Prayer Is the Souls Sincere Desire { Prayer Is the Souls Sincere Desire by James Montgomery, 1818 BURFORD-John Chetham, Psalmody BYEFIELD-Thomas Hastings CAMPMEETING-Early American Melody DUNDEE-Scottish Psalter, 1615 EVAN-William Henry Havergal LAMBETH-Wilhelm A. F. Schulthes NAOMI-Hans George Naegeli (arr. Lowell Mason) AZMON-Carl G. Glasser (arr. Lowell Mason) PRAYER-Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock PRINCE OF PEACE-William D. MacLagan ST. AGNES-John Bacchus Dykes BELMONT-Samuel Webbe Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire } 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 heaven 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, and deed, and mind; While with the Father and the Son, Sweet fellowship they find. Nor prayer is made on earth alone; The Holy Spirit pleads; And Jesus, on the 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. Amen.