INSTITUTIONS OF THE GOSPEL.

THE

THE MINISTRY. 203

L. M.
The ministry instituted.
HE Saviour, when to heaven he rose,

In splendid triumph o'er his foes,
Scatter'd his gifts on men below,
And still his royal bounties flow.
2 Hence sprang the apostles' honour'd name,
Sacred beyond heroic fame:
In humbler forms, before our eyes,
Pastors and teachers hence arise.
3 From Christ they all their gifts derive,
And, fed by Christ, their graces live:
While, guarded by his mighty hand,
'Midst all the rage of hell they stand.
4 So shall the bright succession run
Through all the courses of the sun;
While unborn churches, by their care,
Shall rise and flourish large and fair.
5 Jesus, now teach our hearts to know
The spring whence all these blessings flow;
Pastors and people shout thy praise,
Through the long round of endless days.
204

L. M. The commission. 10, preach my Gospel, saith the Lord, u Bid the whole world my grace receive; He shall be saved who trusts my word,

And he condemn'd who won't believe. 2 I'll make your great commission known;

And ye shall prove my gospel true, By all the works that I have done,

By all the wonders ye shall do. .

3 Teach all the nations my commands,

I'm with you till the world shall end; All power is trusted in my hands,

I can destroy, and I defend. 205

S. M.
The joyful sound.
OW beauteous are their feet

Who stand on Zion's hill,
Who bring salvation on their tongues,

And words of peace reveal !
2 How charming is their voice,-

So sweet the tidings are; Zion, behold thy Saviour King;

He reigns and triumphs here. 3 How happy are our ears,

That hear the joyful sound,
Which kings and prophets waited for,

And sought, but never found. 4 How blessed are our eyes,

That see thiş 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 every nation now behold

Their Saviour and their God. 206

C. M. The pastoral office.

And take the alarm they give; Now let them from the mouth of God

Their awful charge receive.

L

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 wo. 4 May they in Jesus, whom they preach,

Their own Redeemer see;
And watch thou daily o'er their souls,

That they may watch for thee. 207

S. M.
The labourers are few.
ORD of the harvest, hear

Thy needy servants' cry;
Answer our faith's effectual prayer,

And all our wants supply. 2 On thee we humbly wait,

Our wants are in thy view; The harvest, truly, Lord, is great,

The labourers are few. 3 Convert and send forth more

Into thy Church abroad, And let them speak thy word of power,

As workers with their God. 4 O let them spread thy name,

Their mission fully prove; Thy universal grace proclaim,

Thine all-redeeming love. 208

L. M.
Pastors after thine own heart.
JESUS, thy wand'ring sheep

behold ! See, Lord, with yearning bowels, see, Poor souls that cannot find

the fold, Till sought and gather'd in by thee.

2 Lost are they now, and scatter'd wide,

In pain, and weariness, and want: With no kind shepherd near, to guide

The sick, and spiritless, and faint. 3 Thou, only thou, the kind, and good,

And sheep-redeeming, Shepherd art; Collect thy flock, and give them food,

And pastors after thine own heart. 4 Give the pure word of gen’ral grace,

And great shall be the preachers' crowd: Preachers who all the sinful race

Point to the all-atoning blood. 5 Thine only glory let them seek;

O let their hearts with love o'erflow; Let them believe, and therefore speak,

And spread thy mercy's praise below. 209

L. M. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. OMFORT, ye ministers of grace,

Comfort the people of your Lord; O lift ye up the fallen race,

And cheer them by the Gospel word. 2 Go into every nation, go ;

Speak to their trembling hearts, and cry,Glad tidings unto all we show :

Jerusalem, thy God is nigh. 3 Hark! in the wilderness a cry,

A voice that loudly calls,—Prepare ; Prepar26

And waits to make his entrance there. 4 The Lord your God shall quickly come;

Sinners, repent, the call obey : Open your hearts to make him room;

Ye desert souls, prepare the way.

COMO

5 The Lord shall clear his way through all;

Whate'er obstructs, obstructs in vain; The vale shall rise, the mountain fall,

Crooked be straight, and rugged plain. 6 The glory of the Lord display'd

Shall all mankind together view;
And what his mouth in truth hath said,

His own almighty hand shall do. 210

C. M.
Let thy priests be clothed with salvation.
JESUS, the word of mercy give,
And let the priests themselves believe,

ind put salvation on.
2 Jesus, let all thy servants shine

Illustrious as the sun;
And, bright with borrow'd rays divine,

Their glorious circuit run.
3 Beyond the reach of mortals, spread

Their light where'er they go; And heavenly influences shed

On all the world below. 4 As giants may they run their race,

Exulting in their might; As burning luminaries chase

The gloom of hellish night. 5 As the bright Sun of righteousness,

Their healing wings display ; And let their lustre still increase

Unto the perfect day. 211

L. M. Labourers together with God. THUS saith the Lord—'tis God commands;

Workers with God, the charge obey; Remove whate'er his work withstands,

Prepare, prepare his people's way.