While, guarded by his potent hand, 'Midst all the rage of hell they stand. 6 So shall the bright succession run Thro' the last courses of the sun; While unborn churches by their care Shall rise and flourish large and fair. 6 Jesus our Lord, their hearts shall know The spring whence all these blessings f Pastors and people shout his praise Thro' the long round of endless days.

408. L. M.

On sending a Member into the Work of the M stry-Isaiah's Obedience to the bea Vision, Isaiah vi. 8.

1 OUR God ascends his lofty throne,
Arra, 'd in majesty unknown;
His lustre all the temple fills,
And spreads o'er all th' ethereal hills.
The holy, holy, holy, Lord,
By all the seraphim ador'd,

And, while they stand beneath his se
They veil their faces, and their feet.
3 Lord, how can sinful lips proclaim
The honours of so great a name?
O for thine altar's glowing coal
To touch his lips, to fire his soul!
4 Then, if a messenger thou ask
A labourer for the hardest task,
Thro' all his weakness and his fear
Love shall reply, "Thy servant's her
5 Nor let his willing soul complain,
Tho' every effort seem in vain;
It ample recompence shall be,
But to have wrought, O God, for the

*

If

sung on any other occasion, "hi the three last verses, may be exchangs

my."

409. L. M. Dr. Doddridge.

Seeking Direction in the Choice of a Pastor. 1 SHEPHERD of Israel, bend thine ear, Thy servants' groans indulgent hear; Perplex'd, distress'd, to thee we cry, And seek the guidance of thine eye 2 Send forth, O Lord, thy truth and light, To guide our doubtful footsteps right: Our drooping hearts, O God, sustain, Nor let us seek thy face in vain. 3 Return, in ways of peace, return, Nor let thy flock neglected mourn; May our blest eyes a shepherd see, Dear to our souls, and dear to thee! 410. C. M. Dr. Doddridge.

Watching for Souls. An Ordination Hyma,
Heb. xiii. 17.

1 LET Sion's watchmen all awake
And take the alarm they give;
Now let them, from the mouth of God,
Their awful charge receive.

2 'Tis not a cause of small import,
The pastor's care demands;

But what might fill an angel's heart, And fill'd a Saviour's hands. 3-They watch for souls, for which the Lord Did heavenly bliss forego;

For souls, which must forever live,

In raptures, or in woe.

4 All to the great tribunál haste,

Th' account to render there;

And shouldst thou strictly mark our faults,
Lord, where should we appear!

5 May they, that Jesus whom they preach, Their own Redeemer see,

And watch thou daily 'er their souls
That they may watch for thee.

411. L. M. Dr. Doddridge.

The goodness of God acknowledged in givi Pastors after his own heart, Jer. iii. 15*. At the settlement of a Minister.

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, Model'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 their sheep appear; And, by their fair example led, The way to Zion's pasture tread! 4 Here hast thou listened to our vows, And scattered blessings on thy house; Thy saints are succor'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.

412. C. M. Dr. Doddridge. Christ's Care of Ministers and Churche Rev. ii. 1.

1 WE bless the eternal source of light,
Who makes the stars to shine;
And, thro' this dark beclouded world,
Diffuseth rays divine.

2 We bless the churches sovereign King
Whose golden lamps we are;
Fix'd in the temples of his love
To shine with radiance fair.

Tymn ccccvii, and Aesociation Hy

3 Still be our purity preserv'd;
Still fed with oil the flame;
And in deep characters inscrib'd
Our heavenly master's name.

4 Then, while between our ranks he walks, And all our state surveys,

His smiles shall with new lustre deck
The people of his praise.
413. L. M.

On the dangerous Illness of a Minister.
10 THOU, before whose gracious throne,
We bow our suppliant spirits down,
View the sad breast, the streaming eye,
And let our sorrows pierce the sky.
2 Thou know'st the anxious cares we feel,
And all our trembling lips would tell,
Thou only canst assuage our grief,
And yield our woe-fraught heart relief.
3 Tho' we have sinn'd and justly dread
The vengeance hovering o'er our head;
Yet, Power benign, thy servant spare,
Nor turn aside thy people's prayer.
4 Avert thy swift descending stroke,
Nor smite the shepherd of the flock,
Lest o'er the barren waste we stray,
To prowling wolves an easy prey.
5 Restore him sinking to the grave,
Stretch out thine arm, make haste to save;
Back to our hopes and wishes give,
And bid our friend and father live.
6 Bound to each soul by tenderest ties,
In every breast his image lies;
Thy pitying aid, O God, impart,

Nor rend him from each bleeding heart. 7 Yet if our supplications fail,

And prayers and tears can naugh: prevail,
Condemn'd on this dark desart coast,
To mourn our much-lov'd leader lost :

Rr

Be thou his strength, be thou his stay, Support him thro' the gloomy way, Comfort his soul, surround his bed, And guide him thro' the dreary shade. 9 Around him may thy angels wait, Deck'd with their robes of heavenly stat To teach his happy soul to rise, And waft him to his native skies.

414. C. M.

At a Minister's leaving his People.-Paul' farewell Charge, Acts xx. 26, 27.

1 WHEN Paul was parted from his frien It was a weeping day;

But Jesus made them all, amends,
And wip'd their tears away.

2 In heaven they meet again with joy, (Secure no more to part)

Where praises every tongue employ.
And pleasure fills each heart.
3 Thus all the preachers of his grace
Their children soon shall meet;
Together see their Saviour's face,
And worship at his feet.

But they who heard the word in vain,
Tho' oft and plainly warn'd,

Will tremble when they meet again
The ministers they scorn'd.

5 On your own heads your blood will fa If any perish here;

The preachers who have told you all
Shall stand approv'd and clear.

6 Yet Lord, to save themselves alone
Is not their utmost view;

hear their prayer thy