790 112th J. Hart
Jabez’s Prayer. 1 Chron. 4. 9, 10
1
A saint there was in days of old
 
(Though we but little of him hear)
 
In honour high, of whom is told
 
A short, but an effectual prayer.
 
This prayer, my brethren, let us view,
 
And try if we can pray so too.
2
[He called on Israel’s God, ’tis said;
 
Let us take notice first of that;
 
Had he to any other prayed,
 
To us it had not mattered what;
 
For all true Israelites adore
 
One God, Jehovah, and no more.]
3
“O that thou would’st me bless indeed,
 
And that thou would’st enlarge my bound;
 
And let thy hand in every need
 
A guide and help be with me found;
 
That thou would’st cause that evil be
 
No cause of pain and grief to me.”
4
[What is it to be blest indeed,
 
But to have all our sins forgiven;
 
To be from guilt and terror freed,
 
Redeemed from hell, and sealed for heaven;
 
To worship an incarnate God,
 
And know he saved us by his blood?
5
And next, to have our coast enlarged
 
Is, that our hearts extend their plan;
 
From bondage and from fear discharged,
 
And filled with love to God and man;
 
To cast off every narrow thought,
 
And use the freedom Christ has brought.
6
To use this liberty aright,
 
And not the grace of God abuse,
 
We always need his hand, his might,
 
Lest what he gives us we should lose;
 
Spiritual pride would soon creep in,
 
And turn his very grace to sin.]
7
This prayer, so long ago preferred,
 
Is left on sacred record thus;
 
And this good prayer by God was heard,
 
And kindly handed down to us.
 
Thus Jabez prayed, for that’s his name.
 
May all believers pray the same.