2 These through fiery trials trod,
These from great affliction came;
Now before the throne of God,
Seal'd with his almighty name;
Clad in raiment pure and white,
Victor-palms in every hand,
Through their dear Redeemer's might,
More than conquerors they stand.

3 Hunger, thirst, disease unknown,
On immortal fruits they feed;
Them, the Lamb amidst the throne,
Shall to living fountains lead:
Joy and gladness banish sighs,
Perfect love dispels all fears,
And for ever from their eyes
God shall wipe away their tears.

PARTICULAR OCCASIONS.

480.

L.M.-On Opening a Place of Worship.
The Church the Birth-place of the Saints. Ps. Îxxxvii. 5.

1 AND will the great eternal God

On earth establish his abode?

And will he from his radiant throne
Avow our temples for his own?

2 We bring the tribute of our praise,
And sing that condescending grace,
Which to our notes will lend an ear,
And call us, sinful mortals, near.
3 These walls we to thy honour raise;
Long may they echo with thy praise!
And thou, descending, fill the place
With choicest tokens of thy grace.

4 Here let the great Redeemer reign,
With all the graces of his train;
While power divine his word attends
To conquer foes, and cheer his friends.
5 And in the great decisive day,
When God the nations shall survey,
May it before the world appear,
That crowds were born to glory here.

481.

C.M.-On Opening a Place of Worship.

1 DEAR Shepherd of thy people, hear, Thy presence now display;

As thou hast given a place for prayer,
So give us hearts to pray.

2 Shew us some token of thy love,
Our fainting hopes to raise;
And pour thy blessings from above,
That we may render praise.

3 Within these walls let holy peace,
And love, and concord, dwell;
Here give the troubled conscience ease,
The wounded spirit heal.

4 The feeling heart, the melting eye,
The humbled mind, bestow;
And shine upon us from on high,
To make our graces grow!

5 May we in faith receive thy word,
In faith present our prayers;
And, in the presence of our Lord,
Unbosom all our cares.

6 And may the gospel's joyful sound,
Enforc'd by mighty grace,

Awaken many sinners round,
To come and fill the place.

482.

L.M.-Re-opening a Place.

1 JESUS, where'er thy people meet, There they behold thy mercy-seat; Where'er they seek thee thou art found, And every place is hallow'd ground. 2 For Thou, within no walls confin'd, Inhabitest the humble mind;

Such ever bring thee where they come, And, going, take thee to their home. 3 Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few! Thy former mercies here renew; Here, to our waiting hearts, proclaim The sweetness of thy saving name. 4 Here may we prove the power of prayer, To strengthen faith, and sweeten care; To teach our faint desires to rise, And bring all heaven before our eyes. 5 Behold! at thy commanding word, We stretch the curtain and the cord; Come thou and fill this wider space, And bless us with a large increase. 6 Lord, we are few, but thou art near;

Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;
Oh, rend the heavens, come quickly down,
And make a thousand hearts thine own!

483.

L.M.-The Institution of a Gospel Ministry from Christ.
Eph. iv. 11, 12.

1 FATHER of mercies, in thy house,
Smile on our homage, and our vows;
While with a grateful heart we share
These pledges of our Saviour's care.
2 The Saviour, when to heaven he rose,
In splendid triumph o'er his foes,
Scatter'd his gifts on men below,
And wide his royal bounties flow.

3 Hence sprung the apostles' honour'd name, Sacred beyond heroic fame;

In lowlier forms to bless our eyes, Pastors from hence and teachers rise. 4 From Christ their varied gifts derive, And fed by Christ their graces live; While guarded by his potent hand, 'Midst all the rage of hell they stand. 5 So shall the bright succession run, Through the last courses of the sun; While unborn churches, by their care, Shall rise and flourish large and fair. 6 Jesus our Lord their heart shall know, The spring whence all these blessings flow: Pastors and people shout his praise Through the long round of endless days.

484.

C.M.--Prayer for a Pastor. Num. xxvii. 15-17.

1 FATHER of spirits, from thy hand,
Our souls immortal came;
And still thine energy divine,
Supports the' ethereal flame.

2 By thee our spirits all are known,
And each remotest thought
Lies wide-expanded to his eye,

By whom their powers were wrought.

3 To thee, when mortal comforts fail,
The flock deserted flies;

And, on the' eternal Shepherd's care,
Our cheerful hope relies.

4 When o'er thy faithful servants' dust
Thy dear assemblies mourn,

In speedy tokens of thy grace,
O Israel's God return.

5 The powers of nature all are thine,
And thine the aids of grace;
Thine arm has borne thy churches up
Through every rising race.

6 Exert thy sacred influence here,
And here thy suppliants bless,

And change, to strains of cheerful praise,
Their accents of distress.

7 With faithful heart, with skilful hand,
May this thy flock be fed:
And with a steady, growing pace,
To Zion's mountain led.

485.

L.M.-The Goodness of God in giving Pastors after his own Heart. Jer. iii. 15.

1 SHEPHERD of Israel, thou dost keep With constant care thy humble sheep; By thee inferior pastors rise

To feed our souls, and bless our eyes.

2 To all thy churches such impart,
Modell'd by thy own gracious heart;
Whose courage, watchfulness, and love,
Men may attest, and God approve.
3 Fed by their active, tender care,
Healthful may all thy sheep appear;
And by their fair example led,
The way to Zion's pastures tread.
4 Here hast thou listen'd to our vows,
And scatter'd blessings on thy house;
Thy saints are succour'd and no more
As sheep without a guide deplore.
5 Completely heal each former stroke,
And bless the shepherd and the flock;
Confirm the hopes thy mercies raise,
And own this tribute of our praise.