Eternal, merciful God, I, a poor miserable afflicted sinner, come before
Thy divine Majesty bringing unto Thee nothing but sin, and on account of
this sin I dare not raise my eyes unto Thee, but am cast down with shame,
that I have so often and with great and manifold sins offended Thee, my
God, my Creator and Father, so that if Thou wouldst deal with me
according to my just dues, I would forever remain a child of wrath and
eternal damnation. But dear Lord God and Father, I comfort myself with
Thy great mercy, with Thy unmeasurable, unfathomable, endless and
unspeakable grace, which Thou thyself hast vouchsafed unto me and which
Thou, with a precious oath and affirmation, hast confirmed and given me
ample assurance with Thy Words: "As true as I live, I have no pleasure in
the death of a sinner, but that he might turn from his wickedness and
live." I comfort myself with Thine only begotten Son, my dear Redeemer,
Justifier, Mediator and Saviour, that He has, by His perfect obedience,
sufferings and death, obtained for me again Thy favor, and has given unto
me, one that believes in Him, power to become Thy child and to remain an
heir of Thy boundless mercy now and in eternity. Therefore, I will not
despair, but will confess my sins, both internal and external, secret and
manifest, unto Thee, and I will present myself before Thee guilty as an
evil-doer and malefactor, and I know nothing more to do than to come upon
the promise of Thy Word with an humble heart and dauntless spirit in true
faith and sincere confidence in Thy promised mercy and the bitter
sufferings of Thy dear Son, to the throne of grace, and from the depths
of my heart exclaim: Abba, dear Father, Lord! have mercy upon me! O God,
be gracious unto me, a poor, miserable sinner; forgive all my original
and actual sins, and all that I have at any time thought, spoken or done
against Thee, consciously or unconsciously. Lord, there is nothing good
in me. In sin was I conceived and born, in sin have I lived, in sin do I
yet live, so long as I carry with me this sinful flesh and blood, and my
sins are continually before Thee. Thou seest in me a thousand times more,
yea, and a thousand times greater sin than I myself am able to see, know
and feel. O Lord, enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy
sight shall no man living be justified. Have mercy upon me for the sake
of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, my Lord and Saviour, and through Thy great
mercy, which is greater than the sins of all men, blot out my
transgressions. Wash me clean with hysop and sprinkle me with the pure
blood of Thy Son, which was shed upon the cross. May I be and remain Thy
child and heir, a vessel of Thy mercy, a fountain and dwelling of the
Holy Spirit. O, Lord, redeem, comfort and quicken me! Grant unto me Thy
grace anew! Gladden my distressed spirit and my troubled and broken heart
with Thy holy, joyful and life-giving Spirit. The broken reed and smoking
flax Thou wilt not, O Lord, bruise and quench. Thou wilt not cast me away
from Thy countenance forever, this I know full well. Thou wilt not permit
me to despair, but wilt favor me with Thy true Spirit, who will enkindle
and confirm in me true faith and comfort. O, Lord! my God and Father,
Thou faithful God, hear my prayer, that I may continue to be and remain
Thy child and temple, now and eternally. Permit me not to fall into error
and vice against my conscience. Save me from blood guiltiness and from
all evil. May I ever rejoice in Thy Word, that I may willingly hear the
same, read and ponder over it and that I may therewith serve and benefit
others, that I may speak of it day and night, and proclaim Thy
righteousness and glory continually; and I will love, adore, praise,
thank and serve Thee, my God and Lord, and Thy dear Son, my Saviour Jesus
Christ, together with the Holy Ghost, now and in all eternity with all
angels and men. Amen.