Thursday, March 13, 2008

Another Reason I'm a Metropuritan

Ed Noble referenced this Puritan prayer (c. 1700) in his message "Speaking to God." It's like listening to God talk to himself. The prayer comes from the book Valley of Vision, a Collection of Puritan Prayers. I can only strive to worship the God of the Puritans...

"Great God, in public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped in prayer, filled with the spirit of grace and supplication, each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood. Help me, defend me, until from praying ground I pass to the realm of unceasing prayer. Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises, called by Thy Spirit, I enter Thy presence, worshiping Thee with godly fear, awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory, but encouraged by Thy love. I am all poverty as well as all guilt, having nothing of my own with which to repay Thee, but I bring Jesus to Thee in the arms of faith, pleading His righteousness to offset my iniquities, rejoicing that he will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy Thy justice. I bless Thee that great sin draws out great grace, that, although the least sin deserves infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for where guilt is most terrible, there Thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep. Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart. Strengthen me to give Thee no rest until Christ shall reign supreme withing me, in every thought, word and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the cross."

1 comment:

Ed Noble said...

Another reason to be a puritan is that they talked freely about the one reality we all share - death. I just did yet another memorial service today (40 year old who died of Pancreatic cancer). I'm thinking a lot about death lately & how we try so hard to insulate ourselves from the pondering the only thing we know for sure about our future.

LOVED the tribute to your grandpa - I love guys like him who are a little out of control for the sake of Jesus. Rock on Bill Arant!