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?

Prayer is the spirit speaking truth to Truth.

Prayer is the spirit speaking truth to Truth.

There is a vast difference between saying prayers and praying

There is a vast difference between saying prayers and praying

They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright!

They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright!

Hope, he called, belief
In God,--work, worship . . . therefore let us pray!

Hope, he called, belief
In God,--work, worship . . . therefore let us pray!

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!

Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is read more

Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.

God answers sharp and sudden on some prayers,
And thrusts the thing we have prayed for in our face,
read more

God answers sharp and sudden on some prayers,
And thrusts the thing we have prayed for in our face,
A gauntlet with a gift in 't.

Doubt not but God who sits on high,
Thy secret prayers can hear;
When a dead wall read more

Doubt not but God who sits on high,
Thy secret prayers can hear;
When a dead wall thus cunningly
Conveys soft whispers to the ear.