James Montgomery

The Preparation of the Heart.

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;

Oh! grant us power to pray;

And when to meet Thee we prepare,

Lord, meet us by the way.

Burden'd with guilt, convinced of sin,

In weakness, want, and woe,

Fightings without, and fears within,

Lord, whither shall we go?

God of all grace, we bring to Thee

A broken, contrite heart;

Give, what Thine eye delights to see,

Truth in the inward part.

Give deep humility; the sense

Of godly sorrow give;

A strong, desiring confidence

To hear Thy voice and live; --

Faith in the only Sacrifice

That can for sin atone;

To cast our loves, 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, strenghen'd with all might,

We, through Thy Spirit and Thy Son,

Shall pray, and pray aright.