we have. For thou hast said, I will not leave thee, neither will I forsake thee; so that we may confidently say, The Lord is my helper. Thou art near,
O Lord. Let us be nothing solicitous, but, every where and in all things instructed, let us know how to be full and to be hungry, to abound and to suffer need. But, above all, let us exercise ourselves unto godliness, which is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Grant to us not to trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in thee the living God, who givest us abundantly all things to enjoy; to do good, to be rich in good works, to give easily, to communicate to others, to lay up in store for ourselves a good foundation against the time to come, that we may lay hold on eternal life.
Thou art able, O God, to make all grace abound in us, that, having all sufficiency in all things, we may abound to every good work. Thou who ministerest seed to the sower, shalt also give bread to eat.6
5. And forgive us our trespasses.
Since in our flesh dwells not that which is good, so that the good which we will we do not, but the evil which we will not that we do, therefore, by sin reigning in our mortal body, we have obeyed the lusts thereof. Alas, how often have we yielded our members as instruments of iniquity unto sin, and have despised the riches of thy goodness, and patience, and long-suffering, not regarding that thy benignity leads us to penance; but, according to our hardness and impenitent heart, we have treasured up to ourselves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of thy just judgment, who wilt render to every man according to his works.
But let thy mercy, O most gracious Father, come upon us; and, showing us the riches of thy glory, make us vessels of thy mercy, prepared unto thy glory;5 and where sin abounded, let grace more abound.
Behold, we forbear threatenings to others, that we may have thee our Lord propitious to us in heaven. Put thou also on us, as thine elect, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience, that we may be kind to one another, compassionate, and forgiving one another, even as thou in Christ hast forgiven us; to no man rendering evil for evil; but, if it be possible, as much as is
