Part 25

2. Help them to preach the Truth of God, Redemption through the Savior’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.

E. Osler, 1836.

486

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God of the prophets, bless the prophets’ sons; Elijah’s mantle o’er Elisha cast; Each age its solemn task may claim but once; Make each a nobler, stronger than the last!

2. Anoint them prophets! Make their ears attent To Thy divinest speech; their hearts awake To human need; their lips make eloquent T’assure the right and every evil break.

3. Anoint them priests! Strong intercessors they For pardon and for charity and peace! Ah, if with them the world might pass, astray, Into the dear Christ’s life of sacrifice!

4. Anoint them kings; aye, kindly kings, O Lord! Anoint them with the Spirit of Thy Son! Theirs not a jeweled crown, a blood-stained sword; Theirs, by sweet love, for Christ a kingdom won!

5. Make them apostles, heralds of Thy Cross! Forth may they go to tell all realms Thy grace. Inspired of Thee, may they count all but loss And stand at last with joy before Thy face.

6. O mighty age of prophet-kings, return! O truth, O faith, enrich our urgent time! Lord Jesus Christ, again with us sojourn; A weary world awaits Thy reign sublime!

D. Wortman, 1884.

487

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Lord, when at Thy command The Word of Life we sow, Watered by Thy almighty hand, The seed shall surely grow; The virtue of Thy grace A large increase shall give And multiply the faithful race Who to Thy glory live.

2. Now, then, the ceaseless shower Of Gospel-blessings send And let the soul-converting power Thy ministers attend; On multitudes confer The heart-renewing love And by the joy of grace prepare For fuller joys above.

Charles Wesley.

488

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Lord, pour Thy Spirit from on high And Thine ordainèd servants bless; Graces and gifts to each supply And clothe Thy priests with righteousness.

2. Within Thy temple when they stand To teach the truth as taught by Thee, Savior, like stars in Thy right hand, Let all Thy Church’s pastors be.

3. Wisdom and zeal and faith impart, Firmness and meekness from above, To bear Thy people in their heart And love the souls whom Thou dost love;

4. To watch and pray and never faint By day and night strict guard to keep, To warn the sinner, cheer the saint, To feed Thy lambs, and fold Thy sheep.

5. So, when their work is finished here, They may in hope their charge resign; So, when their Master shall appear, They may with crowns of glory shine.

James Montgomery, 1833.

489

L. M.

We bid thee welcome in the name Of Jesus, our exalted Head. Come as a servant,—so He came,— And we receive thee in His stead.

2. Come as a shepherd; guard and keep This fold from hell and earth and sin; Nourish the lambs and feed the sheep; The wounded heal, the lost bring in.

3. Come as a teacher sent from God, Charged His whole counsel to declare; Lift o’er our ranks the prophet’s rod While we uphold thy hands with prayer.

4. Come as a messenger of peace, Filled with the Spirit, fired with love; Live to behold our large increase And die to meet us all above.

James Montgomery.

490

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How 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! How sweet their tidings are! “Zion, behold thy Savior-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 blessed 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 every nation now behold Their Savior and their God.

Isaac Watts, 1707.

491

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Lord 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 laborers 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. Oh, let them spread Thy name, Their mission fully prove, Thy universal grace proclaim, Thine all-redeeming love!

Charles Wesley, 1742.

492

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Thou who the night in prayer didst spend And then didst Thine apostles send, And bidd’st us pray the harvest’s Lord To send forth sowers of Thy Word,— Hear and Thy chosen servants bless With sevenfold gifts of holiness.

2. Oh, may Thy pastors faithful be, Not laboring for themselves, but Thee! Give grace to feed with wholesome food The sheep and lambs bought by Thy blood, To tend Thy flock, and thus to prove How dearly they the Shepherd love.

3. Oh, may Thy people faithful be, And in Thy pastors honor Thee, And with them work, and for them pray, And gladly Thee in them obey; Receive the prophet of the Lord And gain the prophet’s own reward!

4. So may we, when our work is done, Together stand before Thy throne And joyful hearts and voices raise In one united song of praise, With all the bright celestial host, To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

C. Wordsworth.

493

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Bow down Thine ear, almighty Lord, And hear Thy Church’s suppliant cry For all who preach Thy saving Word And wait upon Thy ministry.

2. In mercy, Father, now give heed And pour Thy quickening Spirit’s breath On those whom Thou dost call to feed Thy flock redeemed by Jesus’ death.

3. O Savior, from Thy piercèd hand Shed o’er them all Thy gifts divine That those who in Thy presence stand May do Thy will with love like Thine.

4. Blest Spirit, in their hearts abide And give them grace to watch and pray, That, as they seek Thy flock to guide, Themselves may keep the narrow way.

