"Lord, teach us to pray...." A Light That Never Sets

Lancelot Andrews spent a good portion of his early life as a Puritan. But history remembers him as one of the outstanding figures in the Anglican Church. Andrews was consecrated Bishop of Ely, Winchester, and Chichester, and later chaplain to Queen Elizabeth I. He was a Fellow at Cambridge and one of a few scholars who was appointed in 1607 to prepare the texts for the King James Version of the Bible.

Andrews had many gifts. But chief among them was the ability to write prayers that “lifted up the mind to God.” What follows below is a selection taken from a book of private devotions which Andrews never intended to publish. Apparently, the kind Bishop used these prayers as a daily devotional aid. For those who are well versed with the Book of Common Prayer, some of what follows should be quite familiar.

A Light That Never Sets

“Through the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high has visited us. Glory be to Thee, O Lord; glory to you, Creator of the light, Enlightener of the world. God is the Lord who has shown us the light.

Glory to you for the visible light: the sun’s radiance, the flame of fire; day and night, evening and morning. For the light invisible and intellectual: that which may be known of God, that which is written in the law, oracles of prophets, melody of psalms, instruction of proverbs, experience of histories – a light which never sets.

By your resurrection raise us up into newness of life, supplying us frames of repentance. The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do his will. Work in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

You who sent down on your disciples Thrice-Holy Spirit, do not take the gift from us, but renew it, day by day, in us who ask you for it.” (Lancelot Andrews and His Private Devotions, translated by Alexander Whyte, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1981)

Love One Another - Brian