shall endure it, in so many things do we all offend; I beseech thee, therefore, by thy eternal love, mercifully to forgive me whatever things I have failed in, at whatever time or place, and in what manner soever; or, if I may not have clearly fulfilled thy precept of forgiving those who sinned against me, or not have loved my enemies from my heart, I implore thy majesty to accept, O most just God, in satisfaction, the infinite price of the blood, and the most touching prayer of thy most dear Son, by which he asked thee to forgive his enemies when he was hanging on the cross.
6. And lead us not, &c.
O most gracious Father! for the sake of thy infinite love, forgive me for not having hitherto, with sufficient diligence and earnestness, endeavoured to resist my corrupt concupiscences and desires, but rather consented to the evil suggestions of the world, the flesh, and the devil, for which I have been deservedly exposed to various misfortunes. I pray, then, O Lord, that if, in the counsel of thy divine providence, thou willest me, on that account, to undergo temptations, thou wilt never permit me to consent to them. Vouchsafe, I beseech thee, O almighty God, to accept the glorious victory of Christ thy Son, by which he vanquished the flesh, the world, and Satan, together with his most holy conversation, and all his labours and sorrows, for the supply of all my negligence and frailty; and so to deliver me from all evil, and to bring me to all good, which is nowhere nor aught else, but thyself, singly and only, O my God and my all! Amen.
CHAPTER V.
INSTRUCTIONS AND EXERCISES FOR SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION.
A short instruction for the profitable practice of Confession.
Of the exercises of an ascetic or holy life, none is of more frequent recurrence than confession; but many derive little or no benefit from it, because they go through it, not so much from a love of true piety, or from a desire to
