REV. JOHN LEY, B.D.
FELLOW OF EXETER COLLEGE,
AND CURATE OF ST. ALDATE'S, OXFORD.

OXFORD,

JOHN HENRY PARKER;

J. G. F. AND J. RIVINGTON, LONDON.

1845.

BAXTER, PRINTER, OXFORD.

NOTICE.

THIS little Book has been compiled for the use of a particular Institution, to which also the profits of its Sale, if any, will belong. It is made public at the suggestion of several persons, who think that it may be useful in other Institutions of the same kind, as well as to private individuals.

Most of the Prayers are taken from the Liturgy. The remainder are selected, or adapted with slight alterations, from approved works of Devotion.

The Hymns are not altogether what the Compiler could have wished; but he must plead in excuse for this the lack of Hymns of a better character in our language.

His object has been to assist Devotion by variety, and by directing attention to some important subjects on each occasion of Prayer.

PRAYERS AND OTHER DEVOTIONS

FOR

PENITENTS.

PREFACE.

The Sinner's Lamentation.

O LORD, turn not Thy face from me,
Who lie in woeful state,
Lamenting all my sinful life
Before Thy mercy-gate;

A gate which opens wide to those
That do lament their sin :

Shut not that gate against me, Lord,
But let me enter in.

And call me not to strict account,
How I have sojourn'd here;
For then my guilty conscience knows
How vile I shall appear.

I need not to confess my life

To Thee, Who best can tell
What I have been, and what I am;

I know Thou know'st it well.

The circumstances of my crimes,

Their number and their kind,

Thou know'st them all, and more, much more
Than I can call to mind:

B