5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice
Returning from his ways;
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"

6 In

prayer, on earth, the saints are one;
They're one in word and mind;
When with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.

7 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!

100.

L. M.

PRAYER THE LIFE OF THE SOUL.

HART.

1 PRAYER is to God the soul's sure way;
So flows the grace he waits to give;
Long as they live should Christians pray;
They learn to pray when first they live.

2 If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress,
If cares distract, or fears dismay,
If guilt deject, if sin distress,

In every need, still watch and pray.

'Tis prayer supports the soul that's weak,
Though poor and broken be its word;
Pray if thou canst, or canst not, speak;
The breathings of the soul are heard.

4 Depend on Him; thou shalt prevail;
Make all thy wants and wishes known;
Fear not, His mercy will not fail;
Ask but in faith, it shall be done.

101.

C. M.

ANONYMOUS.

SILENT PRAYER.

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, untrembling love, inspires
The eloquence of praise.

3 But sweeter far the still, small voice,
Heard by no human ear,

When God hath made the heart rejoice,
And dried the bitter tear.

4 Nor accents flow, nor words ascend;
All utterance faileth there;
But listening spirits comprehend,
And God accepts the prayer.

96

III. JESUS CHRIST.

102.

7s. M.

ADVENT.

BOWRING.

1 WATCHMAN! tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are;
Traveller! o'er yon mountain's height,
See that glory-beaming star!
Watchman! does its beauteous ray
Aught of hope or joy foretell?
Traveller! yes; it brings the day,
Promised day of Israel!

2 Watchman! tell us of the night,
Higher yet the star ascends;
Traveller! blessedness and light,
Peace and truth, its course portends.
Watchman! will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveller! ages are its own;
See, it bursts o'er all the earth.

3 Watchman! tell us of the night,
For the morning seems to dawn;
Traveller! darkness takes its flight;
Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman! let thy wanderings cease;
Hie thee to thy quiet home;
Traveller! lo! the Prince of Peace,
Lo! the Son of God, is come.

103.

11s. M.

DRUMMOND.

66 PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!"

1 A VOICE from the desert comes awful and shrill; The Lord is advancing; prepare ye the way! The word of Jehovah he comes to fulfil, And o'er the dark world pour the splendor of day.

2 Bring down the proud mountain, though towering to heaven,

And be the low valley exalted on high; The rough path and crooked be made smooth and even,

For, Zion! your King, your Redeemer, is nigh. 3 The beams of salvation his progress illume, The lone, dreary wilderness sings of her God; The rose and the myrtle there suddenly bloom, And the olive of peace spreads its branches abroad.

104.

8 & 7s. M.

THE DAYSPRING FROM ON HIGH.

GASKELL.

1 DARKNESS o'er the world was brooding
Sadder than Egyptian gloom;

Souls by myriads lay in slumber
Deep as of the sealed tomb.

2 Earth had lost the links which bound it
To the throne of light above;

Yet an eye was watching o'er it,
And that eye was full of love.

3 Like a glorious beam of morning, Straight a ray pierced through the cloud, Spirits mightily awakening

From their dark and heavy shroud.

4 Still that ray shines on and brightens,
Chasing mist and gloom away;
Happy they on whom it gathers
With its full and perfect day!

105.

C. M.

PATRICK.

THE NATIVITY.

1 WHILE shepherds watched their flocks by night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

2 "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread

Had seized their troubled mind,"Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind.

3 "To you, in David's town, this day
Is born, of David's line,

The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign:

4 "The heavenly babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,

All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid."