Luke 11:1: In pain and darkness groaning

In pain and darkness groaning
Thy ransom'd creature see,
A helpless soul bemoaning
My own infirmity!
I cannot help implore;
But at Thy footstool stay
Till Thou confer the power,
And teach me how to pray.

The feeble first desire
Proceeds from Thee alone;
Thou dost this wish inspire
My impotence to own.
In mournful lamentation
My misery to declare,
And beg Thy kind compassion
To fill my heart with prayer.

Purchased by Thy own merit
Thy righteousness and death,
Thy supplicating Spirit
Into my bosom breathe:
The Spirit of contrition
O let Him plead in me.
And cry for a Physician,
And show that Thou art He!
Thou who art both God and man
Canst Thy Father's will explain.
Thou the Truth, the Life, the Way,
Know'st what man to God should say;
Thou, that we His mind may know,
Dost the Holy Ghost bestow.

Teach me, Jesus, how to pray,
Take the hindering thing away.
Into this weak heart inspire
Power, and hunger, and desire;
Then the pleading Spirit impart.
Fix my Teacher in my heart.