Cleanse Us From Our Sins

December 16.

Thou understandest my thought afar off.

PSALM 139, verse 2.


Who can understand his errors?
cleanse Thou me from secret faults.

PSALM 19, verse 12.


My newest griefs to Thee are old;
My last transgression of Thy law,
Though wrapped in thought's most secret fold,
Thine eyes with pitying sadness saw.

H. M. KIMBALL.


Lord our God, great, eternal, wonderful in glory,
who keepest covenant and promises for those
that love Thee with their whole heart, who art
the Life of all, the Help of those that flee unto
Thee, the Hope of those who cry unto Thee,
cleanse us from our sins, secret and open, and
from every thought displeasing to Thy goodness,
cleanse our bodies and souls, our hearts and
consciences, that with a pure heart, and a clear soul,
with perfect love and calm hope, we may venture
confidently and fearlessly to pray unto Thee. Amen.

COPTIC LITURGY OF ST. BASIL.


The dominion of any sinful habit will fearfully estrange
us from His presence. A single consenting act of inward
disobedience in thought or will is enough to let fall a
cloud between Him and us, and to leave our hearts
cheerless and dark.

H. E. MANNING.