At first I prayed for light:
Could I but see the way,
How gladly, swiftly would I walk
To everlasting day!

And next I prayed for strength:
That I might tread the road
With firm, unfaltering feet, and win
The heavens’ serene abode.

And then I prayed for faith:
Could I but trust my God,
I’d live infolded in His peace,
Though foes were all abroad.

But now I pray for love:
Deep love to God and man;
A living love that will not fail,
However dark His plan.

And light and strength and faith
Are opening everywhere!
God waited patiently until
I prayed the larger prayer.

Lord, teach us how to pray aright,
With reverence and with fear;
Though dust and ashes in Thy sight,
We may, we must draw near.

We perish if we cease from prayer;
O grant us power to pray;
And when to meet Thee we prepare,
Lord, meet us by the way.

God of all grace, we come to Thee
With broken, contrite hearts;
Give what Thine eye delights to see,
Truth in the inward parts.

Faith in the only sacrifice
That can for sin atone;
To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes,
On Christ, on Christ alone.

Patience to watch, and wait, and weep,
Though mercy long delay;
Courage our fainting souls to keep,
And trust Thee though Thou slay.

Give these, and then Thy will be done,
Thus, strengthened with all might,
We, through Thy Spirit and Thy Son,
Shall pray, and pray aright.

Now from the world withdrawn,
For fellowship with Thee;
May each, O Lord, before Thy throne,
From earthly cares be free.

Possess our every thought,
And teach our minds to pray;
Help us to worship as we ought,
And thus conclude the day.

Our strength may we renew,
And lift our hearts above;
That, while life’s journey we pursue,
We still may walk in love.

Then, in our latter end,
If death shall close our eyes,
Thy mercy will our souls attend,
And bear them to the skies.

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains
That reach The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
The Christian’s native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters Heav’n with prayer.

Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, “Behold, he prays!”

The saints in prayer appear as one
In word, in deed, and mind,
While with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.

No prayer is made by man alone
The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus, on th’eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.

O Thou by Whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray.

When cold our hearts, and far from Thee
Our wandering spirits stray,
And thoughts and lips move heavily;
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Too vile to venture near Thy throne,
Too poor to turn away;
Our only voice—Thy Spirit’s groan—
Lord, teach us how to pray.

We know not how to seek Thy face
Unless Thou lead the way;
We have no words, unless Thy grace,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Here every thought and fond desire
We on Thine altar lay;
And when our souls have caught Thy fire,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Father in high Heaven dwelling,
May our evening song be telling
Of Thy mercy large and free:
Through the day Thy love hath fed us,
Through the day Thy care hath led us
With divinest charity.

This day’s sins, O pardon, Savior,
Evil thoughts, perverse behavior,
Envy, pride, and vanity;
From the world, the flesh, deliver,
Save us now, and save us ever,
O Lamb of Calvary!

From enticements of the devil,
From the might of spirits evil,
Be our shield and panoply:
Let Thy pow’r this night defend us,
And a heavenly peace attend us,
And angelic company.

While the night dews are distilling,
Holy Ghost, each heart be filling
With Thine own serenity:
Softly let our eyes be closing
Loving souls on Thee reposing,
Ever blessèd Trinity.

Father of me, and all mankind,
And all the hosts above,
Let every understanding mind
Unite to praise Thy love.

To know Thy nature, and Thy Name,
One God in Persons three;
And glorify the great I AM,
Through all eternity.

Thy kingdom come, with power and grace,
To every heart of man;
Thy peace, and joy, and righteousness,
In all our bosoms reign.

The righteousness that never ends,
But makes an end of sin,
The joy that human thought transcends
Into our souls bring in:

The kingdom of established peace,
Which can no more remove;
The perfect power of godliness,
The omnipotence of love.

I worship thee, sweet will of God,
And all thy ways adore;
And every day I live, I long
To love thee more and more.

I love to kiss each print where thou
Hast set thine unseen feet;
I cannot fear thee, blessèd will,
Thine empire is so sweet.

He always wins who sides with God,
To him no chance is lost;
God’s will is sweetest to him when
It triumphs at his cost.

When obstacles and trials seem
Like prison walls to be,
I do the little I can do,
And leave the rest to thee.

Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus,
Can my heartfelt longing still.
Lo, I pledge myself to Jesus
What He wills alone to will.
For my heart, which He hath filled,
Ever cries, Lord, as Thou wilt.

One there is for Whom I’m living,
Whom I love most tenderly;
Unto Jesus I am giving
What in love He gave to me.
Jesus’ blood hides all my guilt;
Lord, oh, lead me as Thou wilt.

What to me may seem a treasure
But displeasing is to Thee,
Oh, remove such harmful pleasure;
Give instead what profits me.
Let my heart by Thee be stilled;
Make me Thine, Lord, as Thou wilt.

