Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

I not taken God's name in vain, by common swearing and cursing? Or, have I not taken false and unlawful oaths? Or, have I not broken my vows and resolutions especially my baptismal?

IV.

Have I not neglected the worship of God on his sabbaths? Have I not spent part thereof in vain sports, idle conversation, visits, and other unnessary affairs? Or, have 1 not suffered others to profane the sabbath, when it was in my power to restrain them from so doing?

V.

Have I not been irreverent and undutiful to my parents, rejecting their councils, despising their government, and coveting their estates before their death? Or, have I contributed to their necessities when they were in want, and I had it in my power to help them? Or, have I uot been disloyal to my prince, stubborn and unfaithful to my master, refractory and unthankful to my minister, peevish and unkind to my friend and companion?

VI.

If I have not actually taken away the life of any person, yet have I not made my neighbour's life grievous by oppression, rage, and violence against him? Or, have I not by fighting or quarrelling wounded his person? Or have I not tempted him, by any vice or intemperance, to destroy his health, and so shorten his days? Or, have I not by false or contumelious speeches wounded his good name and reputation? Or, have I not by my own luxury and intemperance contributed to injure my health, and lessened, to all appearance, the duration of my life?

VII.

If I have escaped the grosser acts of adultery and fornication, yet have I not conceived lust in my heart, and neglected the means to preserve my own and others chastity? Or, have I not by gluttony and drunkenness, or by any impure thoughts or words defiled my soul? Or, have not accustomed myself to indecent conversation, immodest dress, and unchaste behaviour?

VIII.

If I have not been guilty of stealing,

yet have I been true and just in all my dealings? Or, have I not contracted debts, when I was conscious to myself that I was not able to pay, or to make restitution? Or have I not wasted my own or others estates by riotous living? Or, have I not by violence and oppression, exacted of my inferiors: or, by unlawful usury, taken advantage of their necessities?

IX.

If I have not before the magistrates sworn falsely against any man, yet have I not accustomed myself to lying and slandering? Or, have not I accused my neighbour unjustly? Or, have I not concealed the truth of another, when justice and charity obliged me to give evidence of it? Or, have I not unjustly sought to uphold my own credit, or to blast any other person's?

X.

Have I not secretly complained against the Providence of God, as if others had too much, and I too little? Or, have I not by unlawful means endeavoured to deprive others of their goods and property? Or, have I laboured truly and faithfully to get my

own living, and been content with that state of life unto which it hath pleased God to call me?

A Penitential Confession of Sins: with humble Supplication for Mercy and Forgiveness.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God who hatest nothing that thou has made and dost forgive the sins of all that are penitent; create in me a new and contrite heart, that I, worthily

Here call to

Sins.

nind all your lamenting my sins, and acmost grievous knowledging my wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ on Lord. Amen.

See Psalm vi. xxxii. xxxviii. li.

An Act of Contrition.

[ocr errors]

FATHER, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Lord, the thoughts of my heart were inclined unto evil from my youth. I have sinned against thee, my Creator

and kind Benefactor. Lord, I have done evil continually in thy sight, and my life hath been little else than one continual course of impiety, unthankfulness, and of unworthy returns for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to me. O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for my sins! O gracious Lord, look on me as thon didst on the Apostle St. Peter, and let thy compassionate look so pierce my stony heart, that I may weep bitterly for my sins, and may have that godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of, for Jesus's sake. Amen.

See Psalm xxv. xxxii. xxxviii.

A Resolution to lead a new Life. AND now, O Lord, I do not only with great shame and confusion of face, confess and bewail the sinfulness and vanity of my own life, but I do stedfastly resolve, through the assistance of thy grace, to "renounce the devil and "all his works, the pomps and vanities "of this wicked world, and all the lusts "of the flesh." Be pleased, O Lord, to

F

« EdellinenJatka »