Prayer Meetings

974 Early Morning Prayer Meeting

1 SWEETLY the holy hymn Breaks on the morning air;

Before the world with smoke is dim We meet to offer prayer.

2 While flowers are wet with dews, Dew of our souls descend;

Ere yet the sun the day renews;

O Lord, Thy Spirit send.

3 Upon the battle-field Before the fight begins, We seek, O Lord, Thy sheltering shield, To guard us from our sins.

4 Ere yet our vessel sails Upon the stream of day, We plead, O Lord, for heavenly gales To speed us on our way.

5 On the lone mountain side, Before the morning's light, The Man of Sorrows wept and cried, And rose refresh'd with might.

6 Oh hear us then, for we Are very weak and frail, We make the Saviour's name our plea, And surely must prevail.

Charles H. Spurgeon,1880

975 Evening Prayer Meeting

1 NOW from the world withdrawn, For intercourse with Thee, May each, O Lord, before Thy throne, From earthly cares be free.

2 Possess our every thought, And teach our minds to pray;

Help us to worship as we ought, And thus conclude the day.

3 Our strength may we renew, And lift our hearts above, That, while life's journey we pursue, We still may walk in love.

4 Then, in our latter end, When death shall close our eyes, Thy mercy will our souls attend, And bear them to the skies.

John Bulmer, 1835.

976 Evening Prayer and Praise

1 GRACIOUS Saviour, thus before Thee, With our varied want and care; For a blessing we implore Thee, Listen to our evening prayer!

3 By Thy favour safely living, With a grateful heart we raise Songs of jubilant thanksgiving;

Listen to our evening praise!

3 Through the day, Lord, Thou hast given Strength sufficient for our need;

Cheer'd us with sweet hopes of heaven, Help'd and comforted indeed.

4 Lord, we thank Thee, and adore Thee, For the solace of Thy love; And rejoicing thus before Thee, Wait Thy blessing from above!

Henry Bateman, 1862.

977 Prayer described

1 PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire, Utter'd or unexpress'd: The motion of a hidden fire, That trembles in the breast.

2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear; The upward glancing of an eye, When none but God is near.

3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try;

Prayer the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, The Christian's native air: His watchword at the gates of death:

He enters heaven with prayer.

5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice, Returning from his ways;

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

6 The saints in prayer appear as one, In word, and deed, and mind;

While with the Father and the Son Sweet fellowship they find.

7 Nor prayer is made on earth alone: The Holy Spirit pleads: And Jesus, on the eternal throne, For mourners intercedes.

8 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.

James Montgomery, 1819

978 The Throne of Grace

1 BEHOLD the throne of grace! he promise calls me near, There Jesus shows a smiling face, And waits to answer prayer.

2 That rich atoning blood, Which sprinkled round I see, Provides for those who come to God An all-prevailing plea.

3 My soul, ask what thou wilt, Thou canst not be too bold;

Since His own blood for Thee He spilt, What else can He withhold?

4 Beyond thy utmost wants His love and power can bless; To praying souls He always grants More than they can express.

6 Thine image, Lord, bestow, Thy presence and Thy love;

I ask to serve Thee here below, And reign with Thee above.

6 Teach me to live by faith, Conform my will to Thine;

Let me victorious be in death, And then in glory shine.

John Newton, 1770.

979 "God be merciful unto us, and bless us."

1 LORD of the vast creation, Support of worlds unknown, Desire of every nation, Behold us at Thy throne.

2 We come for mercy crying, Through Thine atoning blood;

And, on Thy grace relying, We seek each promised good.

3 Oh when shall Thy salvation Be known through every land, And men in every station Obey Thy great command?

4 In God's own Son believing, From sin may they be free; And gospel-grace receiving, Find life and peace in Thee!

John Bulmer, 1835

980 "Ask what I shall give thee."

1 COME, my soul, thy suit prepare, Jesus loves to answer prayer;

He Himself has bid thee pray, Therefore will not say thee nay.

