MEANS OF GRACE.

PRAYER AND INTERCESSION. 549

L. M. Design of prayer.

PRAYER is appointed to convey

The blessings God designs 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 case, still watch and pray. 3 'Tis prayer supports the soul that 's weak:

Though thought be broken, language lame, Pray, if thou canst or canst not speak;

But pray with faith in Jesus' name. 4 Depend on him ; thou canst not fail ;

Make all thy wants and wishes known; Fear not; his merits must prevail :

Ask but in faith, it shall be done. 550

C. M.
What is prayer?
RAYER is the soul's sincere desire,

Utter'd or unexpress'd;
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 sulihmest strains that reach

The Majezdy on high.

4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,

The Christian's native air ;
His 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,

And cry,—Behold, he prays !
6 0 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 !

551

L. M.

The mercy-seat.

FROM every stormy wind that blows,

From every 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 hosts of hell defeat, Had suffering saints no mercy-seat ? 5 There, there on eagles' wings we soar, And sin and sense molest no more; And heaven comes down our souls to greet, While glory crowns the mercy-seat.

552

1st P. M. 6 liner 8s. Lord, teacń us to pray. ESUS, thou sov’reign Lord of all.

The same through one eternal day,-.
Attend thy feeblost foll’wer's call,

And 0, instruct us how to pray !
Pour out the supplicating grace,
And stir us up to seek thy face.
2 We cannot think a gracious thought,

We cannot feel a good desire,
Till thou, who callest worlds from naught,

The power into our hearts inspire;
And then we in the Spirit groan,
And then we give thee back thine own.
3 Come in thy pleading Spirit down

To us who for thy coming stay ;
Of all thy gifts we ask but one,-

We ask the constant power to pray:
Indulge us, Lord, in this request,
Thou canst not then deny the rest.

553

C. M.

Pray without ceasing.

SHEPHERD Divine, our wants relies a

3

In this our ;
To all thy tempted foll'wers give
The
power

to watch and pray. 2 Long as our fiery trials last,

Long as the cross we bear, 0 let our souls on thee be cast

In never-ceasing prayer.
3 Till thou thy perfect love impart;

Till thou thyself bestow,
Be this the cry of every heart,

,
I will not let thee go ;-

,

4 I will not let thee go, unless

Thou tell thy name to me; With all thy great salvation bless,

And make me all like thee.
5 Then let me on the mountain-top

Behold thy open face;
Where faith in sight is swallow'd up,

And prayer in endless praise. 554

C. M. The Lord's Prayer. Father, God, who art in heaven, All ballow'd be thy name; Thy kingdom come; thy will be done

In heaven and earth the same. 2 Give us this day our daily bread;

And as we those forgive Who sin against us, so may we

Forgiving grace receive. 3 Into temptation lead us not;

From evil set us free; And thine the kingdom, thine the power,

And glory, ever be. 555

S. M.
The Lord's Prayer.
UR heavenly Father, hear

The prayer we offer now;
Thy name be hallow'd far and near ;

To thee all nations bow.
2 Thy kingdom come; thy will

On earth be done in love, As saints and seraphim fulfil

Thy perfect law above. 3 Our daily bread supply

While by thy word we live; The guilt of our iniquity

Forgive, as we forgive.

OUR

4 From dark temptation's power,

From Satan's wiles, defend; Deliver in the evil hour,

And guide us to the end. 5 Thine shall forever be

Glory and power divine;
The sceptre, throne, and majesty,

Of heaven and earth are thine. 6 Thus humbly taught to pray

By thy beloved Son, Through him we come to thee, and say,

All for his sake be done.

THE

556

S. M.
The spirit of prayer.
HE praying spirit breathe !

The watching power impart;
From all entanglements beneath,

Call off my peaceful heart; My feeble mind sustain,

By worldly thoughts oppress'd; Appear, and bid me turn again

To my eternal rest. 2 Swift to my rescue come;

Thine own this moment seize; Gather my wand'ring spirit home,

And keep in perfect peace : Suffer'd no more to rove

O'er all the earth abroad, Arrest the pris'ner of thy love,

And shut me up in God. 557

5th P. M. 4 lines 78. Encouragements to pray. ,

;

COME, my soul, thy suit prepare ;

He himself invites thee near,-
Bids thee ask him, waits to hear.