5. O God, Thy strength and mercy send To shield them in their strife with sin; Grant them, enduring to the end, The crown of life at last to win.

T. E. Powell, 1864.

CROSS AND COMFORT.

494

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Whate’er God will, let that be done; His will is ever wisest; His grace will all thy hope outrun Who to that faith arisest. The gracious Lord Will help afford, He chastens with forbearing; Who God believes And to Him cleaves, Shall not be left despairing.

2. My God is my sure Confidence, My Hope, and my Existence; His counsel is beyond my sense, Yet I’ll not make resistance. His Word declares The very hairs Upon my head are numbered; His mercy large Holds me in charge, With care that never slumbered.

3. The time has come when at His will My life in this world ceases; I think upon it and am still, Let come whate’er He pleases. To Him I trust My soul, my dust, When flesh and spirit sever; The Christ we sing Has plucked the sting Away from death forever.

4. Yet one thing, Lord, I ask of Thee, O grant my supplication: When Satan sorely tempteth me, Save me from desperation. O God, my Lord, True to Thy Word, Do Thou my soul deliver! Who doth believe, He shall receive. Thy name be praised forever!

Anon., 1554; N. L. Frothingham, tr., a.

495

8, 8, 7, 8, 7

In Thee, Lord, have I put my trust, Leave me not helpless in the dust, Let me not be confounded; Let in Thy Word My faith, O Lord, Be always firmly grounded.

2. Bow down Thy gracious ear to me And hear my prayers, Lord, speedily, O grant me Thy protection! For woes and fear Surround me here; Help me in my affliction.

3. My God and Shield, now let Thy power Be unto me a mighty tower, Whence bravely I defend me Against the foes That round me close; O Lord, assistance lend me!

4. Thy Word hath said, Thou art my Rock, The Fortress that can fear no shock, My Help, my Life, my Treasure; Howe’er distress And dangers press, All must perform Thy pleasure.

5. The world for me has falsely set Full many a secret snare and net, Dark lies, and sore temptations. Lord, hear my prayers And break these snares And hellish machinations.

6. With Thee, Lord, would I cast my lot; My God, my God, forsake me not; For, Lord, I am commending My soul to Thee; Deliver me Now and when life is ending.

7. All honor, praise, and majesty To Father, Son, and Spirit be, Our God forever glorious, In whose rich grace We’ll run our race Till we depart victorious.

Ps. 31. Adam Reusner, 1533; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

496

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Lord, it belongs not to my care, Whether I die or live; To love and serve Thee is my share, And this Thy grace must give.

2. If life be long, I will be glad That I may long obey; If short, yet why should I be sad To soar to endless day?

3. Christ leads me through no darker rooms Than He went through before; He that into God’s kingdom comes Must enter by this door.

4. Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet Thy blessed face to see; For if Thy work on earth is sweet, What will Thy glory be?

5. Then shall I end my sad complaints And weary, sinful days And join with the triumphant saints That sing Jehovah’s praise.

6. My knowledge of that life is small, The eye of faith is dim; But ’tis enough that Christ knows all And I shall be with Him.

Richard Baxter, 1681, a.

497

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O Thou, from whom all goodness flows, I lift my heart to Thee; In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes, Dear Lord, remember me!

2. When on my aching, burdened heart My sins lie heavily, My pardon speak, new peace impart; In love remember me.

3. Temptations sore obstruct my way, And ills I cannot flee. O give me strength, Lord, as my day; For good remember me.

4. Distressed with pain, disease, and grief, This feeble body see; Grant patience, rest, and kind relief; Hear and remember me!

5. When in the solemn hour of death I wait Thy just decree, Be this the prayer of my last breath, Good Lord, remember me!

6. And when before Thy throne I stand And lift my soul to Thee, Then with the saints at Thy right hand, Good Lord, remember me!

Thomas Haweis and Thomas Cotterill, 1792, a.

498

9, 8, 9, 8, 8, 8

If thou but suffer God to guide thee And hope in Him through all thy ways, He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee, And bear thee through the evil days. Who trusts in God’s unchanging love Builds on the Rock that naught can move.

2. What can these anxious cares avail thee, These never-ceasing moans and sighs? What can it help if thou bewail thee O’er each dark moment as it flies? Our cross and trials do but press The heavier for our bitterness.

3. Be patient and await His leisure In cheerful hope, with heart content, To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure And His discerning love hath sent, Nor doubt our inmost wants are known To Him who chose us for His own.

4. He knows the time for joy and, truly, Will send it when He sees it meet; When He has tried and purged thee duly And finds thee free from all deceit, He comes to thee all unaware And makes thee own His loving care.

5. Nor think amid the heat of trial That God hath cast thee off unheard; That he whose hopes meet no denial Must surely be of God preferred; Time passes and much change doth bring And sets a bound to everything.

6. All are alike before the Highest; ’Tis easy to our God, we know, To raise thee up, though low thou liest, To make the rich man poor and low. True wonders still by Him are wrought Who setteth up and brings to naught.

7. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving; So do thine own part faithfully And trust His Word, though undeserving, Thou yet shalt find it true for thee. God never will forsake in need The soul that trusts in Him indeed.

Ps. 55, 23. George Neumark, 1657; C. Winkworth, tr.

499

9, 8, 9, 8, 8, 8

I leave all things to God’s direction, He loveth me in weal and woe; His will is good, true His affection, With tender love His heart doth glow. My Fortress and my Rock is He: What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.

2. My God hath all things in His keeping, He is the ever faithful Friend; He grants me laughter after weeping, And all His ways in blessings end. His love endures eternally: What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.

3. The will of God shall be my pleasure While here on earth is mine abode; My will is wrong beyond all measure, It doth not will what pleaseth God. The Christian’s maxim e’er must be: What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.

4. God knows what must be done to save me, His love for me will never cease; For He upon His palms did grave me With purest gold of loving grace. Away, my own will, off with thee! What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.

5. My God desires the soul’s salvation, Me also He desires to save; Therefore, with Christian resignation, All earthly troubles I will brave. His will be done eternally: What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.

Anon., 17th cent.; A. Crull, tr.

500

7s

Oft in sorrow, oft in woe, Onward, Christians, onward go! Bear the toil, maintain the strife, Strengthened with the Bread of Life.

2. Let not sorrow dim your eye; Soon shall every tear be dry. Let not woe your course impede; Great your help if great your need.

3. Let your drooping hearts be glad; March, in heavenly armor clad. Fight, nor think the battle long; Victory soon shall tune your song.

4. Onward, then, to battle move! More than conquerors you shall prove; Though begirt with many a foe, Onward, Christians, onward go!

H. K. White, 1806, a.

501

8, 6, 6, 8, 6, 6

Why should sorrow ever grieve me; Christ is near, What can here E’er of Him deprive me? Who can rob me of my heaven That God’s Son As my own To my faith hath given?

2. Naked was I and unswathèd When on earth At my birth My first breath I breathèd. Naked hence shall I betake me When I go From earth’s woe And my breath forsakes me.

3. Naught—not e’en the life I’m living— Is my own, God alone All to me is giving. Must I, then, His own restore Him? Though bereft Of each gift, Still shall I adore Him.

4. Though a heavy cross I’m bearing And my heart Feels the smart, Shall I be despairing? God can help me, who doth send it; He doth know All my woe And how best to end it.

5. God oft gives me days of gladness; Shall I grieve If He give Seasons, too, of sadness? God is good and tempers ever Every hurt; Me desert Wholly can He never.

6. Though united world and devil, All their power Can no more Do than mock and cavil. Let derision now employ them, Christ e’en here Will appear And ’fore all destroy them.

7. True believers, shrinking never, Where they dwell, Should reveal Their true colors ever. When approaching death would scare them, Still should they Patient stay And with courage bear them.

8. Death can never kill us even, But relief From all grief To us then is given. It doth close life’s mournful story, Makes a way That we may Pass to heavenly glory.

9. There I’ll reap enduring pleasure, After woe Here below Suffered in large measure. Lasting good we find here never, All the earth Deemeth worth Vanisheth forever.

10. What is all this life possesseth? But a hand Full of sand That the heart distresseth. Noble gifts that pall me never Christ so free There gives me To enjoy forever.

11. Lord, Thou Fount of joy forever, Thou art mine, I am Thine, No one can us sever. I am Thine, because Thou gavest Life and blood For my good, By Thy death me savest.

12. Thou art mine, I love and own Thee, Ne’er shall I, Light of joy, From my heart dethrone Thee. Let me, let me, soon behold Thee Face to face,—Thy embrace, May it soon enfold me!

Paul Gerhardt, 1653; J. Kelly, tr., a.

502

C. M.

Dear Refuge of my weary soul, On Thee, when sorrows rise, On Thee, when waves of trouble roll, My fainting hope relies.

2. To Thee I tell each rising grief, For Thou alone canst heal; Thy Word can bring a sweet relief For every pain I feel.

3. Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face? And shall I seek in vain? And can the ear of pardoning grace Be deaf when I complain?

4. No, still the ear of saving grace Attends the mourner’s prayer; O may I ever find access To breathe my sorrows there!

Anne Steele, 1760.

503

L. M.

O God, my days are dark indeed, How oft this aching heart must bleed; The narrow way,—how filled with pain, That I must pass, ere heaven I gain!

2. How hard to teach this flesh and blood To seek alone th’ eternal God! Ah! whither now for comfort turn? For Thee, my Jesus, do I yearn.

