Robert Hawker: Piercing Heaven – Puritan’s Prayers

Dear Emmanuel, in whom alone, and by whom alone, all my hopes and confidences are founded: I fall down at your feet.

As the prophet cried out, so I desire unceasingly to exclaim, “I am a man of unclean lips!”

But if you cause the iniquity to be taken away, and my sin to be purged from me, I will be clean. For you are our New Testament altar.

You are the Lord my righteousness. Precious Jesus, you are the Alpha and Omega.

Even as the Father made you the glorious covenant head of your people in the beginning of his way, so be my all in all. My first and last. The Author and Finisher of my faith.

Precious Lord! May I, like Paul, be able to say, “Not as though I had already attained”—because I long to catch up to and hold fast to you, Christ Jesus, even as you have caught up to and held fast to me.

So come, Lord Jesus, to your bride, the church. Be the fountain of life to all your redeemed, until you bring your church below to join your church above, so they will dwell together in the light of your countenance, forever,

Amen.