The Family

 

I've been working my way through The Valley of Vision for all of June and into July... it blesses my soul, fills my heart, lovingly chastens me.  I've been sharing bits and pieces on twitter and facebook, but occasionally it just can't fit into 140 characters allowed on twitter, so today I want to share a whole Puritan Prayer with you.

 

The Family (p113)

O Sovereign Lord,
Thou art the creator-Father of all men, for thou hast made and dost support them;
Thou art the special Father of those who know, love and honour thee,
     who find thy yoke easy, and thy burden light,
      thy work honourable,
      thy commandments glorious.

But how little thy underserved goodness has affected me:
      how imperfectly have I improved my religious privileges?
      how negligent have I been in doing good to others!
I am before thee in my trespasses and sins,
      have mercy on me,
      and may thy goodness bring me to repentance.

Help me to hate and forsake every false way,
     to be attentive to my condition and character,
     to bridle my tongue,
     to keep my heart with all diligence,
     to watch and pray against temptaton,
     to mortify sin,
     to be concerned for the salvation of others.

O God, I cannot endure to see the destruction of my kindred.
Let those that are united to me in tender ties
     be precious in thy sight and devoted to thy glory.

Sanctify and prosper my domestic devotion,
     instruction, discipline, example,
     that my house may be a nursery for heaven,
        my church the garden of the Lord,
          enriched with trees of righteousness of thy planting, for thy glory;

Let not those of my family who are amiable, moral, attractive,
     fall short of heaven at last;
Grant that the promising appearances of a tender conscience,
     soft heart, the alarms and delights of thy Word,
     be not finally blotted out,
     but bring forth judgment unto victory in all whom I love.