Sweet hour of prayer

302 Sweet Hour. L. M. D.

1. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   that calls me from a world of care,
   and bids me at my Father's throne
   make all my wants and wishes known.
   In seasons of distress and grief,
   my soul has often found relief,
   and oft escaped the tempter's snare
   by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

2. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   the joys I feel, the bliss I share
   of those whose anxious spirits burn
   with strong desires for thy return!
   With such I hasten to the place
   where God my Savior shows his face,
   and gladly take my station there,
   and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

3. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   thy wings shall my petition bear
   to him whose truth and faithfulness
   engage the waiting soul to bless.
   And since he bids me seek his face,
   believe his word, and trust his grace,
   I'll cast on him my every care,
   and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
                         William W. Walford
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
I always liked this hymn. It speaks of the joys of being in the presence of God and letting all your cares go. That makes sense when you read the bio of the author. He was a blind preacher and this is the only hymn known to have been written by him. Actually it doesn't seem he even intended to write it:

Rev. Thomas Salmon, who was settled as the pastor of the Congregational Church at Coleshill in 1838, remained until 1842, and then removed to the United States, is believed to have been the contributor who says of the hymn: "I rapidly copied the lines with my pencil as he uttered them, and send them for insertion in the Observer if you think them worthy of preservation."

They are indeed worthy of preservation! And it seems others agree, as it occurs in over 1100 hymnals.
</idle musing>