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We've all prayed perfunctory prayers. "Thanks for the food, Lord. Amen." Taking the time to pray before a sermon has given way to opening illustrations that put the listeners "at ease." Not so George Herbert, the 17th century pastor/poet.
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George Herbert's Heart In Prayer
April 8, 2009
Imagine the man standing before the congregation, with these words of exalted worship gushing forth...
O Almighty and ever-living Lord God! Majesty and Power and Brightness and Glory!
And then follows humility and contrition, as the creature addresses the Creator. Eventually, Herbert turns to the sermon that is yet to be preached, and his request that it be blessed from above....
Blessed be the God of Heaven and Earth! who only doth wondrous things. Awake therefore, my lute, and my viol! Awake all my powers to glorify thee!
We praise thee! We bless thee! We magnify thee for ever!
And now, O Lord! in the power of thy victories, and in the ways of thy ordinances, and in the truth of thy love, lo, we stand here, beseeching thee to bless thy word, wherever spoken this day throughout the universal Church.
O make it a word of power and peace, to convert those who are not yet thine, and to confirm those that are: particularly, bless it in this thy own kingdom, which thou hast made a land of light, a store-house of thy treasures and mercies.
O let not our foolish and unworthy hearts rob us of the continuance of this thy sweet love: but pardon or sins and perfect what thou hast begun.
Ride on Lord, because of the word of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Especially, bless this portion here assembled together, with thy unworthy servant speaking unto them:
Lord Jesu! teach thou me, that I may teach them: sanctify, enable all my powers, that in their full strength they may deliver thy message reverently, readily, faithfully and fruitfully.
O make thy word a swift word, passing from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the life and conversation: that has the rain returns not empty, so neither may thy word, but accomplish that for which it is given.
O Lord hear, O Lord forgive! O Lord, harken, and do so for thy blessed Son’s sake, in whose sweet and pleasing words we say....
OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
THY KINGDOM COME
THY WILL BE DONE
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM
AND THE POWER
AND THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN
I don't know about you, but now I'm all ears. Don't hold back, George. Let me have it!
O Almighty and ever-living Lord God! Majesty and Power and Brightness and Glory!
And then follows humility and contrition, as the creature addresses the Creator. Eventually, Herbert turns to the sermon that is yet to be preached, and his request that it be blessed from above....
Blessed be the God of Heaven and Earth! who only doth wondrous things. Awake therefore, my lute, and my viol! Awake all my powers to glorify thee!
We praise thee! We bless thee! We magnify thee for ever!
And now, O Lord! in the power of thy victories, and in the ways of thy ordinances, and in the truth of thy love, lo, we stand here, beseeching thee to bless thy word, wherever spoken this day throughout the universal Church.
O make it a word of power and peace, to convert those who are not yet thine, and to confirm those that are: particularly, bless it in this thy own kingdom, which thou hast made a land of light, a store-house of thy treasures and mercies.
O let not our foolish and unworthy hearts rob us of the continuance of this thy sweet love: but pardon or sins and perfect what thou hast begun.
Ride on Lord, because of the word of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Especially, bless this portion here assembled together, with thy unworthy servant speaking unto them:
Lord Jesu! teach thou me, that I may teach them: sanctify, enable all my powers, that in their full strength they may deliver thy message reverently, readily, faithfully and fruitfully.
O make thy word a swift word, passing from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the life and conversation: that has the rain returns not empty, so neither may thy word, but accomplish that for which it is given.
O Lord hear, O Lord forgive! O Lord, harken, and do so for thy blessed Son’s sake, in whose sweet and pleasing words we say....
OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
THY KINGDOM COME
THY WILL BE DONE
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM
AND THE POWER
AND THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN
I don't know about you, but now I'm all ears. Don't hold back, George. Let me have it!
