Poems (Holmes)/A Prayer

by Alice Ann Holmes

For works with similar titles, see A Prayer.

A Prayer.

Oh God! in mercy lend
 To me Thy kind and gracious ear,
While I pour out my soul to Thee,
 In fervent, humble prayer.

Do Thou Thy Spirit send,
 And melt this stony heart of mine;
For constantly temptation calls
 My thoughts from things divine.

E'en now the tempter comes,
 While here before thy throne I bow;
And he is strong in power, Oh God,—
 But stronger, Lord, art Thou.

Therefore, to Thee I cry,
 That Thou mayst graciously impart
Thine all-sufficient aid to me,
 Against the tyrant's art.

For of myself, I am
 A poor, unworthy, helpless thing;
By nature to all evil prone,
 And more by practising.

Oh, then, increase my faith,
 And all my want of strength supply;
And from me take my load of guilt,
 While prostrate here I lie.

Grant this, for Jesus' sake,
 Thy well-beloved, only Son;
Whom with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
 We worship, Three in One.