A Companion for the Penitent, Part 1
AN OFFICE FOR THE PENITENT.
SCRIPTURES.
Psal. 32.
Psal. 38.
Ezek. 18.
Psal. 51.
Luk. 15.
1. For Godly Sorrow for Sins
TO him will I look, that is poor, and of a cont…te Spirit, and trembleth at my word. Isa. 66. 2.
The Sacrifices of God, are a broken Spirit: a broken and a contrite Heart, O! God, thou wilt not dispise. Psal. 51. 17.
Turn ye therefore to me, with all your Heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with Mourning.
And rent your Hearts, and not your Garments, and turn unto the Lord your God. Joel, 2. 12, 13.
Remember your ways, and all your Doings, wherein ye have been defiled, and ye shall loath your selves in your own sight, for all your Evils that ye have committed. Ezek. 20. 43.
Lord! Mine Iniquities are gone over mine Head, as an heavy Burthen, they are too heavy for me.
I am ready to halt, and my Sorrow is continually before me.
I will declare mine Iniquity; I will be sorry for my Sin. Psal. 38. 4, 17, 18.
2. For Penitential Confession of the same.
IF our Heart condemn us, God is greater than our Heart, and knoweth all things, 1 Jo. 3. 20.
Our Iniquities are all before him, yea, our secret Sins are set in the Light of his Countenance, Psa. 90. 8.
And therefore, He that covereth his Sins, shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth, and forsaketh them, shall have Mercy, Prov. 28. 13.
If we confess our Sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness, 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, Is. 55. 7.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 Lev. 6. 2, 3, 4, 5.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; f… 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 shal… 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 n… Man living be Justified, Psal. 143. …
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 Si…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 …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 fre… Spirit.
Then will I teach Transgressors thy ways, and Sinners shall be converte… 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. 85. 8.
I said I will confess my Transgressions to the Lord, and thou forgavest the …iquity of my Sin.
For this shall every one that is Godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found, Ps. 32. 5, 6.Psal. 102, 17, 18.
Depart from me all ye workers of I…quity, for the Lord hath heared the …oice of my weeping.
The Lord hath heard my Supplicati…n, the Lord will receive my Prayer. …alm 6. 8 9.
PRAYERS.
1. Prayers upon the Several Parts of Repentance, in particular and distinct Forms.
1. A Confession of Sins.
I.
O! Almighty and most Gracious Lord, look in Mercy upon me the meanest of thy Servants, Who am less than the least of all thy Mercys, and have deserved the heaviest of thy Judgments, and am not worthy to lift up mine Eyes to the place where thine Honour Dwelleth.
I am a Sinner, O! Lord, yea a Sinner altogether, [and one of the chief among Sinners.] I was born in Sin and ever since have lead a Life suitable to that beginning. For to the shame of my Face, and to the praise of thy long Suffering, O! Almighty God, I do here with a truly humble and contrite Heart, confess to thee, that I have shamefully neglected and let alone those good things, which I ought to have done, and have done those Evil things, which I ought to have forborn. Of both these I am heinously guilty, both in Thought, Word and Deed. And have wickedly incurr'd the same, against the innumerable Endearments of thy Mercys, and Terrors of thy Judgments; against all the good Motions of thy Grace, and against the many seasonable admonitions which I have had from Spiritual Advisers, and against the voice and struglings of my own Conscience. I have done these things, O! Lord, and have continued to do them, repeating the same many times, yea, alass! too many of them in ordinary course; yea, and that after my own manifold, and solemn Promises and Engagements, that I would offend therein no more.
Lord be merciful to me, a miserable Sinner.
II.
ANd in all these Transgressions, O! Righteous Father, I have acted, as a most impudent Sinner, flying in the Face of an infinite Majesty; and passing all these heinous Affronts, where I owe the utmost Love and Reverence. And as a most presumptuously venturous and daring Sinner, provoking that Power, which can Torment, and utterly destroy me at its Pleasure.
Lord be merciful unto me, a bold and presumptuous Sinner.
III.
