Fear not....his merits must prevail;
Ask what thou wilt, it shall be done.

477. L. M. Corper.
Exhortation to Prayer.

1 WHAT various hindrances we meet
In coming to a mercy-seat?

Yet who that knows the worth of

But wishes to be often there?

pray`r,

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

3 Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Pray'r makes the christian's armour bright; And satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.

14 While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when, thro' 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 supplications sent....
Your cheerful songs should oftener be,
"Hear what the Lord has done for met"
478. L. M. Dobell.

Benefit of public, private, and family devotion.
1 IN the dark night, when much distrest,
I sought my God, my Lord, my rest....
Amidst the searches of my thought,
I sought my Lord, but found him not.

2 Thence in the street I sought my Lord,
Where oft I've feasted on his word:
But ah! how low my soul was brought....
I sought the Lord, but found him not.

A

3 I ask'd the watchmen of the night,
Where did you see my soul's delight?"
With anxious care my lord I sought,
But ah, alas! I found him not.

4 In my distress the Lord drew nigh,
And to my soul did thus reply...
"Thou never wast by me forgot,
"Tho' thou didst seek, and found me not.

5 "When in the closet, I was there;
"I was with thee in fam'ly pray'r:
"And in my house I saw thy tears,
"Whilst struggling with thy doubts and fears.

''

6 "I hid my face to prove thy zeal,

"When thou didst plead but not prevail: "In all the paths of holiness,

"My bowels mov'd to see thy face.

7 "All was to prove thy faith sincere,
"That I to thee did not appear;
"Thy name is graven on my heart;
"From thee I never will depart.

8 "I drew thy soul with cords of love---
"I drew thy heart to things above;
"I still will draw thee on to heaven---
Thy debts are paid, thy sins forgiv❜a"

66

9 If Jesus Christ is precious here,
In heaven more precious he'll appear:
And still more precious he'll be found,
As endless years are rolling round..

479. C. M. Beddome, altered.

Prayer for past enjoyments....Psalm cxix. 32.
1 AGAIN, indulgent Lord, return
With thy sweet, quickning grace,
To animate my sluggish soul,
And speed me in my race.

2 O may I feel as once I felt,

When pain'd and griev'd at heart;
Thy kind, forgiving, melting look,
Reliev'd my ev'ry smart.

3 Let graces then, in exercise,
Be exercis'd again:

And, nurtur'd by celestial pow'r,
In exercise remain.

4 Awake, my love, my faith, my hope,
My fortitude and joy ;

Vain world, begone, let things above
My happy thoughts employ.

5 Whilst thee, my Saviour, and my God,
I would for ever own;
Drive each rebellious, rival lust,
Each traitor from the throne.

6 Instruct my mind, my will subdue,
To heaven my passions raise;
And let my life for ever be
Devoted to thy praise.

480. C. M. Haweis.

Remember me....Neh. xiii. 31.

10 THOU, from whom all goodness flows, I lift my heart to thee;

In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes,
Dear Lord, remember me.

2. Whene'er on my poor, burden'd heart

My sins lie heavily,

My pardon speak, new peace impart,
In love remember me.

3 Temptations sore obstruct my way,
To shake my faith in thee;

O give me strength, Lord, as my day,
For good remember me.

4 When in desertion's dismal night,
Thy face I cannot see,

Then, Lord, arise, with glorious light,
And still remember me.

5 If on my face, for thy dear name,
Shame and reproaches be,

All hail reproach, and welcome shame,
If thou remember me.

6 The hour is near, consign'd to death,
I own my just decree;

Saviour, with my last, parting breath,
I'll cry, "remember me."

،

[7 When heaven's celestial gates give way, My soul shall fly to thee,

To tell, in realms of endless day,
Thou hast remember'd me,']

481. C. M. Medley.

My God will hear me....Mic. vii. 7.
1 TO thee, O Lord, my heavenly king,
Now will my soul draw near;
Thankful of this sweet truth to sing,
That thou, my God, wilt hear.

2 Tho' I am poor and needy too,

And scarce know what to say;
And tho' my words are faint and few,
My God will hear me pray.

3 Thro' Christ I come, and mercy claim, Who lives to intercede;

For in his dear adored name,

My God will hear me plead.

4 Tho' oft with sins, and doubts, and fears, My soul is much cast down;

And tho' o'erwhelm'd with sighs and tears, My God will hear me groan.

5 Then whilst my life and breath remain, I'll humbly persevere;

And when to glory I attain,

My God will hear me there.

482. C. M.
Prayer.

Newton.

1 APPROACH, my soul, the mercy seat,
Where Jesus answer's pray'r;
There humbly fall before his feet,
For none can perish there.

483. S. M. Newton.

Importunate prayer prevalent with God.... Luke xviii. 1-7.

1 THE Lord, who truly knows The heart of ev'ry saint,

2

3

4

Invites us by his holy word,
To pray and never faint.

He bows his gracious ear;

We never plead in vain;

Yet we must wait till he appear,
And pray, and pray again.

Tho' unbelief suggest,

Why should we longer wait?
He bids us never give him rest,
But be importunate.

'Twas thus a widow poor,
Without support or friend,