Heaven Desired

As praise in the mouth of thy saints is comely,
so teach me to exercise this divine gift,
when I pray, read, hear, see, do,
in the presence of people and my enemies,
as I hope to praise the eternally hereafter.

The Minister's Covenant

Let not sin find a place in my heart to becloud my vision,
and may no foolish acts wither my gifts.

Lord's Day Evening

Let all who see me take knowledge that I have been with thee

The Lord's Supper

As the outward elements nourish my body,
so may thy indwelling Spirit invigorate
my soul,
until that day when I hunger and thirst no more,
and sit with Jesus at his heavenly feast.

Worship

Crowns to give I have none,
but what thou hast given I return,
content to feel that everything is mine
when it is thine,
and the more fully mine when I have yielded it to thee.

The Lord's Day

Flood my mind with peace
beyond understanding;
may my meditations be sweet,
my acts of worship life, liberty, joy,
my drink the streams that flow
from thy throne,
my food the precious Word,
my defence the shield of faith,
and may my heart be more knit to Jesus.

Lord's Day Eve

Thine the Book, which, amidst all my enjoyments,
has told me that this is not my rest,
that in all my successes one thing along is needful,
to love my Saviour.

Scriptural Convictions

Have mercy on me,
for I have ungratefully received thy benefits,
little improved my privileges,
made light of spiritual things,
disregarded thy messages,
contended with examples of the good,
rebukes of conscience,
admonitions of friends,
leadings of providence.

The Minister's Preaching

I myself need thy support, comfort, strength,
holiness,
that I might be a pure channel of thy grace,
and be able to do something for thee.

The Minister's Bible

From it [the Bible] show me how my words have often been
unfaithful to thee,
injurious to my fellow-men,
empty of grace, full of folly,
dishonouring to my calling.

Then write the own words upon my heart
and inscribe them on my lips;
So shall all glory be to thee
in my reading of thy Word!

A Minister's Praises

There is much unconquered territory
in my nature,
scourge out the buyers and sellers
of my soul's temple,
and give me to return pure desires,
and longings after perfect holiness.

A Minister's Strength

Grant me to rest in thy power and faithfulness,
and to know that there are two things
worth living for:
to further thy cause in the world,
and to do good to the bodies and souls of men;
This is my ministry, my life, my prayer, my end,
Grant me grace that I shall not fail.

A Minister's Confession

This is my vileness, to make men’s opinions
my rule whereas
I should see what good I have done,
and give thee glory,
consider what sin I have committed
and mourn for that.

A Minister's Evils

Help me in my work to grow more humble,
to  pick something out of thy providences
to that end,
to joy in thee and loathe myself,
to keep my life, being, soul, and body
only for thee,
to carry my heart to thee in love and delight,
to see all my grace with thee coming from thee,
to walk with thee in endearment.

Then, whether I succeed or fail,
nought matters but thee alone.

An apostles renewal

Make it my chiefest joy to study thee,
meditate on thee,
gaze on thee,
sit like Mary at thy feet,
lean like John on thy breast,
appeal like Peter to thy love,
count like Paul all things dung.

Love-rest in God

My Dear Lord,

Thou art the foundation of goodness,
how can I distrust thee?
How can I be anxious about what happens to me?

…


May I love thee, my Benefactor, in all my benefits,
not forgetting that my greatest danger
arises from my advantages.

Vain service

Lord, it is the special evil of sin
that every breach of thy law arises
from contempt of they Person,
from despising thee and thy glory,
from preferring things before thee.

Help me to abhor myself in comparison of thee,
and keep me in a faith that works by love,
and serves by grace.

The servant in battle

Give me a draught of the eternal fountain
that lieth in thy immutable, everlasting love
and decree.

The shall my hand never weaken,
my feet never stumble,
my sword never rest,
my helmet never shatter,
my breastplate never fall,
as my strength rests in the power
of thy might.