Sunday, September 23, 2012

Election

Here's a prayer titled "Election" from "The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions" edited by Arthur Bennett (pages 88-89):

HOLY TRINITY,

All praise to thee for electing me
   to salvation,
   by foreknowledge of God the Father,
   through sanctification of the Spirit,
   unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood
     of Jesus;
I adore the wonders of thy condescending love,
   marvel at the true believer’s high privilege   
within whom all heaven comes to dwell,
   abiding in God and God in him;
I believe it, help me experience it to the full.
Continue to teach me that Christ’s righteousness
   satisfies justice and evidences thy love;
Help me to make use of it by faith as the ground
   of my peace
   and of thy favour and acceptance,
   so that I may live always near the cross.
It is not feeling the Spirit that proves
   my saved state but the truth of what
   Christ did perfectly for me;
All holiness in him is by faith made mine,
   as if I had done it;
Therefore I see the use of his righteousness,
   for satisfaction to divine justice and making
     me righteous.
It is not inner sensation that makes Christ’s death
     mine
   for that may be delusion, being without the Word,
   but his death apprehended by my faith,
   and so testified by Word and Spirit.
I bless thee for these lively exercises of faith,
   for the righteousness that is mine in Jesus,
   for grace to resign my will to thee;
I rejoice to think that all things are at thy disposal,
   and I love to leave them there.
Then prayer turns wholly into praise,
   and all I can do is to adore and love thee.
I want not the favour of man to lean upon,
   for I know that thy electing grace
     is infinitely better.

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