30. Although forgiveness is granted through the death of our Lord, repentance is that condition of our souls wherein the forgiveness cleanses them. _Repentance_ is therefore asked for first, then _Forgiveness, Grace_, and _Amendment_. _Sins, negligences, and ignorances_: cf. General Confession, 'left undone'=negligence; 'done'=sins; 'no health in us' supplying the other defects, which are here set down to ignorance. We are called to a holy life, and therefore faults due to ignorance need {170} amendment and pardon, as well as faults which come of conscious disobedience to God's commands. At the close of these petitions, the cry becomes more urgent. Our Lord warned us against vain repetitions--repetitions without meaning. The repetitions here are not vain--they express deep feelings, and anxious entreaty. Section ii. Our cry to the Father in Heaven. The couplet _O Lord, deal not with us_, &c. _Neither reward us_, &c. belongs to the _Prayer of the Contrite Heart_, and is a summary of it. It is taken from Psalm ciii. 10. It offers no excuse but owns that we have sinned and are in wretched plight, as does the prayer which follows. This prayer was taken from the Sarum Missal, where it stands in a Mass for Tribulation of heart. Ps. li. 17 supplies the thought of, that _despisest not--the contrite heart_, which is interwoven with, _sorrowful sighing_, from Psalm lxxix. 12. We base our claim upon our forlorn condition, and appeal to God's mercy. Note the repetition _merciful--mercifully--graciously--goodness_. The temper of the prayer is of kin to Psalm lxix. which--especially in verses 13 to 21, and in its final thankfulness, as sure of God's help--may have inspired its words and thoughts. _Psalm xliv_. _1st and last verses_. Doubtless an abbreviation of the whole psalm, which stood at the beginning of the 3rd Rogation Litany. {171} If it be thought that the Gloria Patri occurs as a surprise in the midst of these entreaties, we may notice (1) that all entreaties are more real when they recognise truly the Majesty of God; and (2) that S. Augustine's processional Litany when he came to Canterbury (A.D. 596) concluded with Alleluia. "We beseech thee, O Lord, in all Thy mercy, that Thy wrath and Thine anger may be removed from this city and from Thy holy house, for we have sinned. Alleluia." (Taken from the 2nd Rogation Litany), (3) the _Gloria Patri_ is always said after a Psalm in the Services, and sometimes after parts of a Psalm. Section iii. Appeal for help. The eight versicles which follow next are addressed to Christ, and in most editions of the Prayer Book are separated by a small space from the Verse and Respond, _Priest_. O Lord, let thy mercy, &c. _Answer_. As we do put, &c.