10 When the last trump shall sound,
And graves break up their sleep,
At his right hand may we be found,
Among the chosen sheep.

479.

The Christian Israel.

1 THUS far on life's perplexing path,
Thus far Thou, Lord, our steps hast led;
Snatch'd from the world's pursuing wrath,
Unharm'd though floods hung o'er our head;
Like ransom'd Israel on the shore,
Here then we pause, look back, adore.

2 Strangers and pilgrims here below,
Like all our fathers in their day,
We to the land of promise go,
Lord, by thine own appointed way:
Still guide, illumine, cheer our flight,
In cloud by day, in fire by night.

3 Safety thy presence is, and rest;

While, as the eagle, o'er her brood,
Flutters her pinions, stirs the nest,
Covers, defends, provides them food,
Bears on her wings, instructs to fly,-
Thy love prepares us for the sky.

4 Protect us through the wilderness,
From fiery serpent, plague, and foe,
With bread from heaven thy people bless,
And living streams where'er we go;
Nor let our rebel-hearts repine,
Or follow any voice but thine.

5 Thy holy law to us proclaim,
But not from Sinai's top alone;
Hid in the rock-cleft be thy name,
Thy power, and all thy goodness shown;
And may we never bow the knee,
Or worship any God but Thee.

6 When we have number'd all our years, And stand, at length, on Jordan's brink, Though the flesh fail with mortal fears, O let not then the Spirit sink;

But, strong in faith, and hope, and love, Plunge through the stream, to rise above! 480.

What is Prayer?

I PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire,
Utter'd or unexpress'd;

The motion of a hidden fire,
That trembles in the breast.

2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear ;
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant-lips can try;

Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air;

His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heaven with prayer.

5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways;

While angels in their songs rejoice,
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"

6 The saints in prayer appear as one,
In word, and deed, and mind;
While with the Father, and the Son,
Sweet fellowship they find.

7 Nor prayer is made on earth alone;
The Holy Spirit pleads,

And Jesus on the eternal throne,
For mourners intercedes.

8 O Thou by whom we come to God,
The life, the truth, the way!

The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray!

481.

"O Thou that hearest prayer !"--Psal. lxv. 2.

I THOU, God, art a consuming fire;
Yet mortals may find grace,
From toil and tumult to retire,
And meet Thee face to face.

2 Though "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord!"
Seraph to seraph sings;

And angel-choirs, with one accord,
Worship, with veiling wings;--

3 Though earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne, Thy way amidst the sea;

Thy path deep floods, thy steps unknown,
Thy counsels mystery;—

4 Yet wilt Thou look on him who lies
A suppliant at thy feet;

And hearken to the feeblest cries
That reach the mercy-seat.

5 Between the Cherubim of old,
Thy glory was express'd;

But God, through Christ, we now behold
In flesh made manifest.

6 Through Him who all our sickness felt,
Who all our sorrows bare;

Through Him in whom thy fulness dwelt,
We offer up our prayer.

7 Touch'd with a feeling of our woes,
Jesus, our High-Priest, stands :

All our infirmities He knows;

Our souls are in his hands.

8 He bears them up with strength Divine, When at thy feet we fall:

Lord, cause thy face on us to shine;
Hear us-on Thee we call.

482.

The preparation of the heart.
1 LORD, teach us how to pray aright,
With reverence and with fear:
Though dust and ashes in thy sight,
We may, we must draw near.

2 We perish if we cease from prayer;
O grant us power to pray;

And when to meet Thee we prepare,
Lord, meet us by the way.

3 Burden'd with guilt, convinced of sin,
In weakness, want, and wo,
Fightings without, and fears within,
Lord, whither shall we go?

4 God of all grace, we come to Thee,
With broken, contrite hearts;
Give what thine eye delights to see,
-Truth in the inward parts:-
5 Give deep humility;-the sense
Of godly sorrow give;
-A strong, desiring confidence
To hear thy voice, and live ;-

6 Faith in the only sacrifice

That can for sin atone;

To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes,
On Christ, on Christ alone;--

7 Patience, to watch, and wait, and weep, Though mercy long delay;

Courage, our fainting souls to keep,

And trust Thee though Thou slay.

8 Give these; and then thy will be done; Thus strengthen'd with all might,

We, by thy Spirit and thy Son,

Shall pray, and pray aright.

483.

"Ask and ye shall receive."-John xvi. 24.

1 WHAT shall we ask of God in prayer?

-Whatever good we want;

Whatever man may seek to share,
Or God in wisdom grant.

2 Father of all our mercies,-Thou,
In whom we move and live,
Hear us in heaven, thy dwelling now,
And answer, and forgive.

3 When bound with sins and trespasses,
From wrath we fain would flee,
Lord, cancel our unrighteousness,
And set the captives free.

4 When harass'd by ten thousand foes,
Our helplessness we feel;

O give the weary soul repose,
The wounded spirit heal.

5 When dire temptations gather round,
And threaten or allure,

By storm or calm, in Thee be found
A refuge strong and sure.

6 When age advances, may we grow
In faith, and hope, and love;
And walk in holiness below
To holiness above.

7 When earthly joys and cares depart,
Desire and envy cease,

Be Thou the portion of our heart,
In Thee may we have peace.

8 When flames these elements destroy,
And worlds in judgment stand,
May we lift up our heads with joy.
And meet at thy right hand.
R 2