Prayers from the past

Written prayers can be stiff and artificial, and perhaps the memory of such prayers in a liturgical style of church service has led us to dismiss its effectiveness. However, written prayers can be a great source of blessing, being a window to the thoughts, aspirations and the intimate walk of devout men and women throughout the 2000 years of the Christian faith. It can enable us to share their rich spiritual heritage, aiding us to partake of their deeper walk.

I have found such a blessing with the book, The Valley of Vision, a collection of puritan prayers edited by Arthur Bennett (The Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA). This collection of close to 200 prayers of such Puritan notables as Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon combines deep spirituality with theological understanding. Here is one sample prayer:

Man’s Great End

Lord of all being,

There is one thing that deserves my greatest care,

that calls forth my ardent desires,

That is, that I may answer the great end for which I am made —

to glorify thee who hast given me being,

and to do all the good I can for my fellow men;

Verily, life is not worth having if it be not improved for this noble purpose.

Yet, Lord, how little is this the thought of mankind!

Most men seem to live for themselves,

without much or any regard for thy glory,

or for the good of others;

They earnestly desire and eagerly pursue the riches, honours, pleasures of this life,

as if they supposed that wealth, greatness, merriment, could make their immortal souls happy;

But, alas, what false delusive dreams are these!

And how miserable ere long will those be that sleep in them,

for all our happiness consists in loving thee, and in being holy as thou art holy.

O may I never fall into the tempers and vanities, the sensuality and folly of this present world!

It is a place of inexpressible sorrow, a vast empty nothingness;

Time is a moment, a vapour, and all its enjoyments are empty bubbles, fleeting blasts of wind, from which nothings satisfactory can be derived;

Give me grace always to keep in covenant with thee, and to reject as delusion a great name here or hereafter, together with all sinful pleasures or profits.

Help me to know continually that there can be not true happiness,

No fulfilling of thy purpose for me,

Apart from a life lived in and for the Son of thy love. (pages 22-23)