For works with similar titles, see Prayer.
Hymn XVIII. Prayer Christopher Smart
1771
HYMN XVIII.
PRAYER.
Pray without ceasing (says the Saint)[1]
Nor ever in the spirit faint;[2]
With grace the bloom and faith the root,[3]
The pray'r shall bring eternal fruit.
5 When the great Seer sad news did bring
To Ahab, e'en that wicked king![4]
Hear what the word of mercy says,
Spare thou the man, "behold he prays".[5]
Our hopes Christ Jesus to elate,
10 Has bid us be importunate,
And with the bustling widow vie,
That triumph'd over tyranny.[6]
'Tis peace, 'tis dignity, 'tis ease,
To bless the Lord upon our knees;
15 The voice and attitude of fear,
For God's own eye, for God's own ear.
Christ Jesus when the Twelve besought
His aid, the PATER NOSTER taught;[7]
By giving glory we begin,
20 And end in deprecating sin.[8]
Then give the glory yet again,
For who wou'd be in grief or pain,
Or brook anxiety and care,
When the quick remedy is pray'r.
1771
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Notes
- ↑ 1. See 1 Thessalonians 5:17: "Pray without ceasing."<--! Непрестанно молитесь.! -->
- ↑ 2. See Luke 18:1: And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint...
- ↑ 3. See for the metaphor of the "root of faith" in the parable of the sower, Matthew 13:6: "And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away". Also in Jubilate Agno JA B499.
- ↑ 5—6. "The great Seer" is Elijah. See 1 Kings 21:17—29.
- ↑ 8. In ed. 1786: "...Spare thou the man, behold he prays.""
- ↑ 9 —12. See Luke 11:8 and 18:1—8.
- ↑ 17 —18. See Luke 11:1—4.
- ↑ 20. deprecating: in the original sense, "praying against (evil)". (According to the Commentary by Karina Williamson)
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This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. |
