From morning to night: a prayer by George Swinnock, taken from Tim Chester’s book, Into His Presence: Praying with the Puritans.
The Puritans were great pray-ers. Their prayers were full of doxology and deep theology. Swinnock’s is a good example of this. For more, I recommend Chester’s book. You can get it HERE.
George Swinnock’s prayer
Rock of ages, and everlasting Father, teach me to number my remaining days that I may live every day in the fear of the Lord. Since every day may be my last, may it be my best.
May I not undertake my affairs on earth before I have dispatched my business with heaven. May nothing cause an eclipse of holiness in my soul; but let your word limit me, and your spirit guide me. Set a watch over my lips, and be the governor of my heart.
My life is a bubble that vanishes with the wind, a day that is soon overtaken by a night. So let me feel how eternity rides upon the back of time, that I may prize time highly, redeem it carefully, and improve it faithfully, that eternity may be my friend. May I cast up my accounts each day that I am always ready for the great audit-day.
May I end every day with Christ, the beginning and first-born of the dead, so that I may go to bed as if I were going to my grave, knowing that sleep is the shadow of death. I acknowledge with thankfulness the favours of the day.
Whatever gain I have got in my calling, whatever strength I have received from my food, whatever comfort I have received from my friends, whatever peace, liberty, and protection I have enjoyed, you, Lord, have brought it to me. I receive every day more mercies that there are moments, and borrow sums I can never repay.
Lord, I confess there is not a day in my life when I do not break your laws in thought, word and deed. As my sins abound, let my sorrow abound, and let your grace much more abound. Though I ca never return your favours, help me to admire and bless you, their fountain. Let the eyes of my soul be open to you in praise before the eyes of my body are shut in sleep.
My life is your providence; oh, that it were according to your precepts! Let every day be so devoted to your praise, and every part of it be so employed in your service, that I may be the more prepared to worship you in that place where there is no night, yet always rest, and where I shall worship and enjoy you without distraction—perfectly and perpetually.
Amen!
Maranatha!
Sharing is caring!
