CONTINUAL REPENTANCE
O God of Grace,
Thou hast imputed
my sin to my
substitute,and hast
imputed his righteousness to
my soul,clothing me
with a bridegroom's robe,
decking me with jewels
of holiness.
But in my Christian
walk I am still in rags;
my best prayers are
stained with sin;
my penitential tears
are so much impurity;
my confessions of
wrong are so many
aggravations of sin;
my receiving the Spirit
is tinctured with selfishness.
I need to repent of
my repentance;
I need my tears to
be washed;
I have no robe to
bring to cover my sins,
no loom to weave my
own righteousness;
I am always standing
in filthy garments,
and by grace am always
receiving change of raiment,
for thou dost always
justify the ungodly;
I am always going
into the far country,
and always returning
home as a prodigal,
always saying, Father,
forgive me,
and thou art always
bring forth the best robe.
Every morning let
me wear it,
every evening return
in it,
go out to the day's
work in it,
be married in it,
be wound in death
in it,
stand before the great
white throne in it,
enter heaven in it
shining as the sun.
Grant me never to
lose sight of
the exceeding sinfulness
of sin,
the exceeding righteousness
of salvation,
the exceeding glory
of Christ,
the exceeding beauty
of holiness,
the exceeding wonder
of grace.
The above is
"A Puritan Prayer"
Index
Home Page
Get your own Free Home Page