2 Thou art coming to a King, Large petitions with thee bring; For His grace and power are such, None can ever ask too much.

3 With my burden I begin, Lord, remove this load of sin;

Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt, Set my conscience free from guilt.

4 Lord! I come to Thee for rest, Take possession of my breast;

There Thy blood-bought right maintain, And without a rival reign.

5 While I am a pilgrim here, Let Thy love my spirit cheer; As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend, Lead me to my journey's end.

John Newton, 1779.

981 Holy Importunity

1 LORD, I cannot let Thee go, Till a blessing Thou bestow; Do not turn away Thy face, Mine's an urgent pressing case.

2 Dost Thou ask me who I am?

Ah, my Lord, Thou know'st my name;

Yet the question gives a plea To support my suit with Thee.

3 Thou didst once a wretch behold, In rebellion blindly bold, Scorn Thy grace, Thy power defy: That poor rebel, Lord, was I.

4 Once a sinner near despair Sought Thy mercy-seat by prayer;

Mercy heard and set him free;

Lord, that mercy came to me.

5 Many days have pass'd since then, Many changes I have seen;

Yet have been upheld till now: Who could hold me up but Thou?

6 Thou hast help'd in every need, This emboldens me to plead;

After so much mercy past.

Canst Thou let me sink at last?

7 No—I must maintain my hold, 'Tis Thy goodness makes me bold;

I can no denial take, When I plead for Jesus' sake.

John Newton, 1779

982 A Blessing requested

1 LORD, we come before Thee now, At Thy feet we humbly bow;

Oh, do not our suit disdain; Shall we seek Thee. Lord, in vain?

2 In Thy own appointed way, Now we seek Thee, here we stay;

Lord, from hence we would not go, Till a blessing Thou bestow.

3 Send some message from Thy word, That may joy and peace afford;

Let Thy Spirit now impart Full salvation to each heart.

4 Grant that those who seek may find Thee a God supremely kind;

Heal the sick, the captive free, Let us all rejoice in Thee.

William Hammond, 1745, a

983 "There am I in the midst of them."

1 MET again in Jesus' name, At His feet we humbly bow:

He is evermore the same, Lo, He waits to meet us now!

2 In His name, if two or three Meet, and for His mercy call, There, the Saviour says, I'll be In the midst to bless you all.

3 You shall never ask in vain, Though your number be but few;

Firm the promise doth remain, Lo, I always am with you.

4 Saviour, we believe Thy word, Calmly wait the promised grace:

Spirit of our risen Lord, Holy Spirit, fill the place.

John Pyer, 1857.

984

I will pray

1 I WILL approach Thee—I will force My way through obstacles to Thee: To Thee for strength will have recourse, To Thee for consolation flee!

2 Oh cast me, cast me not away, From Thy dear presence, gracious Lord! My burden at Thy feet I lay: My soul reposes on Thy word.

Charlotte Elliott, 1834.

985 Our Advocate above

1 THOU Lamb of God, for sinners slain!

We glorify Thy love;

High Priest in heaven's eternal fane, Our Advocate above.

2 Now, through Thy rended veil of flesh, We dare the throne draw nigh, And sprinkled with Thy blood afresh, With boldness Abba cry.

Josiah Conder, 1854

986

Answer by Fire

LORD! with Thy grace our hearts Inspire, Answer our sacrifice by fire, And by Thy mighty acts declare, Thou art the God who heareth prayer.

Faith asks no signal from the skies, To show that prayers accepted rise; Our Priest is in the holy place, And answers from the throne of grace.

Josiah Conder, 1856

987 "Thy Name's Sake."

1 LORD, for Thy name's sake! such the plea, With force triumphant fraught, By which Thy saints prevail with Thee, By Thine own Spirit taught.

2 Now, for Thy name's sake, O our God, Do not abhor our prayer;

But, while we bow beneath Thy rod, Thy chasten'd people spare.

3 Oh, for Thy name's sake, richly grant The unction from above;

Fulfil Thy holy covenant, And glorify Thy love.

