Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation : But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Minister. O Lord, save Thy servant;
Answer. Which putteth his trust in Thee.
M. Send him help from Thy holy place;
A. And evermore mightily defend him.
M. Let the enemy have no advantage of him;
A. For the wicked approach to hurt him.
M. Be unto him, O Lord, a strong tower,
A. From the face of his enemy.
M. O Lord, hear our prayers.
A. And let our cry come unto Thee.
ORD, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in Thy presence will prevail to make,
What heavy burdens from our bosoms take,
What parched grounds refresh, as with a shower!
We kneel, and all around us seems to lower;
We rise, and all, the distant and the near,
Stands forth in sunny outline, brave and clear;
We kneel, how weak, we rise, how full of power.
Why therefore should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others that we are not always strong,
That we are ever overborne with care,
That we should ever weak or heartless be,
Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer,
And joy and strength and courage are with Thee?
From friendship's faithful bosom wrested,
In stranger hands thy comforts vested,
Thy life a cheerless wintry day
Unlit by sunshine ?-Rise and pray!
Smiled on thee once the bliss of earth,
And glittering joys of transient worth?
Hast thou adored some idol shrine,
Or bent has many a knee at thine?
Faded these creatures of a day,
What hast thou left ?-Arise and pray!
Or hast thou, driven by deepest woe,
Thy soul's sure refuge learned to know?
And every storm of life would meet
Beneath the sheltering Mercy-Seat?
Whether in youth, or life's decay,
Thy lot is blest-thou lovest to pray?
But haply thou, even thou hast found
Religion's consecrated ground
With sorrows and with snares beset,
Which, though the Almighty Sufferer met
To conquer, we must yet obey
His welcome mandate-Rise and pray!
O mournful lot to mortals given,
Might not the wingèd thought to Heaven
Amidst opposing myriads rise
To claim its refuge in the skies!
"Where is thy God?" whilst mockers say,
To Him mounts up the soul to pray!
Though, mingled in one bitter draught,
Thou every earthly woe hast quaffed ;
Around, though enemies prevail,
And darts from cherished friends assail ;
These but in image faint pourtray
His griefs, who bids thee rise and pray !
Ev'n should that direst hour be thine,
When in the darkening Heavens no sign
Appears; but thou in combat fell
Must meet the adverse hosts of hell,
O never cast the hope away,
While thou canst lift thy heart to pray.
With tears, with bitterest agony
The Saviour wrestled, Soul! for thee,
Ere He could all-triumphant rise
To plead the accepted sacrifice;
So, till the world shall pass away,
Shall stand His words—" Arise and pray!"
HAT various hindrances 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 darkened 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; Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright; And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.
While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when through weariness they failed,
That moment Amalek prevailed.1
Have you no words? O think again,
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill your fellow-creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.
Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To heaven in supplication sent,
Your cheerful song would oftener be,—
"Hear what the Lord hath done for me!"
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