Joseph Alleine: Piercing Heaven – Puritan’s Prayers

O Lord, you know my mighty sins. They have brought nothing but misery. What a mess I am in! I am sold as a slave to sin, cast out of your favor, cursed in my body, and cursed in my soul. I am cursed in my name, in my relations, and in all that I have.

My soul is within a step of death.

What do I do? Where will I go? Which way will I look? Where should I flee? What place could hide me from your presence, everywhere? What could secure me from your unlimited power?

Will I linger any longer like this, the way I was? No. If I waited there as I was, I would die.

What then? Is there no help? No hope? None, unless I turn.

But is there any remedy for such woeful misery? Any mercy?

Yes! As sure as your promise is true, God, I will have pardon and mercy—if I now genuinely, and without reservation, turn by Christ to you.

So I thank you on the bended knees of my soul, O most merciful Jehovah, that your patience has waited for me. Because if I had died as I was before, I would have perished forever.

And now I adore your grace, and accept the offer of your mercy.

I renounce all my sins, and resolve by your grace to set myself against them, and to follow you in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.

Amen.