Let me earnestly endeavor
Thy good pleasure to fulfill;
In me, through me, with me, ever,
Lord, accomplish Thou Thy will.
In Thy holy image built,
Let me die, Lord, as Thou wilt.

Jesus, constant be my praises,
For Thou unto me didst bring
Thine own self and all Thy graces
That I joyfully may sing;
Be it unto me, my Shield,
As Thou wilt, Lord, as Thou wilt.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowèd be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the kingdom
And the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

Our Father in Heaven, we hallow Thy Name;
May Thy kingdom holy on earth be the same;
O give to us daily our portion of bread;
It is from Thy bounty that all must be fed.

Forgive our transgressions, and teach us to know
That humble compassion which pardons each foe;
Keep us from temptation, from evil and sin,
And Thine be the glory, forever! Amen!

Sing aloud Jehovah’s praises
Tell abroad the awful Name;
Heav’n the ceaseless anthem raises,
Let the earth her God proclaim—
God, the hope of every nation,
God, the source of consolation,
Holy, blessèd Trinity!

This the Name from ancient ages
Hidden in its dazzling light;
This the Name that kings and sages
Prayed and strove to know aright,
Through God’s wondrous incarnation
Now revealed the world’s salvation,
Ever blessèd Trinity!

Into this great Name and holy
We all tribes and tongues baptize;
Thus the Highest owns the lowly,
Homeward, heav’nward, bids them rise,
Gathers them from every nation,
Bids them join in adoration,
Of the blessèd Trinity!

In this Name the heart rejoices,
Pouring forth its secret prayer;
In this Name we lift our voices
And our common faith declare,
Offering praise and supplication,
And the thankful life’s oblation,
To the blessèd Trinity!

Still Thy Name o’er earth and ocean
Shall be carried, “God is Love,”
Whispered by the heart’s devotion,
Echoed by the choirs above,
Hallowed through all worlds forever,
Lord of life the only Giver,
Blessèd, glorious Trinity!

Thy kingdom come! and shall not each one sing it,
On land and sea, where’er His banner goes?
Thy kingdom come! shall we not strive to bring it,
The grace that saves the world from human woes?

Refrain

Thy kingdom come! the glorious triumph hasten,
When peoples all shall crown Him King of kings;
Saints shall rejoice, and angels stop to listen,
While earth His everlasting glory sings.

Thy kingdom come! O haste to tell the message,
The world is dying for the Word of God;
Send out the light, that Christ may see the fruitage,
The world redeemed that His own feet have trod.

Refrain

Thy kingdom come! He waits to bless the nations,
’Tis ours to bring them quickly to His feet;
Make this the time to trample sin’s foundations,
And lead the erring to the mercy seat.

Refrain

Thy kingdom come! O Father, hear our prayer;
Shine through the clouds that darken everywhere;
Thou only light, Thou only life and joy,
Show us the hope that nothing can destroy.

Stumbling and blind, we strive to do Thy will,
Trusting the word Thou surely wilt fulfill,
That men are Thine, however far they roam,
That love shall triumph, and Thy kingdom come.

Come, through the faith whereby the Church must live;
Come, through the word of truth she has to give;
Come, through her teaching, and her healing, too;
Come, through the work united hearts can do.

Thy kingdom come, and come Thy glorious Son.
O may our task for Him be nobly done!
Faithful and true let all Thy servants be,
Till they shall bring all nations home to Thee.

Thy Kingdom come, O God,
Thy rule, O Christ, begin;
Break with Thine iron rod
The tyrannies of sin.

Where is Thy reign of peace,
And purity, and love?
When shall all hatred cease,
As in the realms above?

When comes the promised time
That war shall be no more—
Oppression, lust, and crime,
Shall flee Thy face before?

We pray Thee, Lord, arise,
And come in Thy great might;
Revive our longing eyes,
Which languish for Thy sight.

Men scorn Thy sacred Name,
And wolves devour Thy fold;
By many deeds of shame
We learn that love grows cold.

O’er heathen lands afar
Thick darkness broodeth yet:
Arise, O Morning Star,
Arise, and never set!

Thy Kingdom come, O Lord,
Wide circling as the sun;
Fulfill of old Thy Word
And make the nations one.

One in the bond of peace,
The service glad and free
Of truth and righteousness,
Of love and equity.

Speed, speed the longed for time
Foretold by raptured seers—
The prophecy sublime,
The hope of all the years.

Till rise at last, to span
Its firm foundations broad,
The commonwealth of man,
The city of our God.

Thy kingdom come! on bended knee
The passing ages pray;
And faithful souls have yearned to see
On earth that kingdom’s day.

