THE MOVER
O SUPREME MOVING CAUSE,
May I always be subordinate to thee,
Be dependent upon thee,
be found in the path where thou dost walk,
and where thy Spirit moves,
take heed of estrangement from thee,
of becoming insensible to thy love.
Thou dost not move men like stones,
but dost endue them with life,
not to enable them to move without thee,
but in submission to thee, the first mover.
O Lord, I am astonished at the difference
between my receivings and my deservings,
between the state I am now in
and my past gracelessness,
between the heaven I am bound for and
the hell I merit.
Who made me to differ, but thee?
for I was no more ready to receive Christ
than were others;
I could not have begun to love thee
hadst thou not first loved me,
or been willing unless thou
hadst first made me so.
O that such a crown
should fit the head of such a sinner!
such high advancement be for an unfruitful person!
such joys for so vile a rebel!
Infinite wisdom cast the design of salvation
into the mould of purchase and freedom;
Let wrath deserved be written on the door of hell,
But the free gift of grace on the gate of heaven.
I know that my sufferings
are the result of my sinning,
but in heaven both shall cease;
Grant me to attain this haven
and be done with sailing,
and may the gales of thy mercy
blow me safely into harbor.
Let thy love draw me nearer to thyself,
wean me from sin, mortify me to this world,
and make me ready for my departure hence.
Secure me by thy grace
as I sail across this stormy sea.
This is an excerpt from the book Valley of Vision by Arthur Bennett.
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