Josiah Conder, 1836

988 Jesus present with Two or Three

1 WHERE two or three, with sweet accord, Obedient to their sovereign Lord, Meet to recount His acts of grace, And offer solemn prayer and praise:

2 "There," says the Saviour, "will I be, Amid this little company: To them unveil My smiling face, And shed My glories round the place."

3 We meet at Thy command, dear Lord, Relying on Thy faithful word:

Now send Thy Spirit from above, Now fill our hearts with heavenly love.

Samuel Stennett, 1787.

989 Pleading for Power

1 LORD, our waiting spirits bow, In Thy blessed presence now; May the Holy Spirit be Now our power to wait on Thee.

2 Power, O Lord, for power we cry!

Grant us each a rich supply, That our longing souls may be Fully satisfied by Thee.

3 Sweet the solemn hour of prayer, Sweet to feed on heavenly fare, Now let such our portion be, Saviour, waiting upon Thee.

Albert Midlane, 1866.

990 "Remember us, O Lord."

1 APART from every worldly care, We bow before Thee, Lord, in prayer; And as our one, our only claim, We lisp our blessed Jesu's name.

2 May the blest Spirit, Father, now, Each heart in holy reverence bow; And may our feeble breathings rise To Thee, like holy sacrifice.

3 Our need Thou knowest, Thou art nigh, And Thou canst every need supply;

Boundless, dear Father, is Thy store, Remember us, we ask no more.

Albert Midlane, 1866.

991 Confession of Sin

1 ONCE more we meet to pray, Once more our guilt confess;

Turn not, O Lord, Thine ear away From creatures in distress.

2 Our sins to heaven ascend, And there for vengeance cry;

O God, behold the sinner's Friend, Who intercedes on high.

3 Though we are vile indeed, And well deserve Thy curse, The merits of Thy Son we plead, Who lived and died for us.

4 Now let Thy bosom yearn, As it hath done before;

Return to us, O God, return, And ne'er forsake us more.

Philip Doddridge, 1755, a.

992 Prayer for Unbelievers

1 THOU Son of God, whose flaming eyes Our inmost thoughts perceive, Accept the humble sacrifice, Which now to Thee we give.

2 We bow before Thy gracious throne, And think ourselves sincere; But show us, Lord, is every one Thy real worshipper?

3 Is here a soul that knows Thee not, Nor feels his want of Thee, A stranger to the blood which bought His pardon on the tree?

4 Convince him now of unbelief; His desperate state explain; And fill his heart with sacred grief, And penitential pain.

5 Speak with that voice which wakes the dead, And bid the sleeper rise! And bid his guilty conscience dread The death that never dies.

Charles Wesley, 1767.

993

Divine Sympathy

1 THERE is no sorrow, Lord, too light To bring in prayer to Thee;

There is no anxious care too slight To wake Thy sympathy.

2 Thou who hast trod the thorny road Wilt share each small distress: The love which bore the greater load Will not refuse the less.

3 There is no secret sigh we breathe But meets Thine ear divine; And every cross grows light beneath The shadow, Lord, of Thine.

4 Life's ills without, sin's strife within, The heart would overflow, But for that love which died for sin, That love which wept with woe.

Jane Crewdson, 1860;

Benjamin Hall Kennedy, 1863.

994Hindrances to Prayer

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 prevailed.

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 oftener be, "Hear what the Lord has done for me!"

William Cowper, 1779.

995 The Garden of Christ

1 WE are a garden wail'd around, Chosen and made peculiar ground; A little spot, inclosed by grace Out of the world's wide wilderness.

2 Like trees of myrrh and spice we stand, Planted by God the Father's hand; And all His springs in Sion flow, To make the young plantation grow.

3 Awake, O heavenly wind! and come, Blow on this garden of perfume?

Spirit divine! descend, and breathe A gracious gale on plants beneath.

4 Make our best spices flow abroad, To entertain our Saviour God: And faith, and love, and joy appear, And every grace be active here.

Isaac Watts, 1709

996 "Teach us to Pray."

