Welcome to the Daily Blade. The Word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary

spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin

and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

All right, this week we are looking at an assortment of prayers from

the Valley of Vision, which is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. Today we're

tackling a prayer called Man's Great End. I'll read it here. Lord of all being, there is one

thing that deserves my greatest care that calls forth my ardent desires,

that is, that I may answer the great end for which I am made, to glorify thee who has given me

being, and to do all the good I can for my fellow men. Verily, life is not worth having if it be not

improved for this noble purpose. Yet, Lord, how little is this the thought of mankind?

Most men seem to live for themselves, without much or any regard for thy glory, or for the good of others.

They earnestly desire and eagerly pursue the riches, honors, pleasures of this life,

as if they suppose that wealth, greatness, merriment,

could make their immortal souls happy. But, alas, what false delusive dreams are these, and how miserable

ere long will those be that sleep in them, for all our happiness consists in loving thee,

and being holy as thou art holy? Oh, may I never fall into the temptors and

vanities, the sensuality and folly of this present world. It is a place of inexpressible sorrow,

a vast empty nothingness. Time is a moment, a vapor, and all its enjoyments are empty bubbles,

fleeting blasts of wind, from which nothing satisfactory

can be derived. Give me grace always to keep in covenant with thee, and to reject as delusion a great

name here or hereafter, together with all sinful pleasures or prophets. Help me to know continually

that there can be no true happiness, no fulfilling of thy purpose for me,

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