His beauty covers my deformities!

(A Puritan Prayer)

Eternal God,
O, how I mourn my sin, ingratitude, vileness.
All things in heaven, earth, around, within,
without, condemn me . . .
  the sun which sees my misdeeds,
  the darkness which is light to You,
  the cruel accuser within who justly charges me,
  Your countenance which scans my secret sins.

Your righteous law, Your holy Word, my sin-soiled
conscience, my private and public life, myself--
all write dark things against me. I deny them not. I
frame no excuse, but confess, 'Father, I have sinned!'

Yet still I live, and fly repenting to Your outstretched arms!

You will not cast me off--for Jesus brings me near!

You will not condemn me--for He died in my stead!

You will not mark my mountains of sin--for He leveled
them all, and His beauty covers my deformities!

I bid farewell to sin by . . .
  clinging to His cross,
  hiding in His wounds,
  sheltering in His side.