December 2010

Man’s Great End

Church Blog, Puritans / / , ,

“Most men seem to live for themselves,
without much or any regard for Your glory,
or for the good of others;

They earnestly desire and eagerly pursue
the riches, honors, and pleasures of this life,
as if they supposed that wealth, greatness, and merriment,
could make their immortal souls happy;

Help me to know continually
that there can be no true happiness,
no fulfilling purpose for me,
apart from a life lived in and for the Son whom You love.”

Puritan prayer
The Valley of Vision

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Rekindling Prayer

Church Blog, Puritans / / , ,

“At times we find that our time in the Word and prayer before God are dull. Use this opportunity to be humbled by our spiritual impotency and lack of love for Christ, but don’t be discouraged. Instead, apply yourself with steadfastness. When a fire goes out, we may kindle it again by blowing on the remaining spark. No fire is ever rekindled by neglect. So too, by constant meditation upon the Word and by the breath of prayer you may revive again the spirit of grace and prayer within you.”

Henry Scudder
The Christian’s Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace (1690)

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Loving God with our mind

Church Blog, Puritans / / , ,

“If you do not think of God, or think otherwise of him than he is, you are serving an idol instead of the true God. If you think of him as merciful, but not just; if you think of him as compassionate, but not holy; if you think of him as loving, but not sovereign, then you are thinking of God differently than he has revealed himself. This is idolatry.”

David Clarkson
Soul Idolatry Excludes Men Out of Heaven

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