Prayer is the soul's sincere desire Uttered or unexpressed The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast Prayer is the burden of a sigh The falling of a tear The upward glancing of an eye When none but God is near Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try Prayer the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice Returning from his ways While angels in their songs rejoice And cry, 'Behold, he prays!' Prayer is the Christian's vital breath The Christian's native air His watchword at the gates of death He enters heaven with prayer The saints in prayer appear as one In word, and deed, and mind While with the Father and the Son Sweet fellowship they find O thou by whom we come to God The Life, the Truth, the Way The path of prayer thyself hast trod Lord, teach us how to pray