I Have therein dealt most disingenuously and ungratefully, O! Merciful Lord, rising up against thee the Author of all my Blessings: and flying in the face of that Mercy, which fosters and sustains me, even whilst I am thus basely aff…onting and despising it, and which is heaping new Obligations upon me every Moment. Under all these grievous Offences, I have first begged thy Patience, and then fallen to abuse it. I have first prayed to be spared, and then turned basely to provoke thee after thou hast spared me, and have abused all thy Mercys, to an opportunity of committing more Offences, and of rereturning hatred where I have received the greatest, and most endearing Love.
Lord be merciful unto me, a base and ungrateful Sinner.
IV.
YEA, O! Holy Father, I have therein dealt falsly and deceitfully with thee, promising Obedience, whilst I am in need of thy Mercies, but practising none after once I have received them. In the midst of all my pretences, to Honour and Honesty, and regard to my word amongst Men: I have been wretchedly careless, of dealing Honourably or Justly with thy Divine Majesty, and of keeping my word with thee, tho' thou art always faithful, and canst not fail in the least tittle of thy word with me.
Lord be merciful to me, a false and faithfless Sinner.
V.
ANd in all this, O! My Dear God, I have done most foolishly, all this while madly hindering and resisting my own everlasting Mercies, Peace, and Safety. And instead thereof, making a Covenant with Hell, and securing and hasting on mine own Eternal Misery, and heaping up sorrows, which never can be born, and which admit of no Remedy.
Lord be merciful unto me, a blind and desperately foolish Sinner.
VI.
SO that in my self, O! Most Righteous Lord, I am nothing but Sin and Misery. My past Life, can shew nothing, for which thou shouldest accept me. Nor can I reasonably expect, that thou shouldest give heed to my word, or trust me when I promise to do better, having so frequently, and shamefully broke my word with thee already.
But, O! Almighty and most Gracious Father, thou hast Mercy enough, to pardon all my Wickedness; and Grace enough to establish all my Promises, and to keep me true to them: and to thee alone, do I fly for both. I do not justifie, nor excuse my Wickedness, but utterly condemn it, and condemn my Self for the same. 'Tis Forgiveness, O! Father, that I seek, and 'tis merely from thine abundant Mercys, and for my dear Saviour's infinite Merits, that I hope for it. Oh! Thou who forgivest Sinners, forgive me a great Sinner. [The greatest of Sinners.] Oh! thou great Physician of Souls, who curest Sinners, cure me who seek to thee alone for Remedy against all my Sins. Rescue me from the Power and Bondage of my own corrupt Lusts, by the greater power of thy Grace; and deliver me, good Lord, from doing ill, and from all tormenting Fears of suffering thine Eternal Wrath and Vengeance for the same, through the Merits and Mediation of thine only Son, and my only Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Other Forms of Confession, are added afterwards; whereof the Penitent may serve himself, and wherewith he may suit his Spirit, as he sees Cause.
2. A Profession of Godly sorrow for Sins, and of Resolutions of new Obedience.
I.
I *Ezekiel 20. 43.call my ways to remembrance, O! Lord, wherein I have defiled my Self, and remember them with a troubled Heart. †Psal. 51. 3.My evil doings are daily before mine Eyes, and have made me vile, and loathsome in my own sight, as they have done in thine. They are a burthen upon my Spirit, a *Psal. 38. 4.sore burden, and too heavy for me to bear.
But now, O! My God, with a penitent Heart I turn from them, and resolve by thy Grace to cast away all my Transgressions, which are are most highly displeasing, both to thee, and to my self. From this Day forward, I am fully purposed to forsake them. O! then †Ezekiel 18. 13.let them not be my ruine.
God be merciful to me, a returning Sinner.
II.
ANd from them, O! Holy Father, which are the shame, and sorrow of my Life; I turn to thee, who art the Glory and Comfort, and shalt ever be the Guide and Governour thereof. I turn to thee, with a *Psal. 51. 17.broken and contrite Heart; O! Receive, and Comfort it, and despise it not. I return too thee, with my whole Heart, and make no reserves, nor will retain any allowance of any of my former Sins, no not of those, which seemed most delightful or serviceable unto me, and are hardest to part with.
