CHAPTER VII.
_That we ought to offer up ourselves, and all that is ours unto |God|, and to pray for all_.
_The voice of the disciple._
THINE, O Lord, are all things that are in heaven, and in earth.
I desire to offer up myself unto thee, as a free oblation, and to remain always thine.
O Lord, in the simplicity of my heart I offer myself unto thee this day, for a sacrifice of perpetual praise, to be thy servant for ever.
2. I offer unto thee, O Lord, all my sins and offences, which I have committed before thee and thy holy angels, from the day wherein I first could sin, to this hour, upon thy merciful altar.
Consume and burn them all with the fire of thy love, and wash out all the stains of my sins.
O cleanse my conscience from all offences, and restore to me again thy grace, which I lost by sin, fully forgiving me all my offences, and receiving me mercifully to the kiss of peace!
3. What can I do for my sins, but humbly confess and bewail them, and incessantly intreat thy favour?
I beseech thee, hear me graciously, when I stand before thee, O my God!
All my sins are very displeasing unto me. I will never commit them any more; but I bewail and will bewail them as long as I live, and am purposed to repent, and according to the utmost of my power to please thee.
Forgive me, O God, forgive me my sins for thy holy name’s sake.
Save my soul, which thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood.
Behold, I commit myself to thy mercy, I resign myself over into thy hands.
Do with me according to thy goodness, not according to my wickedness and iniquity.
4. I offer up also unto thee all that is good in me, although it be very little and imperfect, that thou mayst amend and sanctify it:
That thou mayst make it grateful and acceptable unto thee, and always perfect it more and more.
And bring me also, who am a slothful and unprofitable creature, to a good and blessed end.
5. I offer up also unto thee all the pious desires of devout persons, the necessities of my parents, friends, brethren, sisters; and of all those that are dear unto me, and that have done good either to myself or others:
And that have desired me to pray for them and theirs; that they all may receive the help of thy grace and comfort, protection from dangers, deliverance from pain; and being freed from all evils, may joyfully give worthy thanks unto thee.
6. I offer up also unto thee my prayers, especially for them who have in any thing wronged, grieved, or slandered me, or have done me any damage or displeasure:
And for all those also, whom I have at any time troubled, grieved or scandalized by words or deeds, wittingly or unawares; that it may please thee to forgive us all our sins and offences, one against another.
Take, O Lord, from our hearts all jealousy, indignation, wrath, and contention, and whatsoever may lessen brotherly love.
Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on those that crave thy mercy: give grace unto them that stand in need thereof; and grant that we may be counted worthy to enjoy thy grace, and so attain life everlasting. _Amen._