Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. Saviour of sinners, of whom I am chief, the Thief on the wood; that, with the Thief, I may call on Thee humbly, Remember me, Lord, in Thy kingdom! that, with Peter, I may bitterly weep, and say, O that mine eyes were a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night! that, with Magdalene, I may hear Thee say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; and with her to love much; for many sins, yea, manifold have been forgiven me. And Thou, All-holy, Good, and Life giving Spirit, despise me not, Thy breath; despise not Thine own holy things: but turn Thee, again, O Lord, at the last, and be gracious unto Thy servant. Here shall follow these several petitions: O Heavenly Father, look down from Thy Sanctuary, from the throne of Thy glory, upon the blessed sacrifice which our High Priest Jesus, Thy most innocent and holy Son, offers unto Thee for the sins of His brethren. Pardon the multitude of my offences, and have compassion on my miseries. Hearken to the voice of the Blood of that immaculate Lamb, which crieth out to Thee, and Himself standeth before Thee, at the right hand of Thy majesty, crowned with honour and glory. Behold, O Lord, the face of Thy Messiah, Who has been obedient to Thee even unto death; and put not His blessed wounds out of Thy sight, nor His satisfaction for our sins out of Thy remembrance. O! let my tongue, and every tongue, praise and bless Thee, in commemoration of Thy infinite goodness, Who didst deliver Thy only Son over to death upon the earth, to make Him our most prevailing Advocate in heaven; through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. O God, who rejectest not the greatest sinner, but in loving mercy art reconciled to him by penitence, mercifully regard my lowly supplications, and give me strength to fulfil Thy commandments, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Let Thy merciful ears, O God, be open to the prayers of Thy servant; and grant me grace to observe this fast of Lent, that, withstanding all the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, I may, with a pure heart and mind, follow the holy steps of Thy Son Jesus in all lowliness, meekness, and patience; and resisting with Him even unto the death, I may attain the blessed hope of Thy Kingdom, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and evermore. Amen. O gracious God, by whose merciful providence I am brought to the beginning of this day, grant me the gift of Thy especial presence even to its close. Grant me never to lose sight of Thee, all this day long; but to keep perpetual sentinel, and to worship and pray, and ponder the words of Thy law, and the blessings of Thy saving grace. Enable me to govern my senses, to guard my heart, and to mortify my flesh and, O Holy Spirit of grace and strength, so replenish my understanding, and my will, and all my faculties, with Thy renewing influence, that I may triumph over my own evil nature; and by the light of Thy power within me, win others to penitence and salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.* OUR FATHER, &c. O Lord, hear my prayer; And let my cry come unto Thee. O Saviour of the World, Who by Thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us, save us, and help us, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord. Amen. The peace of God, and the love of Jesus, and the guiding of the Holy Ghost, be with me, and abide with me, for ever. Amen. Here pause, and repent of your wandering thoughts: then rise. * A variety of additional Prayers, to be used in this place, according to opportunity, will be found in pp. 232-256. THE MID-DAY ACT OF DEVOTION. Begin this act of devotion by recalling the whole doctrine of Jesus Christ in the Gospel. Try your faith and your obedience, mentally, as you read. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. * The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand repent ye, and believe the Gospel.+ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls: for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.‡ All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.§ This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.|| Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil S. Mark i. 15. S. Matt. xi. 28-30. * S. John xiv. 6. and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.* Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you.† Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.‡ Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.§ He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.|| In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.¶ Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.** Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him immediately.†† Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life.‡‡ |