Spirit-Empowered: Introducing The Puritans

I had heard of the Puritans, but not until recently did I explore more about their identity. Since doing so, I have fallen in love with their beliefs, doctrine and simple way of living. To begin, Puritanism was an evangelical holiness movement of the 1600’s which sought to reform and purify the church of the day. It grew out of a need to teach sound Reformed doctrine, a need for biblical, personal piety that stressed the work of the Holy Spirit in the faith and life of the believer and the need to restore Biblical simplicity in church life so that the triune God would be worshiped according to the Scriptures.

The Puritans loved, lived and breathed Scripture and saw it as Spirit-empowered, fully able to renew their minds and transform their lives. One Puritan, John Flavel, said, “The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering, and the most comfortable way of dying.” Additionally, Puritan Henry Smith said, “We should set the Word of God always before us like a rule, and believe nothing but that which it teaches, love nothing but that which it prescribes, hate nothing but that which it forbids, do nothing but that which it commands.”

It comes as no surprise then, that Puritan prayers have a strong emphasis on Scriptural truths and the use of Scripture at the core of what is being expressed. Puritan prayers feed the mind with solid biblical substance and move the heart with affectionate warmth. They reason with the mind, confront the conscience and appeal to the heart. They are written out of love for God’s Word, love for the glory of God and love for the souls of those who engage with them. They set forth Christ in His loveliness, moving us to yearn to know Him better and live wholly for Him.

Puritan prayers are succinct in expressing the nature of sin and pricking our conscience with our own sinfulness. These prayers are confrontational as well as comforting. We experience little growth if our consciences are not pricked daily and directed to Christ. By praying these prayers, we come “naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we must give an account (Hebrews 4:13).

And finally, Puritan prayers remind us to live out our earthly pilgrimage with Heaven in our eye. We are encouraged to keep the hope of glory before our minds, and this should guide and shape our lives here on earth. Living in the light of eternity necessitates radical self-denial. And the Puritan prayers teach us to live, knowing that the joy of Heaven makes amends for any losses and crosses that we must endure on earth when we follow Christ.

So, my prayer is that as we would each take the time to read these prayers, that the Spirit of God would remind us of our own brokenness, His glorious redemptive work in us and the deep dependence upon the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we need each day.

J. L Packer acclaimed the Puritans when he said, “The Puritans were strong because they had a deep root system. They became my example of folk who lived slow enough to be able to think deeply about God.’ Living slow enough to have the time to think about God. May that become our goal as this new year unfolds. To dwell more deeply with God than we ever have in the past, so that we might know Him and His graces more fully in the days to come.

‘From Calvary’s cross wave upon wave of grace reaches me,

deals with my sin,

washes me clean, renews my heart,

strengthens my will,

draws out my affection,

kindles a flame in my soul,

rules throughout my inner man,

consecrates my every thought, word, work,

teaches me thy immeasurable love.

How great are my privileges in Christ Jesus!’

(The Valley of Vision – A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

The Banner of Truth Trust)