Imatges de pàgina
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VII.

If I have escaped the groffer Acts of Adultery and Fornication, yet have I not conceived Luft in my Heart, and neglected the Means to preferve my own and others Chaftity? Or, have I not, by Gluttony and Drunkenness, or any other impure Thoughts, defiled my Soul? Or, have I not accustomed myself to filthy Talking, Jefting, ' and immodeft Garbs, and unchafte Behaviour in common • Conversation?

VIII.

'If I have not been guilty of common and publick Stealing, yet have I been true and juft in all my Dealings? Or, have I not contracted Debts, when I was confcious to myself that I was not able to pay, or make Reftitution? 'Or, have I not wafted my own, or others Eftates, by riotous living? Or, have I not by Violence and Oppref'fion exacted of my inferiors, or by unlawful Ufury taken Advantage of their Neceffities?

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IX.

If I have not before the Magiftrate fworn falfely against any Man, yet have I not accustomed myfelf to Lying and Slandering? Or, have I not accufed my Neighbour unjustly? Or, have I not concealed the Truth of another, when Juftice and Charity obliged me to give Evidence of it? Or, have I not unjustly fought to uphold, or to blait my own or others Credit?

X.

"Have I not fecretly complained against the Providence of God, as if others had too much, and I too little? Or, have 1 not by unlawful Means endeavoured to deprive others of their Goods and Profperity? Or, have I labour⚫ed truly and faithfully to get my own Living, and to be content with that State of Life unto which it hath pleased God to call me?'

A Penitential Confeffion of Sins, with an bumble Supplication for Mercy and

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Forgiveness.

Lmighty and Everlafting God, who hateft nothing that thou haft made, and doft forgive the Sins of all

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them that are, penitent, create and make in me a new and contrite Heart, that I, worthily lamenting my Sins, and acknowledging my Wretchednefs, may obtain of thee, the God of all Mercy, perfect Remiffion and Forgiveness thro' Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen. See Pfalmis 51. 6. 32. 38.

vous Sins.

An At of Contrition.

FATHER, I have finned against Heaven and before thee,

and am no more worthy to be called thy Son. Woe is me O Lord, who was conceived and born in Sin; the Thoughts of my Heart are inclined unto Evil from my Youth. Woe is me, that have finned against thee, my Creator and kind Benefactor. Lord, I have done Evil continually in thy Sight, and my Life hath been little elfe than one continued Courfe of Impiety, Unthankfulness, and of unworthy Returns for all thy Goodness and Loving-kindness to me. Woe is me, that I fhould thus requite the Lord. O that my Head were Waters, and mine Eyes a Fountain of Tears, that I might weep Day and Night for my Sin! O gracious Lord, look on me as thou didst on the Apoftle St Peter, and let thy compaffionate I ook fo pierce my ftony Heart, that t may weep bitterly for my Sins, and produce in me that godly Sorrow which worketh Repentance unto Salvation not to be repented of, for Fefus's fake. Amen. See Pfal. 25. 32. 38.

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A Refolution to lead a new Life.

ND now, O Lord, I do not only with great Shame and Confufion of Face confefs and bewail the Sinful nefs and Vanity of my whole Life, but I do ftedfaftly refolve and purpose (through the Affistance of thy Grace and Holy Spirit directing me) to renounce the Devil and all his Works, the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World, and all the Lufts of the Flefh.' Be pleafed, O Lord, to ftrengthen and confirm thefe good Refolutions in me. And I heartily thank thee, O heavenly Father, for calling me to the State of Salvation through Jefus Chrift my Saviour, who died for my Sins, and rofe again for my Justification: and

I humbly beseech thee, for his Sake, to give me Grace to continue in the fame unto my Life's End. Amen. See Pfalms 1.23. 24. 25. 119. 126.

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A Prayer for Faith in God's Mercy through Chrift.

Lmighty God, our Heavenly Father, who, for the more Confirmation of our Faith and Confidence in thy Mercy, haft in thy Holy Gofpel declared, that whofoever believeth in thy Son Jefus Chrift, shall not perish, but have everlasting Life; and that this is Life eternal to know thee, the only true God, and Jefus Chrift whom thou haft fent: Increase this Knowledge, and confirm this Faith in me everO let me not reft in a dead Faith, but that I may have fuch a lively Faith, as will fhew itself by Love and good Works; fuch a victorious Faith, which may enable me to overcome the World, and conform me to the Image of thy Son Jefus Chrift, in whom I believe. O Grant me fuch a due Sense of thy infinite Mercy, fhewed to Mankind in fo much Mifery, as may never depart out of my Mind. I ftedfaftly believe, O bleffed Jefus, that thou didst fuffer upon the Crofs to fave me, and all the World, from the Guilt and Punishment of our Sins; O give me that Grace, that I may die to Sin, and rife again unto Righteousness. Accept of my imperfect Sorrow, Repentance, Faith and imperfect Refolutions; and let the precious Merits of my crucified Saviour fupply all my Wants and Imperfections... Thou haft faid, Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will refresh you. O Bleffed Jefus, I come unto thee in all Humility, and deeply fenfible of my great Uaworthiness; O do thou bear this Burden of Sin for me, and refresh me with comfortable Hopes of thy Mercy and Forgiveness, and the Truth of thy Salvation. Grant this, O merciful Father, through the fame thy Son Jefus Christ. Amen. See Pfal. 19. 57. Eph. ii. 6, 11.

