Thoughts on Religious
Experience
Archibald Alexander, 1844
A prayer for one who feels
that he is
approaching the borders of another world
Most merciful God, I rejoice that You reign over the
universe with a sovereign sway, so that You do according to Your will, in
the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. You are the
Maker of my body, and Father of my spirit, and You have a perfect right to
dispose of me in that manner which will most effectually promote Your glory:
and I know that whatever You do is right and wise and just and good. And
whatever may be my eternal destiny, I rejoice in the assurance that Your
great name will be glorified in me. But as You have been pleased to reveal
Your mercy and Your grace to our fallen miserable world; and as the word of
this salvation has been preached unto me, inviting me to accept of eternal
life upon the gracious terms of the Gospel, I do cordially receive the Lord
Jesus Christ as my Savior and only Redeemer, believing sincerely the whole
testimony which You have given respecting His divine character, His real
incarnation, His unspotted and holy life, His numerous and beneficent
miracles, His expiatory and meritorious death, and His glorious resurrection
and ascension. I believe, also, in His supreme exaltation, in His prevalent
intercession for His chosen people, in His affectionate care and aid
afforded to His suffering members here below, and in His second coming to
receive His humble followers to dwell with Himself in heaven; and to take
vengeance on His obstinate enemies.
My only hope and confidence of being saved rests simply
on the mediatorial work and prevailing intercession of the Lord Jesus
Christ; in consequence of which the Holy Spirit is graciously sent to make
application of Christ's redemption, by working faith in us, and repentance
unto life; and rendering us fit for the heavenly inheritance, by sanctifying
us in the whole man, soul, body, and spirit.
Grant, gracious God, that the rich blessings of the new
covenant may be freely bestowed on Your unworthy servant. I acknowledge that
I have no claim to Your favor on account of any goodness in me by nature;
for alas! there dwells in me, that is, in my flesh, no good thing! nor on
account of any works of righteousness done by me; for all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Neither am I able to make atonement for
any one of my innumerable transgressions which, I confess before You, are
not only many in number—but heinous in their nature, justly deserving Your
displeasure and wrath; so that if I were immediately sent to hell, You would
be altogether just in my condemnation. Although I trust that I have
endeavored to serve You with some degree of sincerity; yet whatever good
thing I have ever done, or even thought, I ascribe entirely to Your grace,
without which I can do nothing acceptable in Your sight. And I am deeply
convinced that my best duties have fallen far short of the perfection of
Your law, and have been so mingled with sin in the performance, that I might
justly be condemned for the most fervent prayer I ever made. And I would
confess with shame and contrition, that I am not only chargeable with sin in
the act—but that there is a law in my members, warring against the law of my
mind, aiming to bring me into captivity to the law of sin and death. This
corrupt nature is the source of innumerable evil thoughts and desires, and
damps the exercise of faith and love, and stands in the way of well-doing,
so that when I would do good, evil is present with me. And so deep and
powerful is this remaining depravity, that all efforts to eradicate or
subdue it are vain, without the aid of Your grace. And when at any time
I obtain a glimpse of the depth and turpitude of the sin of my nature, I am
overwhelmed, and constrained to exclaim with Job, "I abhor myself and repent
in dust and ashes." (Job 42:6)
And now, Righteous Lord God Almighty, I would not attempt
to conceal any of my actual transgressions, however vile and shameful they
are—but would penitently confess them before You; and would plead in my
defense, nothing but the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, who
died, the just for the unjust, to bring us near to God. For His sake alone
do I ask or expect the rich blessings necessary to my salvation. For
although I am unworthy, He is most worthy; though I have no righteousness,
He has provided by His expiatory death, and by His holy life, a complete
justifying righteousness, in which spotless robe I pray that I may be
clothed; so that You my righteous Judge, will see no sin in me—but will
acquit me from every accusation, and justify me freely by Your grace,
through the righteousness of my Lord and Savior, with whom You are ever well
pleased.
My earnest prayer is, that Jesus may save me from my
sins, as well as from their punishment; that I may be redeemed from all
iniquity, as well as from the condemnation of the law; that the work of
sanctification may be carried on in my soul by Your Word and Spirit, until
it be perfected at Your appointed time. And grant, O Lord, that as long as I
am in the body, I may make it my constant study and chief aim to glorify
Your name, both with soul and body, which are no longer mine—but Yours; for
I am "bought with a price" (1 Cor 6:20; 1 Cor 7:23)—not with silver and
gold—but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot. Enable me to let my light so shine, that others, seeing my
good works, may be led to glorify Your name. Make use of me as an humble
instrument of advancing Your kingdom on earth, and promoting the salvation
of immortal souls. If You have appointed sufferings for me here below, I
beseech You to consider my weakness, and let Your chastisements be those of
a loving father, that I may be made partaker of Your holiness. And let me
not be tempted above what I am able to bear—but with the temptation make a
way of escape.
O most merciful God, cast me not off in the time of old
age; forsake me not when my strength declines. Now, when I am old and
grey-headed, forsake me not; but let Your grace be sufficient for me; and
enable me to bring forth fruit, even in old age. May my hoary head be found
in the ways of righteousness! Preserve my mind from senility and imbecility,
and my body from protracted disease and excruciating pain. Deliver me from
despondency and discouragement in my declining years, and enable me to bear
affliction with patience, fortitude, and perfect submission to Your holy
will. Lift upon me perpetually the light of Your reconciled countenance, and
cause me to rejoice in Your salvation, and in the hope of Your glory. May
the peace that passes all understanding be constantly diffused through my
soul, so that my mind may remain calm through all the storms and
vicissitudes of life.
As, in the course of nature, I must be drawing near to my
end, and as I know I must soon put off this tabernacle, I do humbly and
earnestly beseech You, O Father of mercies, to prepare me for this
inevitable and solemn event. Fortify my mind against the terrors of death.
Give me, if it pleases You, an easy passage through the gate of death.
Dissipate the dark clouds and mists which naturally hang over the grave, and
lead me gently down into the gloomy valley. O my kind Shepherd, who has
tasted the bitterness of death for me, and who knows how to sympathize with
and support the sheep of Your pasture, be present to guide, to support, and
to comfort me. Illumine with beams of heavenly light the valley and shadow
of death, so that I may fear no evil. When heart and flesh fail, be the
strength of my heart and my portion forever. Let not my courage fail in the
trying hour. Permit not the great adversary to harass my soul in the last
struggle—but make me a conqueror and more than a conqueror in this fearful
conflict. I humbly ask that my reason may be continued to the last, and if
it be Your will, that I may be so comforted and supported, that I may leave
a testimony in favor of the reality of religion, and Your faithfulness in
fulfilling Your gracious promises; and that others of Your servants who may
follow after may be encouraged by my example to commit themselves boldly to
the guidance and keeping of the Shepherd of Israel.
And when my spirit leaves this clay tenement, Lord Jesus,
receive it. Send some of the blessed angels to convoy my inexperienced soul
to the mansion which Your love has prepared. And O! let me be so situated,
though in the lowest rank, that I may behold Your glory. May I have an
abundant entrance administered unto me into the kingdom of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ—for whose sake, and in whose name, I ask all these
things. Amen.