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 0 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!

1551

FRO

The mercy-seat.

L. M.

ROM every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
"Tis found beneath the mercy-seat.

2 There is a place, where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all besides more sweet,-
It is the blood-bought mercy-seat.

3 There is a scene, where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sunder'd far, by faith they meet,
Around one common mercy-seat.

4 Ah! whither could we flee for aid,
When tempted, desolate, dismay'd?
Or how the hosts of hell defeat,
Had suff'ring saints no mercy-seat?

5 There, there on eagles' wings we soar,
And sin and sense molest no more;
And heaven comes down our souls to greet,
While glory crowns the mercy-seat.

552

1st P. M. 6 lines 8s.

Lord, teach us to pray.

ESUS, thou sov'reign Lord of all,-
The same through one eternal day,—
Attend thy feeblest foll'wer's call,
And O, instruct us how to pray!
Pour out the supplicating grace,
And stir us up to seek thy face.

2 We cannot think a gracious thought,
We cannot feel a good desire,

Till thou, who callest worlds from naught,
The power into our hearts inspire;
And then we in the Spirit groan,
And then we give thee back thine own.

3 Come in thy pleading Spirit down
To us who for thy coming stay;
Of all thy gifts we ask but one,-
We ask the constant power to pray:
Indulge us, Lord, in this request,
Thou canst not then deny the rest.

553

Pray without ceasing.

C. M.

SHEPHERD Divine, our wants relieve He this our evil

SHE

In this our evil day;

To all thy tempted foll❜wers give
The power to watch and pray.

2 Long as our fiery trials last,-
Long as the cross we bear,-
O let our souls on thee be cast
In never-ceasing prayer.

3 Till thou thy perfect love impart ;
Till thou thyself bestow,

Be this the cry of every heart,-
F will not let thee go;—

4 I will not let thee go, unless
Thou tell thy name to me;
With all thy great salvation bless,
And make me all like thee.

5 Then let me on the mountain-top
Behold thy open face;

Where faith in sight is swallow'd up,
And prayer in endless praise.

554

The Lord's Prayer.

C. M.

OUR Father, God, who art in heaven,

All hallow'd be thy name;

Thy kingdom come; thy will be done
In heaven and earth the same.
2 Give us this day our daily bread;
And as we those forgive
Who sin against us, so may we
Forgiving grace receive.

3 Into temptation lead us not;

From evil set us free;

And thine the kingdom, thine the power,

And glory, ever be.

555

The Lord's Prayer.

UR heavenly Father, hear

The prayer we offer now;

S. M.

Thy name be hallow'd far and near;

To thee all nations bow.

2 Thy kingdom come; thy will
On earth be done in love,
As saints and seraphim fulfil
Thy perfect law above.
3 Our daily bread supply

While by thy word we live;
The guilt of our iniquity
Forgive, as we forgive.

4 From dark temptation's power, From Satan's wiles, defend; Deliver in the evil hour,

And guide us to the end. 5 Thine shall forever be Glory and power divine; The sceptre, throne, and majesty, Of heaven and earth are thine. 6 Thus humbly taught to pray By thy beloved Son,

Through him we come to thee, and say,— All for his sake be done.

556

The spirit of prayer.

THE praying spirit breathe!

The watching power impart;
From all entanglements beneath,
Call off my peaceful heart;
My feeble mind sustain,

S. M.

By worldly thoughts oppress'd;
Appear, and bid me turn again
To my eternal rest.

2 Swift to my rescue come;
Thine own this moment seize;
Gather my wand'ring spirit home,
And keep in perfect peace:
Suffer'd no more to rove

O'er all the earth abroad,
Arrest the pris'ner of thy love,
And shut me up in God.

557

5th P. M. 4 lines 7s.

Encouragements to pray.

YOME, my soul, thy suit prepare;
Jesus loves to answer prayer;

COM

He himself invites thee near,-
Bids thee ask him, waits to hear.

2 Lord, I come to thee for rest;
Take possession of my breast;
There, thy blood-bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.

3 While I am a pilgrim here,
Let thy love my spirit cheer;
As my guide, my guard, my friend,
Lead me to my journey's end.
4 Show me what I have to do;
Every hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,-
Let me die thy people's death.

558

Blessings of prayer.

L. M.

WHAT various hindrances we meet

In coming to a mercy-seat;

Yet who that knows the worth of prayer,
But wishes to be often there?

2 Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw ;
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Gives exercise to faith and love;
Brings every blessing from above.

3 Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Prayer keeps the Christian's armour bright; And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.

559

The throne of grace.

BEHOLD the throne of grace;

The promise calls us near;

There Jesus shows a smiling face,
And waits to answer prayer.
2 Thine image, Lord, bestow,-
Thy presence and thy love,-
That we may serve thee here below,
And reign with thee above.

S. M.