I have not so duly (as I should) meditated with my self, nor conferred with my Family, upon those good instructions, which we have heard and received out of thy holy word, by the public Ministry. For default whereof, Satan hath stolen the most part of these instructions out of my heart: and I wretched creature have forgotten them, as though they had never been heard. And my family doth not thrive in knowledge and sanctification under my government as they should. Though I know, where many of my poor brethren live in want and necessity, and some in pain, and comfortless: yet I have not remembered to ⟨p. 619⟩relieve, the one with my alms, nor the other with consolations: but I have feasted my self, and satisfied mine own lusts. I have spent the most part of the day, in idle talk, vain sports, and exercises: Yea Lord I have &c. *And for all these my sins, my conscience cries guilty, thy law condemns me: and I am in thy hand to receive the sentence and curse that is due to the wilful breach of so holy a commandment. But what if I am by thy Law condemned? yet, Lord, thy Gospel assures me that thy mercy is above all thy works:2 that thy grace transcends thy Law: and thy goodness delighteth there to reign, where ⟨p. 620⟩sins do most abound. 3in the multitude therefore of thy mercies and merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour, I beseech thee O Lord (who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor desirest the death of a penitent sinner) to pardon and forgive me all those my sins, and all the errors of this day,4 and of my whole life: and free my soul from that curse and judgement which is due unto me for them. Thou that didst justify the contrite Publican for four words of confession,5 and receivedst the Prodigal child (when he had spent all the stock of thy grace) into favour upon his repentance: pardon my sins likewise, O ⟨p. 621⟩Lord, and suffer me not to perish for my transgressions. Oh spare me and receive me into thy favour again. Wilt thou O Lord reject me, who hast received all Publicans, harlots, and sinners, 6that upon repentance sued to thee for grace? Shall I alone be excluded from thy mercy? Far be it from me to think so: For thou art the same GOD of mercy unto me, that thou wast unto them, and thy compassions never fail. 7Wherefore O Lord deal not with me after my merits, but according to thy great mercy.
I haue not so duely (as I should) meditated with my selfe, nor conferred with my Family, vpon those good instructions, which we haue heard and receiued out of thy holy word, by the publike Ministry. For default whereof, Sathan hath stolne the most part of these instructions out of my heart: and I wretched creature haue forgotten them, as though they had neuer beene heard. And my family doth not thriue in knowledge and sanctification vnder my gouernment as they should. Though I know, where many of my poore brethren liue in want and necessitie, and some in paine, and comfortlesse: yet I haue not remembred to ⟨p. 619⟩relieue, the one with my almes, nor the other with consolations: but I haue feasted my selfe, and satisfied mine owne lusts. I haue spent the most part of the day, in idle talke, vaine sports, and exercises: Yea Lord I haue &c. *And for all these my sinnes, my conscience cries guilty, thy law condemnes me: and I am in thy hand to receiue the sentence and curse that is due to the wilfull breach of so holy a commandement. But what if I am by thy Law condemned? yet, Lord, thy Gospell assures me that thy mercy is aboue all thy workes:2 that thy grace transcendes thy Law: and thy goodnesse delighteth there to raigne, vvhere ⟨p. 620⟩sinnes doe most abound. 3in the multitude therefore of thy mercies and merits of Iesus Christ my Sauiour, I beseech thee O Lord (who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor desirest the death of a penitent sinner) to pardon and forgiue me all those my sins, and all the errours of this day,4 and of my whole life: and free my soule from that curse and iudgement which is due vnto mee for them. Thou that didst iustifie the contrite Publican for foure words of confession,5 and receiuedst the Prodigall childe (when hee had spent all the stocke of thy grace) into fauour vpon his repentance: pardon my sinnes likewise, O ⟨p. 621⟩Lord, and suffer me not to perish for my trangressions. Oh spare me and receiue me into thy fauour againe. Wilt thou O Lord reiect me, who hast receiued all Publicans, harlots, and sinners,
- *Here confess whatsoever fault thou hast done that day by omission or commission, and then fetching from thy heart a deep sigh, say.Here confesse whatsoeuer fault thou hast done that day by omission or commission, and then fetching from thy heart a deep sigh, say.
- 2Psal. 145.9. Jam. 2.13.Psal. 145.9. Iam. 2.13.
- 3Rom. 5.20.
- 4Eze. 33.11.
- 5Luk. 1.18. &c.
- 6Mat. 21.31.32.
- 7Lam. 3.22.
