4 O wondrous love! to bleed and die, To bear the cross and shame, That guilty sinners, such as I, Might plead thy gracious name! 163. THE POWER OF PRAYER.

(L.M.)

Ask, and it shall be given you.-Matt. vii. 7.
1 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?

2 Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw;
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.

3 Restraining prayer, we cease to fight: Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright; And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.

4 While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when through weariness they fail'd,
That moment Amalek prevail'd.

5 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.

6 Were half the breath thus vainly spent
To heaven in supplication sent,

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

164. PLEADING FOR ANSWER TO PRAYER. (S.M.)

I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. Isaiah xlv. 19.

1 O THOU that hearest prayer, Behold us at thy feet;

Now let us prove thy presence here, Where two or three are met! 2 Thy promise, Lord, we plead; Nor can we plead in vain ; Thou never saidst to Israel's seed, "Seek ye my face in vain."

3 Glory to thee alone,

4

Thou God of boundless grace,

Who dost refreshing showers send down, To cheer thy drooping race!

O let it now be shown

How true, how good thou art!

Lord, send a gracious answer down,
To every waiting heart!

165. PREPARATION OF THE HEART. (C.M.) The preparations of the heart in man...are from the Lord.-Prov. xvi. 1.

1 LORD, teach us how to pray aright,
With rev'rence and with fear!
Though dust and ashes in thy sight,
We may, we must draw near.

2 We perish if we cease from prayer;
O, grant us power to pray!

And when to meet thee we prepare,
Lord, meet us by the way!

3 God of all grace, we come to thee
With broken contrite hearts!
Give what thine eye delights to see-
Truth in the inward parts ;-
4 Faith in the only sacrifice
That can for sin atone,

To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes,
On Christ-on Christ alone ;-
5 Patience to watch and wait and weep,
Though mercy long delay;-
Courage, our fainting souls to keep,
And trust thee, though thou slay!
6 Give these; and then thy will be done!-
Thus, strengthen'd with all might,
We, by thy Spirit, through thy Son,
Shall pray, and pray aright.

166.

WAITING UPON GOD.

(C.M.)

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.-Psalm lxii. 5.

1 ETERNAL God, we look to thee;
To thee for help we fly!

Thine eye alone our wants can see;
Thy hand alone supply.

2 Lord, let thy fear within us dwell,
Thy love our footsteps guide!
That love will all vain love expel ;
That fear, all fear beside.

3 Alas! by passion's force subdued,
Too oft, with stubborn will,
We blindly shun the latent good,
And choose the specious ill.

4 Not what we wish, but what we want,
O, let thy grace supply!

The good, unask'd, in mercy grant;
The ill, though ask'd, deny!

-167.

WAITING FOR THE LORD.

(8.7.)

Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield.-Psalm xxxiii. 20.

1 THEE, Jehovah, thee adoring,
Prostrate at thy throne we bend,
Humbly there thy grace imploring,
Waiting till thy grace descend.
Thou art our Almighty Saviour,
Let thine arm be still reveal'd;
Cast around thy special favour,
Spread thine everlasting shield!
2 In thy love our heart rejoices,
While thy promises we claim;
Thee we praise with cheerful voices,
Trusting in thy holy name.
Lord, thy mercy, without measure,
Fills thy covenant of grace;
Grant to us that heavenly treasure,
For on thee our hopes we place!
168. DESIRING CONFORMITY TO CHRIST. (112.)
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me.-Gal. ii. 20.
1 THOU hidden love of God, whose height,
Whose depth unfathom'd, no man knows!
I see from far thy beauteous light,
And inly sigh for thy repose:
My heart is pain'd, nor can it be
At rest, till it find rest in Thee.

2 Is there a thing beneath the sun

That strives with thee my heart to share? Ah! tear it thence, and reign alone,

The Lord of every motion there! Then shall my heart from earth be free, When it has found repose in Thee.

3 O crucify this self, that I

No more,

but Christ in me, may live!

Bid all my vile affections die,

Nor let one hateful lust survive!
In all things, nothing may I see,
Nothing desire, or seek, but Thee!
4 Lord, draw my heart from earth away,
And make it only know thy call;
Speak to my inmost soul, and say,

"I am thy Strength, thy God, thy All." To feel thy power, to hear thy voice, To taste thy love, be all my choice. 169.

THE CHIEF REQUEST.

(L.M.) And God said, Ask what I shall give thee. 1 Kings iii. 5.

1 AND dost thou

say, "Ask what thou wilt"!Lord, we would seize the gracious hour: We pray to be releas'd from guilt,

And freed from sin and Satan's power. 2 More of Thy presence, Lord, impart ; More of thine image let us bear; Erect thy throne in every heart, And reign without a rival there! 3 Give us to read our pardon seal'd, And from thy joy to draw our strength, To have thy boundless love reveal'd, In all its height and breadth and length!