5 Lord, till I reach the blissful sh.o.r.e, No privilege so dear shall be, As thus my inmost soul to pour In faithful, filial prayer to thee!

Charlotte Elliott, 1854.

387 Sweet Hour of Prayer. L.M.D.

_Blessedness of Prayer._ (790)

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

That calls me from a world of care, And bids me at my Father's throne Make all my wants and wishes known: In seasons of distress and grief, My soul has often found relief; And oft escaped the tempter's snare, By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

2 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

Thy wings shall my pet.i.tion bear To him whose truth and faithfulness Engage the waiting soul to bless.

And since he bids he seek his face, Believe his word, and trust his grace, I'll cast on him my ev'ry care And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

3 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

May I thy consolation share, Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height, I view my home and take my flight: This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise To seize the everlasting prize; And shout, while pa.s.sing thro' the air, Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!

Rev. W.W. Walford, 1846.

388 Brown. C.M.

_Secret Prayer._ (776)

I love to steal awhile away From ev'ry c.u.mb'ring 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 G.o.d 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!

Mrs. Phoebe H. Brown, 1825.

389 Brown. C.M.

_Graces Sought in Prayer._ (786)

Lord! teach us how to pray aright, With reverence and with fear; Though dust and ashes in thy sight, We may, we must draw near.

2 G.o.d of all grace, we come to thee, With broken, contrite hearts, Give, what thine eye delights to see, Truth in the inward parts;

3 Patience, to watch, and wait, and weep, Though mercy long delay; Courage, our fainting souls to keep, And trust thee though thou slay.

4 Give these, and then--thy will be done-- Thus strengthened with all might, We by the Spirit and thy Son, Shall pray, and pray aright.

James Montgomery, 1819.

390 Brown. C.M.

_Mark 13:33._ (784)

The Savior bids thee watch and pray Through life's momentous hour; And grants the Spirit's quickening ray To those who seek his power.

2 The Savior bids thee watch and pray, Maintain a warrior's strife; Oh, Christian! hear his voice to-day; Obedience is thy life.

3 The Savior bids thee watch and pray, For soon the hour will come That calls thee from the earth away To thy eternal home.

4 The Savior bids thee watch and pray Oh, hearken to his voice, And follow where he leads the way, To heaven's eternal joys.

T. Hastings.

391 Devizes. C.M.

_Prayer._ (781)

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 G.o.d 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 gates of death; He enters heaven with prayer.

5 Oh, Thou, by whom we come to G.o.d,-- The Life, the Truth, the Way!

The path of prayer thyself hast trod; Lord! teach us how to pray.

James Montgomery, 1819.

392 Marlow. C.M.

_A Throne of Grace._ (778)

A throne of grace! then let us go And offer up our prayer; A gracious G.o.d will mercy show To all that worship there.

2 A throne of grace! oh, at that throne Our knees have often bent, And G.o.d has showered his blessings down As often as we went.

3 A throne of grace! rejoice, ye saints!

That throne is open still; To G.o.d unbosom your complaints, And then inquire his will.

Corbin.