Heart Corruptions (Puritan Prayers)

Heart Corruptions

O God, may Thy Spirit speak in me that I may speak to thee. I have no merit, let the merit of Jesus stand for me. I am undeserving, but I look to Thy tender mercy. I am full of infirmities, wants, sin; Thou art full of grace.

I confess my sin, my frequent sin, my wilful sin; all my powers of body and soul are defiled: a fountain of pollution is deep within my nature. There are chambers of foul images within my being; I have gone from one odious room to another, walked in a no-man's-land of dangerous imaginations, pried into the secrets of my fallen nature.

I am utterly ashamed that I am what I am in myself; I have no green shoot in me nor fruit, but thorns and thistles; I am a fading leaf that the wind drives away; I live bare and barren as a winter tree, unprofitable, fit to be hewn down and burnt. Lord, dost Thou have mercy on me?

Thou hast struck a heavy blow at my pride, at the false god of self, and I lie in pieces before Thee. But Thou hast given me another master and lord, Thy Son, Jesus, and now my heart is turned towards holiness, my life speeds as an arrow from a bow towards complete obedience to Thee. Help me in all my doings to put down sin and to humble pride. Save me from the love of the world and the pride of life, from everything that is natural to fallen man, and let Christ's nature be seen in me day by day. Grant me grace to bear Thy will without repining, and delight to be not only chiselled, squared, or fashioned, but separated from the old rock where I have been embedded so long, and lifted from the quarry to the upper air, where I may be built in Christ for ever.

You can find more at this link:

http://eternallifeministries.org/prayers.htm

Priase God! These are very edifying and comforting. Thank you dear brother.

I found a great source here also:
http://www.gracegems.org/gq.htm

A dear brother purchased the Valley of Vision book for me in a leather cover. God has used that book much to humble me and brake me.

God bless you! -Abraham

I confess my sin, my frequent sin, my wilful sin; all my powers of body and soul are defiled: a fountain of pollution is deep within my nature.

I find these prayers to be a bit pathetic. Where is the power? Where is the deliverance? Where is the victory? Where is the joy? It sounds like a bunch of depressing defeatism. This isn't edification. This is poisoning the Church!

It seems like they are just grieving over their sin instead of stopping it. What is the point of grieving over sin if you aren't going to stop it? If you stop sinning, you don't have to grieve over it anymore.

It sounds like they are giving the devil more power then God. If the devil can get you to sin, couldn't God get you to stop sinning??

We don't have to walk in depressing defeat all the time. We can walk in wonderful victory and liberty through the Spirit of God. Jesus can actually get men to stop sinning. But it is our freewill choice of course.

The only people who sin are people who choose to sin, and those who choose to sin are non other then unconverted sinners.

What the Church needs is to hear the truth that we can stop sinning. The only thing that keeps you sinning is yourself. It is your choice. [b]We cannot blame our nature for our sin. Sin is our own freewill choice. [/b] It is not Adams fault, God's fault, or natures fault. Sin is our own fault.

God is pleasing with us, reasoning with us, persuading us, and begging us to stop our sinning, stop our rebellion, and be totally and utterly submitted and surrendered unto Him!!!!!

If I sin, I blame my own choice and not my nature. Sin is a choice. We are responsible for our sin, not our nature. God will punish you for your sin because you choose to sin, not because you have some nature that forces you to sin. Sin is an abuse of freewill, not a defect of nature. God has given us everything we need not to sin. So we are criminals if we sin, not poor little cripples.

What the Church needs is to hear the truth that we can stop sinning. The only thing that keeps you sinning is yourself. It is your choice.

Jesse, if you cannot be a part of the sermonindex forums to edify other believers instead of disagreeing all the time and trying to pursuade people of your systematic theology then your account will be taken down and you will be asked to stop using the forum discussions.

It is very important to note that you are joining a vibrant community of believers across the entire world. The main reason for the discussion forums being on this site in the first place is for discussions revolving around the audio sermon speakers and the themes and topics they bring up.

