Night is the time to pray; So will his followers do : Steal from the throng to haunts untrod, Night is the time for death; When all around is peace, Think of heaven's bliss, and give the sign COMMUNION WITH GOD. WHEN one that holds communion with the skies So when a ship, well freighted with the stores The sun matures on India's spicy shores, Has dropp'd her anchor, and her canvas furl'd, PRAYER. PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire, Utter'd, or unexpress'd, The motion of a hidden fire, That trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The upward glancing of an eye, Prayer is the simplest form of speech, Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach, The majesty on high. Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, His watch-word in the hour of death, He enters heaven with prayer. Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice, While angels in their song rejoice, In prayer, on earth, the saints are one, Nor prayer is made on earth alone; And Jesus, on the eternal throne, O Thou! by whom we come to God, PRAYER. WHAT Various hind'rances we meet In coming to a mercy-seat! Yet who that knows the worth of prayer, But wishes to be often there? Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw; Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw; Gives exercise to faith and love, Brings every blessing from above. Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; The weakest saint upon his knees. While Moses stood with arms spread wide, Have you no words? ah! think again, Were half the breath thus vainly spent, Your cheerful song would oftener be, "Hear what the Lord hath done for me." THE HAPPY CHANGE. How blest thy creature is, O God, He views the lustre of thy word, Through all the storms that veil the skies, With healing on his wings. Struck by that light, the human heart, A barren soil no more, Sends the sweet smell of grace abroad, The soul, a dreary province once The glorious orb, whose golden beams He started from the goal; |