The following  prayer was first offered back in the   1700′s.  It is from the largely forgotten deposit of the Puritan Movement of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.  These people knew God and they certainly knew how to pray.  We can learn a lot from them. They are written in old english.  I have updated  a few outdated words and changed the Thee’s and Thou’s to make it more 2011.  However, they still have the feel of that era.   This prayer, titled ‘Love Lusters at Calvary’,  along with many others, can be found in a book titled “The Valley of Vision”, by Arthur Bennett.

My Father,

Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips,
          Give me  words that proclaim ‘Love shines at Calvary.’

There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on your Son,
          made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me;

There the sword of your justice struck the man,  your Son;

There your infinite attributes were magnified,
         and infinite atonement was made;

There infinite punishment was due,
         and infinite punishment was endured.

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
          cast off that I might be brought in,
          crushed as an enemy
                   that I might be welcomed as a friend,
          surrendered to hell’s worst
                   that I might obtain heaven’s best,
          stripped that I might be clothed,
          wounded that I might be healed,
          thirsty that I might drink,
          tormented that I might be comforted,
          made a shame that I might inherit glory,
          entered darkness that I might have eternal light.

My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped  from my eyes,
          groaned that I might have endless song,
          endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
          bore a crown of thorns that I might have a crown of glory,
          bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
          experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
          closed his eyes in death that I might gaze  on unclouded brightness,
          died that I might for ever live.

O Father, who spared not your only Son that you might spare me,

All this substitution your love designed and accomplished;

Help me to worship you with my lips and my life.

O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise,
               my every step carefree with delight, as I see
               my enemies crushed,
               Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed,
               sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood,
               hell’s gates closed, heaven’s door’s open.

Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the cross,
          mighty to subdue, comfort and save.

For more of these prayers, click on any of the links below:

A 300 Year Old Prayer:  “Help Me Follow The Savior”

Pray This 400 Year Old Prayer: “Lord, Help Me Live a Life that Honors You!”

A Prayer for The New Year: “Guide Me This Year, Lord”

A 300 year Old Prayer: “All I Want Is To Know and Serve You, Lord”

The Precious Blood

Sunday Morning Prayer:  I Need You Jesus

A Christmas Prayer: Thank You for The Gift of All Gifts

Help Me Follow You