excerpt from a puritan prayer

When thy Son, Jesus, came into my soul instead of sin

He became more dear to me than sin had formerly been;

His kindly rule replaced sin's tyranny.

Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin subdued

I must not only labour to overcome it,

but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it,

and He must become to me more than vile lust had been;

that His sweetness, power, life may be there.

Thus I must seek a grace from Him contrary to sin,

but must not claim it apart from Himself.

When I am afraid of evils to come, comfort me by showing me

that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch,

but in Christ I am reconciled and live;

that in myself I find insufficiency and no rest,

but in Christ there is satisfaction and peace;

that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good,

but in Christ I have ability to do all things.

Though now I have His graces in part,

I shall shortly have them perfectly

in that state where Thou wilt show Thyself fully reconciled,

and alone sufficient, efficient, loving me completely,

with sin abolished.

O Lord, hasten that day.