Before Holy Communion

A PRAYER BEFORE SELF-EXAMINATION

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord

HEAR the voice of my humble petition,

Lord, now I cry unto Thee, and lift up my hands towards Thy Mercyseat.

Behold, Lord, I am about to search my own heart, but my heart is deceitful, and how can I know it? Wherefore, O Lord God, Who lightenest every man that cometh into the world, let the light of Thy grace shine into my heart, that I may know my shortcomings and my sins, and confess them, with that true sorrow and contrition 'which befits me before Thee, and amend them, to Thy honour and glory, and to the salvation of my soul. Lord, hear me, Lord, help me; through the Merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

A FORM OF CONFESSION

Let us lift up our hearts and our hands unto the God of heaven, for we have transgressed and rebelled

before Whose glorious Majesty even the blessed angels who never sinned, fall prostrate and tremble, with what dread should Thy fallen creature appear before Thine awful presence!

Yet suffer me to speak unto Thy Mercy, me, dust and ashes.

Ó Lord God, Thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity-the way of the wicked, and the sacrifice of the wicked, is an abomination unto Thee. Alas for me then, O Lord, for I have inclined unto wickedness in my heart, yet for the sake of Thy wellbeloved Son, cast not out my prayer, nor turn Thy mercy from me.

I know, Lord, that in me dwells no good thing, for when I would do good, evil is present with me, and I see a law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin. . . . Lord, deliver me from this body of death, from this tyranny of sin. Lord, pity and cleanse, save and deliver me, for Thy mercies' sake.

O Lord, my soul cleaveth unto the dust when I consider how forgetful I have been of Thee; how cold my love, how wandering my prayers; how obstinately I have fled from Thee when Thy mercy pursued me with promises of pardon; how I have presumed on Thy long-suffering and forbearance calling me to repentance; how I have broken the solemn vow made to Thee in my Confirmation; how easily I have turned aside unto vanity; how treacherously I have betrayed my own soul to temptation. .

Surely, after I was turned, I repented; and since I have considered my ways, I am ashamed, yea, even confounded, for I bear the reproach of my youth.

Within me is a remembrance no tears can wash away. Upon me lies a burden, heavy, grievous, intolerable, the burden of duties unfulfilled; of words unspoken, or spoken untruly, idly, unlovingly; of evil thoughts, again and again reappearing, even as they were first admitted into the heart; of talents hidden; of days wasted for ever. . . . So with dread premonitions of Thy coming Judgment, speaks the conscience. Lord, pity and cleanse, save and forgive me, for Thy mercies' sake.

Behold, Lord, I am before Thee in my transgressions-sin-bound before Thee. Thou knowest the deep trouble of my heart, and my desire is not hid from Thee. Of

old hast Thou known me,-yea, before the world was. And there is none to help me, none to save and deliver me, but Thou, O new-creating God. O let the pitifulness of Thy great mercy loose me from the bonds of those sins which by my frailty I have committed. Forgive me my sins, O Lord, of thought, word, and deed, from time to time committed against Thee. Forgive the daily sins of my present life, and remember not the offences of my youth; forgive the sins of my soul, and the sins of my body; O cleanse Thou me from my secret sins; from my sins of ignorance, infirmity, omission, from those which I have not observed, and those I have forgotten. Forgive me them, O Lord, forgive them all. Lord, lay them not to my charge; Father, forgive me. Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.

Behold, Lord, I come at Thy call; I come weary and heavy laden with the burden of my sins; be it unto me according to Thy gracious word. Lord, in nowise cast me from Thee. . . . Ease me of my burden, that I may find rest in Thee. Say unto my soul, Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee.

O Saviour of the world, Who by Thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed me, save me and help me, O Lord God. Amen.

I

A FORM OF CONFESSION

My sin is ever before me

HAVE sinned, O Lord God. I have sinned, and done evil in Thy sight; but I repent, I turn to Thee. With all my heart I turn to Thee and pray unto Thee, saying

O Father of Mercies, I beseech Thee, by Thy Fatherly compassion, despise me not,the work of Thine own hands, Thine own image-despise me not.

Behold, Lord, I am Thy servant; Thine unprofitable servant, yet Thy servant. Thy lost child, yet Thy child. I am Thine, Ó save me!

O Lord, and Holy God, most gracious and merciful, pity and pardon me.

Make haste to help me, O Thou, preserver of men, O Lord, Thou lover of men! And now, what is my hope? Art not Thou, O Lord, my Father? Surely my hope is from Thee; surely I have hope of salvation; surely Thy loving kindness vanquisheth the multitude of my sins.

Holy Father, forgive me. For I confess my sins, many and grievous; and Thou, Lord, art faithful and just to forgive my sins to me confessing them.

O visit me with the salvation of Thy children. In that Fountain open for all un