An Act of Thanks – By Bishop Lancelot Andrewes

(Note: Andrewes was the man most responsible for the music of the English we have in the King James Bible. This is from his private devotions)

O Lord, I am less than all Thy mercies,
and all Thy truth, which Thou hast shewed unto
Thy servant;
and what can I say more unto Thee?
for Thou, Lord God, knowest Thy servant.
What is Thy servant, Lord God, and what is my
house,
that Thou shouldest look on such a dead dog as
I am?
that Thou hast loved me hitherto?
what shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits that He hath done unto me?
what thanks can we render unto God
for all the joy wherewith we joy before Him?
Thou Who hast deigned, O Lord, in this holy day
and at this hour,
to raise my mind to Thy praise,
and to offer Thee the glory due unto Thee,
Receive, O Lord, this spiritual sacrifice from my soul,
and receiving it to Thee unto Thy spiritual Altar,
be pleased in its stead to send me the grace of
Thy Most Holy Spirit.
Visit me in Thy goodness;
forgive me every sin, as well voluntary as
involuntary.
Deliver me from eternal punishment:
yea, and from all the miseries of this world.
Change my thoughts into piety;
sanctify my spirit, soul and body;
and give me grace to worship and to please Thee
in piety and holiness of life,
even until the very end of my days.
To Him, That is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us,
To Him be glory in the Church in Christ,
throughout all ages, world without end.
My soul shall be satisfied as it were with marrow and
fatness;
and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips.