Thou Eternal
Source,
Author of all
created being and happiness,
I adore thee for making man capable
of religion,
that he may be taught to
say:
‘Where is God, my Maker, who giveth
songs in the
night?’
But degeneracy has
spread over our
human race,
turning glory into
shame,
rendering us forgetful of
thee.
We know it is thy
power alone
that can recall wandering
children,
can impress on them a sense of divine
things,
and can render that sense lasting and
effectual;
From thee proceed
all good purposes and desires,
and the diffusing of piety and
happiness.
Thou hast knowledge
of my soul’s secret
principles,
and art aware of my desire to spread the
gospel.
Make me an almoner
to give thy
bounties to the
indigent,
comfort to the mentally
ill,
restoration to the
sin-diseased,
hope to the
despairing,
joy to the sorrowing,
love to the prodigals.
Blow away the ashes
of unbelief by
thy Spirit’s breath
and give me light, fire, and warmth of
love.
I need spiritual
comforts
that are gentle, peaceful, mild,
refreshing,
that will melt me into conscious lowliness
before thee,
that will make me feel and rest in thee
as my All.
Fill the garden of
my soul with the wind of love,
that the scents of the Christian life may be
wafted to others;
then come and gather fruits to thy
glory.
So shall I fulfil
the great end of my being –
to glorify thee and be a blessing to
men.
from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions
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