May he proclaim aloud The wonders of thy grace; His faithful labours bless. Shine on his works below, With ever gracious beams; Adorn'd with brighter gems. € We for his journey pray, Nor may our prayers cease, And bring him back in peace. no Farewell, dear pastor, go We part with thee in love; O may we meet above. DEATH OF THEIR MINISTER C. M. 577. Funeral of a faithful Minister. 1 FAR from afliction, toil, and care, The happy soul is fled; Among the silent dead. E'en to his latest breath; Was his support in death. Above this dusky sphere; While yet he sojourn’d here. And shed the falling tear; 5 But we are hasting to the tomb; Oh, may we ready stand; (433. C. M. 578. For a vacant congregation on the death ; of its ininister. And let our tears be diy: Which view a Saviour nigh? The aged and the young; And mute th' instruetive tongue: New comfort to impart; Still animates our heart. grace; Thine arm has borne thy churches up, Through ev'ry rising race. Thy mourning servants bless; Their accents of distress. STATE OF DECLINE, L. M. 579. For a Church in a low Condition. Psalm li. 18. O GOD of Zion! from thy throne, Look with an eye of pity down; 9 We are a building thou hast rais'd, How kind thy hand, that hand be prais'd: If thou forsake our tott’ring walls. • 3 We call to mind the happier days Of life and love, of prayer and praise, To joys resembling heaven on earth. . But now the ways of Zion mourn, Her gates neglected and forlorn: And many number'd with the dead. 5 We need defence from all our foes, We need relief from all our woes; Let neither earth nor hell prevail. 6 Near to each other and to thee, Lord, bring us all in unity; And all our nuin'rous wants supply. 7 Oh show that in our low estate, No blessing for us is too great; P. M. 580. Prayer for a Revival. Grant us, Lord, a gracious raiu! Lord, revive us, All our help must come from thee! 2 Keep no longer at a distance, Shine upon us from on high, $ Surely, once thy garden flourished, Every part look'd gay and green: Then thy word our spirits nourishid, Happy seasons we have seen! Lord, &c 4 But a drought has since succeeded, And a sad decline we see; Help can only come from thee: Lord, &c. 5 Where are those we counted leaders, Fill'd with zeal, and love, and truth? Old professors, tall as cedars, Bright examples to our youth! Lord, &c E Some in whom we once delighted, We shall meet no more below; Scarce a single leaf they show: Lord, &c. 7 Younger plants—the sight how pleasant! Cover'd thick with blossoms stood; But they cause us grief at present, Frosts have nipp'd them in the bud: Lord, &o 8 Dearest Saviour, hasten hither, Thou canst make them bloom again! Oh! permit then not to wither, Let not all our hopes be vain. Lord, &c. 9 Let our mutual Inve be fervent; Make us prevalent in prayers; Let each one, esteem'd thy servant, Shun the world's bewitching snares: Lord &o. 10 Break the tempter's fatal power; Turn the stony heart to flesh; Lord, revive us, L. M. 581. Wheat and tares. Matt. xiii. 37–49. THOUGH in the earthly church below ITH Jesus ere long will weed the crup, And pluck the tares in anger up. To recollect their stations here? How long among the wheat they grew? 3 Oh! this will aggravate their case! 'They perish under means of grace: To them the word of life and faith Became an instrument of death. 4 We seem alike when thus we meet, Strangers might think we all were wheat; Each heart appears without disguise. 5 But tho' they grow so tall and strong, Ilis plan will not require them long; L. M. 582. God entreated for Zion. Is. Ixii. 6, 7. For a Day of Public Humiliation, or a Day of Prayer for the Revival of Religion. And wilt thou bow thy gracious ear? Wilt thou, the great Jehovah, hear? Till Zion's mouldering walls thou raise? And make Jerusalem a praise? And view the desolation round; |