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A thankful Remembrance of the Death of Chrift.

Lmighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender Mercy didft give thine only Son Jefus Christ to fuffer Death upon the Crofs for our Redemption, and

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haft inftituted and ordained Holy Mysteries as Pledges of ́his Love, and for a continual Remembrance of his Death ' and Paffion, to our great and endless Comfort." Behold I do most affectionately, and with all the Powers of my Soul and Body, return thee moft hearty Praife and Thanksgiving for thy great Mercy and Tender Compaffion to me and all Mankind, in fending thine only Son into the World to redeem us from Sin and Mifery, and by his meritorious Death and Paffion, to purchase for us eternal Life. Grant, O Lord, that I may always moft gratefully remember this exceeding Love of my only Saviour Jefus Chrift, thus dying for me; and work in me all fuch holy and heavenly Affections, as may difpofe my Heart to be a worthy Gueft at thy holy Table, prepared for the continual Remembrance of the Sacrifice of the Death of Chrift, and of thofe Benefits which we receive thereby. Praife the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his Benefits, who forgiveth all thy Sins, and healeth all thine Infirmities, who faveth thy Life from Deftruction, and crowneth thee with Mercy and Loving-kindness. See Pfal. Call. 2, 3, 4.

A Prayer for the Grace of Charity.

Lord, who haft taught us that all our Doings with

out Charity are nothing worth; fend thy Holy Ghost, and pour into my Heart that most excellent Gift of Charity, the very Bond of Peace, and of all Virtues, without which whofoever liveth is counted dead before thee;' more especially, when I am going to commemorate the unfpeakable Love of my Bleffed Saviour in dying for me, let not my Heart be deftitute of Love towards my Brethren; extend thy Mercy and Forgiveness to all mine Enemies, Perfecutors and Slanderers, and turn their Hearts; which I as fincerely beg for them, as I hope for Mercy and Forgiveness at thy Hands. Poffefs me with Kindness and Goodwill for all Mankind, that my Faith may work by Love, and difpofe my Heart, according to my Ability, to administer towards the Wants and Neceffitics of thofe who are any Ways afflicted or diftreffed in Mind, Body, or Eftate, and to do unto all Men as I would they should do unto me; and give

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me that Charity which covereth a Multitude of Sins, that by doing Good for Evil, all Men may know that I am thy Difciple. Grant this for Jefus's Sake. Amen. See Pfal. 15. 133. 41.112. Mat. xxv. 34, 41. Mat. xviii. 21. 1 Cor. xiii.

A Prayer the Morning you intend to communicate. Moft gracious and Eternal Lord God, thou hast called all fuch who are weary and heavy laden to come unto thee by Faith and Repentance, and thou wilt refresh them. In affiance of this thy gracious Invitation, I will come to thy Heavenly Table, not trufting in mine own Righteoufnefs, but in thy manifold and great Mercies; and although I am not worthy fo much as to gather up the Crumbs that fall from thy Table, yet fince it is thy property always to have Mercy, I will not defpair of a kind Reception: Forgive my want of a due Preparation, and accept of my fincere Defire to perform an acceptable Service unto thee: Clothe me with the Wedding-Garment, even the Graces of the Gospel, and then 1 am fure I fhall be a welcome Guest at thy Table, when I fhall come thither in the likeness of thy Son Jefus Chrift, in whom thou art well pleafed. Poffefs my Soul with a lively Faith, profound Humility, filial Obedience, inflamed Affections, and univerfal Charity, that fo I may become a worthy Partaker of thofe holy Mysteries, to my great and endless Comfort. Grant this, O heavenly Father, if it be thy bleffed Will, through Jefus Chrift. Amen. Our Father, &c. See Pfal 23. 25. 26.

See Dr. Meriton's Family Companion; or Forms of Prayers for every Day in the Werk, Morning and Evening. Alfo Prayers and Thankf givings upon feveral Occafions, as well for the Ufe of particular Perfons as Families.

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