CHRISTIAN! if thy graces are in exercise and thou canst taste these privileges of thy high calling;-pity, help and pray for the millions of immortal souls who yet know not the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, or the fellowship of the Spirit; but remain ignorant of the covenants of promise, without Christ, without hope, without God in this world of sin and sorrow.
THE CHRISTIAN'S WALK WITH GOD.
1. Behold he prays. Eph. 6. 18.
RAYER is the soul's sincere desire, Utter'd or unexprest;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.
? 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.
Pray'r is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try;
Pray'r the sublimest strains that reach The majesty on high.
Pray'r is the Christian's vital breath The Christian's native air, His watchword at the gates of death, He enters Heav'n with pray'r.
Pray'r is the contrite sinner's voice Returning from his ways,
While angels on their wings rejoice Behold, he prays!"
6 The saints in pray'r appear as one In word and deed and mind,
When with the Father, Spirit, Son, Sweet fellowship they find.
7 Nor Pray'r is made on earth alone, The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus on the eternal throne, For sinners intercedes.
8 Oh thou, by whom we come to God! The Life--the Truth--the way!
The path of pray'ṛ thyself hast trod, Lord, teach us how to pray.
2. The Christian's desire.
OH! for a closer walk with God, A calm and heav'nly frame! A light to shine upon the road That leads me to the Lamb!
2 Where is the blessedness I knew When first I saw the Lord ? Where is the soul-refreshing view Of Jesus and his word?
3 What peaceful hours I once enjoyed, How sweet their memory still! But they have left an aching void The world can never fill.
Return, Oh holy dove, return Sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made thee moura And drove thee from my breast.
5 The dearest idol I have known Whate'er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne And worship only thee.
6 So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame; So purer light shall mark the road That leads me to the Lamb.
3. His recollection before prayer.
ORD thou dost search and see me thro',
Thine eye commands with piercing view
My rising and my resting hours, My soul, my flesh and all their pow'rs. 2 My thoughts before they are my own Are to my God distinctly known; He knows the words I mean to speak Ere from my op'ning lips they break.
3 Within thy circling pow'r I stand, On every side I find thy hand, Awake, asleep, at home, abroad, I am surrounded still by God! 4 Amazing knowledge, vast and great! What large extent, what lofty height! My soul with all the powers I boast Is in the boundless prospect lost. 5 Oh may these thoughts possess my breast Where'er I rove, where'er I rest, Nor let my weaker passions dare Consent to sin,-for God is near.
NREAT God! let thy constraining power To thee my wand'ring feelings draw,
And let me give this sacred hour To humble prayer and holy awe.
And whilst the sense of conscious sin My trembling soul with anguish shakes, And hope thy pard'ning love to win My fainting sinking heart forsakes. Oh let thy grace new strength supply! Oh breathe the thought that comfort gives ! And point to faith's uplifted eye
The Lamb that died--the God who lives!
5. His Morning Hymn.
CHRIST whose glory fills the skies, Christ the true and only light,
Sun of righteousness, arise! Triumph o'er the shades of night. Day spring from on high be near! Day star in my heart appear! Dark and cheerless is the morn Inaccompanied by thee, Joyless is the day's return Till thy mercy's beams I see.
Still thy inward light impart, Glad mine eyes and warm my heart. 3 Visit then this soul of mine, Chase the gloom of sin and grief, Fill me, radiancy divine! Scatter all my unbelief.
More and more thyself display Shining to the perfect day."
6. His Noonday Hymn.
ATHER of eternal grace! Glorify thyself in me;
Meekly beaming in my face Let the world thine image see.
2 Happy chiefly in thy love
Though poor, unfriended and unknown; Raise my thoughts to thee above, Stay my heart on thee alone.
3 Humble, holy, all resign'd Unto thy will-thy will be done! Give me, Lord, the perfect mind Of thy well-beloved Son.
4 Counting gain and glory loss Let me tread the steps he trod !- Die with Jesus on the cross, Rise with him to thee my God.
7. His Evening Hymn.
WHAT though my frail eyelids refuse Continual watchings to keep,
And punctual as midnight renews Demand the refreshment of sleep; A sovereign protector I have Unseen, yet forever at hand, Unchangeably faithful to save, Almighty to rule and command.
2 From evil secure and its dread I sleep if my Saviour is nigh,
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