from thee, who hast foreseen all my ways, and understood my thoughts afar off? What shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? Alas, O my Lord! I have sinned,and my offences are not hid from thee. Yet, if I judge myself, these are the things in which my heart accuses me most.
Here examine thy conscience, and for this purpose think over the whole course of the day; weigh well where thou hast been, with whom engaged, what thou hast thought, said, and done. But remember to make thy examination with reference to thy state, office, or vocation; so wilt it be easy for thee to discover thy sins, whether of commission or omission. Also reflect seriously what progress thou hast made in the practice of some virtue, N., that is most necessary to thee, and in the rooting out of some vice, N., that gives thee the greatest trouble.
IV. PRAYER FOR PARDON.
O Father of mercies! who delightest not in the perdition of sinners, look upon me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. Into the depths of thy eternal love, with which thou hast loved us, I cast all the offences of this day and of my whole life. From the bottom of my heart I am sorry that I have so often offended thee, and been so ungrateful for thy many blessings, O my God and my highest good. By the death and the love of thy Son Jesus Christ, I pray thee spare me, a miserable creature, and mercifully forgive me whatever sins I have this day, or ever committed against thee, my neighbour, and myself.
V. PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT.
O most powerful God, without whose spirit there is nothing in man, I firmly purpose, before thee and the whole court of heaven, to follow more exactly the rule of thy will, to reform my habits, to attend more closely to my vocation, and to avoid sin and its occasions, &c.
But though this is my wish, without thee I am unable to accomplish it. Therefore thou who givest me the will, give me also the power to perform. Give what thou commandest, and command what thou wilt, that I may live soberly, justly, and godly in this world, and, with thy Saints, praise thee for ever in the next.
Accept, O Lord, this my desire, as incense in thy sight. Of thy infinite mercy despise not this my late and evening sacrifice.
And you, my holy Patrons! above all thou, O Virgin mother, and thou, my guardian Angel, and thou, N.,and all ye denizens of heaven, who never tire in praising God,
