4 Captive, in whose narrow cell
Sunshine hath not leave to dwell;
Sailor, on the darkening sea,
Lift the heart, and bend the knee!

5 Ye that triumph, ye that sigh,
Kindred by one holy tie,

Heaven's first star alike ye see;
Lift the heart, and bend the knee!

99.

C. M.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

MONTGOMERY.

1 PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire, Unuttered or expressed,

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;

1

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.

Uor M

5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice
Returning from his ways;
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"

6 In prayer, on earth, the saints are one;
They're one in word and mind;
When with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.

7 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!

100.

L. M.

PRAYER THE LIFE OF THE SOUL.

WESLEYAN.

1 PRAYER is to God the soul's sure way;
So flows the grace he waits to give;
Long as they live should Christians pray;
They learn to pray when first they live.

2 If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress,
If cares distract, or fears dismay,
If guilt deject, if sin distress,

In every need, still watch and pray.

3 'Tis prayer supports the soul that's weak, Though poor and broken be its word; Pray if thou canst, or canst not, speak; The breathings of the soul are heard.

4 Depend on Him; thou shalt prevail;
Make all thy wants and wishes known;
Fear not, His mercy will not fail;
Ask but in faith, it shall be done.

101.

C. M.

ANONYMOUS.

SILENT PRAYER.

1 SWEET is the prayer whose holy stream
In earnest pleading flows;
Devotion dwells upon the theme,
And warm and warmer glows.

2 Faith grasps the blessing she desires,
Hope points the upward gaze;
And love, untrembling love, inspires
The eloquence of praise.

3 But sweeter far the still, small voice,
Heard by no human ear,

When God hath made the heart rejoice,
And dried the bitter tear.

4 Nor accents flow, nor words ascend;
All utterance faileth there;
But listening spirits comprehend,
And God accepts the prayer.

III. JESUS CHRIST.

102.

7s. M.

ADVENT.

BOWRING.

1 WATCHMAN! tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are
Traveller! o'er yon mountain's height,
See that glory-beaming star!
Watchman! does its beauteous ray
Aught of hope or joy foretell?
Traveller! yes; it brings the day,
Promised day of Israel!

2 Watchman! tell us of the night,
Higher yet the star ascends;
Traveller! blessedness and light,
Peace and truth, its course portends.
Watchman! will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveller! ages are its own;
See, it bursts o'er all the earth.

3 Watchman! tell us of the night,
For the morning seems to dawn;
Traveller! darkness takes its flight;
Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman! let thy wanderings cease;
Hie thee to thy quiet home
Traveller! lo! the Prince of Peace,
Lo! the Son of God, is come.

103.

11s. M.

DRUMMOND.

PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!"

1 A VOICE from the desert comes awful and shrill; The Lord is advancing; prepare ye the way! The word of Jehovah he comes to fulfil, And o'er the dark world pour the splendor of day.

2 Bring down the proud mountain, though towering to heaven,

And be the low valley exalted on high; The rough path and crooked be made smooth and even,

For, Zion! your King, your Redeemer, is nigh. 3 The beams of salvation his progress illume, The lone, dreary wilderness sings of her God; The rose and the myrtle there suddenly bloom, And the olive of peace spreads its branches abroad.

104.

8 & 7s. M.

THE DAYSPRING FROM ON HIGH.

GASKELL.

1 DARKNESS o'er the world was brooding
Sadder than Egyptian gloom;

Souls by myriads lay in slumber
Deep as of the sealed tomb.

2 Earth had lost the links which bound it
To the throne of light above;

Yet an eye was watching o'er it,
And that eye was full of love.