1 LORD, teach us how to pray aright, With reverence and with fear;

Though dust and ashes in Thy sight, We may, we must draw near.

2 We perish if we cease from prayer;

Oh grant us power to pray; And when to meet Thee we prepare, Lord, meet us by the way.

James Montgomery, 1819

997 "I said not, Seek ye Me in vain."

1 WE come, blest Jesus, to Thy throne, To open all our grief;

Now send Thy promised mercy down, And grant us quick relief.

2 Ne'er didst Thou say to Jacob's seed, "Seek ye My face in vain;" And canst Thou now deny Thine aid, When burden'd souls complain?

3 The same Thy power, Thy love the same, Unmoved the promise shines;

Eternal truth surrounds Thy name, And guards the precious lines.

4 Though Satan rage, and flesh rebel, And unbelief arise.

We'll wait around His footstool still, For Jesus hears our cries.

James Boden, 1777

998 Prayer heard in Heaven

1 WHEN God inclines the heart to pray, He hath an ear to hear; To Him there's music in a groan, And beauty in a tear.

2 The humble suppliant cannot fall To have his wants supplied, Since He for sinners intercedes, Who once for sinners died.

Benjamin Beddome, 1818

999

Let us Pray

1 LET us pray! the Lord is willing, Ever waiting, prayer to hear;

Ready, His kind words fulfilling, Loving hearts to help and cheer

2 Let us pray! oar God with blessing Satisfies the praying soul;

Bends to hear the heart's confessing, Moulding it to His control.

3 Let us pray! though foes surrounding, Vex, and trouble, and dismay;

Precious grace, through Christ abounding, Still shall cheer us on our way.

4 Let us pray! our life is praying;

Prayer with time alone may cease:

Then in heaven, God's will obeying, Life is praise and perfect peace.

Henry Bateman, 1862

1000 Peace at the Mercy-seat

1 FROM every stormy wind that blows, From every swelling tide of woes, There is a calm, a safe retreat;

'Tis found beneath the mercy-seat.

2 There is a place where Jesus sheds The oil of gladness o'er our heads! A place, than all beside more sweet, It is the blood-stain'd mercy-seat.

3 There is a spot where spirits blend, Where friend holds fellowship with friend;

Though sunder'd far, by faith we meet Around our common mercy-seat.

4 Ah, whither could we flee for aid, When tempted, desolate, dismay'd: Or how the hosts of hell defeat, Had suffering saints no mercy-seat?

5 There, there, on eagle-wings we soar, And time and sense seem all no more, And heaven comes down our souls to greet, And glory crowns the mercy-seat,

6 Oh let my hands forget their skill. My tongue be silent, cold, and still, This bounding heart forget to beat, If I forget the mercy-seat!

Hugh Stowell, 1832, a.

1001 "Our Father which art in Heaven."

1 OUR heavenly Father hear The prayer we offer now;

Thy name be hallow'd far and near, To Thee all nations bow;

2 Thy kingdom come: Thy will On earth be done in love, As saints and seraphim fulfil Thy perfect law above.

3 Our daily bread supply, While by Thy word we live: The guilt of our iniquity Forgive, as we forgive.

4 From dark temptation's power, From Satan's wiles defend;

Deliver in the evil hour, And guide us to the end.

5 Thine, then, for ever be Glory and power divine; The sceptre, throne, and majesty Of heaven and earth are Thine.

James Montgomery, 1825.

1002

Jesus met them

1 SWEET the time, exceeding sweet, When the saints together meet; When the Saviour is the theme: When they join to sing of Him.

2 Sing we then eternal love, Such as did the Father move; When He saw the world undone, Loved the world, and gave His Son.

3 Sing the Son's amazing love, How He left the realms above, Took our nature and our place, Lived and died to save our race.

4 Sing we too the Spirit's love; With our wretched hearts He strove:

Turn'd our feet from ways of shame, Made us trust in Jesus' name.

