LANCELOT ANDREWES

THE PRIVATE DEVOTIONS OF

LANCELOT ANDREWES

R.D.ICE

 

        “The cow grazes in many pastures, but the milk she gives is her own.”  Just so writers are influenced by many and much as they generate the written word.

        Many years ago I came into contact with this little book of “Devotions” written by Lancelot Andrewes during his lifetime.  He died in 1624.

        Andrewes was a leader and scholar of the English Church.  He was appointed as one of the translators of the King James Version Bible in 1604.  He translated Joshua through Second Chronicles.

        He had a “gift” with language.  His Devotions are a kind of “prose-poetry.”  He wrote in the language of the 16th century.  I have attempted to keep the spirit of his writings, while condensing and revising certain things.  Although his “world view” was quite different from ours, he loved God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, etc.  He may have been overly pessimistic, which was likely due to the times in which he lived.  This world is a dangerous and difficult place!  Yet Christ Jesus brought in a Living Hope!

        May we all be people of hope!  R.D.Ice

 

 

 

A Preface to the Lord’s Prayer:

 

Grant, O Lord, to remember me

        according to the multitude

                of Thy mercies,

        wink at mine infirmities,

        O Lord, and cast me not away:

But sovereign Lord which lovest

                mankind:

        After Thine unspeakable love

        account me worthy, O Lord,

        remove mine iniquities:

        without condemnation,

        with clean heart,

        with contrite soul,

        with face unashamed,

        with hallowed lips,

        to make bold to call upon Thee

        the Holy God and Father which

                art in heaven.

Do not by reason of me and my sins

        refrain Thy readiness to hear

        my service and my prayer.

Holy is Thy Name above every Name!

 

 

PRAISE TO THE TRINITY  Lancelot Andrews

 

O God the Father, of heaven,

    who hast marvellously created

        the world out of nothing,

    who dost govern and uphold heaven

        and earth with Thy power,

    who didst deliver Thy Only-begotten

        for us unto death:

 

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

    who didst will to be incarnate of

        a virgin,

    who hast washed us from our sins

        by Thy precious blood,

    who rising from the dead didst ascend

        victorious to heaven:

 

O God the Holy Ghost, the Comforter,

    who didst descend upon Jesus in

        the form of a dove,

    who coming upon the apostles didst

        appear in fiery tongues,

    who dost visit and confirm with

        Thy grace the hearts of the saints:

 

O sacred, highest, eternal, blissful,

        blessed Trinity,

    always to be praised, yet always

        unspeakable:

            O Father good -

            O Son loving -

            O Spirit kind -

    whose majesty is unspeakable,

    whose power is incomparable,

    whose goodness is inestimable:

    whose work is life,

    whose love is grace,        

    whose contemplation is glory:

 

Deity, Divinity, Unity, Trinity:

        Thee I worship, Thee I call upon,

    with the whole affection of my heart

        I bless now and forever:

            through Jesus Christ our Lord,

                Amen.

 

    *  References:

        1  Timothy 6:15-16

        1  Timothy 2:3-6

        Hebrews l:5-7

        John 14:15-17

        Romans 11:33-36

 

Worship To God:

 

Look down, O Lord our God,

        from heaven Thy dwelling place

        and from the throne of the glory

        of Thy kingdom,

        and come to hallow us.

Jesus, Thou that sittest on high,

        with the Father, and art here

        with us invisibly,

        come to hallow the worship

        that we set forth.

And give us communion and fellowship:

        unto faith unashamed,

        Love without hypocrisy,

        keeping of the commandments,

        alertness for every spiritual

                fruit

        turning aside of every spiritual

                adversary,

        healing of soul and body:

With the intent that we also,

        with all the saints,

        which have been wellpleasing

                unto Thee since the world began,

        may be made partakers

        of Thine unalloyed and everlasting

                good things,

        which Thou hast prepared for

        them that love Thee, O Lord:

        in whom Thou art glorified

        forever

O Lamb of God,

        that takest away the sin of

                the world,

        take away the sin of me who am

                a mere sinner.

We beseech Thee, O Lord,

        that with the witness of our

                conscience clean,

        receiving our share of Thy

                hallowed things,

        we may be united to the holy

        body and blood of Thy Christ

        and not unworthily

        may have Christ indwelling in

                our hearts,

        and be made a temple of the

                Holy Ghost.

Yes, Our God, grant us unto our

                last and closing gasp,

        worthily to receive hope

        of Thy hallowed things and

        appropriation of Thy kingdom.