2 Gird him with all-sufficient grace,
Direct his feet in paths of peace;
Thy truth and faithfulness fulfil,
And arm him to obey Thy will.
HOLY Lord, our God,
By heavenly hosts adored,
Hear us, we pray;
To Thee the cherubim,
Angels and seraphim,
Unceasing praises hymn-
Their homage pay.
2 Here give Thy word success,
And this Thy servant bless,
His labors own;
And while the sinner's Friend
His life and words commend,
Thy Holy Spirit send,
And make Him known.
3 May ev'ry passing year
More happy still appear
Than this glad day;
With numbers fill the place,
Adorn Thy saints with grace,
Thy truth may we embrace,
Ŏ Lord, we pray.
97 (567).
LET they give;
ET Zion's watchmen all awake,
Now let them from the mouth of God
Their solemn 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 tribunal haste,
Th' account to render there;
And shouldst Thou strictly mark our faults,
Lord, how shall we appear?
5 May they that Jesus, Whom they preach, Their own Redeemer see;
And watch Thou daily o'er their souls,
That they may watch for Thee.
Who stand on Zion's hill!
Who bring salvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal.
2 How charming is their voice!
How sweet the tidings are!
Zion, behold Thy Saviour King;,
He reigns and triumphs here."
3 How happy are our ears
That hear this joyful sound,
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found!
4 How blesséd are our eyes
That see this heavenly light!
Prophets and kings desired it long,
But died without the sight.
5 The watchmen join their voice,
And tuneful notes employ;
Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,
And deserts learn the joy.
6 The Lord makes bare His arm
Through all the earth abroad:
Let all the nations now behold
Their Saviour and their God.
For those who guide us in Thy way,
And speak Thy holy word:
With love divine their hearts inspire,
And touch their lips with hallow'd fire,
And needful grace afford.
2 Help them to preach the truth of God;
Redemption through the Saviour's blood:
Nor let the Spirit cease
On all the Church His gifts to shower;
To them, a messenger of power;
To us, of life and peace.
3 So may they live to Thee alone;
Then hear the welcome word-"Well done!'
And take their crown above:
Enter into their Master's joy,
And all eternity employ
In praise, and bliss, and love.
MATHER of mercies, bow Thine ear,
Attentive to our earnest prayer;
We plead for those who plead for Thee-
Successful pleaders may they be!
2 How great their work, how vast their charge;
Do Thou their anxious souls enlarge;
Their best endowments are our gain,
We share the blessings they obtain.
3 Clothe, then, with energy divine,
Their words, and let those words be Thine:
To them Thy sacred truth reveal,
Suppress their fear, inflame their zeal.
4 Teach them to sow the precious seed;
Teach them Thy chosen flock to feed;
Teach them immortal souls to gain-
Souls that will well reward their pain.
SYNODICAL AND OTHER MEETINGS.
FROM Calv'ry's sacred mountain
Where hung the Son of God,
Whilst from His heart's deep fountain
Gush'd forth the crimson flood,
The voice of mercy plighted,
Bids us in Jesus' name,
Proclaim to the benighted
The Lamb for sinners slain.
2 Come, brethren, whom, anointed
With unction from on high,
The Master has appointed
To preach His kingdom nigh;
We'll haste, o'er mount and river,
Through city, town, and plain,
The ruin'd to deliver
From death and Satan's chain.
3 Soon will our race be ended,
Our journey soon be o'er,
By Jesus' arm defended,
We'll reach fair Canaan's shore,
Where grateful plaudits greet us,
Throughout the heavenly dome,
And blesséd spirits meet us,
To shout us welcome home.
4 There may this congregation
Unite to swell the theme
Of blood-bought, free salvation,
Through faith in Jesus' name:
O Jesus! Rock of Ages!
The God we all adore,
Through earth's bewild'ring stages
Guide us to Canaan's shore!
LOVE FOR THE CHURCH.
I LOVE Thy Zion, Lord!
The house of Thine abode;
The Church, O blest Redeemer, saved
With Thine own precious blood.
|