2 Pray'r makes the darken'a cloud withdraw;
Pray'r climbs the ladder Jacob saw-
Gives exercise to faith and love-
Brings every blessing from above.

3 Restraining pray'r-we cease to fight;
Pray'r makes the Christian's armor bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.
4 Have you no words?—Ah, think again;
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill your fellow-creature's ear,
With the sad tale of all your care.

5 Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To heav'n in supplication sent-

Your cheerful song would oft'ner be, "Hear what the Lord hath done for me!"

Importunate. Luke xviii. 1-7.

1 JESUS, who knows full well
The heart of every saint,
Invites us all our griefs to tell,
To pray, and never faint.

2 He bows his gracious ear-
We never plead in vain ;
Then let us wait till he appear,
And pray, and pray again.
3 Though unbelief suggest,
"Why should we longer wait?"

He bids us never give him rest,
But knock at mercy's gate.
4 Jesus, the Lord, will hear
His chosen when they cry;
Yes, though he may a while forbear,
He'll help them from on high.
5 Then let us earnest cry,

And never faint in pray'r:

He sees, he hears, and from on high,
Will make our cause his care.

HYMN 288. C. M. Montgomery.

Clarendon. Brighton.

Behold he prayeth. Acts ix. 11.

1 PRAY'R is the soul's sincere desire, Unutter'd or express'd,

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast.

2 Pray'r is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear;

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

3 Pray'r is the simplest form of speech That infant lios can try;

Pray'r the sublimest strains that reach
The majesty on high.

4 Pray'r is the Christian's vital breath, The Christian's native air,

His watchword at the gate of death--
He enters heav'n with pray'r.

5 Pray'r is the contrite sinner's voice
Returning from his ways,

While angels in their songs rejoice,
Behold he prays."

And say,

HYMN 289.

L. M.

Bath. Blendon.

Hart.

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. v. 17. 1 PRAY'R was appointed to convey The blessings God designs to give; Long as they live should Christians pray, For only while they pray they live. 2 If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress― If cares distract or fears dismayIf guilt deject-if sin distress,

The remedy's before thee-pray.

3 'Tis pray'r 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.

HYMN 290.

L. M.

Doddridge.

Truro. Bath.

Family worship. Gen. xviii. 19.

1 FATHER of all, thy care we bless, Which crowns our families with peace; From thee they spring, and by thy hand, They have been, and are still sustain'd. 2 To God, most worthy to be prais'd, Be our domestic altars rais'd;

Who, Lord of heav'n, scorns not to dwell With saints, in their obscurest cell. 3 To thee may each united house, Morning and night present its vows; Our servants there, and rising race, Be taught thy precepts and thy grace. 4 Oh, may each future age proclaim The honors of thy glorious name; While pleas'd and thankful, we remove To join the family above.

HYMN 291.

S. M.

Hoskins.

Maryland. Little Marlboro'.

Formal. Job xxvii. 8.

1 RELIGION'S form is vain,
While we deny its power!
What will the hypocrite obtain,
In death's tremendous hour?

2 Now he may credit gain,
And in his affluence roll;
But all his profit will be pain,
When God shall take his soul.
3 Then, O what dread surprise,
What horror and dismay,
When death shall open wide his eyes,
And tear his mask away!

4 Lord, search and know my heart,
And make my soul sincere;

And bid hypocrisy depart,

And keep my conscience clear.

1

HYMN 292. C. M.

Doddridge.

Abridge. Christmas.

Ministers watch for souls. Heb. xiii. 17. 1 LET Zion's watchmen all awake, And take th' alarm they give; Now let them, from the mouth of God, Their awful charge receive.

2 'Tis not a cause of small import
The pastor's care demands;

But what might fill an angel's heart-
It fill'd a Saviour's hands.

3 They watch for souls, for which the Lord Did heav'nly bliss forego;

For souls, which must for ever live,
In raptures, or in wo.

4 May they that Jesus, whom they preach Their own Redeemer, see;

And watch thou daily o'er their souls,
That they may watch for Thee.

HYMN 293.

H. M.

Doddridge.

Bethesda. Eagle Street.

A sweet savor. 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16.

1 PRAISE to the Lord on high,
Who spreads his triumphs wide!
While Jesus' fragrant name

Is breath'd on every side:
Balmy and rich the odours rise,
And fill the earth, and reach the skies.