Heart Corruptions...

Heart Corruptions


O God, may Thy Spirit speak in me that I may speak to thee. I have no merit, let

the merit of Jesus stand for me. I am undeserving, but I look to Thy tender mercy. I am

full of infirmities, wants, sin; Thou art full of grace.

I confess my sin, my frequent sin, my wilful sin; all my powers of body and soul

are defiled: a fountain of pollution is deep within my nature. There are chambers of foul

images within my being; I have gone from one odious room to another, walked in a noman's-

land of dangerous imaginations, pried into the secrets of my fallen nature.

I am utterly ashamed that I am what I am in myself; I have no green shoot in me

nor fruit, but thorns and thistles; I am a fading leaf that the wind drives away; I live bare

and barren as a winter tree, unprofitable, fit to be hewn down and burnt. Lord, dost Thou

have mercy on me?

Thou hast struck a heavy blow at my pride, at the false god of self, and I lie in

pieces before Thee. But Thou hast given me another master and lord, Thy Son, Jesus, and

now my heart is turned towards holiness, my life speeds as an arrow from a bow towards

complete obedience to Thee. Help me in all my doings to put down sin and to humble

pride. Save me from the love of the world and the pride of life, from everything that is

natural to fallen man, and let Christ's nature be seen in me day by day. Grant me grace

to bear Thy will without repining, and delight to be not only chiselled, squared, or

fashioned, but separated from the old rock where I have been embedded so long, and

lifted from the quarry to the upper air, where I may be built in Christ for ever.

Longings after God

My dear Lord, I can but tell Thee that Thou knowest I long for nothing but

Thyself, nothing but holiness, nothing but union with Thy will. Thou hast given me these

desires, and thou alone canst give me the thing desired. My soul longs for communion

with Thee, for mortification of indwelling corruption, especially spiritual pride. How

precious it is to have a tender sense and clear apprehension of the mystery of godliness,

of true holiness! What a blessedness to be like Thee as much as it is possible for a

creature to be like its creator! Lord, give me more of Thy likeness; enlarge my soul to

contain fullness of holiness; engage me to live more for Thee. Help me to be less pleased

with my spiritual experiences, and when I feel at ease after sweet communings, teach me

it is far too little I know and do. Blessed Lord, let me climb up near to Thee, and love,

and long, and plead, and wrestle with Thee, and pant for deliverance from the body of

sin, for my heart is wandering and lifeless, and my soul mourns to think it should ever

lose sight of its beloved. Wrap my life in divine love, and keep me ever desiring Thee,

always humble and resigned to Thy will, more fixed on Thyself, that I may be more fitted

for doing and-suffering.

Meeting God

Great God, in public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped

in prayer, filled with the spirit of grace and supplication, each prayer perfumed with the

incense of atoning blood. Help me, defend me, until from praying ground I pass to the

realm of unceasing praise. Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises, called by Thy

Spirit, I enter Thy presence, worshipping Thee with godly fear, awed by Thy majesty,

greatness, glory, but encouraged by Thy love.

I am all poverty as well as all guilt, having nothing of my own with which to repay

Thee, but I bring Jesus to Thee in the arms of faith, pleading His righteousness to offset

my iniquities, rejoicing that He will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy thy justice.

I bless Thee that great sin draws out great grace, that, although the lest sin deserves

infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for

where guilt is most terrible, there Thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep. Bless me by

revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me,

by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give Thee no rest untiI Christ

shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies

the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the

cross.