A Good Friday Prayer

This beautiful Puritan prayer from The Valley of Vision gives a powerful picture of all that Jesus gave and endured at Calvary, and all His death gained for us.LOVE LUSTRES AT CALVARYMy Father,Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips,Supply words that proclaim ‘Love lustres (shines) at Calvary.’There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on thy Son,Made a transgressor, a curse and sin for me;There the sword of thy justice smote the man, thy fellow;There the infinite attributes were magnified,and infinite atonement was made;There infinite punishment was due,and infinite punishment was endured.Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,cast off that I might be brought in,trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend,surrendered to hell’s worst that I might attain heaven’s best,stripped that I might be clothed,wounded that I might be healed,athirst that I might drink,tormented that I might be comforted,made a shame that I might inherit glory,entered darkness that I might have eternal light.My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,groaned that I might have endless song,endured all pain that I might have unfading health,bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem,bowed his head that I might lift up mine,experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness,expired that I might live forever.O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou mightest spare me,all this transfer thy love designed and accomplished;help me to adore thee by lips and life.O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise,my every step buoyant with delight,Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed,sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood,hell’s gates closed, heaven’s portals open.Go forth, O conquering God, and show methe cross, mighty to subdue, comfort and save.