Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

"Charity vaunteth not itself."

Do I repress all personal boasting, vanity, and conceit ?

"Is not puffed up."

Do I check all feelings of pride, and endeavour to humble myself, as a sinful and imperfect creature, in the sight of my heavenly Father? "Doth not behave itself unseemly."

Do I avoid all careless indifference to the peace and welfare of those around me?

"Seeketh not her own."

Do I carefully shun taking advantage of the ignorance of my neighbour in my worldly transactions with him?

"Is not easily provoked."

Do I try to make allowance for the frailty of others when they give me cause for just anger? 66 Thinketh no evil."

Do I avoid all uncharitable suspicions of others? "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth."

Do I lament the sin and evil in the world, and countenance and encourage every good and righteous action among men?

"Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things."

Do I place the most charitable construction upon the conduct of others?

"Endureth all things."

Do I bear injuries, reproaches, or affronts with reasonable patience and meekness?

3. As our literature happily abounds with books of private devotion suited to the varied taste and feelings of individual Christians, no extended list

of these excellent manuals need be given here. A very few are mentioned as suited for constant

use.

The Private Devotions of Bishop Andrewes, translated by Dean Stanhope.

The Sacra Privata; or, Private Devotions of Bishop Wilson (of Sodor and Man).

The Christian Year; a Series of Sacred Poems. Law's Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. Bishop Jeremy Taylor's Holy Living and Dying, edited by Archdeacon Hale.

Marriott's Hints on Private Devotion.
Sherlock's Discourse on Death.

PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS.

I.

FROM THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.

INTRODUCTORY.

O GOD, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive my humble petitions; and though I be tied and bound with the chain of my sins, yet let the pitifulness of Thy great mercy loose me; for the honour of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

CONFESSION.

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; I acknowledge and bewail my manifold sins and wickedness, which I, from time to time, most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against Thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against me. I do earnestly repent, and am heartily sorry for these my misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto me; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon me, have mercy upon me, most merciful Father; for Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive me all that is

past; and grant that I may ever hereafter serve and please Thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of Thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

CONFESSION AND PRAYER.

Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences.

Wash me throughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.

Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged. Behold, I am shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me.

But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.

Turn Thy face from my sins, and put out all my misdeeds.

Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of Thy help again: and stablish me with Thy free Spirit.

Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked: and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness.

Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall shew Thy praise.

For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee but Thou delightest not in burntofferings.

:

The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt Thou not despise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

FOR PARDON.

I humbly beseech Thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon mine infirmities; and for the glory of Thy name turn from me all those evils that I most righteously have deserved; and grant, that in all my troubles I may put my whole trust and confidence in Thy mercy, and evermore serve Thee in holiness and pureness of living, to Thy honour and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord.

FOR PURITY OF THOUGHT.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are

« ForrigeFortsæt »