Prayer.
Pray’r is the soul’s sincere desire,1
Utter’d or unexpress’d ;2
The motion of a hidden fire3
That trembles in the breast.4
Pray’r is the burthen of a sigh,5
The falling of a tear ;6
The upward glancing of an eye,7
When none but God is near.8
Pray’r is the simplest form of speech,9
That infant lips can try ;10
Pray’r is the sublimest strains that reach11
The Majesty on high.12
Pray’r is the Christian vital breath,13
The Christian’s native air ;14
His watchword at the gates of death – 15
He enters heaven by pray’r.16
Pray’r is the contrite sinners voice,17
Returning from his ways ;18
While angels in their songs rejoice,19
And say, “Behold he prays !”20
The saints, in pray’r, appear as one,21
In word, and deed, and mind,22
When with the father and his Son,23
Their fellowship they find.24
No pray’r is made on earth alone ; 25
The Holy Spirit pleads ; 26
And Jesus, on th’ eternal throne, 27
For sinners intercedes.28
O ! Thou, by whom we come to God,29
The Life, the Truth, the Way ;30
The path of pray’r thyself hast trod ; 31
Lord, teach us how to pray.32