Lancelot Andrewes · 14 of 61

Confession

Merciful and pitiful Lord, Long‑suffering and full of pity, I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned against Thee; O me, wretched that I am, I have sinned, Lord, against Thee much and grievously, in attending on vanities and lies. I conceal nothing: I make no excuses. I give Thee glory, O Lord, this day, I denounce against myself my sins; Truly I have sinned before the Lord, and thus and thus have I done. I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not. And what shall I now say? or with what shall I open my mouth? What shall I answer; seeing I have done it? Without plea, without defence, self‑condemned, am I. I have destroyed myself. Unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth righteousness, but unto me confusion of face, because Thou art just in all that is come upon me, for Thou hast done right, but I have done wickedly. And now, Lord, what is my hope? Truly my hope is even in Thee, if hope of salvation remain to me, if Thy loving‑kindness cover the multitude of my iniquities. O remember, what my substance is, the work of Thine hands, the likeness of Thy countenance, the cost of Thy blood, a name from Thy Name, a sheep of Thy pasture, a son of the covenant. Despise not Thou the work of Thine own hands. Hast Thou made for nought Thine own image and likeness? for nought, if Thou destroy it. And what profit is there in my blood? Thine enemies will rejoice. May they never rejoice, O Lord! Grant not to them my destruction. Look upon the face of Thine Anointed, and in the Blood of Thy covenant, the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, Lord, be propitious unto me; a sinner; even unto me, O Lord, of sinners chief, chiefest and greatest; For Thy Name’s sake be merciful unto my sin, for it is great: it exceeds. For Thy Name’s sake, that Name, beside which, none other under heaven is given among men, whereby we must be saved, the Spirit Himself helping our infirmities, and making intercession for us; with plaints unutterable. For the tender yearnings of the Father, the bloody wounds of the Son, the unutterable plaints of the Spirit, give ear, O Lord, have mercy; O Lord, O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God. For me, I forget not my sins, they are ever before me; I remember them in the bitterness of my soul; I am anxious about them; I turn away and groan, I have indignation and revenge and wrath against myself. I despise and bruise my own self, that my penitence, Lord, O Lord is not deeper, is not fuller; help Thou mine impenitence. And more, and still more, pierce Thou, rend, crush my heart; and remit, forgive, pardon what things are grief to me, and offence of heart. Cleanse Thou me from secret faults, and keep Thy servant also from presumptuous sins. Magnify Thy mercies towards the wretched sinner and in season, Lord, say to me, Be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven thee; My grace is sufficient for thee. Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Why art thou so heavy, O my soul? and why art thou so disquieted within thee? Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath rewarded thee. O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine indignation, neither chasten me in Thy displeasure. I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord, and so Thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin. Lord, thou knowest all my desire, and my groaning is not hid from Thee. Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness, according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy on me, O Lord, for it is time that Thou have mercy upon me, yea, the time is come. If Thou, O Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? Enter not into judgment with Thy servant, O Lord, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.