BENIGN LORD,
I praise thee continually for permission
to approach thy throne of grace,
and to spread my wants and desires
before thee.
I am not worthy of thy blessings and mercies for I am far gone from original righteousness; My depraved nature reveals itself in disobedience and rebellion; My early days discovered in me discontent, pride, envy, revenge.
Remember not the sins of my youth,
nor the multiplied transgressions of later years,
my failure to improve time and talents,
my abuse of mercies and means,
my wasted sabbaths,
my perverted seasons of grace,
my long neglect of thy great salvation,
my disregard of the Friend of sinners.
While I confess my guilt, help me feel it deeply,
with self-abhorrence and self-despair, yet
to remember there is hope in thee,
and to see the Lamb that takes away sin.
Through him may I return to thee,
listen to thee,
trust in thee,
delight in thy law,
obey thee, be upheld by thee.
Preserve my understanding from error,
my affections from love of idols,
my lips from speaking guile,
my conduct from stain of vice,
my character from appearance of evil,
that I may be harmless, blameless, rebukeless,
exemplary, useful, life-giving, prudent,
zealous for thy glory
and the good of my fellow-men.
Taken from ‘The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers’, edited by Arthur Bennett
Why Puritan Prayers? Here’s why.
