Devotions of Bishop Andrewes. Vol. I

CONFESSION

Thou who hast said,
“As I live, saith the Lord,
I will not the death of a sinner,
but that the ungodly return from his way
and live;
turn ye, turn ye from your wicked way,
for why will ye die, O house of
Israel?”
turn us, O Lord, to Thee,
and so shall we be turned.
Turn us from all our ungodlinesses,
and let them not be to us
for punishments.
I have sinned, I have committed iniquity,
I have done wickedly,
from Thy precepts, and Thy judgments.
To Thee, O Lord, righteousness,
and to me confusion of face,
as at this day,
in our dispicableness,
wherewith Thou hast despised us.
Lord, to us confusion of face,
and to our rulers
who have sinned against Thee.
94Lord, in all things is Thy righteousness,
unto all Thy righteousness;
let then Thine anger and Thy fury be
turned away,
and cause Thy face to shine
upon Thy servant.
O my God, incline Thine ear and hear,
open Thine eyes and see my
desolation.
O Lord, hear, O Lord forgive,
O Lord hearken and do;
defer not for Thine own sake,
O my God,
for Thy servant is called by Thy Name.
In many things we offend all;
Lord, let Thy mercy rejoice, against Thy
judgment in my sins.
If I say I have no sin, I deceive myself,
and the truth is not in me;
but I confess my sins many and grievous,
and Thou, O Lord, art faithful and just,
to forgive me my sins when I confess
them.
Yea, for this too
I have an Advocate with Thee to Thee,
Thy Only‑begotten Son, the Righteous.
95May He be the propitiation for my sins,
who is also for the whole world.
Will the Lord cast off for ever?
and will He be no more intreated?
Is His mercy clean gone for ever?
and is His promise come utterly to an end
for evermore?
Hath God forgotten to be gracious?
and will He shut up His loving kindness
in displeasure?
And I said, It is mine own infirmity;
but I will remember the years of the
right hand of the most Highest.