The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotionals

Book Description:

The strength of Puritan character and life lay in prayer and meditation. In this practice the spirit of prayer was regarded as of first importance and the best form of prayer, for living prayer is the characteristic of genuine spirituality. Yet prayer is also vocal and may therefore on occasions be written. Consequently in the Puritan tradition there are many written prayers and meditations which constitute an important corpus of inspiring devotional literature.

Too often ex tempore prayer lacks variety, order and definiteness. The reason for this lies partly in a neglect of due preparation. It is here that the care and scriptural thoroughness which others found necessary in their approach to God may be of help. This book has been prepared not to 'supply' prayers but to prompt and encourage the Christian as he treads the path on which others have gone before.

First published in paperback in 1975, this superb collection of Puritan prayers and meditations is a much needed tonic for spiritual refreshment. John D. Hannah has called it "a wonderful aid in expressing our personal thoughts to God, a spiritual classic, both sober and inspiring."

Table of Contents:
1. Father, Son and Holy Spirit
2. Redemption and Reconciliation
3. Penitence and Deprecation
4. Needs and Devotions
5. Holy Aspirations
6. Approach to God
7. Gifts of Grace
8. Service and Ministry
9. Valediction
10. A Week's Shared Prayers

Author:

Arthur Bennett was a Canon of St. Albans Cathedral, sometimes Rector of Little Munden and Sacombe, Hertfordshire, and was for seventeen years a tutor in Biblical Theology and Christian Doctrine at All Nations Christian College. He died in October 1994.