Lancelot Andrewes: Prayers that Lift the Mind Up to God
Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626) is cherished for his prayers that
have been preserved for us from his own private devotions. Here is a selection
that we might use this week as a call from our own hearts.
I believe in you, O God, Father, Word, Spirit—one God. I
believe that by your Fatherly love all things were created; that by your
goodness and love all things have been gathered into one in your Word, who for
us and for our salvation became flesh, was conceived, born, suffered, was
crucified and was buried, descended, rose again, ascended, sat down, and will
return and judge…I believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins
in this world, and the resurrection of the flesh and life everlasting in the
world to come. I believe this most holy faith, once delivered to the saints. O
Lord, help me in my unbelief.
Help me to receive faith from his miraculous conception,
humility from his lowly birth, patience from his suffering, power to crucify
the sin in my life from his Cross, burial of all my evil thoughts in good works
from his burial. Grant that I might be able to meditate on hell from his
descent, to find newness of life in his resurrection, to set my mind on things
above from his ascension, to judge myself in preparation of his returning
judgment.
Accompanying image: Lancelot Andrews, English School, circa 1660, in the public domain.