Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans

by Robert Elmer

Publisher:

Lexham Press

, 2019

Prayers of the Puritans

“That prayer is most likely to pierce heaven which first pierces one’s own heart.”

For the Puritans, prayer was neither casual nor dull. Their prayers were passionate affairs, from earnestly pleading for mercy to joyful praise. These rich expressions of deep Christian faith are a shining example of holy living.

The Puritan combination of warm piety and careful intellect have fueled a renaissance of interest in their movement. This combination is on display in Piercing Heaven, a collection of carefully selected prayers from leading Puritans. The language in these prayers has been slightly updated for a modern audience while retaining the elevated tone of the Puritans. With prayers from Richard Baxter, Thomas Brooks, John Owen, and many more, each entry reminds us that heartfelt prayer is central to the Christian life.

 

Praise for Piercing Heaven

If anything reflects the depth of spiritual knowledge and wisdom possessed by the Puritans it is their prayers. Never did they speak more profoundly, purely, humbly, richly, fearfully, lovingly and beautifully then when addressing God. This book is a collection of those profound prayers, providing much needed rich new and deep expressions for our prayers.

–John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher, Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California

It might be said that prayer is theology with wings to reach heaven. If anyone’s theology had wings, it was the Puritans. The prayers of this outstanding book, adapted from the writings of the Puritans and other highly esteemed devotional writers, will be a great help for those longing to seek God with all their heart and all their mind.

–Dr. Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and author of several books on the Puritans

Piercing Heaven is a gift to the church. Culled from prayers in the long puritan tradition, these petitions and praises are at once a call to reform our prayers and an aid to deepen our fellowship with the triune God. Organized after topic headings that will be intuitive for Christians, this collection makes a fine companion to other Puritan treasures.

–Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn, Professor of Church History and Director of the Craig Center for the Study of the Westminster Standards, Westminster Theological Seminary

Top Highlights

“Strengthen my soul as you help me grow in patience, in humility and zeal, and in a heavenly attitude. Give me a concern to be accepted by you (2 Corinthians 5:9).” (Page 38)

“Lord give me grace to let loose all things, and to leave all things with you. Lord, bear me up when I am falling, support me when weak, uphold me against all my enemies, carry me safe through a life of grace here. And, finally, bring me home to your glory, to behold you, and dwell with you forever, amen.” (Pages 104–105)

“to chill my affections to the world, and to warm them toward the Lord Jesus.” (Page 47)

“‘The Lord God has given me a well-taught tongue, so I may know how to sustain the weary with a word” (Page 28)

“In Puritan thinking, the Christian life was a heroic venture, requiring a full quota of energy,’” (Page 1)

Prayers of the Church

The Prayers of the Church series gathers the legacy of faith and wisdom from across the Christian tradition to help readers grow into godliness. Each volume focuses on a different tradition or historical era, bringing spiritual riches from across history and the global church to new readers today.

Learn more about the other titles in this series.

Contents

• Introduction
• Teach Me to Pray
• Help Me Ask for Help!
• Help Me Through My Doubts
• Help Me Through My Time of Sadness and Suffering
• Help Me Endure Temptation
• Help Me Rest in God’s Love
• I Believe—Help My Unbelief!
• Prepare My Heart for the Lord’s Day and the Lord’s Table

• Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated
• Help Me Give the Gospel to Others
• Forgive My Sins
• Help Me Praise and Thank the Lord
• Help Me Begin the Day
• Help Me Live the Day
• Help Me Close the Day
• Your Kingdom Come

List of Authors

• Joseph Alleine
• Richard Alleine
• Isaac Ambrose
• William Ames
• Richard Baxter
• Lewis Bayly
• Anne Bradstreet
• William Bridge
• Thomas Brooks
• John Bunyan
• Anthony Burgess
• Jeremiah Burroughs
• Stephen Charnock
• David Clarkson
• Arthur Dent
• Philip Doddridge

• William Gurnall
• William Guthrie
• Robert Hawker
• Matthew Henry
• George Herbert
• Ezekiel Hopkins
• John Howe
• John Owen
• Robert Parker
• Edward Reynolds
• John Robinson
• Richard Sibbes
• Nathanael Vincent
• George Whitefield
• Octavius Winslow
• Herman Witsius

Product Details

• Title: Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans
• Editor: Robert Elmer
• Series: Prayers of the Church
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2019
• Page Count: 336
• Format: Logos Digital, Hardcover
• Trim Size: 5x8
• ISBN: 9781683593348

About Robert Elmer

About the Editor

Robert Elmer is a former reporter and ad copywriter who writes part-time from his home in the Pacific Northwest. He is the author of over fifty books, including nine contemporary novels for the adult Christian audience, two nonfiction titles, and seven series for younger readers. He's also a contributor to kids’ versions of the popular “Case for...” books co-authored with Lee Strobel. Among kids, he is best known for his “Young Underground” and “Adventures Down Under” books. When he’s not at the keyboard, he enjoys sailing and hiking with his wife, and spending time with their three kids—plus a growing number of little grandchildren.