Petition for Pardon
A historical Anglican devotional form from Thomas Ken’s Winchester manual (1675).
Historical edition. Historical claims and instructions are preserved as historical context.
O Thou Father of Mercies, and God of all Consolation, be merciful to me a miserable sinner!
Lord Remember all Thy Gracious calls of sinners to Repentance, All Thy Protestations that Thou delightest not in the death of him that dies, and that Thou wouldst have all to be saved!
Lord Remember all the exceeding great, and pretious promises, which Thou hast made to Penitent sinners!
Lord Remember, that Thy mercy is over all Thy works, that in mercy Thou delightest, and that all the Holy Angels seeing Thee well pleased in the exercise of that Mercy, Rejoice at the Conversion of a Sinner, that the greater my sins are, the more will that Mercy be magnified in my forgiveness!
Lord Remember, that Thou didst so love the world, as to give Thy only beloved Son, a Ransome for it!
O Heavenly Father, Thou that sparedst not Thy only Son, but deliveredst Him up for us, wilt thou not with Him also freely give us All things? and if all things, wilt Thou not also, give us the pardon of our sins?
O my God, I firmly believe Thou wilt, on that ransome my Saviour hath paid for me, and on all Thy gracious promises of pardon, which for his sake Thou hast made to me, I wholly rely; Here only is the sure, and stedfast anchor of my soul, to which my Faith, and Hope, shall for ever adhere.
All this Lord do I plead, to implore Thy forgiveness.
Behold Lord, though my failings are many, yet to the utmost of my power, I have confest, and bewailed, and forsaken my transgressions, Behold Lord I come at Thy Call, and I come weary, and heavy laden, with the burthen of my sins; Be it unto me according to Thy Word, O Thou that art faithful and just forgive me my sins, and cleanse me from all Unrighteousness. Lord do Thou in no wise cast me from Thee, but Heal my Backslidings, and love me freely, Ease me of my Burthen, that I may find rest in Thee, and say unto my Soul, Be of good chear, thy sins are forgiven thee.
O Heavenly Father, for thine own Infinite Mercies sake, for Thy truth and Promise sake, for all the merits and sufferings of the Son of Thy Love, in whom Thou art always well pleased, Pardon all my sins, and failings, and receive me into Thy favour.
Amen, O Lord God, Amen, Amen.