I †Revel. 2. 5.remember, O! Lord, from whence I am faln, and resolve by thy help, to do my vows. I will *Psalm. 119. 60.make bast to do …, and not delay to keep thy Com…dments. I beg no greater Mercy, than to be fou…d stedfast in thy ways, nor shall account any things to be so great favours to me, as those which serve to keep me in the same. I will most heartily thank thee, O! Thou Faithful Guide and Keeper of returning Souls, if thou wilt be pleased to †Hosea 2. 6hedge up my way with Thorns, or with any worldly Difficulties, that may keep me from finding my way to my former Vanities. For 'tis the unfeigned Desire of my Heart, and shall be the great Endeavour of my Life, above all things to keep true to thee; and my chiefest prayer to thee is, to keep me from falling any more from the way of thy Fear, or from forfeiting thy Mercy.
God be merciful to me, a Returning Sinner.
III.
ANd having …w by thy Grace, these hol… …houghts and Purposes in my He…; I earnestly beg of thee, O! Blessed Author and finisher of all Grace, that I may never loose them. I give my Heart to thee, and humbly pray, that it may always be in thy hands, since it is so unconstant in what is good, and prone to turn aside to what is evil, when it is in mine own keeping. O! Father, keep it stedfast, and unalterable in thy ways. *Psal. 41. 4.Let it not be inclined to any Evil thing, nor lean towards any of my former Vanitys. Keep mine Eyes, from beholding wickedness; †Psal. 119. 37.and mine Ears from listning thereto. Let not *Ps. 141. 3.my Lips utter any thing that is Ill, nor my †Prov. 4. 27.feet move a step in any of the Paths of Death. But hold my whole Spirit, Soul, and Body, in ways of thy Fear; and continue me under the Comfortable hopes of thy favour, through Jesus Christ my Blessed Lord and only Saviour,
Amen.
3. A Profession of the Fruits of Repentance, and the Conditions of Forgiveness.
I.
I Have sinned grievously, O! Lord, but I am angry at my self for my Sins, and desire to prevent thy Justice, and to take Revenge upon my own Head for my Transgressions.
And however disposed, and easie I was, to be drawn aside before; yet now thou hast filled my Heart with such *2 Cor. 7. 11.a Godly Sorrow, and Compunction for my Sins, as begets in me a Vehement Desire, and Godly Care, to sin no more.
By the help of thy Grace, O! Merciful God, I am ready now *Ezek. 33. 15.to walk in those Statutes, which I have formerly transgressed; and to give again, whatsoever I have at any time unjustly taken away; and to make full amends to the uttermost of my Power, for all the Wrong and Damage which I have ever done to any. *particularly, &c. here name particularsAnd where, either by my Example, or by my Counsel and Perswasion; or by my Importunities, I have tempted others, and drawn them into Sin; It shall be the Study and Care of my Life, to make them sensible of the Heinousness, and extream Danger thereof, as, thro' the Blessing of thy Grace I am, to recover them out of the same.*Here name Particulars. Particularly, &c.
God be merciful to me a Returning Sinner.
II.
I Am contented, O! Holy Father, to submit my self to those, who have just cause to be offended with me, and to use all fair ways of Reconciling my self to them; before I hope for Reconciliation and Peace with thee. †Particularly, &c.I freely forgive all those, that have Trespassed against me, and with good Will offer them my Pardon, as I most heartily desire thine. *Particularly, &c.And my Hearty Desire and Purpose is, to study doing Good to my Brethren in their Needs, that I may not be held unworthy to receive it from thee in mine own; and to shew Mercy unto others that I may not be ashamed to ask it for my self, and that the Rigorousness and Unrelenting hardness of my own Dealings towards them, may not deprive me of the favourable Indulgence, and Mercifulness of thy Dealings towards me.
God be merciful to me, and forgive me, a Merciful and Forgiving Sinner.
III.
I Have no Hope in my self, O! Gracious Lord, but only in thy Mercy. Nor any expectation of the same, thro' my Deservings, but meerly thro` thy Blessed Son's Infinite Merits. Nor rest my Soul upon *Acts 4. 12.any other Name given among Men, whereby thy Justice may be satisfied, and my Sins expiated, but on his alone.
God be merciful to me a Great, but an Humble and Believing Sinner.
