Psalm 51: For Remission of Sins
hand and power, neither was it thy good pleasure at any time that these things should be offered unto thee, any otherwise, but as manifest tokens of reverent awe, pure religion, and inward godliness. But thou hast chiefly required this of mankind, that they should yield and render most hearty thanks for the benefits they have received, and to ascribe all the good things they enjoy unto thee only: but let them diligently annex and join this thereunto, that whatsoever they pretend or purpose to do, it may (according to their faithful promise) greatly redound to the glory of thy blessed name, and call upon thee only in their great distress and miserable calamities. We do in this point (as thou O good God right well knowest) err very grievously: and therefore our hearty desire is, that (for thy infinite goodness sake) thou wouldest pardon and forgive whatsoever we have wickedly and after a lewd manner committed against thee, so as we handle not thy sacred word to our condemnation, least we be, through thy upright sentence, pronounced wonderful arrogant, strange children, exceeding covetous, given to fleshly lust, and cursed speakers, but rather that we may earnestly offer unto thee an acceptable sacrifice of thanksgiving, and fashion our whole life according to the square rule of thy blessed commandments, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PSALM 51: FOR REMISSION OF SINS
(Prayer 1) We lamentable with hearty prayer call upon thy loving mercy (O most good and gracious God) that we may be cleansed, washed, and purged from our heinous iniquities, and exceeding detestable and mischievous deeds: who do acknowledge and confess how lewdly we have hitherto behaved ourselves, but our grievous sins shall never be of such force, as to make thee unjust, or false of thy excellent promise: we truly do right well understand that our deserts are not such, as thou shouldest vouchsafe to make most large and notable promises unto us, but stand now in great need of thy unspeakable faithfulness and constancy to help us. Thou seest that we were brought forth into this world corrupted and defiled even from our mothers womb, and were before conceived in the same
iniquities also: purify therefore our minds, and garnish them with such a passing whiteness as seemeth acceptable unto thee. Create in us a pure heart, a right, holy, and serviceable spirit, that we be not cast off from thee as most wicked persons, but may recover the true joys and perfect consolation. If thou wilt deliver us from those deadly sins which accuse us as guilty of eternal death, our lips shall merrily and with right great joy show forth thy worthy praise. Grant (we heartily beseech thee) that we may approach unto thy divine Majesty with a troubled spirit, and an humble and contrite heart, as an offering wherein thou chiefly delightest: then shall our present calamities be mollified, and then also shall we not celebrate thy praises unthankfully: manifest thy loving kindness unto Zion, thy beloved
Church: for thou right well perceivest the manifold perils it is subject unto, and that she is grievously assaulted both without and within. We heartily require thee to deliver her not only from outward enemies, but also reform the same, and set it in good state, to the intent she may not seem altogether unworthy such an husband as thou art, through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) We acknowledge (O most mighty God) with how great a pernicious infection of sins we have defiled our minds: which thing seeing that it is most troublesome and exceedingly grieveth us, neither can we (through our own strength and good works) wash out the spots already conceived: but this is our only refuge, that we may come unto thee being the well spring of mercy, so that thou having compassion upon us, mayest do away our grievous offenses, wash away our deadly iniquities, blot out our heinous sins, and purify again our vices, wherewith we are wonderfully infected even from our conception and birth. For if thou wilt most frankly pardon the misdeeds and wickedness wherewith we are sore burdened, then verily shalt thou appear to be exceeding true, faithful, and most constant in thy faithful promises. Vouchsafe to sprinkle us with the blood of thy only begotten son, by which one sovereign thing both the soul and body may be renewed with a marvelous comfortable joy. We earnestly desire a new heart to be created in our bowels, and to be endued also with thy most noble spirit, to the intent we may not compelled, but with right good will, offer unto thee a sacrifice of a troubled and contrite heart, which thou never usest to