641.

C. M.

Secret Devotion.

RIPPON'S COL.

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.

642.

S. M.

NEWTON.

Blessings sought in Prayer.

1 BEHOLD the throne of grace!
The promise calls me near;
There Jesus shows a smiling face,
And waits to answer prayer.

2 Thine image, Lord, bestow,
Thy presence and thy love;
I ask to serve thee here below,
And reign with thee above.

3 Teach me to live by faith;

Conform my will to thine;
Let me victorious be in death,
And then in glory shine.

4 If thou these blessings give,
And wilt my portion be,

All worldly joys I'll cheerful leave,
And find my heaven in thee.

643.

C. M.

A Throne of Grace.

COBBIN.

1 A THRONE of grace! then let us go
And offer up our prayer;

A gracious God will mercy show
To all that worship there.

2 A throne of grace! O, at that throne
Our knees have often bent,

And God has showered his blessings down
As often as we went.

3 A throne of grace! rejoice, ye saints;
That throne is open still;

To God unbosom your complaints,
And then inquire his will.

4 A throne of grace we yet shall need
Long as we draw our breath,
A Saviour, too, to intercede,

Till we are changed by death.

5 The throne of glory then shall glow
With beams from Jesus' face,
And we no longer want shall know,
Nor need a throne of grace.

1 COME, let us pray: 'tis sweet to feel
That God himself is near;

That, while we at his footstool kneel,
His mercy deigns to hear:

ANON.

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:

Jesus will smile our griefs away;

O, glorious thought!

- come, let us pray.

3 Come, let us pray: the sin-sick soul
Her weight of guilt must feel;
But, hark! the glorious tidings roll,
Whilst here we humbly kneel;
Jesus will wash that guilt away,
And pardon grant; then let us pray.
4 Come, let us pray: the mercy-seat
Invites the fervent prayer,
And Jesus ready stands to greet
The contrite spirit there:

O, loiter not, nor longer stay

From him who loves us; let us pray.

645.

S. M.

MEDLEY.

The Answerer of Prayer.

1 COME, praying souls, rejoice,
And bless your Father's name;
With joy to him lift up your voice,
And all his love proclaim.

2 Your mournful cry he hears;
He marks your feeblest groan,
Supplies your wants, dispels your fears,
And makes his mercy known.

3 To all his praying saints
He ever will attend,

And to their sorrows and complaints
His ear in mercy bend.

4 Then blesséd be the Lord,

Who has not turned away
His mercy, nor his precious word,
From those who love to pray.

5 No; still he bows his ear
In gentle pity down;

For praying breath he loves to hear,
And praying souls he'll crown.

6 Then let us still go on

In his appointed ways,
Rejoicing in his name alone,
In prayer and humble praise.

646.

C. M.

Seeking God.

WATTS.

1 O THAT I knew the secret place
Where I might find my God!
I'd spread my wants before his face,
And pour my woes abroad.

2 I'd tell him how my sins arise;
What sorrows I sustain ;

How grace decays, and comfort dies,
And leaves my heart in pain.

3 He knows what arguments I'd take
To wrestle with my God;

I'd plead for his own mercy's sake,
And for my Saviour's blood.

4 My God will pity my complaints,
And heal my broken bones;
He takes the meaning of his saints,
The language of their groans.

5 Arise, my soul, from deep distress,
And banish every fear;

He calls thee to his throne of grace,
To spread thy sorrows there.

647.

C. M.

URWICK'S COL

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.

648.

S. M.

PRATT'S COL.

Prayer for divine Help.

1 MY God, my prayer attend;
O, bow thine ear to me,
Without a hope, without a friend,
Without a help, but thee.

2 O, guard my soul around,

Which loves and trusts thy grace;
Nor let the powers of hell confound
The hopes on thee I place.

3 Thy mercy I entreat;

Let mercy hear my cries,
While, humbly waiting at thy seat,
My daily prayers arise.

4 O, bid my heart rejoice,
And every fear control,

Since at thy throne, with suppliant voice,
To thee I lift my soul.

649.

C. M.

CAPPE'S COL.

Prayer for Guidance.

1 ETERNAL Source of life and light,
Supremely good and wise,

To thee we bring our grateful vows,
To thee lift up our eyes.

2 Our dark and erring minds illume
With truth's celestial rays;
Inspire our hearts with sacred love,
And tune our lips to praise.

3 Conduct us safely, by thy grace,
Through life's perplexing road,

And place us, when that journey 's o'er,
At thy right hand, O God.