HYMN 485. L. M. [#]

Settlement or Ordination of a Minister.

1 GREAT Lord of angels, we adore

The grace that builds thy courts below; And, mid ten thousand sons of light,

Stoops to regard what mortals do.

2 Amid the wastes of time and death

Successive pastors thou dost raise, Thy kingdom and thy truth to spread, And form a people for thy praise.

3 At length, dismissed from labours here,

Thy servants join the heavenly band; With them through distant worlds they fly, With them before thy presence stand.

4 O blest employment! glorious hope!
Sweet lenitive of grief and care!
When shall we reach those radiant courts,
And all their joys and honours share?

5 Yet, while these labours we pursue,

Though distant from thy heavenly throne, Give us a zeal and love like theirs,

And half their heaven shall here be known.

HYMN 486. C. M. [#]

Apostolic 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.

HYMN 487. C. M. [#]

Installation or Ordination.

1 ETERNAL Father, God of peace,
We bow before thy throne,
And sing that wondrous love and
Which call us all thine own.

grace,

2 Within these walls, O may thy voice
Of pardoning love be heard;
Here may the broken heart rejoice,
The contrite soul be cheered.

3 And may thy servant, who, this day,
Is set apart for thee,
Enjoy the gospel's heavenly ray,
And all thy glory see.

4 Teach him to show that peace on earth
Which true religion gives;
And point the eye of hope and faith
To realms where Jesus lives.

5 O may thy grace his heart enlarge,
To teach thy precepts given,
Till, with the people of his charge,
'He shall be called to heaven.

HYMN 488. L. M. [#]

Pastoral Care.

1 GREAT God, before thy throne we bow;
To thee we raise the fervent prayer;
Do thou on us thy grace bestow,
And make us all thy tender care.

2 Him thou dost place as pastor here,

Wilt thou, O Saviour, deign to bless : With firmness and with godly fear

May he declare thy truth and grace. 3 May no vain pride his heart possess,

To wrest thy word, thy truth conceal; Be thou his Strength and Righteousness,

And with thy love his bosom fill.

4 And on this people, gracious Lord,

Pour down thy blessings from above, Cause every heart to love thy word,

And in thy paths their footsteps move. 5 We pray, O God, and we believe;

We've seen thy kindness all our days; And long as we existence have,

We'll celebrate thy wondrous praise.

HYMN 489. L. M. [#]

Ordination or Installation.

1 0 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 is set
A vine that by thy culture grew;
We kneel in prayer, that thou wouldst wet
Its opening leaves with heavenly dew.

3 Since this thy 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 doctrine 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 then our prayer,
And take his spirit to thy rest.

BAPTISM, AND EARLY INSTRUCTION.

HYMN 490. C. M. [bor #]

Dedication of Children.

1 Lo, Israel's gentle Shepherd stands.
With all-engaging charms;

See how he takes the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms!

2 Permit them to approach, he cries, Nor scorn their humble name;

It was to bless such souls as these

The Lord of gory came.

3 We bring them, Lord, in thankful hands,
And yield them up to thee;
Joyful that we ourselves are thine,
Thine let our offspring be.

4 Ye little flock, with pleasure hear;
Ye children, seek his face;
And fly with transport to receive
The blessings of his grace.

5 If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian care we trust;
That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,
If weeping o'er their dust.