But oh! eternity's too short PRAYER. PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire; Utter'd or unexpress'd, The motion of a hidden fire, That trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The upward glancing of an eye, Prayer is the simplest form of speech, That infant lips can try; Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach The majesty on high. Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, His watch-word in the hour of death, Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice, While Angels in their songs rejoice In prayer, on earth, the saints are one, When with the Father and the Son, Sweet fellowship they find. Nor is pray'r made on earth alone, And Jesus, on th' eternal throne, O Thou! by whom we come to God, DANIEL PRAYS TO GOD. THRICE every day on bended knee In prayer, O Lord, to plead with thee, "Thine is the power, my God," he cried; "The righteousness is thine; On us, despair and shame abide, Until thy mercies shine. Like sheep on yonder mountain's brow, Thy people far astray, Hare ceased their shepherd's voice to know, And wander'd from his way. Pleased with their painted idols still, They dare resist a father's will, But in that boundless love, O Lord, Ah! breathe the spirit and the word, Wide is the breach by ruffians trod, He prayed- and thou didst hear his prayer; Upon the people of thy care, For they were still thine own. Then where the bowling desert lay, In mighty love, in matchless power, Her victory is won. Israel is taught thy peace to know, Sweet peace without alloy; And streams of soft contrition flow, Jehovah, thou who answerest prayer, Satan and sin with strength combine, Oh! set the captive spirit free, ON WORSHIP. How pleasant, how divinely fair, My flesh would rest in thine abode, Bless'd are the men whose hearts are set God is their strength, and through the road, Cheerful they walk with growing strength, ON SILENT WORSHIP. LET deepest silence all around How sweet to wait upon the Lord, What though no preacher speak the word A minister of wond'rous skill True graces to impart; He teaches all the Father's will, He dissipates the coward's fears, |