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And against the infinite love of God the Holy Ghost, Whose earnest desire of my salvation I have so abundantly experienced in His gracious supply of such spiritual assistances and supports, as are necessary to all the purposes of holiness and obedience?

Have I considered likewise what a dreadful aggravation it is of my guilt, that I have so often sinned against the convictions of my own mind, and many most solemn promises to the contrary?

Is there any particular sin that lies heavy upon my conscience?

Do I desire to be enlightened by God as to my unknown and forgotten sins, that they also may be particularly repented of?

Do I stedfastly resolve to use my utmost diligence for the time to come, to serve and please God in newness and holiness of life, and to avoid all occasions of sinning, and all those temptations especially that have formerly caused me to fall?

Do I believe that God of His infinite mercy hath ordained forgiveness of sins and eternal life for all such as truly repent, and turn unto Him with full purpose of heart to live according to the terms of that gracious covenant, which He hath been pleased to make with us in His Son Jesus Christ our Saviour?

Do I trust in the merits of that all-sufficient atonement which our blessed Saviour made upon the Cross for the sins of all mankind, and in that only for this pardon and salvation?

Am I not apt to despair of God's mercy upon the account of the number or heinousness of my sins? or to presume too boldly upon it, so as to hope for salvation without fulfilling the declared conditions of it?

Am I willing and ready to make full compensation, according to my power, to all those whom I have injured or offended? and do I heartily forgive all such as have injured or offended me?

Am I diligent in prayer, and in the use of all those

means of grace which God hath appointed for my furtherance in holiness?

If our conscience now tells us, that we do thus truly and earnestly repent us of our sins, that we are in love and charity with all our brethren, and do intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in His holy ways; we may draw near with faith to the throne of grace, and make our humble confession and supplication to Almighty God; not doubting but that He will be merciful unto us in the free pardon and forgiveness of all our sins, for the sake of Jesus Christ the Righteous, Who is our advocate with the Father, and the propitiation for our sins.

Prayer after Examination.

DO LORD GOD, I have now by Thine assistance considered my evil ways: and I call to mind all the years of my life past in the bitterness of my soul for my sin. Ŏ Thou, Who alone knowest the heart, and Who alone canst change it, create in me such a broken and contrite heart, as Thou hast promised not to despise and possess my soul with so deep a sense of my sin and misery, that my repentance may bear some proportion to my guilt. My misdeeds, O Lord, have prevailed against me: O be Thou merciful to my sin; O for Thy Name's sake be merciful to my sin, for it is great. O my God, pardon all my failings, and perfect that good work Thou hast begun in me, for the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen.

SECTION III.

THE PENITENT'S CONFESSION OF HIS SINS TO GOD.

Preparatory sentences of Scripture—and confession of sin, and humble supplication for pardon and grace.

Preparatory sentences of Scripture.

THUS saith the High and Lofty One That inhabiteth eternity, Whose Name is holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before Me, and the souls which I have made1.

As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel??

Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart, and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye3.

If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath

1 Isaiah lvii. 15, 16.

2 Ezek. xxxiii. 11. 3 Ibid. xviii. 31, 32,

committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live'.

But if ye will not do so, behold ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin shall find you out 2.

Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that My fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of Hosts.

Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you : for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God'.

Remember your ways and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have com

mitted 5.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy 7.

I have sinned: what shall I do unto Thee, O Thou Preserver of men?

I will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto Him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son 9.

1 Ezek. xviii. 21, 22.
4 Ibid. iii. 12, 13.
7 Prov. xxviii. 13.

2 Numb. xxxii. 23.
5 Ezek. xx. 43.

8 Job vii. 20.

3 Jer. ii. 19.

1 John i. 8, 9. 9 Luke xv. 18, 19.

Confession of sin, and humble supplication for pardon and grace.

O MOST Holy and most merciful Lord God, Who by reason of the infinite purity of Thy nature canst not look on iniquity without the utmost detestation, but out of the exceeding riches of Thy goodness hast graciously promised, that all those who confess and forsake their sins shall obtain of Thee forgiveness of the same, and be cleansed from all unrighteousness; I, a most miserable sinner, in a deep sense of my own vileness and wretchedness, and in humble dependence on Thy mercy and truth, prostrate myself at the footstool of Thy grace, desiring to confess and bewail before Thee my innumerable transgressions of Thy holy laws, whereby I have rendered myself most justly liable to the severest of Thy judgments in this life, and to everlasting punishments in the world to

come.

1 confess, O Lord, that I have grievously offended Thee, by indulging to evil thoughts of many kinds; by vain, rash, false, and wicked words; and by many unrighteous, sensual, and ungodly deeds, which I have from time to time committed, against the dictates of reason, the checks of my own conscience, and the known precepts of Thy holy word.

I have frequently neglected the duties of religion, which is the great and most important concern of my life; and when I have performed them, it hath been very often carelessly and out of custom, and without due affection and attention of mind.

I have not served Thee with that purity of intention, with that sincerity of heart, with that fervency of spirit, with that zeal for Thy glory, with that watchfulness, care, diligence, and constancy, that I ought to have done.

But I repent; O my God, I repent; Lord, lay not

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