Scripture Verse

He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bu­rton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 405. Importance of Prayer.

Music: Ho­ly Cross James C. Wade, 1865 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Bed­dome or Wade (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Prayer is the breath of God in man,
Returning whence it came;
Love is the sac­red fire with­in,
And pray­er the ris­ing flame.

The Christ­ian’s life with it con­cludes,
And with it doth be­gin;
’Tis this in­vi­go­rates the soul,
And is the death of sin.

It gives the bur­dened spi­rit ease,
And soothes the trou­bled breast;
Yields com­fort to the mourn­ers here,
And to the wea­ry rest.

When God in­clines the heart to pray,
He hath an ear to hear;
To Him there’s mu­sic in a groan,
And beau­ty in a tear.

The hum­ble sup­pli­ant can­not fail
To have his wants sup­plied;
Since He for sin­ners in­ter­cedes,
Who once for sin­ners died.