Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 74

3 Come, let us pray: the mercy-seat Invites the fervent prayer.

Our Heavenly Father waits to greet The contrite spirit there: O, loiter not, nor longer stay From him who loves us; let us pray.

448. L. M. Sir Walter Scott.

Imploring the constant Presence of G.o.d.

1 When Israel of the Lord beloved, Out from the land of bondage came, Her father's G.o.d before her moved, An awful guide in smoke and flame.

2 By day, along th' astonished lands, The cloudy pillar glided slow; By night, Arabia's crimsoned sands Returned the fiery column's glow.

3 Thus, present still, though now unseen, When brightly s.h.i.+nes the prosperous day, Be thoughts of thee a cloudy screen, To temper the deceitful ray!

4 And O, when gathers on our path, In shade and storm, the frequent night, Be thou, long-suffering, slow to wrath, A burning and a s.h.i.+ning light!

449. C. M. C. Wesley.

Watchfulness.

1 I want a principle within Of jealous, G.o.dly fear; A sensibility of sin, A pain to find it near.

2 I want the first approach to feel Of pride, or fond desire; To catch the wandering of my will, And quench the kindling fire.

3 From thee that I no more may part, No more thy goodness grieve, The filial awe, the fleshly heart, The tender conscience give.

4 Quick as the apple of the eye, O G.o.d, my conscience make!

Awake my soul when sin is nigh, And keep it still awake.

450. C. M. Smart.

For Prudence and Wisdom.

1 Father of light! conduct my feet Through life's dark, dangerous road; Let each advancing step still bring Me nearer to my G.o.d.

2 Let heaven-eyed prudence be my guide; And, when I go astray, Recall my feet from folly's path To wisdom's better way.

3 Teach me in every various scene To keep my end in sight; And while I tread life's mazy track, Let wisdom guide me right.

4 That heavenly wisdom from above Abundantly impart; And let it guard, and guide, and warm, And penetrate my heart:

5 Till it shall lead me to thyself, Fountain of bliss and love!

And all my darkness be dispersed In endless light above.

451. C. M. Moore.

Heaven Desired.

1 The bird let loose in Eastern skies, Returning fondly home, Ne'er stoops to earth her wing, nor flies Where idle warblers roam.

2 But high she shoots through air and light-- Above all low delay, Where nothing earthly bounds her flight, Nor shadow dims her way.

3 So grant me, G.o.d, from every snare Of sinful pa.s.sion free, Aloft through faith's serener air To hold my course to thee.

4 No sin to cloud, no lure to stay My soul, as home she springs; Thy suns.h.i.+ne on her joyful way, Thy freedom on her wings.

452. L. M. Stowell.

The Mercy-seat.

1 From every stormy wind that blows, From every swelling tide of woes, There is a calm, a sure retreat; 'Tis found before the mercy-seat.

2 There is a place were Jesus sheds The oil of gladness on our heads,-- A place of all on earth most sweet; It is the heavenly mercy-seat.

3 There is a scene where spirits blend, Where friend holds fellows.h.i.+p with friend; Though sundered far, by faith they meet Around one common mercy-seat.

4 There, there, on eagle wings we soar, And sin and sense molest no more; And heaven comes down our souls to greet, And glory crowns the mercy-seat.

453. C. M. Steele.

Thirsting after G.o.d.

1 When fainting in the sultry waste, And parched with thirst extreme, The weary pilgrim longs to taste The cool, refres.h.i.+ng stream.

2 So longs the weary, fainting mind, Oppressed with sins and woes, Some soul-reviving spring to find, Whence heavenly comfort flows.