Day 8

(This is one of my favorite collects. Worthy to be memorized and prayed before any reading of Scripture.)

Prayer
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Proper 28,” The Book of Common Prayer (1979, USA; “Second Sunday of Advent,” traditional)



Reflection
“To put our own sense on Scripture, without respect to the use of words, and to the reason and scope of the text, is not to believe Scripture, but to make it, is not to learn from Scripture, but to teach it to speak our language, is not to submit to the authority of Scripture, but to make Scripture submit to our reason, even in such matters as are confessedly above reason, as the infinite Nature and Essence of God is.”

Rev. William Sherlock (1641?-1707)