1 0 THOU, our fathers' God! Their children seek thy face, To own thy guardian hand
Where they invoke thy grace, And where we now awake the song Which lips unborn shall still prolong.
2 We hail thine altars, Lord, In every age thy care,
Those Zion-courts, more blest
Than Israel's dwellings are;
Where praise with praise more deeply flows, And heart with heart more warmly glows.
3 God of the Bethel stone!
Be this a Bethel too;
Here fill our souls with awe;
Here Jacob's dream renew,
Here ope the gate,
Those visioned steps that reach the skies.
4 God of the burning bush,
Whose unconsuming flame
Revealed to Moses once
Thy presence and thy name, -
Here, blessed Lord, thy presence prove,
And fire our souls with saving love.
5 0 thou, whose temple stood
'The wonder of mankind,
Here all its types fulfil,
For Jesus' Church designed:
Here, oracle and mercy-seat
And sacrifice in Jesus meet.
6 Here fit our souls to rise
Where all thy love inspires,
Where angels cast their crowns,
And strike their golden lyres.
Thus bless, O thou, most good, most great! The house of prayer we dedicate.
10 THOU, who art above all height,
Our God, our Father, and our Friend!
Beneath thy throne of love and light
Let thine adoring children bend.
2 We kneel in praise, that here
A vine that by thy culture grew;
We kneel in prayer that thou wouldst wet
Its opening leaves with heavenly dew.
3 Since thy young servant now hath given
Himself, his powers, his hopes, his youth,
To the great cause of truth and heaven,
Be thou his guide, O God of truth!
4 Here may his doctrines drop like rain,
His speech like Hermon's dew distil,
Till green fields smile, and golden grain,
Ripe for the harvest, waits thy will.
5 And when he sinks in death by care,
Or pain, or toil, or years oppressed
O God! remember thou our prayer,
And take his spirit to thy rest.
The Apostles' Commission.
1 Go preach the gospel,' Jesus cries,-
To you this power is given;
Declare salvation's glorious prize
To all beneath the heaven.'
2 Commissioned thus, through every age,
His heralds, in his name,
In this delightful work engage,
And peace and hope proclaim.
3 To him whom we to thee ordain,
Thy gifts, O God, impart ;
May he those sacred truths maintain
Which heal the wounded heart.
4 May all, by his instruction blest,
The path to heaven pursue;
And converts to thy temple press,
Numerous as drops of dew.
1 THUS spake the Savior, when he sent
His ministers to preach his word;
They through the world obedient went,
And spread the gospel of their Lord:
2Go forth, ye heralds, in my name, Bid the whole earth my grace receive; The gospel jubilee proclaim, And call them to repent and live. 3 The joyful news to all impart, And teach them where salvation lies; Bind up the broken, bleeding heart, And wipe the tear from weeping eyes. 4 'Be wise as serpents where you go, But harmless as the peaceful dove; And let your heaven-taught conduct show That you're commissioned from above. 5 Freely from me ye have received, Freely in love to others give;
Thus shall your doctrines be believed,
And, by your labors, sinners live.
6 All power is trusted in my hands, -
I will protect you and defend;
Whilst thus you follow my commands,
I'm with you till the world shall end.'
1 WITH heavenly power, O Lord! defend
Him whom we now to thee commend;
His person bless, his faith secure,
And make him to the end endure.
2 Gird him with all-sufficient grace;
Direct his feet in paths of peace;
Thy truth and faithfulness fulfil,
And help him to obey thy will.
3 Before him thy protection send;
O love him, save him to the end!
Nor let him, as thy pilgrim, rove
Without the convoy of thy love.
4 Enlarge, inform, and fill his heart;
In him thy mighty power exert ;
That thousands yet unborn may praise
The wonders of redeeming grace.
Evangelists encouraged.
1 YE messengers of Christ,
His sovereign voice obey:
Arise, and follow where he leads,
And peace attend your way.
2 The master whom you serve
Will needful strength bestow;
Depending on his promised aid,
With sacred courage go.
3 Mountains shall sink to plains,
And hell in vain oppose;
The cause is God's, and must prevail,
In spite of all his foes.
4 Go, spread a Savior's fame;
And tell his matchless grace
To the most guilty and depraved
Of Adam's numerous race.
5 We wish you, in his name,
The most divine success;
Assured that he who sends you
Will your endeavors bless.
At the Forming of a Church.
1 GREAT Father of mankind,
We bless that wondrous grace
Which could for Gentiles find
Within thy courts a place;
How kind the care
Our God displays, for us to raise
A house of prayer!
2 Though once estranged afar,
We now approach the throne;
For Jesus brings us near,
And makes our cause his own;
Strangers no more,
To thee we come, and find our home,
And rest secure.
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