What various hindrances we meet in coming to the mercy seat! Yet who that knows the worth of pray’r but wishes to be often there!
Pray’r makes the darkened clouds withdraw; pray’r climbs the ladder Jacob saw; gives exercise to faith and love; brings ev’ry blessing from above.
Restraining pray’r, we cease to fight; pray’r makes the Christian’s armor bright; and Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.
Have you no words? Ah, think again: words flow apace when you complain, and fill a fellow-creature’s ear with the sad tale of all your care.
Were half the breath thus vainly spent to heav’n in supplication sent, our cheerful song would oft’ner be, “Hear what the Lord hath done for me!”
— William Cowper
Original text can be found here.
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