Humble Petition Unto Almighty God
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A19467.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
ANDREWES Humble Petition unto Almighty God, declaring his Repentance.
Newly made in a right zealous and most Godly Prayer, out of the pure fountain of holy Scripture, in the autumn or declining of his age.
Very necessary for all the children of God to use in their daily prayers.
Sero sed Serio.
Wherein is contained an Alarum for old age: a watch-word for Youth, and a caveat for all Christians.
Published by John Andrew's Minister and Preacher of the word of God, in the County of Wiles.
LONDON, Printed for John Wright, and are to be sold at his shop without Newgate, at the sign of the Bible. 1623.
To the high and mighty King of Kings , Prince of Peace , Conqueror of death , Hell and Sin ; the great Judge of the world , and Bishop of my soul , CHRIST IESV my Savior.
M Ost singular, most excellent, most beautiful, most glorious, & most worthy Savior, most entirely beloved, and most sweet Jesus; in token of my humblest devotion I owe unto thy most sacred self, I here dedicate this Mite (entitled Andrew's Petition) which is the true Copy of my loyallest affection unto thee. And so often from the bottom of my heart I do salute thee, as there be Angels in heaven, drops of water in the sea, Stars in the Firmament, leaves on the trees, and grass on the ground: yea incessantly with all humility, I salute thee in the union of love; and unto the most blessed and sweet heart of thy own sweet self, I do in all dutiful affection assign myself and my dearest love unto thee, my sweet and loving Savior; (although unworthy) to be thy servant; and I most humbly beseech thee, that thou wilt vouchsafe to entertain and receive me, that I may be wholly thine; and thou Co-equal with God thy Father, mayest be wholly mine: that after my ended miseries thou wilt crown me with thy endless mercies: unto this sweet Jesus my Savior, say Amen.
To all Christian sinners, that desire repentance, health in the LORD.
REade attentively, and judge indifferently, but pray continually: receive instructions willingly, and watch in the same seriously with all sedulity.
Treasure them in your hearts carefully, and daily meditate thereon zealously, that ye enter not into temptation carelessly.
Yours in all Christian affection, John Andrew's.
The Author to the Reader.
IT is well known (gentle Reader) unto many, besides my license of absence, which I John Andrew's the Author of this work have to show, that by the handy-work of God, in sending contrary winds, I have lost to the value of three-score pounds by the year in spiritual livings within the Realm of Ireland, to the utter impoverishing of me, my wife and children forever, except God in his mercy open the harts of well disposed Gentlemen, and others, by their good liking of these my labors to relieve me in these my present wants, that thereby I may attain unto some better estate again. Wherefore I bestow this mite of my poor labors, called Andrew's Petition, upon you, in all dutiful manner, and with as tender affection as ever Nurse or Mother gave their breasts to their children, or the Pelican sucked the blood from her breast to feed and cherish her young, I do hereby kindly present the same, desiring almighty God that it may breathe out such sound and godly doctrine to your good liking in your heart, that it may become a special salve to cure and preserve your soul.
Yours in all Christian duties to be commanded, John Andrew's.
An humble Petition unto Almighty GOD.
A Lmighty and most merciful God , Father and maker of all men , full of pity and compassion , rich unto all which cal upon thee for mercy , promising to hear my petitions , that whensoever I shall ask anything in thy name through faith, I shall obtain the same . Wherefore O Lord, I am emboldened to direct my humble , and vnperfit prayers unto thy divine Majesty, beseeching thee for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake, to prepare my mind to prayer , for I know not how to pray as I should , but thou (O Lord) art ready to answer before I call: And while I pray thou wilt hear , and give me far more of thy comfortable mercies, to salve and cure my poor wounded soul, then I can either ask or desire .
Oh therefore, I that am a miserable and wretched sinner, lift up my whole heart & hand unto thee , desiring to come unto thee O Lord, even upon the multitude of thy mercies ; and with sighs, groans , & tears , prostrate myself upon my knees , wherewith in my humble , and contrite heart I bewail my sins , and openly confess them unto thee , O bountiful Jesus, O sweet Savior , O Christ the Son of God . Many and grievous are mine offenses , and my transgressions infinite : yea, I have spent the spring and prime of my years in the servitude of my sins, which have David -like feasted upon beauty , and slept in security , until mine iniquity was ready to come to maturity . Yet O Jesus, O sweet Savior , O Christ the Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world , I here beseech thee, and from the tender bowels of my heart entyrely beg of thy most gracious and fatherly hands , that according unto the multitude of thy mercies thou wilt put away all mine offenses .
And although I began to come to thee O Lord my God, for thy comfortable mercies , 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 to save and cure my poor wounded and distressed soul , in the autumn, or declining of my age, in the evening of my days, at the very sun set of my life.
Yet O sweet Jesus, I beseech thee to bow down thy ears of pity , & with thy tender eyes of mercy look back upon me , as thou didst on the woman of Canaan , on the poor Publican , on Mary Magdalene , or on the penitent These, which came unto thee in his last hour .
