fess them

ble, lowly,

heart;

4. but con- 4. They shall confess their sin which they have with an hum- done. Nu. v. 7. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy penitent, and obedient God. Je. iii. 13. I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence. Ho. v. 15. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Ps. li. 17. O my God, I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God. Ezr. ix. 6. The publican standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Lu. xviii. 13. Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly. Ps. cxxxviii. 6. I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job xlii. 6. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice, he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee. De. iv. 30, 31.-See also 1 Ki. xxi. 29.-2 Ki. xx. 1-19.-2 Ch. xxxii. 25, 26.—xxxiii. 12—16.—Is. vi. 5.—La. iii. 40, 42, 43.-Matt. xi. 29.

5. to the end that we

the same, by

goodness and mercy.

5. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the may obtain Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Ps. forgiveness of xxxii. 5. Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the his infinite Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful. Je. iii. 12. If my people shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin. 2 Ch. vii. 14. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him ; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Is. lv. 7. Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Ps. lxxxvi. 5.-See also, Is. i. 18. -Ac. iii. 19.

6. And although we

6. I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made ought at all my confession. Da. ix. 4. I acknowledge my

tinies humbly transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

to acknow

ledge our sins before God;

7. yet ought we most

assemble and meet toge

ther.

Ps. li. 3. My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him. Jos. vii. 19. There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ec. vii. 20. In many things we offend all. Ja. iii. 2. My sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up; yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me. Ps. xl. 15. God commandeth all men every where to repent. Ac. xvii. 30.

7. I have chosen and sanctified this house, that chiefly so to my name may be there for ever; and mine eyes do, when we and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 2 Ch. vii. 16. Call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord. Joel i. 14. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord; say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips. Ho. xiv. 2. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Ps. lxxxix. 7. We will go into his tabernacle; and fall low on our knees before his footstool. Ps. cxxxii. 7.-See also, Ac. xi. 26.-Ex. iii. 5.Ac. ii. 41, 42. 46.

8. to render thanks for

8. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and the great be- into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, nests that we and bless his name. Ps. c. 4. Give thanks unto have received make known his

at his hands, the Lord, call upon his name,

9. to set

forth his most worthypraise,

deeds among the people: sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. 1 Ch. xvi. 8, 9. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies. Ps. ciii. 2, 3, 4. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among much people. Ps. XXXV. 18.-See also, Ps. xxii. 22.—Is. lxiii. 7.

9. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion. Ps. lxv. 1. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him

10. to hear

Word,

for his mighty acts; praise him according to his excellent greatness. Ps. cl. 1, 2. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Ps. cxlix. 1. They lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth. Ac. iv. 24. I will go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy; yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God. Ps. xliii. 4.-See also, Ps. cvii. 32.-Is. xliii. 21.-Ps. xlviii.

10. When all Israel is come to appear before the his most holy Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing; gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. De. xxxi. 11, 12. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 1 Th. v. 27. Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day. Ac. xv. 21. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. Ne. viii. 8. And as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and stood up for to read. Lu. iv. 16. The next sabbath-day, came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God. Ac. xiii. 44. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the keep those things which are written therein. Re. i. 3. See also, John viii. 43.

11. and to ask those

and neces

words of this prophecy, and

11. Mine house shall be called a house of prayer things which for all people. Is. lvi. 7.-See also, Mar. xi. 17. are requisite Mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto sary, as well the prayer that is made in this place. 2 Ch. vii. 15. for the body Ye people, pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Ps. lxii. 8. In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Ph. iv. 6. Give us day by day our daily bread. Lu. xi. 3.

as the soul.

12. Wherefore I pray

Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Matt. vi. 8. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matt. vii. 7. My God shall supply all your need, according to his riches. in glory by Christ Jesus. Ph. iv. 19.

12. We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in you, as many Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Co. v. 20.

and beseech

as are here

present,

13. to ac

with a pure heart, and humble voice.

I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. 2 Co. x. 1. O come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Ps. xcv. 6.-See also, He. xiii. 17.-Matt. xviii. 19.

13. I had gone with the multitude, I went with company me them to the house of God, with a multitude that kept holy-day. Ps. xlii. 4. The Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. Le. x. 3. Purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. Ja. iv. 8. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Ps. lxvi. 18. I will that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1 Ti. ii. 8. Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. He. xii. 28. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble; thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. Ps. x. 17. In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they, and the children of Judah together; going and weeping, they shall go, and seek the Lord their God. Je. 1. 4.-See also, Ps. ix. 12. xxiv. 3—6.—Ac. iv. 24.

14. unto the throne of

after me;

14. Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne. the heavenly Is lxvi. 1. Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, saying grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. He. iv. 16. Thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat. Ex. xxv. 21, 22. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John vi. 37.

and most

ther;

II. The general Confession.

1. Almighty 1. Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer merciful Fa- Is. lxiii. 16. I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Co. vi. 17, 18. Thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Ps. lxxxvi. 5. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. 2 Co. i. 3. Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

2. We have erred, and

Lu. vi. 36.

2. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord strayed from your God hath commanded you. De. v. 33. The thy ways like lost sheep. wicked are estranged from the womb, they go astray as soon as they be born. Ps. lviii. 3. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way. Is. liii. 6. I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Ps. cxix. 176. My people hath been lost sheep; they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place. Je. 1. 6. Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Pe. ii. 25.

3. We have followed too

sires of our

3. There are many devices in a man's heart. Pr. much the de- Xix. 21. The imagination of man's heart is evil vices and de- from his youth. Ge. viii. 21. Children of disobeown hearts. dience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. Ep. ii. 2,

4. We have offended against thy holy laws.

3. They said, we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. Je. xviii. 12. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Ja. i. 14. See also, Ge. vi. 5.-Ec. viii. 11.-Pr. xii. 2.-Je. viii. 6.

4. Walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them. Ez. xx. 19. The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Ro. vii. 12. We have offended against the Lord, our trespass is great. 2 Ch. xxviii. 13. I acknow