IV.
I Am heartily sorry for all the Sins which I can call to Mind, and do yet know my self to have been guilty of, and am fully purposed by thy Grace, as far as I can, to amend them. And I am truly desirous to discover all the rest, which are yet hid from me, that I may be as particularly sorry for the same, and amend them too. And I humbly and earnestly pray thee, O! Father of Mercies, that for Jesus Christ's sake, thou would'st be pleased to accept this my Repentance. Receive it, O! Lord, according to the Riches of thy Mercies, and supply whatsoever is wanting therein by the Power of thy Grace. And place me among the number of those, who are truly contrite for all their evil ways, and whose Repentance has prepared them for the free and full Remission of all their Offences, through the Merits and Mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
4. A Prayer for Pardon of Sins.
O! Holy and most merciful Father, spare me thy poor Sinful, but Repenting Creature. Spare me, good Lord, spare me, and let me not perish in my Sins, now I am heartily troubled and sorry for them, but thro' thine infinite Mercies, find pardon of the same.
I am a Sinful Person, O! Lord But thou, Blessed Jesus, art *1 Tim. 1. 15.the Saviour of Sinners. And thy coming into the World, was †Mat. 9. 13.to call Sinners to Repentance. Lord, I come, and Repent at thy Call; cast not me and my Repentance away from thy Presence.
I have gone astray, and am very defective in my return home, thro' the frailty of my Flesh. But thou, Gracious Lord, considerest our frailties. Thou *Psal. 103. 13.knowest our frame, and considerest whereof we are made. Oh! be not †Psal. 130. 3.extream to mark mine Offences, nor to exact Rigors in my Repentance of the same; but for Christ's sake, make me all needful, and favourable Allowances.
Now I have found the way to thy Fear, let me find the Comforts of thy Mercy. I have a truly *Psal. 51. 17.Contrite Heart, O! Lord, despise it not. My Spirit †Is. 66. 2. &c. 57. 15.is broken, and trembleth at thy word; O! Lord, revive it. It is *Matt. 11. 28.heavy laden, and wearied with my Sins; O! my God, give it ease from the same. †Psal. 103. 14.Pity me, O! Father, as a Father pitieth his own Children. Receive me, as the offended Father *Luk. 15did the returning Prodigal. Tho' I †ver. 32.was lost, yet now, by the Blessing of thy Grace, I am found again. Oh! welcome thy lost †v. 4, 5, 6.Sheep when it returns home; and let *v. 7, 10.there he joy in Heaven on the Repentance of me a lost Sinner.
Oh! †1 Jo. 1. 17.let the Blood of Jesus cleanse me from all my 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 *Psal. 51. 8.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, †Psal. 32. 6.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 *Jo. 5. 14.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 †Psal. 85. 8.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 wi… tingly, and with Checks and Convictions to the contrary *Especially, &c. here mention Particulars..
And these Sins I have been draw to, against all the Endearments of th… 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, tho… my Sins are many and grievous, yet … desire to overlook them, but would gladly see and discover them …l, that I may penitently bewail and forsake them. And Oh! That so corrupt Passions, nor love of Worldly or Carnal Interests, may …ver byass me, or blind my Eyes …rom seeing of the same, whilst …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 o… folly, and abhor mine own vilent on account thereof. I wish wi… all my Soul, that those Sins had n… ver been done, and would take an… way to undoe them, and most ea… nestly desire, and fully propose b… thy Grace, that I may doe so n… 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! D… thou, who *Matth. 11. 23.callest out to the heavy laden, to seek refeshment at thin… 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 †Prov. 28. 13.find Mercy. From mine Heart … 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 *Matth. 6. 14, 15.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 …njured, whether they be of low or …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 †Acts 3. 19.engagest to do unto all those, who sincerely repent of the same.
I know, O! Blessed Jesus, that *Acts 4. 12.there is no name but thine, whereby I can obtain Pardon. And I trust only to the fulness of thy Merits, and to the faithfulness of thy gracious Promises, and to the abundance of my Heavenly Fathers Mercy and loving Kindness, to me a great and miserable, but an Humble, Contrite, Penitent Sinner. Forgive them all, O! Blessed Father, Remembring not my Deservings, but the pytyableness of my Weakness, and thy Dear Sons infinite Merits, and thine own boundless Mercyes and most precious Promises. Let me here have thy Peace, and be admitted hereafter to stand for ever in thy Presence, for our Lord Jesus Christ Sake,
Amen.
