Sunday, August 19, 2012

The Saviour

Here's a prayer titled "The Saviour" from "The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions" edited by Arthur Bennett (pages 78-79):

THOU GOD OF ALL GRACE,

Thou hast given me a Saviour,
   produce in me a faith to live by him,
   to make him all my desire,
     all my hope,
     all my glory.
May I enter him as my refuge,
   build on him as my foundation,
   walk in him as my way,
   follow him as my guide,
   conform to him as my example,
   receive his instructions as my prophet,
   rely on his intercession as my high priest,
   obey him as my king.
May I never be ashamed of him or his words,
     but joyfully bear his reproach,
   never displease him by unholy or imprudent
     conduct,
   never count it a glory if I take it patiently
     when buffeted for a fault,
   never make the multitude my model,
   never delay when thy Word invites me to
     advance.
May thy dear Son preserve me from this present
     evil world,
   so that its smiles never allure,
   nor its frowns terrify,
   nor its vices defile,
   nor its errors delude me.
May I feel that I am a stranger and a pilgrim
     on earth,
   declaring plainly that I seek a country,
   my title to it becoming daily more clear,
   my meetness for it more perfect,
   my foretastes of it more abundant;
   and whatsoever I do may it be done
     in the Saviour’s name.

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