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WO, Wo unto me, O God, that being a Creature of thine, and made by thee capable of enjoying everlasting felicity, I have lived so wickedly and leudly, that, unless thy mercy prevent it, I shall utterly forfeit the very End of my Creation.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am utterly ashamed of it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that I have trifled away so many of my Youngest days without knowing thee, or taking any notice of those strict duties which I did owe unto thee; that I was so long a Child in all things, excepting Inno∣cence, and that only by an over-hasty Spring of early Wickedness I was more than a Child.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I Accuse, and Judge, and Condemn my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that as I grew up, the seeds of Corruption which I brought with me into the world grew up along with me, and by insensible de∣grees (which I observed not) Pride and Folly and Lust took Possession of me, and Sin hath reigned in my mortal Body.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am infinitely confounded at it.
Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that being washed in the Waters of Baptism from the guilt of that Original Corruption which I brought with me into the World, I have since that time so many ways actually defiled my self, that I can no longer pretend by any former con∣tract with thee, that I am either a Child of thine, a member of thy Christ, or an heir of the Kingdom of Heaven.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am utterly confounded at it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo unto me, O God, that having been received into the Bosom of thy Church, (which so many millions of Souls have not had the happiness to be) I have in∣gratefully dishonoured thy holy Faith by an unholy Life; and having so often confessed thee with my tongue, I have denied thee in my life and actions.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I Accuse, and Judge, and Condemn my Self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that ha∣ving abjured the Devil and all his works, and given up my name to Christ, to fight under the Banner of his Cross, I have on the contrary treacherously complied with his Enemy in many things, and shall be found (I fear) to have been more diligent in serving him, than I have been in serving thee.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am confounded and astonished at it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that being obliged by that high calling of being a Christian to renounce the Pomps and Vanities of the World, I have so infi∣nitely failed in this, that I have doted
on nothing more: for those very Vani∣ties have been my Idols, and my seduced Heart hath gone a Whoring after them.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am ashamed and confounded at it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that being farther bound by that most Solemn Vow, utterly to forsake the sinful Lusts of the Flesh, I have, instead of forsaking them pursued and hunted after them, and when other temptations have failed, have been apt enough to kindle my own Fire, and to be a Tempter to my self.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I hate, and loath, and abhar my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that know∣ing thy revealed Will to be the Law to which I was bound in all obedience to
submit my self, I, like an insolent Re∣bel, have not only set up my own Will, in opposition to thine, but many times preferred it before thine, and have list∣ned more to the false Oracles of Flesh and Blood than to all thy Holy Com∣mandments.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I Accuse, and Judge, and Condemn my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that being made according to thine Image, (the greatest honour that could be done thy Creature) I have dashed so many blurs and spots and foul sins upon it, so defa∣ced all the lines and features of it, that, unless the Holy Spirit please to renew that Image in me again, I tremble to think what I must one day hear, Depart from me, I know you not.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am ashamed and confounded at it.
Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that ha∣ving received a Rational Soul from thee, to be a Moral Light and guide unto my actions, I have been so brutish as to fol∣low my sensual appetite instead of it, and have made no farther use of Reason than to find out vain excuses to cozen my own Soul into all the by-ways of Sin and Errour.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I Accuse, and Judge, and Condemn my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that being endowed with Memory to serve as a Magazine to treasure up thy Precepts and holy Counsels in, I have stuft it so miserably full with the Idea's of former Vanities and Sin, that I have left no room for thee at all.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I infinitely condemn my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that ha∣ving received a Heart from thee to be the seat of clean and holy affections, and the only Temple for thy holy Spirit to dwell in, I have so unworthily abused and al∣tered the property of it, that it is now become a Den of Thieves, and an un∣handsome receptacle of all uncleanness.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I hate, and loath, and abhor my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that my wretched Heart being corrupted, my Imagination hath run wildly after with a swarm of vain and sinful Thoughts, which like importunate Flies, being dri∣ven away light again and again upon my destracted Soul, and intermingle with the best of my Devotions.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am infinitely troubled and grieved for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that mine Eyes, being greedy after Vanity, have been upon all occasions as open win∣dows to let in Sin; but when by the same way they should have issued out Penitential Tears, to wash away the stains those Sins had made, there hath been no passage found for them.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am inwardly grieved and deplore my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O my God, that, for the entertaining of vain conversati∣on, I have left mine Ears too often open to light and vain and sinful discourses, and in all my inquiries have hearkned more to what the world saith abroad,