2. A shorter form of Confession, and Repentance of the same.
O! Almighty and ever living God, I thy sinful wretched Creature, do here with shame and grief of Heart, bewail and confess my manifold Sins, which either this day, or at any times heretofore, I have been guilty of against thy Divine Majesty, either in Thought, Word, or Deed; by omitting what I ought to have done, or by committing what I ought not to have done; against thee, my Neighbour, or my Self. Sinning in all these kinds, against thy Mercies, and thy Judgments; thy Spirit, and thy awakening Providences; against my own Vows and Resolutions, yea, and oft times against the checks and calls of my own Conscience; oft times without any pretence to palliate them to my self, and always without any to excuse and justifie me at thy righteous Bar. And by these ways, O! Great and Dreadful God, am I, who at best am nothing, become far worse than nothing, an object of thy most deserved Wrath, and Eternal Damnation.
But thou, O! Merciful Father, hast sent thine'own only Son into the World, *Luke 19. 10.to seek and save that which was lost, and when once he returns back, thou art ready, not only to receive the Prodigal Son, but to †Luke 15. 20. &c.run out and meet him, and Rejoyce over him.
Lord, I repent of all my Sins from my very Heart, and am ashamed of my self, and grieved that ever I committed them. I earnestly desire to do better for the time to come, and firmly purpose by thy help to labour in the same. And I most humbly and heartily implore thy Grace, to keep me always in this Mind, and never to suffer me wilfully to relapse into the ways of wickedness again. I am heartily offended with my Self, be thou no longer offended with me. Cleanse away the Guilt of all my Sins, O! Gracious God, by thy dear Son's most precious Blood, and slay the power and Dominion of them by his Spirit, that †Jo. 5. 14.being made whole I may sin no more, nor return after I am washed, as *2 Pet. 2. 22.the Dog to his Vomit, or the Sow to her wallowing in the Mire. Grant this, O! Merciful Father, for thy dear Son, and my only Saviour, Jesus Christ's sake.
Amen.
3. A particular Enumeration of Sins in a large Form of Confession and Repentance of the same.
I.
O Lord! Most Holy and Terrible, who art most pure in all thy ways, and a consuming fire …o all unrelenting Sinners, my manifold and great Transgressions, make me both ashamed, and afraid to appear before so holy and just a Majesty.
Lord! How unlike am I to that Image of thine, wherein at first thou madest Man, and how far have all the powers of my Soul faln from what they should be? My Mind is overspread with Blindness and Ignorance, Folly and false Reasonings, and spends it self upon vanity and unprofitable Thoughts. It is loath to fix upon good things, and very apt to forget them, and to loose that tenderness and quick sense of Duty, which should make thy Laws to reign in me. My Heart is so averse to what is good, and so stubborn and refractory; that it is hardly brought to resolve upon those ways, which my Conscience tells me are my Duty: and so wavering and inconstant withall, that when it doth resolve well, it doth not stick to it with any certainty. My Affections are forward, and violent in pursuit of earthly things; but very slow to be engaged in thy Service, and when once ingaged therein, soon weary of the same.
Lord be mercyful to me, a miserably corrupt, and depraved Creature.
II.
AND besides this proneness of my Nature, O! Righteous God, to what is bad; to make me still more lowly in my own Sight, I have little Strength of Holy Inclination, or obedient Dispositions, which should restrain me from following, and giving way to the same.
