Best Loved Prayers and Words of Wisdom

been born as a child and uttered noises like those of crying

children; and further, how it was that he was troubled, as we are

told, in the hour of death, as he himself confesses when he says,

‘My soul is sorrowful even unto death’; and how at the last he

was led to that death which is considered by men to be the most

shameful of all – even though on the third day he rose again.

Origen (c. 185–254)

The Bible is a vein of pure gold

Charles Haddon Spurgeon is remembered primarily for his preaching, although he is also known as the founder of Spurgeon’s, the international charity working throughout the world with families and children. Here he expounds on what makes the Bible so special.

The Bible is a vein of pure gold, unalloyed by quartz or any

earthly substance. This is a star without a speck, a sun with a

blot, a light without darkness, a moon without its paleness, and a

glory without a dimness. O Bible! It cannot be said of any other

book that it is perfect and pure, but of the Bible we can declare

that all wisdom is gathered up in it without a particle of folly.

This is the judge that ends the strife where wit and reason fail.

This is the book untainted by any error; but is pure, unalloyed,

perfect truth.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–1892)

Bless our meal

Martin Luther was a German monk and church reformer. Scripture was extremely important to him and his ideas were central to the Protestant Reformation.

Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest,

And may our meal by you be blest. Amen.

Attributed to Martin Luther (1483–1546)

Blessed are they ...

The passage in Matthew’s Gospel known as the Beatitudes is part of Jesus’ teaching to his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus declares the blessings that come on those who live according to the distinctive principles of the kingdom of God.

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of

heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for

they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children

of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you

and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in

the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before

you.’

Matthew 5:3–12, NRSV

A blessing

This blessing prayer, one of the best-known prayers and a particular favourite for christenings and other church services, is often known as the Aaronic blessing. It is based on the blessing that God gave to Moses for Aaron and the other priests to use to proclaim God’s blessing to the Israelites.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face

to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his

countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24–26, NRSV