Praying with the Puritans

Bill Bryson described Puritanism as the fear that someone somewhere was having a good time. Sadly, Bryson speaks for a lot of Christians when he writes that. Jared C. Wilson describes that sort of view of the Puritans as 'theologically and historically tone deaf.' As much as i enjoy Bill Bryson, i have to agree with Jared C. Wilson.

I love the Puritans. From John 'is this a sentence or a paragraph,' Owen, to Jonathan 'come and see the view from up here,' Edwards, i never fail to enjoy the time i spend with these men. The Puritans, at their best were true evangelical, experiential Christians.

Comparing their prayer life to mine is like comparing to sun to the embers in a long forgotten fireplace, but for the last three months, i've enjoyed the privilege of praying alongside these great great men. I've been using Joe Thorn's Valley of Vision reading plan.

I must've bought the Valley of Vision years ago, i think even before i moved to the States, but it was always a bit of a mystery, always a bit overwhelming and even inaccessible. I'd prayed some of the daily prayers, the ministers prayers, and the repentance prayers fairly regularly, but i knew i was missing out. This reading plan has been life to me throughout the day this summer.

The plan has you reading three prayers a day, for five days a week, although about half way through i started reading the last two prayers from Friday on Saturday and Sunday. These prayers take you to places you'd heard of, and dreamed about, but never made it to. To penitential depths and joy filled heights, to seeing the horror of sin through the eyes of men who really got it, to seeing the joys of Christ through the hearts of men who knew Him.

Of course there are dangers to reading someone else's prayers, it can become formal and dry. So don't let it. Lay down the wood, and as for the Holy Spirit to set fire to it. I knew when i was praying, because it would take me nearly twenty minutes to cover maybe two minutes of reading.

Using the prayers at the start of the day was great, and warmed my heart up for the Word, but it was the prayers in the middle and at the end of the day that i appreciated the most. To make time to pray, and to be guided in these prayers was so valuable and so helpful. It's scary how easy it is, even when your desk is eleven paces from a church auditorium, to try and work in your own strength. The Valley of Vision was a lovely, life giving, corrective throughout the day.

It's made my prayer life deeper and richer, and i commend it to you without reservation.

You can buy the Valley of Vision here
And download the plan here.

Lord's Day Eve Prayer (Valley of Vision)

 God of the passing hour,

Another week has gone,

and i have been preserved 

in my going out and my coming in.

       Thine has been the vigilance that has turned

    threatened evils aside;

Thine the supplies that have nourished me;

Thine the comforts that have indulged me;

Thine the relations and friends that have

    delighted me;

Thine the means of grace which have edified me;

Thine the Book, which, amidst all my enjoyments,

    has told me that this is not my rest,

    that in all successes one thing alone is needful,

      to love my Saviour.

Nothing can equal the number of thy mercies

  but my imperfections and sins.

These, O God, I will neither conceal nor palliate,

  but confess with a broken heart.

In what condition would secret reviews

    of my life leave me

  were it not for the assurance that with thee

    there is plenteous redemption,

    that thou art a forgiving God,

      that thou mayest be feared!

While I hope for pardon through the blood

    of the cross,

  I pray to be clothed with humility,

      to be quickened in thy way,

      to be more devoted to thee,

      to keep the end of my life in view,

      to be cured of the folly of delay and indecision,

      to know how frail I am,

      to number my days and apply my heart

        unto wisdom.

So Take and Read

In a world of created changeable things, Christ and his Word alone remain unshaken.

O to forsake all creatures, to rest as a stone on him the foundation, to abide in him, be borne up by him!

For all my mercies come through Christ, who has designed, purchased, promised, effected them.

How sweet it is to be near him, the Lamb, filed with holy affections!

When I sin against thee I cross thy will, love, life, and have no comforter, no creature, to go to.

My sin is not so much this or that particular evil, but my continual separation, disunion, distance from thee, and having a loose spirit towards thee.

But thou hast given me a present, Jesus thy Son, as Mediator between thyself and my soul, as middle-man who in a pit holds both him below and him above, for only he can span the chasm breached by sin, and satisfy divine justice.

May I always lay hold upon this Mediator, as a realized object of faith, and alone worthy by his love to bridge the gulf.

Let me know that he is dear to me by his Word; I am one with him by the Word on his part, and by faith on mine;

If I oppose the Word I oppose my Lord when he is most near;

If I receive the Word I recieve my Lord wherein he is nigh.

O thou who hast the herats of all men in thine hand, form my heart according to the Word, according to the image of thy Son,

So shall Christ the Word, and his Word be my strength and comfort.”

Christ The Word, from Valley of Vision, Pp30-31

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

A Birthday Prayer

O Lord,

Length of days does not profit me,
except the days that are passed in your presence,
in thy service, to thy glory.

Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides,
sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that i may not be one moment apart from thee,
but i may rely on they Spirit,
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire to show forth thy faith;
testify to thy love,
advance thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with thee, O Father, as my habour,
thee O Son at my helm,
thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.

Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ears open to thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me thy grace to sanctify me,
thy comforts to cheer,
thy wisdom to teach,
thy right hand to guide,
thy counsel to instruct,
thy law to judge,
thy presence to stabilize.

May thy fear by my awe,
thy triumphs my joy.

A New Year, Valley of Vision. Pp206-207