Thoughts for the Day
Prayer of Covenant with God
I usually don’t make comment on the quotes I post, but in reading this quote I was struck with the thought that ‘this is a prayer’! I’m glad God’s grace covers my inadequacy in prayer and pray that I may learn from saints who have gone before.
“O Blessed Jesus, I come to thee hungry and thirsty, poor and wretched, miserable, blind and naked, a most loathsome polluted wretch, a guilty condemned malefactor, unworthy to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord, much more to be solemnly married to the King of Glory. But such is thine unparalleled love, I do here with all my power accept thee, and do take thee for my Head and Husband, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, for all times, and conditions, to love, honour, and obey thee before all others, and this to the death. I embrace thee in all thine offices. I renounce my own worthiness, and do here avow thee to be the Lord my Righteousness. I renounce my own wisdom, and do here take thee for my only Guide. I renounce my own will, and take thy will for my law.
And since thou has told me that I must suffer if I will reign, I do here covenant with thee to take my lot, as it falls, with thee, and by thy grace assisting to run all hazards with thee, verily supposing that neither life nor death shall part between thee and me.
And because thou has been pleased to give me thy holy laws, as the rule of my life, and the way in which I should walk to thy kingdom, I do here willingly put my neck under the yoke, as the rule of my life, and the way in which I should walk to thy kingdom, I do here willingly put my neck under the yoke, and set my shoulder to thy burden; and subscribing to all thy laws as holy, just and good, I solemnly take them as the rule of my words, thoughts, and actions; promising that though my flesh contradict and rebel, yet I will endeavor to order and govern my whole life to thy direction and will not allow myself to neglect anything that I know to my duty.
Only because through the frailty of my flesh, I am subject to many failings, I am bold humbly to request, that subject to many failings, I am bold humbly to request, that unintentional shortcomings, contrary to the settled bent and resolution of my heart, shall not make void this covenant, for so thou hast said.
Now, Almighty God, Searcher of hearts, thou knowest that I make this covenant with tee this day, without my known guile or reservation beseeching thee, that if thou espiest any flaw or falsehood therein, thou wouldst reveal it to me, and help me to do it aright.
And now, O God the Father, whom I shall be bold from this day forward to look upon as my God and Father, glory be to thee for finding out such a way for the recovery of undone sinners. Glory be to thee, O God the Son, who hast loved me and washed me from my sins in thine own blood, and are now become my Savior and Redeemer. Glory be to thee, O God the Holy Ghost, who by the finger of thine almighty power has turned my heart from sin to God.
O high and holy Jehovah, the Lord God Omnipotent, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, thou art now become my covenant Friend, and I through thine infinite grace am become thy covenant servant. Amen, so be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.”
Joseph Alleine, Alarm to the Unconverted, p. 119, 120
