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Hymns and Tunes 1876 15

What various hindrances we meet

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 clouds 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!'

Public Domain

The verse

Meter
33
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 48% of beats fit
Rhyme
A
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

What various hindrances we meet, In coming to the mercy-seat; Yet, who that knows the worth of prayer, But wishes to be often there.˘/˘˘/˘˘˘/˘/˘˘˘???/˘˘/˘/˘/˘/˘˘˘/˘/33A

Verse 2

Prayer makes the darkest clouds withdraw; Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw, Gives exercise to faith and love, Brings every blessing from above.//˘/˘/˘///˘/˘/˘///˘/˘/˘///˘˘/˘˘˘/33A

Verse 3

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Prayer makes the Christian's armor bright; And Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.˘/˘/˘/˘///˘/˘/˘/˘/˘/˘/˘/˘/˘/˘/˘/32A

Verse 4

When Moses stood with arms spread wide, Success was found on Israel's side; But when, through weariness, they failed, That moment Amalek prevailed.//˘/˘///˘/˘/˘/˘/˘///˘˘˘/˘/˘???˘/32A

Verse 5

Have 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.˘˘˘///˘///˘//˘˘/˘/˘?????/˘˘//˘/˘/33A

Verse 6

Were 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!'˘/˘///˘/˘/˘˘????/˘/˘/˘/˘˘˘/˘˘///˘˘34A

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.