ELECTION

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 evidences Thy love;
Help me to make use of it by faith as the ground of my peace
      and of Thy favor 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 faith,
      and so testified by Word and Spirit.
I bless Thee for these live 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 to adore and love Thee.
I want not the favor of man to lean upon,
     for I know that Thy electing grace is infinitely better.


             -- The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions