978

C. M.

Missionaries commended to God.

ATHER of mercies, condescend
To hear our fervent prayer,

While these our brethren we commend

To thy paternal care.

2 Before them set an open door;
Their faithful labours bless;
On them thy Holy Spirit pour,

And crown them with success.

3 Endow them with a heavenly mind;
Supply their every need;
Make them in spirit meek, resign'd,
But bold in word and deed.

4 In every tempting, trying hour,
Uphold them by thy grace;
And guard them by thy mighty power,
Till they shall end their race.

5 Then, follow'd by a num'rous train,
Gather'd from heathen lands,

A crown of life may they obtain
From their Redeemer's hands.

979

The severed olive-branch.

LORD, visit thy forsaken race;

L. M.

Back to thy fold the wand'rers bring; Teach them to seek thy slighted grace, And hail in Christ their promised King. 2 That veil of darkness rend in twain, Which hides their Shiloh's glorious light; That sever'd olive-branch again

Firm to its parent-stock unite.

3 Hail, glorious day-expected long!
When Jew and Greek one prayer shall pour;
With eager feet one temple throng,-
With grateful praise one God adore.

980

S. M.

A

Hebrew missionaries.

LMIGHTY God of love,

Set up the' attracting sign,

And summon whom thou dost approve
For messengers divine.

2 From favour'd Abrah'm's seed
The new apostles choose,
In isles and continents to spread
The dead-reviving news.

3 We know it shall be done;
'Tis God's almighty word;
All Israel shall the Saviour own,
To their first state restored.
4 Send, then, thy servants forth
To call the Hebrews home;

From east and west, and south and north,
Let all the wand'rers come.
5 With Israel's myriads seal'd,
Let all the nations meet;
And show the mystery fulfill'd,
The family complete.

981

The restoration of Israel.

L. M.

ARISE, great God! and let thy grace

Shed its glad beams on Jacob's race; Restore the long-lost, scatter'd band, And call them to their native land. 2 Their misery let thy mercy heal; Their trespass hide, their pardon seal; O God of Israel! hear our prayer, And grant them still thy love to share. 3 How long shall Jacob's offspring prove The sad suspension of thy love? Lord, shall thy wrath forever burn? And will thy mercy ne'er return?

4 Thy quick'ning Spirit now impart,
And wake to joy each grateful heart;
While Israel's. rescued tribes in thee
Their bliss and full salvation see.

982 L. M. For the Jews and the fulness of the Gentiles. [EAD of the Church, whose Spirit fills And flows through every faithful soul, Unites in mystic love, and seals

Them one, and sanctifies the whole :2 Come, Lord, thy glorious Spirit cries, And souls beneath the altar groan; Come, Lord, the Bride on earth replies, And perfect all our souls in one. 3 Pour out the promised gift on all; Answer the universal-Come! The fulness of the Gentiles call, And take thine ancient people home. 4 To thee let all the nations flow ; Let all obey the Gospel word; Let all their bleeding Saviour know, Fill'd with the glory of the Lord. 5 0, for thy truth and mercy's sake, The purchase of thy passion claim; Thine heritage, the Gentiles, take, And cause the world to know thy name.

983

O

For the world's conversion.

GOD of sov'reign grace,

We bow before thy throne;

And plead, for all the human race,
The merits of thy Son.

S. M.

2 Spread through the earth, O Lord,
The knowledge of thy ways;

And let all lands, with joy, record
The great Redeemer's praise.

984

G

5th P. M. 4 lines 7s.

The banner of the cross.

O, ye messengers of God;

Like the beams of morning, fly;
Take the wonder-working rod;
Wave the banner-cross on high.
2 Go to many a tropic isle

In the bosom of the deep,
Where the skies forever smile,
And the' oppress'd forever weep.
3 O'er the pagan's night of care
Pour the living light of heaven;
Chase away his wild despair;

Bid him hope to be forgiven.
4 Where the golden gates of day
Open on the palmy East,

High the bleeding cross display;
Spread the Gospel's richest feast.

985

I will gather all nations. MATHER of boundless grace,

F Thou hast in part fulfill'd

Thy promise made to Adam's race,

In God incarnate seal'd.

A few from every land

At first to Salem came,
And saw the wonders of thy hand,
And saw the tongues of flame.

2 Yet still we wait the end,-
The coming of our Lord;
The full accomplishment attend
Of thy prophetic word.
Thy promise deeper lies,

In unexhausted grace;

And new-discovered worlds arise

To sing their Saviour's praise.

S. M.

3 Beloved for Jesus' sake,
By him redeem'd of old,

All nations must come in, and make
One undivided fold:

While gather'd in by thee,

And perfected in one,

They all at once thy glory see

In thy co-equal Son.

986

The earth renewed in righteousness.

LMIGHTY Spirit, now behold
A world by sin destroy'd:

Creating Spirit, as of old,

Move on the formless void.

C. M.

2 Give thou the word; that healing sound
Shall quell the deadly strife;
And earth again, like Eden crown'd,
Bring forth the tree of life.

3 If sang the morning stars for joy,
When nature rose to view,
What strains will angel-harps employ,
When thou shalt all renew?

4 And if the sons of God rejoice
To hear a Saviour's name,

How will the ransom'd raise their voice,
To whom the Saviour came?

5 Lo, every kindred, every tribe,
Assembling round the throne,
The new creation shall ascribe
To sov'reign love alone.

987

L. M.

The Saviour's coming expected and prayed for.

JESU

ESUS! thy church, with longing eyes, For thine expected coming waits: When will the promised light arise, And glory beam on Zion's gates?