than to what thy holy Spirit and my own Conscience saith within me.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I Accuse, and Judge, and Condemn my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that I have not resolved, with thy Servant David, to take care of my ways, that I offend not in my tongue, but have ma∣ny times vainly and inconsiderately let it loose, and, either to please the Com∣pany or my self, I have spoken words which might unhappily prove occasions of sin both to them and me, without re∣gard, or remembring how great Flames such little sparks might kindle.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I do infinitely condemn my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that all the parts and faculties of my Soul and
Body have been abused, and have not served the Laws of their Creator, but have so eagerly and constantly pursued the corrupt desires of a seduced Heart, that I have cause to fear that either my whole life may be looked upon as one continued sin, or at least as having ad∣mitted so few inconsiderable Pauses, that if thou shouldst enter into strict Judg∣ment with me, I should not have the confidence to say when, or where, or wherein I have been innocent.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am confounded and astonished at it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo unto me, O God, that I have wretchedly failed even in my best endea∣vours, that I have been cold in my De∣votions, weary of my Prayers, inconstant to good purposes, dull and heavy in the way to Heaven, but quick and active in all the ways of sin, having made it the whole business of my life, rather to seem to be Religious, than really to be so.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I Accuse, and Judge, and Condemn my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that I have not washed mine hands in Innocency, when I have gone unto thine Altar, nor made mine heart ready to receive the bread that came from Heaven, but have failed in my Preparations, and have not sufficiently considered either mine own unworthiness, or the high secrets of so great a Mystery.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am grieved and troubled at it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that ha∣ving so often received those inestimable Pledges of thy love, the precious Body and Blood of thy dear Son in the Holy Sacrament, I have been so unwary as to
admit my former sins under the same roof with thee, and have unhappily done what lay in me to drive thee from me.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am infinitely ashamed at it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that my Repentance, the only plank left me in the Shipwrack of my Soul, hath been so weak, so slight, and so unsteady, that every small blast of a new Temptation hath been able to drive me from it, and by frequent Relapses into sin, gives me cause enough to repent, even of my vain repentance.
But I Repent again, O God, again I I Repent. I hate, and loath, and abhor my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that ha∣ving
received my Life and Being and Preservation from thee, with so many advantages to have made me happy in this world, and blessed in the next, I have been so abominably unthankful, that I have cast all these thy Blessings be∣hind me and returned thee nothing back for all thy favours, but affronts, and in∣juries, and sins.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am confounded and astonished at it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, wo unto me, O God, that be∣ing Redeemed by the Death and Passi∣on of thy dear and only Son, I have not laid his bitter Agonies to heart, nor made right use of the precious Ransom which was laid down for me: That I have not yet sued out my pardon with such Penitent Tears as thou requirest, nor laid hold of the benefits of it by a lively Faith; but have chosen rather stupidly to continue in my Sins, and to neglect the Blood of the Covenant as an unholy thing.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I hate, and loath, and abhor my self for it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me O God, that thy Holy Spirit I have grieved, thy Coun∣sels I have rejected, thy Motions I have quenched, and have entertained the Lusts and Vanities nf this life with far more earnest and passionate affections than all thy Holy Inspirations.
But I Repent, O my God, I Repent. I am utterly ashamed and confounded at it. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.
Wo, Wo unto me, O God, that ha∣ving thus far opened my guilty heart be∣fore thee, I have left so many Sins be∣hind, that I cannot number them; some that I have really forgot, some that I would forget, if my Conscience would give me leave; Sins known, that I can∣not
conceal, and sins secret, such as I have taken so much care to hide from others, that they are now become hid∣den from my self.
But whatsoever they are, or whereso∣ever they are registred, whether in my own Conscience or in any other Record, that may be proved against me in the day of Judgment,
I call the whole Court of Heaven to witness, That I do sadly Repent my self of them all; That I do abhor my self for them all; That I resolve stedfastly to renounce them all. Lord, be thou merciful to me a Sinner.