Lord, why is this? I trembling cried; Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death? ""Tis in this way," the Lord replied, "I answer prayer for grace and faith.

"These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break Thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may'st seek thy all in Me."

CXXIV.

PRAYER was appointed to convey
The blessings God designs to give:
Long as they live should Christians pray;
For only while they pray they live.

The Christian's heart his prayer indites;
He speaks as prompted from within :

The Spirit his petition writes;

And Christ receives and gives it in.

And wilt thou in dead silence lie,

When Christ stands waiting for thy prayer? My soul, thou hast a Friend on high: Arise, and try thy interest there.

If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress;
If cares distract, or fears dismay;
If guilt deject; if sin distress;

The remedy's before thee;-Pray.

'Tis prayer supports the soul that's weak;
Though thought be broken, language lame,—
Pray: if thou canst, or canst not, speak:
But pray with faith in Jesu's Name.

Depend on Him; thou canst not fail;
Make all thy wants and wishes known:
Fear not; His merits must prevail;
Ask what thou wilt, it shall be done.

CXXV.

PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire,

Utter'd, or unexpress'd;

The motion of a hidden fire,

Which trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear;

The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
Which infant-lips can try;

Prayer-the sublimest strains, which reach.
The Majesty on High.

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air,

His watchword at the gates of death—
He enters heaven with prayer.

Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways;
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And cry, "Behold, he prays."

The saints in prayer appear as one,
In word, and deed, and mind;
While with the Father and the Son,
Sweet fellowship they find.

Now prayer is made on earth alone-
The Holy Spirit pleads;
And Jesus, on th' eternal throne,
For mourners intercedes.

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?

XXVI.

DEAR is the hallow'd Morn to me,
When village bells awake the day;
And, by their sacred minstrelsy,
Call me from earthly cares away.

And dear to me the winged hour,
Spent in thy holy courts, O Lord!
To feel devotion's soothing power,
And catch the manna of thy Word.

And dear to me the loud "Amen,"
Which echoes through the blest abode;
Which swells and sinks, and swells again-
Dies on the walls, but lives to God.

And dear the rustic harmony,

Sung with the pomp of village art;
That holy, heavenly melody,

The music of a thankful heart.

In secret I have often prayed,
And still the anxious tear would fall;
But, on thy sacred altar laid,

The fire descends and dries them all.

Oft when the world, with iron hands,

Has bound me in its six-days' chain,

This bursts them, like the strong man's bands, And lets my spirit loose again.

Then dear to me the Sabbath Morn,
The village bells, the shepherd's voice!
These oft have found my heart forlorn,
And always bid that heart rejoice.

Go, man of pleasure, strike the lyre,
Of broken Sabbaths sing the charms—
Our's be the Prophet's car of fire,
Which bears us to a Father's arms.

CXXVII.

WHAT various hindrances we meet

In coming to a mercy-seat!

Yet who that knows the worth of prayer,

But wishes to be often there.

Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw,

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,

Gives exercise to faith and love,

Brings every blessing from above.