Almighty God, Father of mercies, be pleased to work in me what Thou hast commanded should be in me. Give me, O Lord, the grace of an earnest sorrow,—turn my sin into repentance, and let my repentance proceed to pardon; and teach me so diligently to watch over all my actions that I may never transgress Thy holy laws willingly, but that it may be the work of my life to obey Thee, the joy of my soul to please Thee, and the perfection of my desires to live with Thee in the kingdom of Thy grace and glory—Amen.

Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667).

O God, the Life of the faithful, the Bliss of the righteous: mercifully receive the prayers of thy suppliants, that the souls which thirst for thy promises may evermore be filled from thine abundance, through Jesus Christ our Lord—Amen.

Gelasian, A.D. 492.