This is part of the series,
“Prayers from John Bradford”.
Who was John Bradford?
"How Fair You Are!"—Adoration
“When the Roots of Our Lusts”—Confession
“What Shall I Say?”—Confession
“Open Our Eyes to See Our Great Need”—Illumination
“You Are Our Most True Pilot”—Illumination
“Who Has Revealed Yourself to Humanity”—Intercession
“You Use All Means Possible”—Intercession
“We Most Heartily Ask”—Intercession
“My Watcher and Keeper”—Intercession
"Whom our Savior Christ Approached”—Intercession
When the congregation of St. John’s Church in Bradford West Gwillimbury, Ontario, celebrated two hundred years of Presbyterian presence in their area, they returned to their roots and used prayers of the 16th C. English Reformer, John Bradford, in their worship. This is one of the prayers of intercession.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
my watcher and keeper,
take me to your care.
Grant that while my body sleeps,
my mind may watch in you
and be made content by some sight of celestial and heavenly life
where you are the king and prince,
together with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
your angels and the holy souls who are most happy citizens.
O purify my soul.
Keep my body clean,
that in both my sleeping and waking,
I may please you, forever.
Amen.
—“Private Prayers and Meditations, Prayer for Divine Protection,” in The Writings of John Bradford, Cambridge University Press, 1843, p. 242. Public Domain. Language updated.
