"For He who is the ground of thy faith..."

So very very encouraged by this Puritan prayer I read tonight before bed...

[Remember] O my soul,

It is thy duty & privilege to

rejoice in God:

He requires it of thee for all his favours of grace.

Rejoice then in the Giver & his goodness,

Be happy in him, O my heart, & in nothing

but God,

for whatever a man trusts in,

from that he expects happiness.

He who is the ground of thy faith

should be the substance of thy

joy.

Whence then comes heaviness & dejection,

when joy is sown in thee,

promised by the Father,

bestowed by the Son,

inwrought by the Holy Spirit,

thine by grace,

thy birthright in believing?

Art thou seeking to rejoice in thyself

from an evil motive of pride & self-reputation?

Thou hast nothing of thine own but sin,

nothing to move God to be gracious

or to continue his grace towards thee.

If thou forget this thou wilt lose thy joy.

Art thou grieving under a sense of indwelling sin?

Let godly sorrow work repentance,

as the true spirit which the Lord blesses,

& which creates fullest joy;

Sorrow for self opens rejoicing in God,

Self-loathing draws down divine delights.

Hast thou sought joys in some creature comfort?

Look not below God for happiness;

fall not asleep in Delilah’s lap.

Let God be

[all in all]

to thee,

& joy in the fountain that is always full.

- j. shae