1 PRAYER is the breath of God in man,
Returning whence it came;
Love is the sacred fire within,
And prayer the rising flame.
2 It gives the burdened spirit ease,
And soothes the troubled breast;
Yields comfort to the mourners here,
And to the weary rest.
3 When God inclines the heart to pray,
He hath an ear to hear;
To him there 's music in a sigh,
And beauty in a tear.
4 The humble suppliant cannot fail
To have his wants supplied,
Since he for sinners intercedes
Who once for sinners died.
1 FROM every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
'T is found before the mercy-seat.
2 There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads,-
A place of all on earth most sweet;
It is the heavenly mercy-seat.
3 There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy-seat.
4 There, there, on eagle wings we soar,
And sin and sense molest no more;
And heaven comes down our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy-seat.
1 I LOVE to steal awhile away
From every cumbering care,
And spend the hours of setting day
In humble, grateful prayer.
2 I love in solitude to shed
The penitential tear,
And all his promises to plead
Where none but God can hear.
3 I love to think on mercies past,
And future good implore,
And all my cares and sorrows cast
On him whom I adore.
4 I love by faith to take a view
Of brighter scenes in heaven;
The prospect doth my strength renew,
While here by tempests driven.
5 Thus, when life's toilsome day is o'er,
May its departing ray
Be calm as this impressive hour,
And lead to endless day.
7 & 6s. M.
Pray without ceasing.
1 GO when the morning shineth,
Go when the noon is bright,
Go when the eve declineth,
Go in the hush of night;
Go with pure mind and feeling,
Fling earthly thought away,
And, in thy closet kneeling,
Do thou in secret pray.
2 Remember all who love thee,
All who are loved by thee;
Pray, too, for those who hate thee,
If any such there be ;
Then for thyself, in meekness,
A blessing humbly claim,
And blend with each petition
Thy great Redeemer's name.
3 Or, if 't is e'er denied thee
In solitude to pray,
Should holy thoughts come o'er thee
When friends are round thy way,
E'en then the silent breathing,
Thy spirit raised above,
Will reach his throne of glory,
Where dwells eternal love.
4 O, not a joy or blessing
With this can we compare,
The grace our Father gave us
To pour our souls in prayer :
Whene'er thou pin'st in sadness,
Before his footstool fall;
Remember, in thy gladness,
His love, who gave thee all.
1 SWEET is the prayer whose holy stream
In earnest pleading flows;
Devotion dwells upon the theme,
And warm and warmer glows.
2 Faith grasps the blessing she desires ;
Hope points the upward gaze;
And love, celestial love, inspires
The eloquence of praise.
3 But sweeter far the still, small voice,
Unheard by human ear,
When God has made the heart rejoice,
And dried the bitter tear.
4 No accents flow, no words ascend;
All utterance faileth there ;
But Christian spirits comprehend,
And God accepts the prayer.
1 FATHER divine, thy piercing eye
Sees through the darkest night;
In deep retirement thou art nigh,
With heart-discerning sight.
2 May that observing eye survey
My faithful homage paid,
With every morning's dawning ray,
And every evening's shade.
3 0, let thy own celestial fire
The incense still inflame,
While fervent vows to thee aspire,
Through my Redeemer's name.
4 So shall the visits of thy love
My soul in secret bless;
So wilt thou deign, in worlds above,
Thy suppliant to confess.
C. H. M.
Come, let us pray.
1 COME, let us pray: 't is sweet to feel
That God himself is near;
That, while we at his footstool kneel,
His mercy deigns to hear :
Though sorrows cloud life's dreary way,
This is our solace, let us pray.
2 Come, let us pray the burning brow,
The heart oppressed with care,
And all the woes that throng us now,
Will be relieved by prayer:
Our God will chase our griefs away;
O, glorious thought! - come, let us pray.
3 Come, let us pray the mercy-seat
Invites the fervent prayer;
Our Heavenly Father waits to greet
The contrite spirit there :
O, loiter not, nor longer stay
From him who loves us ;
Prayer for Grace in Trial.
1 FATHER of all our mercies, thou
In whom we move and live,
Hear us in heaven, thy dwelling, now,
And answer, and forgive.
2 When, harassed by ten thousand foes,
Our helplessness we feel,
O, give the weary soul repose,
The wounded spirit heal.
3 When dire temptations gather round,
And threaten or allure,
By storm or calm, in thee be found
A refuge strong and sure.
4 When age advances, may we grow
In faith, in hope, and love,
And walk in holiness below
To holiness above.
5 Let earthly joys and cares depart;
Let pain and sorrow cease;
Be thou the portion of our heart;
In thee may we have peace.
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