Adorable Jesus! I acknowledge my vileness, my

worthlessness, my ingratitude. With shame and

confusion of face I look up unto You, O bleeding

Lamb, for having slighted your goodness, and

Your loving kindness towards me.

 

Take away this earthliness from my mind; this

coldness from my heart; this insensibility to the

things of God. Preserve me from a secret alienation

of heart; from a growing lukewarmness.

 

You are the Rock of Ages, the everlasting Strength.

Endue me with power from on high to overcome all

my indwelling corruptions, which, like a thick cloud,

intervene between my soul and You, the Sun of

Righteousness; and thus prevent the rays of your

consolation from gladdening my heart, and making

me to abound in the fruits of righteousness.

 

To whom can I look, to whom can I go, but unto

You, O Friend of sinners. Lord, at Your sweet call,

I come for pardon, peace, and holiness.

 

Lord! I am sorely grieved, that I love You so little;

that my affections move so slowly towards You.

 

Stir up my languid desires.

Inflame my cold affections.

Set my whole soul on fire with holy love.

 

How painful, that I should be so little affected

by the agony and bloody sweat, the cross and

passion, of my suffering Redeemer.

 

Why is not my soul all on fire, when I think

of Your love? Why is it not melted into tears,

when I think of my dying Savior?

 

Am I harder than the rock in Horeb?

Am I colder than the northern ice?

 

Lord! smite my rocky heart with the rod of Your

loving kindness; dissolve my frozen affections,

by the melting beams of Your grace.

 

O! blessed Jesus! I praise You for such infinite love,

such abounding grace to the chief of sinners!

 

(Thomas Reade, 1620-1686)