The paramount theme of the site is revival! The discussing of the history of revivals and spurning each other onto praying to this end to see a revival across the world is one of the cheif ends of the discussion forums.

It should be noted that the underlying principle in discussions needs to be [b]EDIFICATION[/b]. Any discussions that are not in concord with this can be edited or deleted by the Moderators. Also posting of links to other audio sermon materials on other sites from the forums is prohibited also. Please review and understand what the rules are of this website as a member you are expected to obey them. By registering you are agreeing to these rules and stipulations for proper use of this website. MUST READ: SermonIndex Forum Disclaimer / Community Rules...

Greg,

I don't see the problem.

If someone can post the theology of the Puritans (a sinful nature instead of a freewill) why can't others post the theology of the Early Church (a freewill instead of a sinful nature)??

I dobt that even Finney or Wesley would question the spiritual stature of the Puritans. Perhaps there is a forgotten wisdom in boasting of our weakness that even young zealous lions could learn from the simple Puritans.

I encourage you to watch this:

[b]Young People Who Stand For God by Zac Poonen - Part 4[/b]
http://www.preachingtruth.com/view_video.php?viewkey=56fc8a4d2a519803d51b&page=2&viewtype=&category=mr

I don't see the problem.

I think at your age you need to start listening double to what you talk. Take that advice from someone just a few years older then you in the Lord.

I have no quams to remove your account brother if you cannot either bear with this rule or to show self-control in these matters and humility to learn from those weaker and less knowelable then you.

The problem I have is when people blame their involuntary nature for their sin rather then blaming their voluntary freewill.

The Gnostics said that we were sinners by birth because of our involuntary nature. And the Gnostics said that because we are totally depraved, salvation must be brought about by unconditional election and irresistible grace. And that perseverence would be automatic.

But the Early Church said that we were sinners by choice because of our voluntary freewill choices. And they said that we are totally sinful by choice, but the power of freewill remains. So salvation is brought about by a cooperation between God and man, salvation included a freewill decision to forsake all and follow Christ. So election was conditional upon the choice of repentance and the choice of faith, God's grace is resisted by man since God extends it to all, and salvation could be lost.

But Gnosticism is considered orthodox today while the doctrine of the Early Church is considered heresy.

But anyways, my problem is when people blame their nature and act as if they are victims of sin. When in reality, the problem is their will and no their nature. Sinners are criminals not victims.

I'm more of the Calvinistic persuasion but on this topic I would have to agree with Jesse that these prayers are depressing. (and I disagree with Jesse about 95% of the time). Makes me wonder if some of these puritans understood romans 6 or 8? Though I've gleaned MUCH from the Puritans, especially their high view of God, it seems like many of them live in constant condemnation. There is victory in Christ.

Also, here's a different quote from a Puritan writer:

"Do you live in the willful practice of any known sin? Know that you are of the devil." by Joseph Alleine

constant condemnation.

That's right. As Christians we are not under the condemnation of the law anymore. We are under God's grace. Jesus offers us rest from sin.

There is something wrong if we are walking on constant condemnation, sin, and guilt. Jesus offers us forgiveness, holiness, and life. We have rest in Him. Our life should be full of light not full of darkness.

Saints,

I have removed Jesse's account for some reasons because of him promoting open theism and moral government theology. Secondly I removed his account because of his lack of edifying the body of Christ on the forums but rather to just post articles and reports. Thirdly, I deleted his account over a concern as a friend for his and seeing his lack of teachability as a young man and lack of humility in his walk.

May we all confess we have not arrived, we do not know in full, I want doctrine that makes my character more Christlike, this is what the bible calls godliness.

Obviously, I cannot remove the account of every person who has a strong theological position.. this is not the point. The point is to have brotherhood over truth and to be able to be teachable.

I see some very strong brothers on these forums that are "teachers" yet come in many ways "under" others to serve and bless them. I want to promote this on the forums not controversy or arguing over doctrine.

May we all be perfected in love.