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Play “Exhortation to Prayer”
Free same-meter accompaniment for Exhortation to Prayer (William Cowper): organ, piano or guitar playing the tune OLD 100TH (Louis Bourgeois) in four-part harmony, 6 verses, with the words on screen. Choose the key and speed, add an introduction, project the words on a TV, or practice your own choir part. Made for churches and home groups without a musician.
Sung here to OLD 100TH (Louis Bourgeois), a Long Meter (8.8.8.8) tune — not necessarily the tune usually paired with this text. Any tune in the same meter fits the words.
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- 1What various hindrances we meet
- In coming to the mercy-seat?
- Yet who that knows the worth of prayer
- But wishes to be often there?
- 2Prayer makes the darkest cloud withdraw;
- Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
- Gives exercise to faith and love,
- Brings every blessing from above.
- 3Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
- Prayer makes the Christian's armor bright;
- And Satan trembles when he sees
- The weakest saint upon his knees.
- 4When Moses stood with arms spread wide,
- Success was found on Israel's side;
- But when, through weariness, they failed,
- That moment Amalek prevailed.
- 5Have you no words? Ah! think again;
- Words flow apace when you complain,
- And fill your fellow-creatures' ears
- With the sad tale of all your cares.
- 6Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
- To heaven in supplication sent,
- Your cheerful song would oftener be,
- "Hear what the Lord hath done for me!
About this music
OLD 100TH — Louis Bourgeois. Setting: Sternhold and Hopkins' Psalter, 1561.. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project, copied from ccel from Sternhold and Hopkins' Psalter 1561. Words: "Hymnal and Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church", 1875, hymn 405.; music and setting are in the public domain. The words above are from the hymnal cited on the Exhortation to Prayer page.
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