Before I Preach

My Master God,

I am desired to preach today,

but go weak and needy to my task;

yet i long that people by edified by divine truth,

that an honest testimony might be borne for thee.

Give me assistance in preaching and prayer,

with heart uplifted for grace and unction.

Present to my view things pertinent to my subject,

with fullness of matter and clarity of thought,

proper expressions, fluency, fervency,

a feeling sense of the things i preach,

and grace to apply them to mens consciences.

Keep me conscious all the while of my defects,

and let me not gloat in pride over my performance.

Help me to offer a testimony for thyself,

and to leave sinners inexcusable in neglecting thy mercy.

Give me freedom to open the sorrows of thy people,

and to set before them comforting considerations.

Attend with power the truth preached,

and awaken the attention of my audience.

May thy people be refreshed, melted, convicted and comforted,

and help me to use the strongest arguments drawn from Christ's incarnation and suffering,

that men might be made holy.

I myself need they support, comfort, strength and holiness,

that i might be a pure channel of thy grace and do something useful for thee.

Give me then refreshment among thy people,

and help me not to treat an excellent matter in a defective way,

or bear a broken testimony to so worthy a Redeemer,

or be harsh in treating Christ's death, it's design or it's end,

from a lack of warmth or feverency.

And keep me in tune with thee as i do this work.

A Minister's Preaching, Valley of Vision Pp348-349