A PRAYER FOR HELP

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 26, 1858

A PRAYER FOR HELP.

FATHER! before thy footstool kneeling, Once more my heart goes up to thee For aid, for strength to thee appealing, Thou, who alone can succor me.

Hear me, for heart and flesh are failing, My spirit yielding to the strife; And anguish wild and unavailing, Sweeps in a flood across my life.

Help me to stem the tide of sorrow, Help me to bear thy chastening rod, Give me endurance, let me borrow Strength from thy promise, O my God!

Not mine the grief which words may lighten, Not mine the tears of common woe! The pang with which my heart-strings tighten, Only th' All-seeing One may know.

And I am weak—my feeble spirit Shrinks from life's task in wild dismay: Yet not that thou that task would spare it, My Father, do I dare to pray.

Into my soul thy might infusing, Strength'ning my spirit by thine own, Help me, all other aid refusing, To cling to thee, and thee alone.

And Oh! in my exceeding weakness, Make thy strength perfect—Thou art strong: Aid me to do thy will with meekness, Thou to whom all my powers belong.

Saviour! our human form once wearing, Help, by the memory of that day, When painfully thy dark cross bearing, E'en for a time thy strength gave way.

Beneath a lighter burden sinking, Jesus! I cast myself on thee: Forgive, forgive this useless shunking From trials that I know must be.

Oh! let me feel that thou art near me, Close to thy side I shall not fear; Hear me, O Strength of Israel, near me! Sustain and aid! in mercy, hear.—Sel.