From
The Rectory
The
Puritans (the hotter sort of Protestants who flourished in the 17th
Century) are sometimes seen as figures of fun, who wouldn’t have been much fun.
I seem to recall an episode of Blackadder which gives a fairly typical,
if not entirely encouraging impression. But who wouldn’t want a church which is
as pure as humanly possible? Of course there are many other considerations, but
it is surely right to be zealous for godliness and not indifferent to matters
of doctrine or practice. This is one of the things that all Christians ought to
be concerned about which the Puritans can help us to recover. Many of the
Puritans were eventually expelled from the Established Church or didn’t feel
that they could remain in good conscience, but for some generations the
Puritans were an important voice within the Church of England and we do well to
listen to them still. They remind us that personal, ecclesiastical and societal
reformation are never done. As the old slogan has it, the reformed church is
always reforming. Thomas Cranmer, the author of The Book of Common Prayer,
would have agreed with that, I think.
Anyway,
I took a little book of prayers which draw on the Puritans away with me on
holiday this summer. Perhaps not laugh a minute beach reading, you might think,
but I found it nourishing to start the day not only with coffee and a
croissant, but with a few of these prayers. (Tim Chester, Into His Presence:
Praying with the Puritans, The Good Book Company
2022 – an attractive hardback is £9.99; e-book also available – ISBN: 9781784987770 –
see thegoodbook.co.uk/into-his-presence for free extras). Often I found the
prayers contained some vivid expression. The Puritans were great preachers,
after all. And there was plenty worth reflecting on.
One of
the strengths of the Puritans is what we might sometimes call “application”,
which they might have called the “uses” of a doctrine. That is, for them,
preaching wasn’t merely an academic exercise or a kind of entertainment. They
didn’t want the Rector to give mildly interesting, diverting sermons, but
rather to preach the Word in a way that would make a difference. The teaching
of the Bible was meant to be transformative. They wanted to spell out the
implications of what God was saying for all their hearers and for all areas of
life.
The
prayers in this little book can help us to meditate on Christian truths more
deeply. Rather than a mere going through the motions of a form of prayer or a
prayer list, they seek to stir up our souls to a passionate love of God and his
ways. For example, with Philip Dodderidge, we might pray: “Oh, in what language
shall my flame break forth? What can I say but this, that my heart admires you
[Lord God], and adores you, and loves you? My little vessel is as full as it
can hold; and I would pour out all that fullness before you, that it may grow
capable of receiving more and more.” (p47)
And
I was struck by prayer number 28, from Thomas Watson, which is given the title
“Holy Fire”. We pray that our obedience might be free, cheerful, willing,
devout, fervent, sincere and not merely for outward appearances or recognition.
That we might love our duty. That our hearts might boil over with hot affection
for the Lord, that there might be fervent fire upon our
sacrifice. May the beauty, wisdom, holiness and mercy of Christ draw
out our love like a magnet. May we ardently desire communion with Christ and
hate all that grieves him or separates us from him.
Whether
or not this book is for you, why not take a moment today to pray and to reflect
on some great truth of the Bible: on the love of God, on the death of Christ,
on the events summarised in The Apostles’ Creed? What difference might these
things make to us? How might they move us to prayer and praise? Ask for God’s
grace that you might live today in the light of these things with a purer love
and trust for Jesus.
The Revd Marc Lloyd
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