But the slow watches of the night
Not less to God belong;
And for the everlasting right
The silent stars are strong.

And lo, already on the hills
The flags of dawn appear;
Gird up your loins, ye prophet souls,
Proclaim the day is near.

The day in whose clear shining light
All wrong shall stand revealed,
When justice shall be throned in might,
And every hurt be healed.

When knowledge, hand in hand with peace,
Shall walk the earth abroad;
The day of perfect righteousness,
The promised day of God.

Day by day the manna fell;
O to learn this lesson well!
Still by constant mercy fed,
Give me Lord, my daily bread.

“Day by day,” the promise reads,
Daily strength for daily needs;
Cast foreboding fears away;
Take the manna of today.

Lord! my times are in Thy hand;
All my sanguine hopes have planned,
To Thy wisdom I resign,
And would make Thy purpose mine.

Thou my daily task shalt give;
Day by day to Thee I live;
So shall added years fulfill,
Not my own, my Father’s will.

Fond ambition, whisper not;
Happy is my humble lot.
Anxious, busy cares away;
I’m provided for today.

Oh, to live exempt from care
By the energy of prayer:
Strong in faith, with mind subdued,
Yet elate with gratitude!

Gently Lord, O gently lead us,
Pilgrims in this vale of tears,
Through the trials yet decreed us,
Till our last great change appears.
When temptation’s darts assail us,
When in devious paths we stray,
Let Thy goodness never fail us,
Lead us in Thy perfect way.

In the hour of pain and anguish,
In the hour when death draws near,
Suffer not our hearts to languish,
Suffer not our souls to fear;
And, when mortal life is ended,
Bid us in Thine arms to rest,
Till, by angel bands attended,
We awake among the blest.

Jesu, grant me this, I pray,
Ever in Thy heart to stay;
Let me evermore abide
Hidden in Thy wounded side.

If the evil one prepare,
Or the world, a tempting snare,
I am safe when I abide
In Thy heart and wounded side.

If the flesh, more dangerous still,
Tempt my soul to deeds of ill,
Naught I fear when I abide
In Thy heart and wounded side.

Death will come one day to me;
Jesu, cast me not from Thee:
Dying let me still abide
In Thy heart and wounded side.

Veil, Lord, mine eyes till she be past,
When Folly tempts my sight;
Keep Thou my palate and my taste
From gluttonous delight.
Stop Thou mine ear from sirens’ songs,
My tongue from lies restrain;
Withhold my hands from doing wrongs,
My feet from courses vain.

Teach, likewise, ev’ry other sense
To act an honest part,
But chiefly settle innocence
And pureness in my heart;
So naught without me or within,
Shall work an ill effect,
By tempting me to act a sin,
Or virtues to neglect.

O Father, Thou Who hast created all
In wisest love, we pray,
Look on this babe, who at Thy gracious call
Is entering on life’s way;
Bend o’er him in Thy tenderness,
Thine image on his soul impress;
O Father, hear!

O Son of God, who diedst for us, behold,
We bring our child to Thee;
Thou tender Shepherd, take him to Thy fold,
Thine own for aye to be;
Defend him through this earthly strife,
And lead him on the path of life,
O Son of God!

O Holy Ghost, who broodest o’er the wave,
Descend upon this child;
Give him undying life, his spirit lave
With waters undefiled;
Grant him, while yet a babe, to be
A child of God, a home for Thee,
O Holy Ghost!

O Triune God, what Thou command’st is done;
We speak, but Thine the might;
This child hath scarce yet seen our earthly sun,
Yet pour on him Thy light,
In faith and hope, in joy and love,
Thou Sun of all below, above,
O Triune God!

Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a Friend that’s well known.
You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden?
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain

Do you fear the gathering clouds of sorrow?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain

Are you troubled at the thought of dying?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing?
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain

Come, Thou holy Paraclete,
And from Thy celestial seat
Send Thy light and brilliancy:
Father of the poor, draw near;
Giver of all gifts, be here;
Come, the soul’s true radiancy.

Come, of comforters the best,
Of the soul the sweetest guest,
Come in toil refreshingly:
Thou in labor rest most sweet,
Thou art shadow from the heat,
Comfort in adversity.

O Thou Light, most pure and blest,
Shine within the inmost breast
Of Thy faithful company.
Where Thou art not, man hath naught;
Every holy deed and thought
Comes from Thy divinity.

What is soilèd, make Thou pure;
What is wounded, work its cure;
What is parchèd, fructify;
What is rigid, gently bend;
What is frozen, warmly tend;
Strengthen what goes erringly.

Fill Thy faithful, who confide
In Thy power to guard and guide,
With Thy sevenfold mystery.
Here Thy grace and virtue send:
Grant salvation to the end,
And in Heav’n felicity.