My morning devotions currently include a Scripture passage (I work through a Biblical book at a time, short passages to ponder); a Puritan prayer from the collection titled, The Valley of Vision, assembled by Arthur Bennett; and then a reading from The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a’ Kempis.
A few mornings ago one of the Puritan prayers really struck me. While they all speak to me, many of them deeply, this one got my attention in a way that I can’t quite describe. I thought I’d share it, it is titled The Second Coming.
O Son of God and Son of Man,
Thou wast incarnate, didst suffer, rise, ascend for my sake;thy departure was not a token of separation but a pledge of return; thy Word, promises, sacraments, show thy death until thou come again.
That day is no horror to me, for thy death has redeemed me, thy Spirit fills me, thy love animates me, thy Word governs me.
I have trusted thee and thou hast not betrayed my trust; waited for thee, and not waited in vain.
Thou wilt come to raise my body from the dust, and reunite it to my soul, by a wonderful work of infinite power and love, greater than that which bounds the oceans’ waters, ebbs and flows the tides, keeps the stars in their courses, and gives life to all creatures.
This corruptible shall put on incorruption, this mortal, immortality, this natural body, a spiritual body, this dishonored body, a glorious body, this weak body, a body of power.
I triumph now in thy promises as I shall do in their performance, for the head cannot live if the members are dead; beyond the grace is resurrection, judgment, acquittal, dominion.
Every event and circumstance of my life will be dealt with -
the sins of my youth, my secret sins, the sins of abusing thee, of disobeying thy Word, the sins of neglecting ministers’ admonitions, the sins of violating my conscience – all will be judged;
And after judgment, peace and rest, life and service, employment and enjoyment, for thine elect.
O God, keep me in this faith, and ever looking for Christ’s return.
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