Impulsive people act first and think later. Biographers of Thomas Cartwright (1535-1603) describe him as an astute theologian and original thinker but also “exceedingly impulsive.” He was appointed a professor in Cambridge in 1569 and became a popular preacher in the city. His sermons were so enthusiastically received that the custodian of St. Mary’s Church removed the windows so overflow crowds could gather in the courtyard to hear him preach. He was critical of the established church and called it to reform its doctrine and government by the dictates of Scripture. His lack of impulse control exacerbated an already tense situation. When he contrived with sympathetic clergy to show up for evening vespers without their robes, the authorities took swift action. They convinced Queen Elizabeth to exile him. Thomas sought refuge in Geneva but eventually returned, whereupon his opponents imprisoned him, brought him to trial and convinced the queen to exile him a second time. He ended up in the Netherlands in a town called Middleburg to lead a church of kindred exiles.
Thomas prepared a worship aid for use in his church that came to be known as the Middleburg Liturgy. He included several sample prayers, including intercession for the queen and those in authority. Remember, this is the same queen who exiled him. He said it’s our Christian duty to pray for our enemies, not vilify them. While his prayer makes only a veiled reference to enemies, his confession centers on our universal need for God’s gracious pardon:
Thomas Cartwright
O Lord, our heavenly Father, seeing you are our Maker, and we are the workmanship of your hands; seeing you are our Pastor and we your flock; seeing also that you are our Redeemer, and we are the people whom you have bought; finally, because you are our God, and we are your chosen inheritance, let not your anger be kindled against us, that you should punish us in your wrath, neither remember our wickedness so, as to take vengeance for it, but rather chastise us according to your great mercy. We confess, O Lord, that our misdeeds have inflamed your wrath against us, yet, considering that by your grace we call upon your name, and make profession of your truth; maintain we ask you, the work that you have begun in us, to the end that all the world may know that you are our God and Savior. You know that those you have destroyed and brought to confusion, do not set forth your praises, but the heavy souls, the humble hearts, the consciences oppressed and laden with the grievous burden of their sins, and therefore thirst after your grace, they shall set forth your praise and glory. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.