3. In Thee have I, howe’er distrest, Found ever counsel, aid, and rest! I cannot all forsaken be While still my heart can trust in Thee.

4. Thine office and Thy person show That Thou great miracles canst do; Miraculous was, Lord, Thy birth When Thou wert born a child on earth.

5. And by Thy death Thou mak’st me free So strangely from all misery. Jesus, my only God and Lord, What sweetness in Thy name is stored!

6. No grief can ever be so sore But Thy sweet name can cheer me more; So keen no sorrow’s rankling dart But Thy sweet name can heal my heart.

7. Although my flesh and heart may fail, I’ll heed it not, I shall not quail; My Savior, if I have but Thee, I shall be blest eternally.

8. With heart and soul I’m Thine fore’er; Sin, death, and hell I need not fear; The world can show no truth like Thine, And therefore will I not repine.

9. I know Thou wilt forsake me not, Thy truth is fixed, though dark my lot; Thou art my Shepherd, and Thy sheep From harm forever Thou wilt keep.

10. Jesus, my Boast, my Light, my Joy, The Treasure naught can e’er destroy, No words, no song that I can frame Speak half the sweetness of Thy name.

11. They only all its power shall prove Whose hearts have learned Thy faith and love; How many a time I’ve sadly said, Far better were it I were dead;

12. Far better ne’er the light to see If I had not this joy in Thee; For he who hath not Thee in faith, His very life is merely death.

13. Jesus, my Bridegroom and my Crown, If Thou but smile, the world may frown; In Thee lie depths of joy untold, Far richer than the richest gold.

14. Whenever I but think of Thee, Thy dews drop down and solace me; Whene’er I hope in Thee, my Friend, Thy comfort and Thy peace descend.

15. Whene’er in grief I pray and sing, I feel new courage in me spring; Thy Spirit witnesses that this Is foretaste of eternal bliss.

16. Therefore, while life remains in me, I’ll bear Thy cross and follow Thee. Grant me a patient, willing mood; I know that it shall work my good.

17. Help me to do my task aright, That it may stand before Thy sight; Let me this flesh and blood control, From sin and shame preserve my soul.

18. O keep me steadfast in the faith, Then I am Thine in life and death. Jesus, my Comfort, bend to me; Ah, would I were e’en now with Thee!

Conrad Hojer, 1597.

504

S. M.

In weariness and pain, By sins and fears opprest, I turn me to my Rest again, My soul’s eternal Rest.

2. The Lamb that died for me And still my load doth bear; To Jesus’ streaming wounds I flee And find my quiet there.

3. Jesus, was ever grief, Was ever love, like Thine? Thy sorrow, Lord, is my relief, Thy life hath ransomed mine.

4. O may I rise with Thee And soar to things above And spend a blest eternity In praise of dying love!

Charles Wesley, 1749, a.

505

8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8

Zion mourns in fear and anguish, Zion, city of our God. “Ah!” she saith, “how sore I languish, Bowed beneath so hard a load! God hath now forsook me quite And forgot my evil plight.” Nay, the Lord, who chose thee, spares thee, For within His heart He bears thee.

2. “Once,” she mourns, “He promised plainly That His help should aye be near, Yet I now must seek Him vainly In my days of woe and fear. Will He, then, forevermore Keep His anger and no more Help His chosen generation In its present tribulation?”

3. “Zion, surely I have loved thee!” Thus to her the Highest saith. “Although many woes have proved thee And thy soul is sad to death, Yet now cast thy griefs behind; Where wilt thou a mother find For her own child not providing Or in hatred with it chiding?

4. “And if thou couldst find a mother Who forgot her infant’s claim Or whose wrath her love could smother, Yet would I be still the same; For My truth is pledged to thee, Zion, thou art dear to Me; I within My heart have set thee, And I never can forget thee.

5. “Let not Satan make thee craven; He can fight, but cannot harm. On My hands thy name is graven, And thy shield is still My arm. How, then, could it ever be That I failed to think of thee, Build the wall of My own city And look down on thee with pity?

6. “Thou before My eyes art ever, In My bosom thou art laid As a nursing child, and never Shalt thou lack My timely aid. Me and thee no time nor stress, War, nor danger, nor distress, No, nor Satan’s self shall sever,— Only be thou faithful ever.”

J. Heermann, 1636; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

506

8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8

Let not such a thought e’er pain thee As that thou art cast away, But within God’s Word restrain thee, That far otherwise doth say. E’en though thou unrighteous art, True and faithful is God’s heart. Hast thou death deserved forever? God’s appeased, despond thou never!

2. Thou art, as is every other, Tainted by the poison sin, That the Serpent and our father Adam, by the Fall, brought in. But if God’s voice thou dost hear, “Turn to Me, do good,” ne’er fear, Be of good cheer, He thy yearning Will regard, thy prayer ne’er spurning.