1 Eternal and immortal King!
Thy peerless splendours none can bear;
But darkness veils seraphic eyes,
When God with all his lustre 's there.
2 Yet Faith can pierce the awful gloom, The great Invisible can see;
And, with its tremblings, mingle joy
In fixed regards, great God, to Thee.
3 Then every tempting form of sin,
Shamed in Thy presence, disappears;
And all the glowing raptured soul
The likeness it contemplates, wears.
4 O ever-conscious to my heart,
Witness to its supreme desire!
Behold it presseth on to Thee,
For it hath caught the heavenly fire!
5 This one petition would I urge,
To bear Thee ever in its sight;
In life, in death, in worlds unknown,
Its only portion and delight!
1 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 darkened cloud withdraw,
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright.
3 Have you no words? Ah! think again;
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill your fellow-creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.
4 Were half the breath, thus vainly spent,
To heaven in supplication sent,
Your cheerful song would oftener be,
"Hear what the Lord hath done for me."
The prayers I make will then be sweet indeed,
If Thou the Spirit give by which I pray;
My unassisted heart is barren clay,
That of its native self can nothing feed:
Of good and pious works Thou art the seed,
Which quickens only where Thou say'st it may.
Unless Thou show to us Thine own true way,
No man can find it: Father! Thou must lead.
Do Thou, then, breathe those thoughts into my
mind,
By which such virtue may in me be bred,
That in Thy holy footsteps I may tread:
The fetters of my tongue do Thou unbind,
That I may have the power to sing of Thee,
And sound Thy praises everlastingly!
1 Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed;
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 contrite sinner's voice
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"
5 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, The Christian's native air;
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heaven with prayer.
60 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 One prayer I have,
When I am wholly Thine:
Thy will, my God, Thy will be done,
And let that will be mine.
2 All-wise, almighty, and all-good!
In Thee I firmly trust;
Thy ways, unknown or understood,
Are merciful and just.
3 Is life with many comforts crowned,
Upheld in peace and health,
With dear affections twined around?Lord! in my time of wealth,
4 May I remember that to Thee
Whate'er I have I owe;
And back, in gratitude from me,
May all Thy bounties flow.
5 Thy gifts are only then enjoyed,
When used as talents lent;
Those talents only well employed,
When in Thy service spent.
6 And though Thy wisdom takes away,
Shall I arraign Thy will?
No! let me bless Thy name, and say, "The Lord is gracious still."
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,
Heard by no 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.
1 The praying spirit breathe!
The watching power impart!
From all entanglements beneath,
Call off my prisoned heart!
My feeble mind sustain,
By worldly thoughts opprest;
Appear, and bid me turn again
To my eternal rest!
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