They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright!

They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright!

Father of Light! great God of Heaven!
Hear'st thou the accents of despair?
Can guilt like man's read more

Father of Light! great God of Heaven!
Hear'st thou the accents of despair?
Can guilt like man's be e'er forgiven?
Can vice atone for crimes by prayer?

Father! no prophet's laws I seek,--
Thy laws in Nature's works appear;--
I own myself corrupt and read more

Father! no prophet's laws I seek,--
Thy laws in Nature's works appear;--
I own myself corrupt and weak,
Yet will I pray, for thou wilt hear.

Pray to be perfect, though material leaven
Forbid the spirit so on earth to be;
But if read more

Pray to be perfect, though material leaven
Forbid the spirit so on earth to be;
But if for any wish thou darest not pray,
Then pray to God to cast that wish away.

But maybe prayer is a road to rise,
A mountain path leading toward the skies
To assist read more

But maybe prayer is a road to rise,
A mountain path leading toward the skies
To assist the spirit who truly tries.
But it isn't a shibboleth, creed, nor code,
It isn't a pack-horse to carry your load,
It isn't a wagon, it's only a road.
And perhaps the reward of the spirit who tries
Is not the goal, but the exercise!

And from the prayer of Want, and plaint of Woe,
O never, never turn away their ear!
read more

And from the prayer of Want, and plaint of Woe,
O never, never turn away their ear!
Forlorn, in this bleak wilderness below,
Ah! what were man, should Heaven refuse to hear!

The saints will aid if men will call:
For the blue sky bends over all.

The saints will aid if men will call:
For the blue sky bends over all.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be read more

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.

In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.