A penitent Confession of Sins, with an humble supplication for mercy and forgiveness.

MOST gracious and merciful God, who art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, I desire to humble my soul before thee, in a deep sense of my own vileness and unworthiness, by reason of the many sins and provocations which I have been guilty of against thy Divine Majesty; by thought, word, and deed. Forgive, O Lord, all the sins and follies of my life, which have been many and great; and which I do now with shame and sorrow confess and bewail before thee, for thy mercies sake in Jesus Christ. Par don, O my God, my manifold neglects and omissions, and slight and careless performance of the duties of religion, without due affection and attention of mind; that 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 care, and diligence, and constancy, that I ought.

Forgive, O Lord, my sins of ignorance and infirmity, which are more than can be numbered; but especially all my wilful transgressions of thy holy and righteous laws, the impurity of my heart and thoughts, all irregular appetites and passions, and every sinful and wicked practice, of what nature or kind soever. More particularly, I do, with great shame and confusion of face, confess and lament before thee, from whom nothing is hid, that I have 215grievously offended. ¹⁶¹⁶Here he was used to mention particulars.These my transgressions, with many more, which I cannot remember and reckon up before thee, are all in thy sight, O Lord, and my most secret sins in the light of thy countenance. When 1 look back upon the errors and miscarriages of my past life, and consider with myself what I have done, and what I deserve at thy hands, my flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and 1 am afraid of thy judgments. I am ashamed, O my God, and blush to lift up mine eyes to thee, my God. Lord, I am vile, what shall I answer thee?” I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Make me deeply sensible of the great evil of my sins, and work in me a hearty contrition for them; and let the sense of them be more grievous to me than of any other evil whatsoever. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, and according to thy tender mercies forgive all my transgressions, for the sake of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.