PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire, The motion of a hidden fire Prayer is the burthen of a sigh, The upward glancing of an eye, Prayer is the simplest form of speech, Prayer the sublimest strains that reach Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, His watchword at the gates of death, Nor prayer is made on earth alone; And Jesus, on th' eternal throne, O Thou, by whom we come to God, The path of Prayer Thyself hast trod, II. THOUGH "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord!" Seraph to seraph sings; And angel choirs, with one accord Montgomery. Though Earth thy footstool, Heaven thy throne, Thy way amid the sea, Thy path deep floods, thy steps unknown, Thy counsels mystery: Yet wilt thou look on him who lies A suppliant at thy feet; And hearken to the feeblest cries, Between the cherubim, of old, Through Him, who all our sickness felt, Our souls are in his hands. He bears them up with strength divine, Lord! cause thy face on us to shine; III. LORD! teach us how to pray aright, Give deep humility; the sense Faith in the only Sacrifice That can for sin atone; To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes, Christ alone Montgomery. this. tical H parts LORD! when we bend before thy throne, And our confessions pour, Teach us to feel the sins we own, And hate what we deplore. Our broken spirit pitying see; Then let a kindling glance from thee When we disclose our wants in prayer, And not a thought our bosom share, May faith each weak petition fill, And teach our heart 'tis Goodness still That grants it, or denies. In write The to ci THE writer's design has been to induce his readers generally to pray in private and in the family without forms. Yet as this work may fall into the hands of many, to whom chis, from various causes, would not immediately be praccicable, he adds a few Forms of Prayer. He has, in two or three instances, put the names of the parts of prayer to the forms, as a means of assisting those vho may use them to learn the divisions of prayer. In the part of Confession in the different prayers, the vriter has mentioned those sins which are most common. The person who uses the form may easily alter it according o circumstances. These forms must rather be considered as hints to be improved on than examples to copy. Much of the interest of rivate and family prayer depends on personal and local cirumstances. Let us endeavor to attain that spirit of grace nd supplication which enables the Christian, in a strain of oly devotion, to bring the changing circumstances and vents of life before the throne of grace, comforts his own eart in private prayer, and edifies and interests all about im in family worship. PRAYER FOR THE GIFT AND GRACE OF PRAYER. O thou eternal and ever blessed God, who art the Aunor and Giver of every good gift, and who hast promised o many and such great blessings to them that call upon ee, hear me now, I beseech thee, through Jesus Christ. Lord, I confess my utter inability to seek thee aright. I n encompassed with infirmities; I acknowledge my insposition to prayer; I bewail my backwardness and relucnce to hold converse with God. ess. Teach me rightly to feel this my weakness and helplessGive me a more complete knowledge of my insuffiency. Convince me of the need that I have of thy divine sistance, and grant me earnest desires after thy salvation. reate in me an hungering and thirsting after righteous 22 Impart to me a holy liberty of soul in calling upon thee. Heavenly Father, Fountain of light and life, I do not ask for earthly riches, vain pleasures, human honors; but I do humbly ask for the spirit of prayer, for the heart ever prepared and ready to call upon God. It is thy promise that thou wilt give the Holy Spirit to them that ask. I ask, do thou give: I seek, grant that I may find; I knock, let it be opened unto me. Help me to pray in the Holy Ghost. Help me to live daily in constant believing prayer. Lord, teach me to pray. By nature proud and self-sufficient, I am prone to think and act as if I needed not thy help; but O teach me to know how poor and how needy I really am; and knowing my great and many necessities, and my entire dependence on thee, give me the disposition, from day to day, and from hour to hour, to seek thy help and strength. Enable me entirely to confide in thy almighty power, thy boundless compassion, thy infinite love, and thy amazing mercy. Let the gift of thy Son Jesus Christ, and his intercession for sinners, encourage me to approach thee. Help me to pray, relying only on his merits, and through him may I learn to come boldly to the throne of grace. Let nothing keep me from God. May I renounce all known sin, and all carnal indulgences, and not be conformed to this world. Enable me to resist the temptations of Satan, to watch against self-righteousness and spiritual pride, and never to neglect the study of thy word. Give me grace, whenever I seek thee, to look for the aid of thy Holy Spirit, to trust only in the name of thy Son, and to watch unto prayer. mouth; but, meditating before I pray, may I ask in faith, in Let me not be rash with my simplicity of mind, with filial freedom of spirit, in sincerity of heart, and fervency of desire, praying always with all prayer, and watching thereunto with all perseverance. And, after having done all, may I ever consider myself an unprofitable servant. Grant me thy Holy Spirit to help my infirmities, for I know not what to pray for as I ought; grant me thy Holy Spirit to make intercession for me with groanings which cannot be uttered. Give me, O give me this great gift, the spirit of grace and supplication, for thy dear Son's sake, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. M the the pray know thing temp tions persa and l zeal. tion, a little tempta streng |