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Comfort

V
vasilef May 30, 2008

May your spirits be comforted by these inspired words of timeless truth in a prayer written so long ago by a Puritan brother in Christ:

GIVER OF ALL GOOD,
Streams upon streams of love overflow my path.
Thou hast made me out of nothing,
hast recalled me from ignorance to knowledge,
from darkness to light,
from death to life,
from misery to peace,
from folly to wisdom,
from error to truth,
from sin to victory.
Thanks be to thee for my high and holy calling.
I bless thee for ministering angels,
for the comfort of thy Word,
for the ordinances of thy church,
for the teaching of thy Spirit,
for thy holy sacraments,
for the communion of saints,
for Christian fellowship,
for the recorded annals of holy lives,
for examples sweet to allure,
for beacons sad to deter.
Thy will is in all thy provisions
to enable me to grow in grace,
and to be meet for thy eternal presence.
My heaven-born faith gives promises of eternal sight,
my new birth a pledge of never-ending life.
I draw near to thee, knowing thou wilt draw near to me.
I ask of thee, believing thou hast already given.
I entrust myself to thee, for thou hast redeemed me.
I bless and adore thee, the eternal God,
for the comfort of these thoughts,
the joy of these hopes.

(From The Valley of Vison)

P.S.
"for beacons sad to deter."
what does it mean because I don't understand

C
ChrisJD May 31, 2008

Dear Vasilef,


about this line "for beacons sad to deter"


I think it is connencted with the two previous lines and can be taken in the sense of [i]examples not to follow[/i], whereas the others before where examples [i]to[/i] follow. It seems he has in mind the lives portrayed in scripture and perhaps in history, or church history, for examples.

Grace and peace,


Chris

sermonindex May 31, 2008


For examples sweet to allure,

For beacons sad to deter


Thy Will is in all thy provisions.


As we walk with God, now and then there is a brother or sister who is great encouragement as an example of Godly love and faith; someone we will never forget, who, possibly unknown unto them, were by their life, a holy ministry and blessing to us. "Examples sweet to allure."


"For beacons sad to deter." To deter; to push aside, to avoid. Not all lights, even bright ones, are helpful in our journey to Heaven. Some, alas, are stuck, or even deceived, and it is a sad thing sometimes to leave them behind, and go on walking alone with God.


Think in terms of Pilgrims Progress, the encouraging allegory by John Bunyan. This was a vastly influential work in the days of this writing, outsold by only the Bible.


"Thy will is in all Thy provisions." "even though He slay me; Yet will I worship Thee." As Joseph, and Job before him, the Lord sometimes does dwell in sorrow, struggle and sadness. He said to his brothers, "you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good." How can this be? At some time in our Christian walk, even in times of great crisis, we must, and will, bow the knee, and say with our fathers, "You know best, Lord Jesus"., and worship Him for who He is, even in the bitterness of our soul.[ Job.]

Both of these brothers got it right, and they always believed, even in the face of encompassing sorrow, that God was providing even in the midst of this, they continued to trust in Him.

"The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away."


Some thoughts, Vasilef. Poetry is often interpretable, and sometimes the writer can see some thoughts as multidimential. This poem has blessed me very much. Thanks.

J
JoanM May 31, 2008

I have and use the book The Vally of Vision. I cannot find, in the contents Table, that title. My edition:13th reprint in 2007, Banner of Truth. Do you have asection heading/page reference? Thanks

V
vasilef Jun 8, 2008

Thank you all for your suggestions. They are very helpful.

JoanM, the name of the prayer is "Comforts" and you can find it in 1975 edition, Banner of Truth; at chapter VII: Gifts of grace.

J
JoanM Jun 23, 2008

Thank you :-)

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