me grace to be one of those wise Virgins, which may have my heart prepared like a Lamp, furnished with the Oil of Faith, and Light of good works, to meet the Lord Jesus, the sweet Bridegroom of my soul, at his second and sudden coming in glory; grant this, good Father, for Jesus Christ his sake my only Saviour, Redeedeemer, and Mediator; in whose blessed Name, and in whose own words I call upon thee, as he hath taught me; Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.