1  Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,

       Uttered, or unexpressed;

    The motion of a hidden fire

       That trembles in the breast.

 2  Prayer is the burden of a sigh,

       The falling of a tear;

    The upward glancing of an eye

       When none but God is near.

 3  Prayer is the simplest form of speech

       That infant lips can try;

    Prayer the sublimest strains that reach

       The Majesty on high.

 4  Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,

       The Christian's native air;

    His watchword at the gates of death;

       He enters rest with prayer.

 5  The saints in prayer appear as one,

       In word, and deed, and mind;

    While with the Father and the Son

       Sweet fellowship they find.

 6  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.