“I want again to breathe your free Air. I expect it will mend my Constitution and confirm my principles. I have indeed as good an Atmosphere at home as the Climate will allow: but have nothing to brag of as to the State and Liberty of my Country. . . . So I [leave you] to pity me and pray for Liberty of Conscience [to revive among us.]”

James Madison to William Bradford of Pennsylvania, January 24, 1774

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

In Prayer

The Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett, is a collection of Puritan prayers that touch on an enormous variety of seasons and circumstances that everyone faces. Here is a selection from the book, a prayer entitled simply, "In Prayer"--

O Lord, in prayer I launch far out into the eternal world, and on that broad ocean my soul triumphs over all evils on the shores of mortality. Time, with its gay amusements and cruel disappointments never appears so inconsiderate as then. 

In prayer I see myself as nothing; I find my heart going after Thee with intensity, and long with vehement thirst to live to Thee. Blessed be the strong gales of the Spirit that speed me on my way to the New Jerusalem. 

In prayer all things here below vanish, and nothing seems important but holiness of heart and the salvation of others. 

In prayer all my worldly cares, fears, anxieties disappear, and are of as little significance as a puff of wind. 

In prayer my soul inwardly exults with lively thoughts at what Thou art doing for Thy church, and I long that Thou shouldest get Thyself a great name from sinners returning to Zion. 

In prayer I am lifted above the frowns and flatteries of life, and taste heavenly joys; entering into the eternal world I can give myself to Thee with all my heart, to be Thine for ever. 

In prayer I can place all my concerns in Thy hands, to be entirely at Thy disposal, having no will or interest of my own. 

In prayer I can intercede for my friends, ministers, sinners, the church, Thy kingdom to come, with greatest freedom, ardent hopes, as a son to his father, as a lover to the beloved. 

Help me to be all prayer and never to cease praying. 


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