The Valley of Vision - A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

‘The Valley of Vision’ is a devotional book produced by the evangelical and reformed publisher ‘Banner of Truth’. In this book you will find a gold mine of prayerful writings by the likes of John Bunyan, Richard Baxter and Charles Spurgeon. This is a great introduction to the puritans and the way they write. There is a deep honesty in the prayers of contrition that we would expect to hear from someone truly convicted of their sin. One entry titled ‘Purification’ contains the following words: ‘Lord Jesus, I sin – Grant that I may never cease grieving because of it….Deliver me Attachment from things unclean…that with self-loathing, deep contrition, earnest heart searching, I may come to thee, cast myself on thee, trust in thee, cry to thee and be delivered by thee.’ In this book are collections of prayers and thoughts titled: ‘God the all’, ‘Divine Mercies’, ‘Praise and Thanksgiving’ and ‘Fullness in Christ’. There is truly a ‘song for every season’. ‘The Valley of Vision’ has been one of the best purchases I have ever made and it has assisted my prayers and how I bring my sins and worries to the Lord. I pray that it will do the same for you. Soli Deo Gloria

What an amazing little book, yet filled with beautiful and profound prayers. I read 2 a day and strongly recommend for any Christian to have this in their library. It's a must-have because the power of prayer is not to be underestimated.

This is a wonderful collection of prayers but the standard edition has a really horrible cover and - call me shallow - it's not a very nice book to look at. I picked this as it's design is a little more in keeping with the precious prayers within its covers. This leather bound edition is beautifully designed with lovely binding and good clear font. Paper is Bible leaf thin which means it's easy to navigate and a pleasure to use.

Beautifully bound and presented edition of an inspiring collection of heart-felt, biblical prayers that teach you to throw yourself completely at the feet of Christ. It teaches to pray in line with God's Word and will, and rebukes you when your prayers are too small. I particularly benefit from using it when my heart is too heavy to cry out articulately -someone here has said it better, and so the prayers of saints who have come before become my own in the praying. I will treasure it for the rest of my life.

A slim, beautifully soft, leather-bound book of prayer - a wealth of language that's just not used in our fast extempore prayers. It will deserve much re-reading. Like another reviewer, I would have liked to know the author of each prayer.

This is an excellent book. It is a collection of prayers of people who are in the Puritan frame of mind. Occasionally, it is difficult to know exactly what is meant but after a little thought they reveal their treasures. An excellent stimulus to prayer and meditation. The quality of the book binding etc is that usually found in Bibles and the Book of Common Prayer. Only one complaint: I wish that the authors of each prayer had been identified

Those Puritan lads knew how to pray! Great to use personally or corporately this collection is a treasure trove of God exalting prayers. It lifts the Christians eyes to the cross and the God of heaven and will be a rich blessing to all who pick it up. I only wish I had known about it sooner.

With a large 'technical library' of theological books, this little gem, stands head and shoulders above most books I've bought in terms of spiritual encouragement; without fail it challenges me, restores my biblical context and perspective in prayer and is one I return to again and again

Un must-have dans toutes les bibliothèques des chrétiens comprenant l'anglais. A prendre comme des poèmes d'adoration, des envolées lyriques à lire à voix haute, des sources d'inspiration

Du bist der Hohe und Erhabene, der den Geist der Demütigen und das Herz der Zerknirschten wiederbelebt Dieses Buch ist eine wunderbare Quelle, um die Flamme deines Gebetslebens zu entfachen. Das Buch besteht aus Gebeten von puritanischen Autoren, von denen ich einige kannte und andere nicht. Die Puritaner waren geistliche Giganten im Vergleich zu unserem etwas oberflächlichen Zustand des Christentums heute, und das zeigt sich nirgendwo deutlicher als in ihren Gebeten. Wenn du so zu beten wie diese Männer, wird sich dein Leben vollkommen transformieren! Diese Gebete triefen vor großer Liebe zum dreieinigen Gott und sind ein Beispiel für ein Herz, das für die Gemeinschaft mit Ihm brennt. Die Gebete treffen vielleicht nicht den "Nerv der Zeit”, aber sie ermutigen dich etwas demütiger zu werden und sie auf deine Lebenssituation umzuformulieren. Ich führe ein Geschäft, für das ich oft lange strecken fahren muss, und ich habe mich dabei ertappt, wie ich meine Version dieser Gebete oft bete, wenn ich unterwegs bin. Besorg dir unbedingt dieses Buch! Es wird dein Leben verändern!

I like everything about this book, it’s a great joy to have it in my hands, a great treasure

I came across this book because Chuck Swindoll quoted one of its prayers ("Man a Nothing") in one of his own books, and my first impression after reading that prayer was one of having found a great and rare treasure. I actually copied that prayer out of Swindoll's book word-for-word into my own Bible, and read it over and over, many times. Several years ago, I then bought a bonded leather copy of "The Valley of Vision", and without exaggeration would have to state that aside from my Bible this is the most helpful, most theologically sound, inspiring spiritual work (or more accurately, collection of works) that I have ever read. As you know by now, this is a collection of prayers from various Puritan authors all compiled and arranged into a single, valuable resource for readers to be able to draw upon today. In John chapter 7, it is recorded for us how the Pharisees sent officers to arrest Jesus. Upon returning from their mission empty-handed these officers were asked by the Pharisees why it was that they had not taken Jesus and brought Him to them. Their simple, yet profound answer was that "Never has man spake like this man". They were amazed, astounded, and obviously affected by Jesus' words, and their bosses the Pharisees accused them of having been deceived. I can assure you that if you read the prayers of this book, slowly and deliberately, carefully and thoughtfully, earnestly and sincerely, that you will be like the officers of the Pharisees and find your own self to be amazed, astounded, and deeply affected. People today just do not write the way these Puritans wrote. One of the criticisms I have read about this book is the old, flowery, Puritan language and use of words being out of style and perhaps difficult to understand. May I suggest to you, the potential reader, that the very use of words and phrases of which we are not much accustomed to today could be the primary means by which your attention is powerfully captured, and your mind drawn deeply into the message the writer is conveying in their written prayer, causing you to thereby pick up on the earnestness, piety, and godliness that you will find in them. They are so utterly inspiring; these writers have eloquently penned the thoughts which I have had, or that I want to have, but could never accurately or adequately put into words. I can't think of too many works that have affected me as much as this collection of prayers has done and as a result this book has the prominent place of being on my nightstand, right next to my Bible where it is easily accessible and often read. Another criticism I have read is that the editor Arthur Bennett did not place the actual Puritan authors name next to each individual prayer, and thereby people are hindered from being able to know who wrote which prayer, and to seek out writings from that author. Let me just submit that I think leaving the individual authors names off of each prayer is fitting for this book and the humble, godly attitude that is conveyed throughout. None of these men would care to be lifted up in the minds of their listeners or readers, but would rather have any glory be given solely to the Subject and Inspiration of their works. The editor gives a list of the men from whom these prayers originated in the Preface and Bibliography found in the front of the book for those interested in following up with more reading of their other works. I would venture to say that most of the Puritan writers, and certainly all listed as authors of the prayers in this book, are without a doubt very worthy of further reading. Here's a suggestion for you: purchase the less costly paperback edition of this gem and begin to explore the treasures that you will find inside. Once you have determined the usefulness and the value of having this book in your own library, you can then invest in the more durable bonded leather copy to keep forever and graciously pass along your paperback copy to another believer, thereby sharing a very valuable resource in our pursuit of the heart of God. They can then do the same. As we all press to become more like Christ, this book can and will be used by God to help us in our individual sanctification. I know you will enjoy and profit from having it.

Excellent book