CCCXLV. C. M. Doddridge. Watching for Souls. An Ordination Hymn. Heb. xiii. 17.

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ET Sion's Watchmen all awake,
And take th' 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 the Saviour's hands.

3 They watch for souls, for which the Lord
Did heavenly bliss forego;
For souls, which must for ever live,
In raptures, or in wo.

4 All to the great tribunal haste,

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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 o'er their souls,
That they may watch for thee.

CCCXLVI. L. M. Walker's Collec.
After Ordination.

ESUS, in truth and pow'r divine,
Send forth this messenger of thine;
His hands confirm, his heart inspire,
And touch his lips with holy fire,
2 Be thou his mouth and wisdom. Lord,
And, by the hammer of thy word,
The rocky heart in pieces break,--
May he to such in thunder speak!
3 To those who would the Lord embrace,
Aid him to preach thy word of grace;
Sweetly their yielding bosoms move,
And melt them with the fire of love.
4 Let all with thankful hearts confess,
Thy welcome messenger of peace;
Thy pow'r in his report be found,
And let thy feet behind him soural.

CCCXLVII. L. M. Doddridge.

The Goodness of God acknowledged in giving
Pastors after his own heart. Jer. iii. 15.

At the Settlement of a Minister. HEPHERD of Israel, thou dost keep With constant care, thy humble sheep; By thee inferior pastors rise

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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 pasture tread.
4 Hère 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.

CCCXLVIII. C. M. Newton.

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

WHEN Paul was parted from his friends,

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,

4 But they who heard the word in vain,
Though oft and plainly warn'd;
Will tremble when they meet again
The ministers they scorn'd

5 On your own heads your blood will fall
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;

O! hear their prayer, thy message ow
And save their hearers too.

CCCXLIX. L. M. Rippon's Selec.
The People's Prayer for their minister.
W Him whom we now to thee commend ;
ITH sovereign power, O Lord, defend

His person bless, his soul secure,
And make him to the end endure.
2 Gird him with all-sufficient grace;
Direct his feet in paths of peace;
Thy truth and faithfulness fulfil,
And help him to obey thy will.
3 Before him thy protection send;
O guide him, save him to the end;
Nor let him, as thy pilgrim, rove
Without the convoy of thy love.
4 Enlarge, enflame, and fill his heart,
In him thy mighty power exert :
That thousands yet unborn may praise
The wonders of redeeming grace.

CCCL. L. M. Gibbons.

The Pastor's Wish for his People.* Phil. iv. 1,
MY brethren, from my heart belov'd,
Whose welfare fills my daily care

My present joy, my future crown,
The word of exhortation hear.

2 Stand fast upon the solid rock,

Of the Redeemer's righteousness,
Adorn the gospel with your lives,
And practise what your lips profess.
3 With pleasure meditate the hour,
When he, descending from the skies,
Shall bid your bodies, mean and vile,
In bis all-glorious image rise.

4 Glory in his dear, honour'd name,
To him inviolably cleave;

* Given out at Dr. Gibbon's Meeting-house, July 21, when the place was to be shut up for repair.

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Nor let him less than all receive.
Such is your pastor's faithful charge,
Whose soul desires not your's, but you,
O may he at the Lord's right hand,
Himself and all his people view!

CCCLI. L. M. B. Francis.

Ministers abounding in the Work of the Lord..
EFORE thy throne, eternal King,
Thy ministers their tribute bring,
Their tribute of united praise

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For heavenly news and peaceful days.
2 We sing the conquests of thy sword,
And publish loud thy healing word:
While angels sound thy glorious name,
Thy saving grace our lips proclaim.
3 Thy various service we esteem
Our sweet employ, our bliss supreme;
And, while we feel thy heavenly love,
We burn like seraphim above.
4 Nor seraphs there can ever raise
With us, an equal song of praise:
They are the noblest work of God,
But we, the purchase of his blood.
5 Still in thy work would we abound;
Still prune the vine, or plough the ground
Thy sheep with wholesome pasture feed,
And watch them with unwearied heed.
6 Thou art our Lord, our life, our love,
Our care below, and crown above:
Thy praise shall be our best employ,
Thy presence our eternal joy.

CCCLII. C. M. Doddridge.

Lovest thou me? Feed my Lambs. John xxi. 13.

O not I love thee, O my Lord?
Behold my beart and see;

And turn each cursed idol out,

That dares to rival thee.

2 Do not I love thee from my soul?
Then let me nothing love;
Dead be my heart to every joy,
When Jesus cannot move.

3 Is not thy namejmelodious still
To mine attentive ear?

Doth not each pulse with pleasure bound
My Saviour's voice to hear.

4 [Hast thou a lamb in all thy flock,
I would disdain to feed?
Hast thou a foe, before whose face
I fear thy cause to plead ?
5 Would not mine ardent spirit vie
With angels round the throne,
To execute thy sacred will,

And make thy glory known?

6 Would not my heart pour forth its blood
In honour of thy name?

And challenge the cold band of death
To damp th' immortal flame?]

7 Thou know'st I love thee, dearest Lord,
But, O! I long to soar

Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love thee more.

CCCLIII. C. M. Doddridge.

Christ's Care of Ministers and Churches. Rev. ii. 1.
1 W Who makes the stars to shine;
WE bless the eternal Source of light,

And through this dark beclouded world,
Diffuseth rays divine.

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

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CCCLIV. 148th. Newton.

Travailing in Birth for Souls. Gal. iv. 19.

W 7HAT contradictions meet

In ministers' employ !

It is a bitter sweet,
A sorrow full of joy:
No other post affords a place
For equal honour or disgrace!
2 Who can describe the pain
Which faithful preachers feel;