5 Sweet the place, exceeding sweet, Where the saints in glory meet; Where the Saviour's still the theme, Where they see, and sing of Him.

George Burder, 1784, a.

1003 Sweetness of Fellowship

1 IF 'tis sweet to mingle where Christians meet for social prayer—

If 'tis sweet with them to raise Songs of holy joy and praise—

Passing sweet that state must be Where they meet eternally.

2 Saviour, may these meetings prove Preparations for above:

While we worship in this place, May we go from grace to grace, Till we, each in his degree, Meet for endless glory be.

Ingram Cobbin, 1828

1004 Joy in Heaven over a repenting Sinner

1 WHO can describe the joys that rise Through all the courts of paradise, To see a prodigal return, To see an heir of glory born?

2 With joy the Father doth approve The fruit of His eternal love; The Son with joy looks down, and sees The purchase of His agonies.

3 The Spirit takes delight to view The holy soul He form'd anew; And saints and angels join to sing The growing empire of their King.

Isaac Watts, 1709

1005 For a Blessing

1 As the dew, from heaven distilling, Gently on the grass descends, Richly unto all fulfilling What Thy Providence intends; So may truth, divine and gracious, To our waiting spirits prove;

Bless and make it efficacious In the children of Thy love!

2 Lord, behold this congregation!

All Thy promises fulfil; From Thy holy habitation, Let the dew of life distil:

Let our cry come up before Thee, Sweetest influence shed around; So Thy people shall adore Thee, And confess the joyful sound.

Thomas Kelly, 1804;

John Bulmer, 1835

1006

National Fast

1 OH may the power which melts the rock Be felt by all assembled here! Or else our service will but mock The God whom we profess to fear!

2 Lord, while Thy judgments shake the land, Thy people's eyes are fix'd on Thee!

We own Thy just uplifted band, Which thousands cannot, will not see.

3 The Lord displeased has raised His rod!

Ah! where are now the faithful few Who tremble for the ark of God, And know what Israel ought to do?

4 Lord, hear Thy people everywhere, Who meet to mourn, confess, and pray: The nation and Thy churches spare, And let Thy wrath be turn'd away.

John Newton, 1779

1007

National Fast

1 ETERNAL God! Before Thy throne, Three nations prostrate fall; Their great, their numerous sins theyown, O Lord, forgive them all.

2 Burst, Lord, upon these mourning isles With bright and gladdening rays;

Turn grief to joy, and tears to smiles, And prayer to grateful praise.

3 Oh sanctify the painful blow, Which justly Thou didst give; May we the Lord who smote us know, And turn to Thee and live.

James Edmeston, 1847

1008 National Thanksgiving

1 MAY we, Lord, rejoicing, say, Now Thine anger's turn'd away, Sheathed the sword that waved before, Mission'd to destroy no more.

2 Lord, accept our grateful praise, Just, yet kind, are all Thy ways, Ever ready to forgive, Bidding the repentant live.

3 In Thy courts would we appear, Mingling joy and praise with fear;

Judgments past in memory bear, Yet thanksgiving offer there.

4 Grateful hearts we fain would bring, Pardoning mercy would we sing;

We may now rejoicing say, Lord, Thine anger's turn'd away.

James Edmeston, 1849

1009 Prayer for our Country

1 SHINE, mighty God, on Britain shine, With beams of heavenly grace;

Reveal Thy power through all our coasts, And show Thy smiling face.

2 Amidst our isle, exalted high, Do Thou our glory stand, And, like a wall of guardian fire, Surround this favour'd land.

3 When shall Thy name from shore to shore, Sound all the earth abroad; And distant nations know and love Their Saviour and their God?

4 Sing to the Lord, ye distant lands, Sing loud, with solemn voice;

While British tongues exalt His praise, And British hearts rejoice.

5 Earth shall obey her Maker's will, And yield a full increase; Our God will crown His chosen isle With fruitfulness and peace.

6 God, the Redeemer, scatters round His choicest favours here;

While the creation's utmost bound Shall see, adore, and fear.

Isaac Watts, 1719