For thou O Lord hast brought me home from Banishment , redeemed me from Bondage , withdrawn me from punishment , written me upon thy hands , called me in thy name , and sealed me with thy own most precious blood , and withal, thou hast covenanted , and granted to forgive me all my sins, at what time soever I repented , if I were never so weary and heavy laden , if they were as red as Scarlet, thou wilt make them as white as snow , to forgive and forget them forever.
Although the mother forget her child, or the child his mother that bare him, yet thou (O Lord) hast promised never to forget those that forsake their sins, and come unto thee for mercy . O therefore, sweet Jesus , I entirely beseech thee, that according unto thy freee promises , and according to thy most gracious Covenant , thou wilt have mercy upon me, and cast me not away from thy presence , neither let my long continued sins (O Lord) cause thee to hide thy face from me .
For here I bow the very knees of my heart unto thee O God, and kneel before thy presence , all naked , blind , wounded , poor , wretched, and miserable : having deserved many grievous torments, if thou shouldest enter into thy narrow judgment with me . But sweet Lord have compassion upon me , annoint my wounds with the oil of thy mercy , restore my sight , clothe my nakedness , enrich me that am poor, help me up that am weak: O bid me not farewell . The infant overcometh his nurse with crying, the child his mother with weeping, the servant his master by entreating: O Lord my God , I beseech thee be thou also entreated, & bind up my wounds with the good Samaritan , which like botches, blaines, and putrifying soars , have many years layne rotting & stinking within me.
O help me O Lord , my life , lest I perish in my wickedness . Pour in, sweet Jesus , the oil of thy mercy , and cause the sweet streams of thy pure water of life to flow out of thy clear and continual springing fountain , daily to be poured upon me , that it may be comfortable to cool the heat of my thirsty and hunger-starved soul, which continually thirsteth after thy mercies, and be medicinal to cure the spreading malady of Adams fall, which infected my soul with the leprosy of sin : For I am like the wandering child that is not worthy to be called thy son: O make me one of thy meanest servants . I am thy lost sheep, O seek and save me. And from the bottom of my heart, I cry with the Prophet David, O Lord have mercy upon me, and heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee . And as Manasseh K. of Judah, I confess my sins to be innumerable, but I beseech thee forgive me, O Lord forgive me, and cast me not away with my transgressions : & as the poor Publican, I stand a far off , & dare not lift up mine eyes to heaven, but smite my breast, crying, O God be merciful unto me a miserable and wretched sinner. And with the woman of Canaan, O Jesus thou son of David, have mercy on me , O Jesus of Nazareth , O fountain of mercy , receive thou my spirit , O my life take my soul , enter therein, O my joy , that it may always joy in thee and give me an heart to think on thee , a mind that may love thee , a soul that may remember thee , and a reason that may always stick fast unto thee , that then (O Christ) mayest dwell in my heart , and be the very life of my soul , whereby I may beheld the fair beauty of thee O Lord , and make thee my chiefest delight m, my sweet solace n, my Lord God & the very glory of my soul . For thou O Christ art my Savior whom I will fear , my Lord whom I will praise , my God, whom I will worship , my father whom I will honor , and my spouse, for whom I will keep myself : Therefore O sweet Jesus, I beseech thee cancel that great bill of my sin thou hast against me : for O Lord my God, I was sick, and knew it not, had ulcers running and felt it not , I was obdurate, and became as one that heard not. Custom in sin (O Lord) kept away all sense and feeling of sin: oft heard I thee inviting, & by thy holy Spirit inducing me to return with the Shulamite , but (O Lord) I cried with the sluggard, Yet a little, and then a little , presuming on thy mercies, and deferring my repentance, which causeth my soul to bleed with grief thereof. Incline thine ears O Lord and hear , open O Lord, thine eyes and see, behold O Lord, how I that ever have offended thee , and never till now of late repented, I that have been a rebellious child, and seldom times given ear unto thy word, I that have deferred my repentance from day today, am now come unto thee O Lord my God , with all humility , in my daily meditations , beseeching thee O sweet Jesus , to be present with me at the very hour of my departure out of this world, and impart thy saving health unto me. O vanquish mine enemy, and purchase a triumph for me by thy most gracious victory: Oh hold him fast and bruise him in pieces , that he exercise not his devises upon me, but give me thy whole armor , O God, that like a right soldier, thou mayest make me able to resist my enemy in the evil day. Oh therefore sweet Jesus , whom my soul longeth for , let me see thee, O light of mine eyes . O come Lord Jesus, come quickly , come Jesus my Savior , my life , & my comfort : show me thyself, that thou mayest comfort me thy poor servant which putteth my whole confidence in thee , O thou joy of my heart , my sovereign delight , and my sweet solace . I beseech thee again and again to be with me at my departure out of this mortal life, at which time I humbly beseech thee even from the tender bowels of my heart, to refresh me with the sweet sight of thy cheerful countenance upon me , that I may in no wise despair nor depart from thee, but with exceeding joy desire thee who hast made me , and never forsakest them that put their trust and confidence in thee , to receive my spirit : for I desire to be dissolved, and to be with thee O Christ , in thy heavenly kingdom with thine elect Angels & blessed Saints forever, where thou livest and raignest ever one GOD, world without end.