2 While thou didst on earth appear,
Servant to thy servants here,
Mindful of thy place above,
All thy life was prayer and love.
Such our whole employment be,
Works of faith and charity;
Works of love on man bestow'd,
Secret intercourse with God.
3 Early in the temple meet,
Let us still our Saviour greet;
Nightly to the mount repair;
Join our praying Pattern there.
There by wrestling faith obtain
Power to work for God again;
Power his image to retrieve,
Power like thee, our Lord, to live.
4 Vessels, instruments of grace,
Pass we thus our happy days,
'Twixt the mount and multitude,
Doing or receiving good:
Glad to pray and labour on,
Till our earthly course is run:
Till we on the sacred tree,
Bow the head and die like thee.
Wells-p. 56,] HYMN 454. L. M.
"ESUS, thy wand'ring sheep behold!
See, Lord, with yearning bowels, see,
Poor souls that cannot find the fold,
Till sought and gather'd in by thee.
2 Lost are they now and scatter'd wide,
In pain, and weariness, and want:
With no kind shepherd near, to guide
The sick, and spiritless, and faint.
3 Thou, only thou, the kind and good,
And sheep-redeeming Shepherd art;
Collect thy flock, and give them food
And pastors after thine own heart.
4 Give the pure word of general grace,
And great shall be the preachers' crowd;
Preachers who all the sinful race,
Point to the all-atoning blood.
5 Open their mouth, and utterance give,
Give them a trumpet voice to call
A world, who all may turn and live,
Through faith in Him who died for all.
6 In every messenger reveal
The grace they preach divinely free; That each may by thy Spirit tell, "He died for all, who died for me." 7 A double portion from above, Of that all-quick'ning Spirit impart; Shed forth thy universal love
In every faithful pastor's heart. 8 Thine only glory let them scek,
O let their hearts with love o'erflow!
Let them believe, and therefore speak,
And spread thy mercy's praise below
Thacher-p. 90.] HYMN 455. S. M.
ORD of the harvest, hear
Thy needy servant's cry;
Answer our faith's effectual prayer,
And all our wants supply.
2 On thee we humbly wait,
Our wants are in thy view;
The harvest, truly, Lord, is great,
The labourers are few.
3 Convert, and send forth more
Into thy church abroad,
And let them speak thy word of power,
As workers with their God.
4 Give the pure Gospel word,
The word of general grace;
Then let them preach the common Lord,
Saviour of human race.
5 O let them spread thy name,
Their mission fully prove;
Thy universal grace proclaim,
Thine all-redeeming love!
Ashford-p. 106.] HYMN 456. S. M.
OW beauteous are their feet,
H Who stand on Zion's hill;
That bring salvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal!
2 How charming is their voice,
So sweet the tidings are;
"Zion, behold thy Saviour King;
He reigns and triumphs here!"
3 How happy are our ears,
That hear the joyful sound,
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found!
4 How blessed are our eyes,
That see this heavenly light;
Prophets and kings desir'd it long,
But died without the sight!
5 The watchmen join their voice,
And tuneful notes employ;
Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,
And deserts learn the joy.
6 The Lord makes bare his arm
Through all the earth abroad:
Let every nation now behold
Their Saviour and their God.
Brewer-p. 58.] HYMN 457. L. M.
ATHER, if justly still we claim
To us and ours the promise made,
To us be graciously the same,
And crown with living fire our head. 2 Our claim admit, and from above, Of holiness the Spirit shower, Of wise discernment, humble love, And zeal, and unity, and power. 3 The spirit of convincing speech, Of power demonstrative impart: Such as may every conscience reach, And sound the unbelieving heart. 4 The Spirit of refining fire, Searching the inmost of the mind, To purge all fierce and foul desire, And kindle life more pure and kind. 5 The Spirit of faith in this thy day, To break the power of cancell'd sin; Tread down its strength, o'erturn its sway, And still the conquest more than win. 6 The Spirit breathe of inward life, Which in our hearts thy laws may write; Then grief expires, and pain and strife; 'Tis nature all,--and all delight.
Warrington-p. 62.] HYMN 458. L. M. all the earth thy Spirit shower, The earth in righteousness renew:
Thy kingdom come, and hell's o'erpower,
And to thy sceptre all subdue.
2 Like mighty winds or torrents fierce,
Let it opposers all o'erturn;
And every law of sin reverse,
That faith and love may make all one.
3 Yea, let thy Spirit in every place
His richest energy declare;
While lovely tempers, fruits of grace,
The kingdom of thy Christ prepare.
4 Grant this, O holy God and true'
The ancient seers thou didst inspire
To us perform the promise due,
Descend and crown us nc
Luton-p. 52.] HYMN 45. L. M.
YOMFORT, ye ministers of grace,
Comfort the people of your Lord,
O lift ye up the fallen race,
And cheer them by the Gospel word. 2 Go into every nation, go,
Speak to their trembling hearts, and cry, Glad tidings unto all we show:
Jerusalem, thy God is nigh.
3 Hark! in the wilderness a cry,
A voice that loudly calls, Prepare;
Prepare your hearts, for God is nigh,
And means to make his entrance there! 4 The Lord your God shall quickly come; Sinners, repent, the call obey:
Open your hearts to make him room;
Ye desert souls, prepare his way.
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