Eikon Basilike

_Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my Meditation, and hearken to the voyce of my cry, my King and my God, for unto thee will I pray._

_I said in my haste, I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes; nevertheless, thou hearest the voyce of my supplication, when I cry unto thee._

_If thou, Lord, shouldst be extream to mark what is done amiss, who can abide it? But there is mercy with thee, that thou mayest be feared; therefore shall sinners flie unto thee._

_I acknowledg my sins before thee, which have the aggravation of my condition; the eminencie of my place, adding weight to my offences._

_Forgive, I beseech thee, my personal, and my peoples sins; which are so far mine, as I have not improved the power thou gavest me, to thy glorie, and my Subjects good: Thou hast now brought me from the glorie and freedom of a King, to be a Prisoner to my own Subjects. Justlie, O Lord, as to thy over-ruling hand, because in many things I have rebelled against thee._

_Though thou hast restrained my person, yet enlarg my heart to thee, & thy grace towards me._

_I come far short of_ Davids __pietie; yet since I may equal Davids _afflictions, give me also the comforts, and the sure mercies of_ David.

_Let the penitent sense I have of my sins, be an evidence to me, that thou hast pardoned them._

_Let not the evils, which I and my Kingdoms have suffered seem little unto thee, though thou hast not punished us according to our sins._

_Turn thee (O Lord) unto me; have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and afflicted._

_The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my troubles._

_Hast thou forgotten to be gracious, and shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure?_

_O remember thy compassions of old, and thy loving kindesses, which have been for many generations._

_I had utterly fainted, if I had not believed to see thy goodnesse in the land of the living._

_Let not the sins of our prosperitie deprive us of the benefit of thy afflictions._

_Let this fiery triall consume the drosse which in long peace and plentie we had contracted._

_Though thou continuest miseries, yet withdraw not thy grace; what is wanting of prosperitie, make up in patience and repentance._

_And if thy anger be not to be yet turned away, but thy hand of Justice must be stretched out still: Let it, I beseech thee, be against me, and my Fathers house; as for these sheep, what have they done?_

_Let my sufferings satiate the malice of mine, and thy Churches enemies._

_But let their crueltie never exceed the measure of my charitie._

_Banish from me all thoughts of Revenge, that I may not lose the reward, nor thou the glorie of my patience._

_As thou givest me an heart to forgive them, so I beseech thee, do thou forgive what they have done against thee and me._

_And now, O Lord, as thou hast given me an heart to pray unto thee; so hear and accept this Vow which I make before thee._

_If thou wilt in mercie remember Me, and my Kingdoms; In continuing the light of thy Gospel, and settling thy true Religion among us:_

_In restoring to us the benefits of the Laws, and the due execution of Justice:_

_In suppressing the many schismes in Church, and Factions in State:_

_If thou wilt restore me and mine to the Ancient rights and glory of my Predecessors:_

_If thou wilt turn the hearts of my people to thy self in Pietie, to me in Loyaltie, and to one another in Charitie:_

_If thou wilt quench the flames, and withdraw the fewell of these Civill Wars:_

_If thou wilt bless us with the freedom of Publike Counsels, and deliver the Honour of Parliaments from the insolency of the vulgar:_

_If thou wilt keep me from the great offence of enacting any thing against my Conscience: and especially for consenting to sacrilegious rapines, and spoilings of thy Church:_

_If thou wilt restore me to a capacity to glorifie thee in doing good, both to the Church and State:_

_Then shall my soul praise thee, and Magnifie thy name before my people._

_Then shall thy glorie be dearer to me then my Crown; and the advancement of true Religion both in puritie and power be my chiefest care._

_Then will I rule my People with justice, and my Kingdoms with equity:_

_To thy more immediate hand shal I ever own as the rightfull succession, so the mercifull restauration of my Kingdoms, and the glorie of them._

_If thou wilt bring me again with Peace safetie and honour, to my chiefest City and my Parliament:_

_If thou wilt again put the Sword of Justice into my hand to punish and protect:_

_Then will I make all the world to see, and my very Enemies to enjoy the benefit of this Vow and resolution of Christian charitie, which I now make unto thee O Lord._

_As I do freely pardon for Christ's sake those that have offended me in any kind; so my hand shall never be against any man to revenge what is past, in regard of any particular injurie done to me._

_We have been mutually punished in our unnaturall divisions, for thy sake O Lord, and for the love of my Redeemer have I purposed this in my heart, That I will use all means in the waies of amnesty, and indempnitie; which may most fullie remove all feares, and burie all jealousies in forgetfulnesse._

_Let thy mercies be towards me and mine, as my resolutions of Truth and Peace are towards my people._

_Hear my praier O Lord, which goeth not out of feigned lips._

_Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, or taken his mercy from me._

_O my soul commit thy way to the Lord, trust in him and he shall bring it to pass_.

_But if thou wilt not restore me and mine, what am I that I should charge thee foolishly?_

_Thou, o Lord hast given, and thou hast taken, Blessed be thy name._

_May my people and thy Church be happie if not by me, yet without me._

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