A12381:92
The sinful mans searchThe sinfull mans search
The sinful mans search: or seeking of God. Preached by Henry Smith, and published according to a true corrected copy, sent by the author to an honourable ladyThe sinfull mans search: or seeking of God. Preached by Henrie Smith, and published according to a true corrected copie, sent by the author to an honorable ladie
London: printed by T. Scarlet for Cuthbert Burby, 1592
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A Godly Prayer, to be said at all times.A Godly Prayer, to bee said at all times.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A Godly Prayer, to be said at all times.
A Godly Prayer, to bee said at all times.
Because I have sinned ô Lord, and done wickedly in thy sight, and provoked thee to anger by my abominable wickedness, making my body which thou hast ordained a vessel for thine honour, an instrument to most detestable filthiness, ô Lord be merciful unto me, and pardon me this great wickedness: look not upon me good father, with the eyes of justice, neither do thou draw against me the sword of judgement, for then how shall I that am but dust, stand in thy presence, when thy wrathful indignation cometh forth as a whirlwind, and thy heavy displeasure as a mighty tempest: seeing the earth trembleth, the depths are discovered, and the very heavens are shaken when thou art angry? Exercise not therefore thy fury against me, that am but as chaff before the wind, and as stubble against a flaming fire: though I have sinned grievously in thy sight, preferring my wicked desire, before thy holy commandment: esteeming the pleasure of a moment, before eternal and everlasting joys: nay, which is worse, making more account of vileness and vanity, and extreme folly, and madness, then ⟨image 41⟩of the glory and majesty of the most excellent, wonderful, and blessed God, nothing dreading his displeasure, whose wrath maketh the devils to quake, and burneth unquenchable unto the bottomless pit of hell; whose might is so great, that by the breath of his nostrils he is able in the twinkling of an eye to destroy a thousand worlds: yet am I bold, prostrating my self before the throne of thy majesty, heartily to beseech, and humbly to entreat thee, that thou wilt not deal with me according to my merits, for I have deserved that thou shouldst rain down fire and brimstone from out of heaven upon me to devour me, or to open the earth underneath me, to swallow me up quick unto hell: but thou art gracious and full of compassion, and rich in mercies, therefore do men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. I have none in heaven to fly unto but thee, nor in earth, of whom I may receive any comfort, but at thy favourable hands, which are stretched out day and night, to receive all that by earnest repentance turn unto thee, being ready to ease all those that are laden with the burden of their sin, and to refresh their distressed consciences.