Come, let us pray; ’tis sweet to feel That God himself is near; That while we at his footstool kneel, His mercy deigns to hear: Though sorrows cloud life’s dreary way, This is our solace—let us pray.
2 Come, let us pray: the burning brow, The heart oppressed with care, And all the woes that throng us now, Will be relieved by prayer: Jesus will smile our griefs away; O, glorious thought!—come! let us pray.
3 Come, let us pray: the mercy-seat Invites the fervent prayer, And Jesus ready stands to greet The contrite spirit there: O, loiter not, nor longer stay From him who loves us; let us pray.
570 S. M. Invitation to prayer.
Come to the house of prayer, O thou afflicted, come; The God of peace shall meet thee there; He makes that house his home.
2 Come to the house of praise, Ye who are happy now; In sweet accord your voices raise, In kindred homage bow.
3 Ye agéd, hither come, For you have felt his love; Soon shall your trembling tongues be dumb, Your lips forget to move.
4 Ye young, before his throne Come, bow; your voices raise; Let not your hearts his praise disown Who gives the power to praise.
5 Thou, whose benignant eye In mercy looks on all— Who seest the tear of misery, And hearest the mourner’s call—
6 Up to thy dwelling-place Bear our frail spirits on, Till they outstrip time’s tardy pace, And heaven on earth be won.
571 7s, 6 lines. Heavenly places.
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 Antepasts to that above; While we worship in this place, May we go from grace to grace, Till we each, in his degree, Fit for endless glory be.
572 7s. Deliver us from evil.
Heavenly Father! to whose eye Future things unfolded lie; Through the desert when I stray Let thy counsels guide my way.
2 Lord! uphold me day by day; Shed a light upon my way; Guide me through perplexing snares, Care for me in all my cares.
3 Should thy wisdom, Lord, decree Trials long and sharp for me, Pain, or sorrow, care or shame— Father! glorify thy name.
4 Let me neither faint nor fear, Feeling still that thou art near; In the course my Saviour trod, Tending home to thee, my God.
573 7s. God is present everywhere.
They who seek the throne of grace Find that throne in every place; If we live a life of prayer, God is present everywhere.
2 In our sickness and our health, In our want, or in our wealth, If we look to God in prayer, God is present everywhere.
3 When our earthly comforts fail, When the woes of life prevail, ’Tis the time for earnest prayer; God is present everywhere.
4 Then, my soul, in every strait, To thy Father come, and wait; He will answer every prayer; God is present everywhere.
574 7s. Lift the heart, and bend the knee.
Child, amid the flowers at play, While the red light fades away; Mother, with thine earnest eye Ever following silently;
2 Father, by the breeze of eve, Called thy daily toil to leave; Pray! ere yet the dark hours be, Lift the heart, and bend the knee!
3 Traveler in the stranger’s land, Far from thine own household band; Mourner, haunted by the tone Of a voice from this world gone;
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!
575 7s. Lead me, O Lord.
Shepherd of thy little flock, Lead me to the shadowing rock, Where the richest pasture grows; Where the living water flows;
2 By that pure and silent stream, Sheltered from the scorching beam; Shepherd, Saviour, Guardian, Guide, Keep me ever near thy side.
576 7s, 6 lines. Draw near with a true heart. Heb. 10:22.
Holy Lord, our hearts prepare For the solemn work of prayer; Grant that while we bend the knee, All our thoughts may turn to thee; Let thy presence here be found, Breathing peace and joy around.
2 Lord, when we approach thy throne, Make thy power and glory known: Thus may we be taught to call Humbly on the Lord of all, And with reverence and fear, At thy footstool to appear.
3 Teach us, as we breathe our woes, On thy promise to repose; All thy tender love to trace In the Saviour’s work of grace; And with confidence depend On a gracious God and Friend.
577 7s. The Lord make his face shine upon thee. Num. 6:25.