Prayer for Forgiveness in Sad Times: Brian Duppa

Look down, O LORD, in the Bowels of thy pitty, and lend a tender ear unto the voice of our Lamentations. Our Adversaries are the chief, our enemies prosper: For thou hast afflicted us for the multitude of our transgressions: The Crown is fallen from the head, wo unto us, that we have sinned.

O Lord, behold our afflictions, for the Enemy hath magnified himself.

The Adversary hath spread out his hand upon all our pleasant things; they have entred into, and have prophaned thy sanctuaries: They have seen us low, and they have mocked at our Sabboaths, our solemn feasts are become their scorn, and our devotions their derision.

O Lord, behold our afflictions, for the Enemy hath magnified himself.

Thou art become our Enemy, thou hast increased among us Mourning and Lamentation, because thou hast despised in the indignation of thine anger both the King, and the Priest.

See, O Lord, and consider, for we are become very vile.

All our people sigh. The yoak of our transgressions is bound by thy hand, they are wreathed and come up upon our necks, thou hast made our strength to faile, thou hast delivered it into their hands, from whom we are not able to rise up Thou hast troden us as in a Winepresse; our enemies heare our trouble, and they are glad thou hast done it.

Behold, O Lord, for we are in distresse: Our bowels are troubled, our heart is turned within us; for we have grievously Rebelled, abroad the sword devoureth, at home there is but death.

Our enemies have opened their mouth against us, they hiss and they gnash their Teeth, they say, We have swallowed them up; certainly, this is the day that we looked for, we have found, we have seen it. Thus are we in derision all the day long, Wee are become their Song, and their Musick.

O Lord, behold our afflictions, for the enemy hath magnified himself.

They have cryed unto us, depart ye, ye are unclean, depart, depart; touch not; yea, these men have said, they shall no more so mourn here.

O Lord, behold our afflictions, for the enemy hath magnified himself.

The breath of our Nostrils, the Anointed of the Lord is taken in their pits, and slaughtered by their hands; of whom yet we said, under his shadow we shall live among the midst of these sad distractions.

O Lord, behold this, and behold our afflictions, for the enemy hath very highly magnified himself.

Thus do we call to minde our afflictions, and our miseries, the Wormwood and the Gall, our souls have them in remembrace, and they are humbled in us, and therefore have we hope.

It is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed, because his compassions faile not. They are new every morning, great is his faithfulnesse. For the Lord will not cast off for ever; but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his Mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end

Amen.