Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,

The Christian's native air ;
His watchword at the gates of death;

He enters heaven by prayer.
Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,

Returning from his ways;
While angels in their songs rejoice,

And say, “Behold, he prays !"

The saints in prayer appear as one,

In word, and deed, and mind; When with the Father and his Son,

Their 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.”

Montgomery.

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