What 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 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;
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 fail’d,
That moment Amalek prevail’d.
Have
you no words? Ah, 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 has done for me.
”—William Cowper