384 Retreat. L.M.
(787) The Mercy-Seat.
From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;--
'Tis found before 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 spot 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's wings we soar,
And time, and sense seem all no more;
And heaven comes down our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy-seat!
5 Oh! may my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy-seat!
Hugh Stowell, 1827.
385 Retreat. L.M.
(796) 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,
Tho' 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.
Joseph Hart. D. 1768
386 Retreat. L.M.
(794) Psalm 104:34.
My God, is any hour so sweet
From blush of morn to evening star,
As that which calls me to thy feet,
The calm and holy hour of prayer?
2 Blest is the tranquil break of morn,
And blest the hush of solemn eve,
When on the wings of prayer up-borne,
This fair, but transient, world I leave.
3 Then is my strength by thee renewed;
Then are my sins by thee forgiven;
Then dost thou cheer my solitude,
With clear and beauteous hopes of heaven.
4 No words can tell what sweet relief,
There for my every want I find;
What strength for warfare, balm for grief,
What deep and cheerful peace of mind.
5 Lord, till I reach the blissful shore,
No privilege so dear shall be,
As thus my inmost soul to pour
In faithful, filial prayer to thee!
Charlotte Elliott, 1854.
387Sweet Hour of Prayer. L.M.D.
(790) Blessedness of Prayer.
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 petition 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 passing thro' the air,
Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!
Rev. W.W. Walford, 1846.
388 Brown. C.M.
(776) Secret Prayer.
I love to steal awhile away
From ev'ry cumb'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 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!
Mrs. Phoebe H. Brown, 1825.
389 Brown. C.M.
(786) Graces Sought in Prayer.
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 God 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.
(784) Mark 13:33.
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.
(781) Prayer.
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:
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heaven with prayer.
5 Oh, 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.
James Montgomery, 1819.
392 Marlow. C.M.
(778) A Throne of Grace.
A throne of grace! then let us go
And offer up our prayer;
A gracious God will mercy show
To all that worship there.
2 A throne of grace! oh, at that throne
Our knees have often bent,
And God has showered his blessings down
As often as we went.
3 A throne of grace! rejoice, ye saints!
That throne is open still;
To God unbosom your complaints,
And then inquire his will.
Corbin.
393 Notting Hill. C.M.
(777) Communion in Prayer.
Talk with us, Lord, thyself reveal,
While here o'er earth we rove;
Speak to our hearts, and let us feel
The kindling of thy love.
2 With thee conversing, we forget
All time, and toil, and care:
Labor is rest, and pain is sweet,
If thou, my God! art here.
3 Here, then, my God, vouchsafe to stay,
And bid my heart rejoice:
My bounding heart shall own thy sway,
And echo to thy voice.
4 Thou callest me to seek thy face--
'Tis all I wish to seek;
T' attend the whisperings of thy grace,
And hear thee only speak.
Charles Wesley, 1740.
394 Aletta. 7s.
(804) At the Throne.
Come, my soul! thy suit prepare;
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.
2 Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For his grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much.
3 Lord! I come to thee for rest,
Take possession of my breast;
There thy blood-bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.
4 While I am a pilgrim here,
Let thy love my spirit cheer;
As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
Lead me to my journey's end.
John Newton, 1779.
395 What a Friend We Have in Jesus. 8s & 7s. D.
The Privilege of Prayer.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear;
What a privilege to carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
3 Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?--
Precious Savior, still our refuge,--
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In his firms he'll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Unknown.
396 The Lord's Prayer.
Chant.
Our Father who art in heaven, | Hallowed | be thy | name, ||
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done in | earth, as it | is in | heaven,
2 Give us this | day our | daily bread, ||
And forgive us our debts, as | we for- | give our | debtors.
3 Lead us not into temptation, but de- | liver | us from | evil; ||
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for | ever. | A- | men.
397 Thatcher. S.M.
(1168) I. Tim. 2:8.
Come at the morning hour,
Come, let us kneel and pray;
Pray'r is the Christian pilgrim's staff
To walk with God all day.
2 At noon beneath the Rock
Of Ages, rest and pray;
Sweet is that shelter from the sun
In weary heat of day.
3 At evening, in thy home,
Around its altar, pray;
And finding there the house of God,
With heaven then close the day.
4 When midnight veils our eyes,
Oh, it is sweet to say,
I sleep, but my heart waketh, Lord!
With thee to watch and pray.
Anon.
398 Capello. S.M.
(801) The Throne of Grace.
Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls me near;
There Jesus shows a smiling face,
And waits to answer prayer.
2 That rich atoning blood,
Which sprinkled round I see,
Provides, for those who come to God,
An all-prevailing plea.
3 My soul! ask what thou wilt;
Thou canst not be too bold;
Since his own blood for thee he spilt,
What else can he withhold?
4 Thine, image, Lord! bestow,
Thy presence and thy love;
I ask to serve thee here below,
And reign with thee above.
5 Teach me to live by faith;
Conform my will to thine;
Let me victorious be in death,
And then in glory shine.
John Newton, 1779.
399 Tell It to Jesus Alone. P.M.
The Sympathizing Friend.
Are you weary, are you heavy-hearted?
Tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
CHO.--Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a Friend that's well known;
You have no other such a friend or brother!
Tell it to Jesus alone.
2 Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?
Tell it to Jesus.
Have you sins that to man's eye are hidden?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
3 Do you fear the gath'ring clouds of sorrow?
Tell it to Jesus.
Are you anxious what shall be to-morrow?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
4 Are you troubled at the tho't of dying?
Tell it to Jesus.
For Christ's coming kingdom are you sighing?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
J. E. Rankin, D. D.
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