Almighty merciful God, we acknowledge for ourselves and confess before You that which is the truth. Our consciences accuse us and our sins testify against us. If You decided to consider our merits and worthiness, we would not be fit to lift our eyes to heaven and bring our prayer before You. We also know that You are a righteous Judge, who punishes the sins of those who transgress Your commandments. Yet, O Lord, You commanded us to call upon You in every affliction, and promise in Your unspeakable mercy to hear our prayers, not for the sake of our merits, of which there are none, but for the sake of the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom You have set forth as our Mediator and Advocate, so we forsake all other help and take our refuge in Your mercy alone. Amen. Adapted, Peter Dathenus (1531 – 1588)