The Practice of Piety

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