Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/640

 therefore we  humbly  pray  and  beseech  thee  here  on  earth, that giving  us  time  to  pray  for  pardon  thou  wouldst  give us also  forgiveness,  of  our  sins. Through our  Lord,  Jesus, Christ. Amen.

2. Take  away,  merciful  Lord all errors   from  thy 'faithful people,  avert  from  them  the  sudden  destruction of the  wasting  pestilence;  and  those  whose  wanderings thou dost  justly  chastise,  do  thou  mercifully  pity  when corrected. Through Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.

Sin no  longer,  O  my  soul;  think  upon;  the  sudden change from  sin  to  endless  torments. There, in  hell, penance is  not  accepted  and  tears  profit  not. Turn, then, whilst  thou  hast  time;  cry  out  and  say,  Have  mercy upon me,  O  my  God.

In the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death;  but  to  whom  can we look  to  be  our  helper  save  thee,  O  Lord,  who  art  justly angry with  us  because  of  our  sins? O holy  God,  holy and strong,  holy  and  merciful  Saviour,  deliver  us  not over to  a  bitter  death.

V Lest,  overtaken,  by  the  day  of  death,  we  seek  time for penance,  and  be  unable  to  find  it.

R. Hearken,  O  Lord,  and  have  mercy  on  us;  for  we have  sinned  against  thee.

3. We  beseech  thee,  Almighty  God,  receive  in  thy fatherly pity  thy  people  who  flee  unto  thee  from  thine anger; that  those  who  fear  to  be  chastised  by  the  rod  of thy  majesty  through  sudden  deathy may  be  made  worthy to rejoice  in  thy  pardon. Though our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  &amp;c.

4. We  beseech  thee,  Almighty  God,  graciously  incline thine ear  to  the  assembly  of  thy  Church,  and  let  thy  mercy to us  go  before  thine  anger;  for  if  thou  shouldst  mark iniquities, there  shall  no  creature  be  able  to  stand  before thee: but  in  that  same  admirable  charity  whereby  thou didst create  us,  pardon  us  sinners,  and  destroy  not  the work of  thine  own  hands  by  sudden  death. Through our lord Jesus  Christ  &amp;c.

5. Hear our prayers, O Lord, and enter not into judgment with Thy servants; for, knowing that there is no justice in us on which we can dare to presume, We acknowledge no other fount of mercy whereby we can he washed from our sins, delivered from our infirmities, and espcially from unprepared death, but only Thou, O Lord. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

6. O God, before whom every heart trembles and ever conscience is awed; show forth Thy mercy upon us Thy suppliants, that we who trust not in the excellence of our own merit, may never experience unprepared death, but may receive Thy pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, &c.