The Divine Will

O Lord,

I hang on you; I see, believe, live,
   when your will, not mine, is done;
I can plead nothing in myself
   in regard of any worthiness and grace,
   in regard of your providence and promises,
   but only your good pleasure.
If your mercy makes me poor and vile, blessed be you!
Prayers arising from my needs are preparations for future mercies;
Help me to honor you by believing before I feel,
   for great is the sin if I make feeling a cause of faith.

Show me what sins hide you from me
   and eclipse your love;
Help me to humble myself for past evils,
   to be resolved to walk with more care,
For if do not walk in holiness before you,
   how can I be assured of my salvation?

It is the meek and humble who are shown your covenant,
   know your will, are pardoned and healed,
   who by faith depend and rest upon grace,
   who are sanctified and enlivened,
   who evidence your love.
Help me to pray in faith and so find you will,
   by leaning hard on your rich free mercy,
   by believing you will give what you have promised;
Strengthen me to pray with the conviction
   that whatever I receive is your gift,
   so that I may pray until prayer be granted;
Teach me to believe that all degrees of mercy arise
   from several degrees of prayer,
   that when begins it is imperfect and must grow,
   as dry ground opens wider and wider
      until rain comes.

So shall I wait for your will, pray for it to be done,
   and by your grace become fully obedient.

The Mover

O Supreme Moving Cause,

May I always be submitted to you
   be dependent upon you
   be found in the path where you walk
      and where your Spirit moves,
   be aware of wandering from you,
      of becoming numb to your love.
You do not move men like stones,
   but you give them life,
   not to enable them to move without you,
   but in submission to you, the first mover.
O Lord, I am astonished at the difference
   between my receivings and my deservings,
   between the state I am now in and my past gracelessness,
   between the heaven I am bound for and the hell I have earned.
Who made me to differ, but you?
   for I was no more ready to receive Christ
      than were others;
I could not have begun to love you had you not first loved me,
   or been willing unless you had first made me so.
O that such a crown should fit the head of such a sinner!
   such high advancement be for such an unfruitful person!
   such joys for so vile a rebel!
Infinite wisdom cast the design of salvation
   into the mold of purchase and freedom;
Let wrath deserved be written on the door of hell,
But the free gift of grace on the gate of heaven.
I know that my sufferings are often the result of my sinning,
   but in heaven both shall cease;
Grant me to attain this haven and be done with sailing,
   and may the gales of your mercy blow me safely into harbor.
Let your love draw me nearer to yourself,
   wean me from sin, make me dead to this world,
   and make me ready for my departure hence.
Secure me by your grace as I sail across this stormy sea.

The All-Good

My God,

You have helped me to see,
   that whatever good is in the blessings of being honored and of happiness,
      how good is he who gives them,
      and can withdraw them;
   that blessedness is not so much found
      in receiving good from you and in you,
      but in showing your glory and virtue;
   that it is an amazing thing for you to be seen
      in a creature as you speak, act
      fill, and shine through it;
   that nothing is good but you,
   that I am near good when I am near you,
   that to be like you is a glorious thing:
This is my magnet, my attraction.

You are all my good in times of peace,
   my only support in days of trouble,
   my one sufficiency when life shall end.
Help me to see how good your will is in all,
   and even when it crosses mine
   teach me to be pleased with it.
Grant me to feel you in shelter and food and every providence,
   and to see that your many gifts and creatures
   are but your hands and fingers taking hold of me.
O bottomless fountain of all good,
   I give myself to you out of love,
      for all I have or own is yours,
         my possessions, family, church, self,
      to do with as you will,
      to honor yourself by me, and by all that is mine.
If it is in harmony with your eternal counsels,
   the purpose of your grace,
   and the great ends of your glory,
   then bestow upon me the blessings of your comforts;
If not, let me accept
   your wiser determinations.