Robert Hawker: Piercing Heaven – Puritan’s Prayers

Lord, when you asked Mary in her sorrow, “Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek?” our souls reply with her, “We seek Jesus alone.”

Oh then, to hear our own names called upon, as hers was: “Mary!” Our answer brings out every affection of the heart: “Rabbi! My Lord and my God!”

Yes! You, altogether lovely Lord, the fairest and first among ten thousand—I will go with you. I would forget my own people and my father’s house. For my father’s house is a house of bondage, because I was born in sin, and formed in iniquity. I am a child of wrath, just like everyone else, and by nature dead in trespasses and sins.

It is you, blessed Jesus, who have delivered me from the wrath to come. It is you who have quickened me by your Holy Spirit to a new and spiritual life. It is you who have sent your servants to call me to yourself, and have betrothed me to yourself forever.

Is there anyone who would still ask me, “Will you follow this man?”

My whole soul would outrun the question, and, like the apostle, I would answer, “To whom else will I go?”

Even the angels will witness for me. I have none in heaven or earth but you. Yes, you, dearest Redeemer! I will go with you, follow you, live with you, hang on you, die with you. Not even death itself will separate you and me.

Oh let me feel in my soul those precious words of yours, concerning your church: “I will call them my people.” And my whole soul will respond to the gracious sound, and say, “The Lord is my God.”

Amen.