4 Renouncing every worldly thing,
Safe 'neath the covert of Thy wing,
My sweetest thoughts henceforth shall be,
That all I want, I find in Thee:
In Thee, my God! in Thee.
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 by 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 O 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.
The Throne of Grace.
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 royal 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.
5 Shew me what I have to do,
Every hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die Thy people's death.
249.
Christ at the Door.
1 BEHOLD a stranger at the door!
He gently knocks, has knocked before:
Has waited long, is waiting still;—
You use no other friend so ill.
2 But will He prove a friend indeed ?
He will, the very friend you need;
The man of Nazareth, 'tis He,
With garments dyed at Calvary.
3 Oh, lovely attitude! He stands
With melting heart and open hands;
Oh, matchless kindness! and He shows
This matchless kindness to His foes.
4 Rise, touched with gratitude divine,
Turn out His enemy and thine :
Turn out that hateful monster, sin,
And let the heavenly stranger in.
5 Yet know, nor of the terms complain:
Where Jesus comes, He comes to reign;
To reign, and with no partial sway:
Thoughts must be slain that disobey.
6 Sovereign of souls! thou Prince of Peace! O may Thy gentle reign increase!
Throw wide the door, each willing mind,
And be His empire all mankind!
Consolation by Christ.
1 ART thou a child of tears,
Cradled in sin and woe?
And seems it hard, thy vernal years
Few vernal joys can show?
2 And fall the sounds of mirth
Sad on thy lonely heart,—
From all the hopes and charms of earth
Untimely called to part?
3 Look here, and hold thy peace :
The Giver of all good
E'en from the womb takes no release
From suffering, tears, and blood!
4 If thou would'st reap in love,
First sow in holy fear :
So life a winter's morn may prove,
To a bright endless year.
The God of our Fathers.
GOD of Jacob, by whose hand
Thy people still are fed;
Who through this weary pilgrimage
Hast all our fathers led!
2 Our vows, our prayers we now present
Before Thy throne of grace;
God of our fathers! be the God
Of their succeeding race.
3 Through each perplexing path of life
Our wandering footsteps guide;
Give us this day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.
4 O spread Thy covering wings around
Till all our wanderings cease;
And at our Father's loved abode,
Our souls arrive in peace.
5 Such blessings from Thy gracious hand,
Our humble prayers implore;
And Thou shalt be our chosen God,
And portion evermore.
252. A New Heart.
for a heart to praise my God,
A heart from sin set free;
A heart that's sprinkled with the blood
So freely shed for me!
2 A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
My dear Redeemer's throne;
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone.
3 A humble, lowly, contrite heart,
Believing, true, and clean,
Which neither death nor life can part
From Him that dwells within.
4 A heart in every thought renewed,
And filled with love divine;
Perfect, and right, and pure, and good;
A copy, Lord, of Thine.
5 Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart :
Come quickly from above:
Write Thy new name upon my heart
Thy new, best name of Love.
253. "I am Thy Servant."
NOT to fill the mouth of fame
My longing soul is stirred :
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