Joseph Alleine: Piercing Heaven – Puritan’s Prayers

Who am I, Lord, that I should make any claim on you, or have any part or portion in you, when I am not worthy to lick the dust of your feet?

But since you hold out your mercy to me, and you bid me come, I would be undone to rebel against you in false humility.

So I bow my soul to you. With all possible thankfulness I accept you as my own, and I give myself up to you, my King. You will be sovereign over me, my King and my God. You will be on the throne, and I bow all my strength to you. I will come and worship before your feet. You will be my portion, Lord, and I will rest in you.

You called for my heart. Oh that it were in any way fit for your acceptance! I am unworthy, Lord, everlastingly unworthy to be yours. But since you will have it so, I freely give up my heart to you. Take it; it is yours. Oh that it were better! But Lord, I put it into your hand, who alone can mend it. Mold it after your own heart. Make it as you would have it—humble, heavenly, soft, tender, and flexible. Write your law on it.

Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Enter in triumphantly. Take me up to you forever. I give myself up to you. I come to you as the only way to the Father, as the only Mediator, the means God ordained to bring me to God.

I have destroyed myself, but in you is my help. Save, Lord, or I perish. I come to you with a rope about my neck.

I am worthy to die, and to be damned. Never was the wage more due to the worker than death and hell are due to me.

But I fly to your merits. I trust alone the value and virtue of your sacrifice, knowing that you will always intercede for me.

I submit to your teaching, I choose your government over me. Stand open, everlasting doors, that the King of Glory may come in!

Amen.