Thursday, November 25, 2010

Bountiful Thankfulness

This is my favorite prayer from the Puritan prayer book, Valley of Vision, and at the end one of my favorite psalms. 
Have a great day of Thanksgiving.

Bounty:  
Thou great and only potentate,
Thou hast made summer and winter, day and night;
each of these revolutions serves out welfare
and is full of thy care and kindness
Thy bounty is seen
in the relations that train us
  the laws that defend us 
  the homes that shelter us
   the food that builds us
   the raiment that comforts us
   the continuance of our health, members, senses,
      understanding, memory, affection, will.
But as stars fade before a rising sun,
 thou hast eclipsed all these benefits
 in the wisdom and grace that purposed
 redemption by Jesus thy Son.
Blessed be thy mercy that laid help on
  one that is mighty and willing,
 one that is able to save the uttermost.
Make us deeply sensible to our need of his saving grace,
                                   of the blood that cleanses
                                   of the rest he has promised
And impute to us that righteousness which justifies the uilty,
   gives them a title to eternal life,
  and possession of the spirit
May we love the freeness of salvation, and joy in its holiness;
Give us faith to grasp the promises,that are our hope,
Keep our hearts from straying after forbidden pleasures;
May thy will bind all our wishes;
Let us live out of the world as to its spirit, maxim, and manners,
  but live in it as the sphere of our action and usefulnesss;
May we be able to live to every call of duty, accepting without question
   they determination of our circumstances and our service.
[The Valley of Vision, pg 212)


Psalm 13:4-5
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;   my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,   because he has dealt bountifully with me.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is a beautiful prayer. I've never heard of that prayer book before, but wow, quite thought-provoking.

Beautiful.

Alissa:Adventurer said...

Thanks for the comment! I love this prayer book, and would definitely recommend it. You are right, so thought provoking.