I have recently started reading again a sermon by Rev. Samuel Annesley from the late 1600’s titled, “How May We Attain to Love God with All Our Hearts, Souls, and Minds?” (Taken from Richard Owen Roberts work, “Puritan Sermons 1659-1689 In Six Volumes“, Vol. 1, page 591.) In my reading this morning a quote, and prayer, leaped before my soul and penetrated my heart as if I had stepped in front of a speeding train and hit me full force.

The original comes from Thomas Bradwardine’s, “De Causa Dei,” (Lib. i. pp. 118, 119.) meaning – “on the Cause of God.” This original work of Bradwardine comes from even earlier than Annesley – out of the early 1300’s.

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“O my God, it is thyself I love above all things; it is for thyself; in thee my desires are terminated; and, therefore, what wilt thou give me? If thou wilt not give me thyself, thou wilt give me nothing.

(pause mine)

“If I find thee not, I find nothing; thou dost not at all reward me, but vehemently torment me. Heretofore, when I sought thee finally, for thyself, I hoped that I should quickly find thee, and keep thee; and with this sweet hope I comforted myself in all my labours. But now, if thou deny me thyself, what wilt thou give me? Shall I be for ever disappointed of so great a hope? Shall I always languish in my love? Shall I mourn in my languishment? Shall I grieve in my mourning? Shall I weep and wail in my grief? Shall I always disconsolately sorrow, incessantly complain, and be endlessly tormented?

(pause mine)

“O my most good, most powerful, most merciful, and most loving God, thou dost not use, so unfriendly and like an enemy, to despise, refuse, wound, and torment those that love thee with all their heart, soul, and strength; that hope for full happiness in thee! Thou art the God of truth, the beginning and end of those that love thee; thou dost at last give thyself to those that love thee; to be their perfect and complete happiness. Therefore, O my most good God, grant that I may in this present life love thee for thyself above all things, seek thee in all things, and in the life to come find thee, and hold thee to eternity.”

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Along with this prior quote, I was also reminded of some notes that I took while in the “Behold Your God” Bible study.

• What kind of person ought I to be?
• Will I be a person that delights to draw near?
• Do I desire the manifest presence and love of God that thrusts me into greater love and worship of God – and that I would live a sacrificial life – loving others – and of prayer?

“Is our mind made up as to what we really want?”
–Richard Owen Roberts

And, do I really see, with understanding, that which I really need eternally?

Am I such a man that can be trusted with God’s word?

You know O’ Lord, You know!
Amen.

Psalms 27:4,14; 141:3, 4.

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