shortcomings.

"O Living God,

I bless Thee that I see the worst of my heart as well as the best of it,

that I can sorrow for those sins that carry me from Thee,

that it is Thy deep and dear mercy to threaten punishment

so that I may return, pray, live.

My sin is to look on my fault and be discouraged,

or to look on my good and be puffed up.

I fall short of Thy glory every day by spending hours unprofitably,

by thinking that the things I do are good,

when they are not done to Thy end,

nor spring from the rules of Thy Word.

My sin is to fear what will never be;

I forget to submit to Thy will, and fail to be quiet there.

But Scripture teaches me that Thy active will reveals a steadfast purpose on my behalf,

and this quietens my soul, and makes me love Thee.

Keep me always in the understanding that saints mourn more for sin than other men,

for when they see how great is Thy wrath against sin,

and how Christ's death alone pacifies that wrath,

that makes them mourn the more.

Help me to see that although I am in the wilderness

it is not all briars and barrenness.

I have bread from heaven, streams from the rock, light by day, fire by night,

Thy dwelling place and Thy mercy seat.

I am sometimes discouraged by the way,

but though winding and trying, it is safe and short;

Death dismays me, but my Great High Priest stands in its waters,

and will open me a passage,

and beyond it is a better country.

While I live, let me life be exemplary,

when I die, may my end be peace."

- "Shortcomings, Valley of Vision."