Election

Reprinted from The Valley of Vision — A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

Edited by Arthur Bennett

Published by The Banner of Truth

HOLY TRINITY,

All praise to thee for electing me

to salvation,

by foreknowledge of God the Father,

through sanctification of the Spirit,

unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood

of Jesus;

I adore the wonders of thy condescending love,

marvel at the true believer’s high privilege

within whom all heaven comes to dwell,

abiding in God and God in him;

I believe it, help me experience it to the full.

Continue to teach me that Christ’s righteousness

satisfies justice and evidence of love;

Help me to make use of it by faith as he ground

of my peace

and of thy favour and acceptance,

so that I may live always near the cross.

It is not feeling the Spirit that proves

my saved state but the truth of what

Christ did perfectly for me;

All holiness in him is by faith made mine,

as if I had done it;

Therefore I see the use of his righteousness,

for satisfaction to divine justice and making

me righteous.

It is not inner sensation that makes Christ’s death

mine

for that may be delusion, being without the Word,

but his death apprehended by my faith,

and so testified by Word and Spirit.

I bless thee for these lively exercises of faith,

for the righteousness that is mine in Jesus,

for grace to resign my will to thee;

I rejoice to think that all things are at thy disposal,

and I love to leave them there.

Then prayer turns wholly to praise,

and all I can do is adore and love thee.

I want not the favour of man to lean upon,

for I know that thy electing grace

is infinitely better.