CHRISTIAN AFFECTIONS AND LIFE.
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 Christian's vital breath, The Christian's native air,
The watchword at the gates 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, "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!
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 sigh, 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.
1 FROM every stormy wind that blows, From every swelling tide of woes, There is a calm, a sure retreat ; 'T is 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 heavenly 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.
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.
7 & 6s. M.
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 't is e'er denied thee In 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.
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.
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 Christian spirits comprehend, And God accepts the prayer.
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.
C. H. M.
Come, let us pray.
1 COME, let us pray: 't is sweet to feel
That God himself is near;
That, while we at his footstool kneel, His mercy deigns to hear :
Though sorrows cloud life's dreary way, This is our solace, let us pray.
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