O let me feel that thou art near me; Close to thy side, I shall not fear; Hear me, O Strength of Israel, hear me, Sustain and aid! in mercy hear.
Lord, send thy light, Not only in the darkest night, But in the shadowy, dim twilight, Wherein my strained and aching sight Can scarce distinguish wrong from right, Then send thy light.
Teach me to pray. Not only in the morning gray, Or when the moonbeam's silver ray Falls on me, but at high noonday, When pleasure beckons me away, Teach me to pray.
The little sharp vexations And the briars that cut the feet, Why not take all to the Helper Who has never failed us yet? Tell him about the heartache, And tell him the longings too, Tell him the baffled purpose When we scarce know what to do. Then, leaving all our weakness With the One divinely strong, Forget that we bore the burden And carry away the song.
My proud foe at my hands to take no boon will choose. Thy prayers are that one gift which he cannot refuse.
Man's plea to man is, that he nevermore Will beg, and that he never begged before; Man's plea to God is, that he did obtain A former suit, and therefore sues again. How good a God we serve, that, when we sue, Makes his old gifts examples of his new.
Grant me, O God, thy merciful protection; And, in protection, give me strength, I pray; And, in my strength, O grant me wise discretion; And, in discretion, make me ever just; And, with my justice, may I mingle love, And, with my love, O God, the love of thee; And, with the love of thee, the love of all.
O sad estate Of human wretchedness! so weak is man, So ignorant and blind, that did not God Sometimes withhold in mercy what we ask, We should be ruined at our own request.
Why win we not at once what we in prayer require? That we may learn great things as greatly to desire.
Just to let thy Father do What he will; Just to know that he is true And be still. Just to follow hour by hour As He leadeth; Just to draw the moment's power As it needeth. Just to trust Him, this is all! Then the day will surely be Peaceful, whatsoe'er befall, Bright and blessèd, calm and free.
Just to let Him speak to thee Through his word, Watching that his voice may be Clearly heard. Just to tell Him every thing As it rises, And at once to him to bring All surprises. Just to listen, and to stay Where you cannot miss His voice, This is all! and thus to-day, Communing, you shall rejoice.