"Glory and Praise"

My God, I feel it is heaven to please You, and to be what You would have me be. O that I were holy as You art holy, pure as Christ is pure, perfect as Your Spirit is perfect! These, I feel, are the best commands in Your Book, and shall I break them? Must I break them? Am I under such a necessity as long as I live here?

Woe, woe is me that I am a sinner, that I grieve this blessed God, who is infinite in goodness and grace! O, if He would punish me for my sins, it would not wound my heart so deeply to offend Him; But though I sin continually, He continually repeats His kindness to me.

At times, I feel I could bear any suffering, but how can I dishonor this glorious God? What shall I do to glorify and worship this best of beings? O, that I could consecrate my soul and body to His service, without restraint, forever! O’ that I could give myself up to Him, so as never more to attempt to be my own! Or have any will or affections that are not perfectly conformed to His will and His love! But, alas, I cannot live and not sin. Yet, because You are Christ who paid in blood for my sin, I am forgiven.

Glory and Praise be to God, forever, and ever, Amen.

Puritan Prayers