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 gate 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 say, "Behold, he prays."

327 (484).

WH

WHAT various hindrances we meet
In coming to a mercy-seat!

L. M.

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 ev'ry blessing from above.

3 Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian's armor bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.

328 (790).

L. M.

AROM ev'ry stormy wind that blows,
From ev'ry 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 host of hell defeat,
Had suff'ring saints no mercy-seat?

5 There, there, on eagle wing we soar,
And sin and sense seem all no more,
And heaven comes down our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy-seat!

6 Oh, let my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy-seat.

329 (814).

11s & 10s.

YOME, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish, Come, at the mercy-seat fervently kneel: Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;

Earth has no sorrows that Heaven cannot heal.

2 Joy of the desolate, Light of the straying, Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure, Here speaks the Comforter, in mercy saying, Earth has no sorrows that Heaven cannot care.

3 Here see the Bread of Life; see waters flowing Forth from the throne of God, boundless in love;

Come to the feast prepared; come, ever knowing Earth has its sorrows, but Heaven can remove

330.

C. M.

APPROACH, my soul, the mercy-seat,

Where Jesus answers prayer;

There humbly fall before His feet,
For none can perish there.

2 Thy promise is my only plea;
With this I venture nigh;

Thou callest burden'd souls to Thee,
And such, O Lord, am I.

3 Bow'd down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan sorely press'd,
By war without, and fear within,
I come to Thee for rest.

4 Be Thou my shield and hiding-place;
That, shelter'd near Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him, "Thou hast died.”

5 Oh, wondrous love, to bleed and die,
To bear the cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as I,
Might plead Thy gracious name.

331 (485). THE

HE Lord, who truly knows
The heart of ev'ry saint,
Invites us by His holy word
To pray and never faint.

2 He bows His gracious ear;
We never plead in vain;
Yet we must wait till He appear,
And pray, and pray again.

3 Though unbelief suggest,

Why should we longer wait?
He bids us never give Him rest,
But be importunate.

4 'Twas thus a widow poor,
Without support or friend,
Beset the unjust judge's door,
And gain'd at last her end.

5 And shall not Jesus hear

S. M.

His children when they cry?
Yes, though He may awhile forbear,
He'll not their suit deny.

6 Then let us earnest be,

And never faint in prayer;

He loves our importunity,

And makes our cause His care.
235

332.

GRACES OF THE SPIRIT.

LOVE.

C. M.

MY

Y God, I love Thee; not because
I hope for heaven thereby;

Nor yet because if I love not

I must forever die.

2 Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me
Upon the Cross embrace;

For me didst bear the nails and spear,
And manifold disgrace.

3 And griefs and torments numberless,
And sweat of agony;

Even death itself

--

and all for one

Who was Thine enemy.

4 Then why, O blesséd Jesus Christ!
Should I not love Thee well?

Not for the sake of winning heav'n,
Or of escaping hell.

5 Not with the hope of gaining aught;
Not seeking a reward;

But as Thyself hast lovéd me,
O ever-loving Lord!

6 E'en so I love Thee, and will love,
And in Thy praise will sing;
Solely because Thou art my God,
And my eternal King.