Valley of Vision: The Precious Blood

The Banner of Truth Trust ^ | 1975 | Arthur Bennett

[Gamecock]

Blessed Lord Jesus,

Before thy cross I kneel and see

the heinousness of my sin,

my iniquity that caused thee to be

‘made a curse’,

the evil that excites the severity

of divine wrath.

Show me the enormity of my guilt by

the crown of thorns,

the pierced hands and feet,

the bruised body,

the dying cries.

Thy blood is the blood of incarnate God,

its worth infinite, its value beyond all thought.

Infinite must be the evil and guilt

that demands such a price.

Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper,

born in my birth,

alive in my life,

strong in my character,

dominating my faculties,

following me as a shadow,

intermingling with my every thought,

my chain that holds me captive in the

empire of my soul.

Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light,

the air supply breath,

the earth bear my tread,

its fruits nourish me,

its creatures subserve my ends?

Yet thy compassions yearn over me,

thy heart hastens to my rescue,

thy love endured my curse,

thy mercy bore my deserved stripes.

Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths

of humiliation,

bathed in thy blood,

tender of conscience,

triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.

[Gamecock]

This prayer is taken from a collection of Puritan works titled "The Valley of Vision." First published in 1975 by Arthur Bennett, the book has been used by many Christians for prayer, as a devotional, or just plain reflection.

I plan to post one each day and hope that each of you will benefit from a brief glimpse into the mind of the Puritans. If you would like on or off of this ping list please let me know.

Please, no flaming, cussin' or wagering.

[Gamecock]

VoV Ping

When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord’s choicest wines.
Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661)

[RnMomof7]

Amen to that prayer ,

Until we see the enormity of our sin we do not see the nails in His hands as from us, nor do we understand the depth of the mercy of God .

[ItsOurTimeNow]

The great foster-parent

(William Plumer, "Vital Godliness: A Treatise
on Experimental and Practical Piety" 1864)

Saving faith is the great foster-parent of all
that belongs to scriptural piety. Faith begets . . .
true worship,
godly fear,
devout thanksgiving,
genuine humility,
Christian boldness,
holy joy,
evangelical repentance,
enlarged liberality,
fervent love,
a pure conscience,
a holy life,
victory over the world,
eternal glory!

Faith gazes upon the cross until the course of
the new nature is set on fire with heavenly love!

Saving faith . . .
unites to Christ,
lays hold of salvation,
conquers every foe,
brings every blessing into the soul,
pronounces death abolished,
always begets humility,
is self-renouncing,
consents to be nothing, that God may be all and in all,
excludes boasting,
is jealous for God's honor,
brings forth forgiveness to enemies,
begets repentance,
nourishes other graces,
ever clings to the fullness of Christ,
kindles love to an unseen Savior,
is ever laying its crown at the feet of Immanuel,
puts things in their proper place,
abases the sinner in the dust,
sets God on the throne of universal dominion,
pronounces all God's ways just and right,
counts all things as loss, for the excellency
of the knowledge of God's dear Son!

"True, saving, justifying faith carries the soul
through all difficulties, discouragements, and
natural impossibilities--to Jesus Christ!"
(William Bridge)

"Precious faith!" (2 Peter 1:1)

If you desire . . .
a useful life,
a pleasant old age,
a comfortable death,
a blissful immortality--
believe God,
trust to His grace,
rely on His Son.

Rely on . . .
God alone as your Father,
Christ alone as your Redeemer,
the Holy Spirit alone as your Comforter.

http://www.gracegems.org

[SquirrelKing]

Thanks for the ping, GC!