631.

C. M.

ANON.

Trust amid the Severities of God.

1 THOU Power supreme, whose mighty scheme These woes of mine fulfil,

Here, firm, I rest; they must be best,
Because they are thy will.

2 Then all I want, O do thou grant
This one request of mine,
Since to enjoy thou dost deny,
Assist me to resign.

632.

C. M.

Prayer.

MONTGOMERY.

1 PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed,

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.

633.

C. M.

Prayer.

MONTGOMERY.

1 PRAYER is the contrite sinner's voice,

Returning from his ways,

While angels in their songs rejoice,

And cry, 66

Behold, he prays."

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

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

And Jesus, on th' eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.

4 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.

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 groan,
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.

635.

11s & 10s.

Invitation to the Mercy-Seat.

SPIR. SONGS.

1 COME, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish :
Come to the mercy-seat, fervently kneel;
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish ;
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

2 Joy of the desolate, light of the straying,
Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure,
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot cure.
3 Here see the bread of life; see waters flowing
Forth from the throne of God, pure from above;
Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing
Earth has no sorrow but heaven can remove.

636.

L. M.

The Mercy-Seat.

STOWELL.

1 FROM every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
"Tis 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 blood-bought 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.

637.

C. M.

Mrs. BROWN.

Secret Prayer at Twilight.

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.

638.

7s & 6s.

EDIN. LIT. REV.

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 'tis e'er denied thee
Ín 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.

639.

S. M.

SAC. LYRICS.

Morning Prayer Meeting.

1 HOW sweet the melting lay,
Which breaks upon the ear,
When, at the hour of rising day,
Christians unite in prayer!

2 The breezes waft their cries
Up to Jehovah's throne;
He listens to their humble sighs,
And sends his blessings down.

3 So Jesus rose to pray

Before the morning light,

Once on the chilling mount did stay,
And wrestle all the night.

4 Glory to God on high,

Who sends his blessings down
To rescue souls condemned to die,
And make his people one.

640.

C. M.

Secret Prayer.

ANON.

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 sainted spirits comprehend,
And God accepts the prayer.