Oh! how little is there in my Heart, of that Holy Fear, which should withhold me from giving thee any offence; of that Love, which should make me imitate thy Glorious Excellencies; of that Thankfulness, which should make me return answerably for all thy Mercies; or of that Joy in God, which should turn Religion into a Delight, and make me take all Opportunities of conversing in that place whilst I live, where I desire to be when I come to die:
I am not duly provident to prevent Temptations; nay, alass! I am too oft delighted in them, and pleased to dwell with them, and love the near approaches of Sin, and to be put into Opportunities, yea, and sometimes almost the necessity of evil doing. And when at any time thou hast thought fi… to cast me upon Tryals, I have not been sufficiently watchful, active, and unwearied, in withstanding them. I am easier, O! most Righteous Lord, in hearkning to my own wicked Lusts, than to the good motions of thy holy Spirit, and to the Dictates of a pious Conscience; and hereby have omitted many Duties, and have been led into many sinful Thoughts, and evil or indecent Speeches, and unrighteous Actions, which now I do with grief lament, and am utterly ashamed of.
Lord be merciful to me, a frail, naked, sinful Creature.
III.
HOW seldom have I been, O! Holy Father, in devout Reflections? How Irreverent, Insincere, and liveless in my Prayers? How careless in observing thy manifold, and great Mercies? How hard sometimes to be reconciled to thy Will, and to own the Wisdom and Goodness of thy Orderings? How faint and languid, in believing, and relying on thy Promises, when I have stood most in need thereof, and Danger has threatned any Duties? How fearfull to exposemy self, in owning of thy Injured Name or cause, and in shewing a concern and Zeal for thy Service? Nay, how faithless to my own Vows, when I have promised to make up defects, and to shew greater care and watchfulness, in amending these, or any other Offences.
Lord be merciful unto me, an unbelieving, indevout, and ungodly Creature.
IV.
AND besides all these Offences against thee, my God, how many ways have I trespassed against my Brethren also?
In bargaining and Acts of Justice, how apt am I to lean to my own profit, and to press upon my Neighbours?
In opportunities of Charity and good Offices, how is my affection in doing good streightned, by too quick an Eye to mine own ease and interest?
In Conversation, how prone am I to take opportunities of instilling 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 …ovocation, and in such Anger, to ut… some indecent, bitter, or reproach… words, especially to my inferiours, and to retain such resentment of their Offences, as renders me, either prone …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 jus… 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 an… 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; *This to be used or omitted, as the Penitents need requires.(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 eve…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, … to a God, whose Mercy is greater than our Wickedness? To a God whose property it is, to be kind … his Enemies; and whose patience … 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 o… 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 …o Witnesses. I condemn my Self, and need no other Judge to pro…ounce me Guilty. I punish and af…ict my Self for all my Sins, that I …ay prevent thy Justice for the same. And by thy Grace I am resolved to …rn from them all, that they may …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 Prayer is, that I may recover thy likeness, through Jesus Christ my Lord.
Amen.
V.
I Know, O! Gracious Lord, that I cannot receive this, but from thy Self. Oh! therefore be thou both the Blessed giver, and the Gift. I know also, alass! that I am utterly unworthy, to have thy Divine Image stamped upon my Soul. But I extreamly need it, and I extreamly value it; and such thou art pleased to account worthy of it. And I dearly love thee, O! God, or else I should not be thus desirous to be like thee. And thou lovest to communicate thy Goodness; and whom shouldst thou imprint and display it upon, but on those who love thee, and are earnestly desirous of the same?
Hear me therefore, O! My God, and breath i…to mine Heart that Spirit, which *Eph. 4. 24.renews us after thine own Image, in Righteousness and true Holiness. Oh! thou who seekest out Sinners to make them Good, do not reject me now when I seek thee out to make me better. I am poor and naked; Oh! fill me with thy Righteousness. My Good Thoughts are unconstant and Changeable; O! fix them by thy Grace. Set up thy Kingdom, O! Jesu, in my Heart, for to become thy Faithful Servant, is more to me, then to have the Empire of this World. Keep me stedfast, O! Lord, in serving thee, till thou takest me finally to enjoy thee, through Jesus Christ my Blessed Saviour and Redeemer.
Amen.
VI.
LOrd, grant that at all times, I may account my Sins, yea all my Sins, to be my shame; and make thy Laws, yea all thy Laws, to be my Rule; and thy Blessed Will, to be in every thing, my choice and satisfaction. And let … Promises be my Hope, thy Providence my Guard, thy Grace my Strength, and thy blessed Self my Portion, both now and in the end, through Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer.
Amen.