<div>All-searching God,</div>
<div>Thou readest the heart, viewest principles and motives of actions</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">seest more defilement in my duties</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">than I ever saw in any of my sins.</div>
<div>The heavens are not clean in thy sight,</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">and thou chargest the angels with folly;</div>
<div>I am ready to flee from myself because of my abominations;</div>
<div>Yet thou dost not abhor me but hast devised means</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">for my return to thee, and that, by the Son who died to give me life.</div>
<p><br /></p>
<div>Thine honor is secured and displayed even in my escape from thy threats,</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">and that, by means of Jesus in whom mercy and truth meet together,</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">and righteousness and peace kiss each other.</div>
<div>In him the enslaved find redemption, the guilty pardon, the unholy renovation;</div>
<div>In him the everlasting strength for the weak,</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">unsearchable riches for the needy,</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">treasures of wisdom and knowledge for the ignorant, fullness for the empty.</div>
<div>At thy gracious call I hear, take, come, apply, receive his grace,</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">not only submit to his mercy but acquiesce in it,</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">not only glory in the cross but in him crucified and slain,</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">not only joy in forgiveness but in the one through whom atonement comes.</div>
<p><br /></p>
<div>Thy blessings are as secure as they are glorious;</div>
<div>Thou hast provided for my safety and my prosperity,</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">and hast promised that I shall stand firm and grow stronger.</div>
<div>O Lord God, without the pardon of my sin I cannot rest satisfied</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">without the renovation of my nature by grace I can never rest easy,</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0.2cm;">without the hopes of heaven I can never be at peace.</div>
<div>All this I have in thy Son Jesus; blessed be his name.</div>
<p><br /></p>
<div>Source: The Valley of Vision</div>

Greg,

These Puritan prayers are magnificent. We have such a great spritual heritage from those who first founded our country. I haven’t read any prayers in any other collection that are as heart stirring and inspiring as these. The book “Valley of Vision” is very much worth getting.

Here is a link to a collection of Puritan prayers:

http://www.oldlandmarks.com/puritan.htm

And here is the prayer “Valley of Vision”:

“Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.”
------------------------------------------------
Stan

And speaking of the name of Jesus, here are the lyrics of a song called “He is Jesus”:

There’s a treasure great in beauty
Far surpassing earth’s great wealth
He is Jesus, Prince of Glory
Source of all grace, peace, and health
There’s a fountain ever flowing
Satisfying all who drink
He is Jesus, spring of joy
To all who hail Him as their King

There’s a power, holy power
Breaking bonds of captive men
He is Jesus, mighty Jesus
Holy warrior and sinner’s friend
There’s a Savior rich in mercy
Quick to pardon all our sins
He is Jesus, great Redeemer
Reconciling God and man

There’s a glorious Lord returning
And all will bow to Him alone
He is Jesus, King of nations
Reigning from His gracious throne
There is one to whom our praises
Will through every age ascend
He is Jesus, King forever
Whose wondrous rule will never end

Amen and Amen!

Stan

Posted anonymously by: John Douglas

Hi Stan, Thanks for a great post. I found it very timely to use as a response to a discussion on CARM. Basically it dealt with the thief on the cross and, if had been able to come down from the cross, his life would have had to demonstrate his faith:
“The thief on the cross had faith.
Belief in action is faith.
If he came off the cross you would have seen a changed man. His life would reflect his faith”

I posted:
This is what would be in the heart of a changed man and the reflection of his faith and this is the action (works?) it would generate: Praise and adoration to the God who saves

http://www.oldlandmarks.com/puritan.htm

All-searching God,

Thou readest the heart, viewest principles and motives of actions seest more defilement in my duties
than I ever saw in any of my sins.

The heavens are not clean in thy sight, and thou chargest the angels with folly; I am ready to flee from myself because of my abominations; Yet thou dost not abhor me but hast devised means for my return to thee, and that, by the Son who died to give me life.

Thine honor is secured and displayed even in my escape from thy threats, and that, by means of Jesus in whom mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other.

In him the enslaved find redemption, the guilty pardon, the unholy renovation;

In him the everlasting strength for the weak, unsearchable riches for the needy, treasures of wisdom and knowledge for the ignorant, fullness for the empty.

At thy gracious call I hear, take, come, apply, receive his grace, not only submit to his mercy but acquiesce in it, not only glory in the cross but in him crucified and slain, not only joy in forgiveness but in the one through whom atonement comes.

Thy blessings are as secure as they are glorious; Thou hast provided for my safety and my prosperity,
and hast promised that I shall stand firm and grow stronger.

O Lord God, without the pardon of my sin I cannot rest satisfied without the renovation of my nature by grace I can never rest easy, without the hopes of heaven I can never be at peace.

All this I have in thy Son Jesus; blessed be his name.

Source: The Valley of Vision

Hi John,

That is a great post you put on CARM.

The Puritan prayers are so profound.

What was the response to this on CARM?

Great prayers like these may be read, but it is somewhat surprising how few the responses on some sites.

BTW, John, I would like to ask you why one of your posts got deleted on FAF? You are listed as the last poster on one of the threads, but your post is gone?

If you don’t want to respond on this forum, please email me at

Stan