  719. C. M. Doddridge.For a Meeting of Ministers. 1Let Zion's watchmen all awake, And take the alarm they give: 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 filled a Saviour's hands. 3May they, that Jesus whom they preach, Their own Redeemer see; And watch thou daily o'er their souls, That they may watch for thee. 720. 8s. & 7s. M. Anonymous.Burden and Conflict of the Ministry. 1Onward, Christian, though the region Where thou art be drear and lone; God hath set a guardian legion Very near thee,--press thou on! 2By the thorn-wood, and none other, Is the mount of vision won; Tread it without shrinking, brother! Jesus trod it,--press thou on! 3By thy trustful, calm endeavor, Guiding, cheering, like the sun, Earth-bound hearts thou shalt deliver O, for their sake, press thou on! 4Be this world the wiser, stronger, For thy life of pain and peace; While it needs thee, O, no longer Pray thou for thy quick release. 5Pray thou, Christian, daily, rather, That thou be a faithful son; By the prayer of Jesus,--"Father, Not my will, but thine, be done!" 721. L. M. A. Balfour.Ministers Charged and Encouraged. 1Go, messengers of peace and love, To people plunged in shades of night; Like angels sent from fields above, Be yours to shed celestial light. 2Go to the hungry,--food impart; To paths of peace the wanderer guide; And lead the thirsty panting heart Where streams of living water glide. 3O faint not in the day of toil, When harvest waits the reaper's hand; Go, gather in the glorious spoil, And joyous in his presence stand. 4Thy love a rich reward shall find From him who sits enthroned on high; For they who turn the erring mind Shall shine like stars above the sky. 722. S. M. Wesleyan.Call to Labor in God's Vineyard. 1The vineyard of the Lord Before his laborers lies; And, lo! we see the vast reward Which waits us in the skies. 2O let us then proceed In God's great work below, And following our triumphant Head, To further conquests go. 3And let our heart and mind Continually ascend, That haven of repose to find, Where all our labors end. 4What honor to behold, In that sublime abode, The patriarchs and prophets old, And all the men of God! 5Then spend our days beneath, Toiling in cheerful hope; And fearless pass the vale of death, And gain the mountain top. 723. L. M. Episcopal Coll.For Laborers in God's Harvest. 1O Spirit of the living God, In all thy plenitude of grace, Where'er the foot of man hath trod, Descend on our degenerate race! 2Give tongues of fire and hearts of love, To preach the reconciling word; Give power and unction from above, Where'er the joyful sound is heard. 3Be darkness, at thy coming, light; Confusion, order, in thy path; Souls without strength inspire with might; Bid mercy triumph over wrath. 4Convert the nations; far and nigh The triumphs of the cross record; The name of Jesus glorify, Till every people call him Lord. 724. 7s. M. Byrant.A Blessing invoked on Christian Teachers. 1Mighty One, before whose face, Wisdom had her glorious seat, When the orbs that people space Sprang to birth beneath thy feet; 2Source of truth, whose rays alone Light the mighty world of mind; God of love, who from thy throne Kindly watchest all mankind; 3Shed on those, who in thy name Teach the way of truth and right, Shed that love's undying flame, Shed that wisdom's guiding light. 725. L. M. H. Ballou.At an Annual Convention. 1Dear Lord, behold thy servants, here, From various parts together meet, To tell their labors through the year, And lay the harvest at thy feet. 2The reapers cry, "Thy fields are white, All ready to be gathered in, And harvests wave in changing light, Far as the eye can trace the scene." 3Lord, bless us while we here remain; With holy love our bosoms fill; O may thy doctrine drop like rain, And like the silent dew distil. 4While we attend thy churches' care O grant us wisdom from above; With prudent thought and humble prayer, May we fulfil the works of love. 726. L. M. Hymns of Zion.The Same. 1Brethren, beloved for Jesus' sake, A hearty welcome here receive; May we together now partake The joys which he alone can give. 2May he by whose kind care we meet, Send his good Spirit from above, Make our communion pure and sweet, And cause our hearts to burn with love. 3Forgotten be each worldly theme, When thus we meet, to pray and praise; We but desire to speak of him, And of his holy word and ways. 4Thus as the moments pass away, We'll love, and wonder and adore; Then hasten on, the glorious day, When we shall meet to part no more. 727. C. M. Hymns of Zion.The Same. 1Joined in a union firm and strong, No foe our ranks can break; To victory we press along, And glorious warfare make. Our fervent prayers shall still prevail Against a host of sins; And angels every Christian hail Whose love a conquest wins. 2Then let our ranks, more closely joined, With shield and buckler stand; A kingdom we at last shall find, The promised spirit-land. Let all with harmony of voice, In lofty praises join; Let every soul in Christ rejoice, With rapture all divine. 3The kindling flame begins to glow, Each heart grows warm with love; And we enjoy on earth below, The bliss of heaven above! O thus forever may we feel, And evermore display Devotion's pure and holy zeal, In Zion's chosen way. 728. 7s. & 6s. M. J. G. Adams.The Same. 1Our Father--ever living! Once more thy children come, In joy and true thanksgiving, To this their gospel home. United--from dissension Kept by thy goodness free-- Again in glad Convention Our vows we pay to thee. 2The Past! Its ways are beaming With thy sure mercies, Lord-- Thy truth and grace redeeming, Sent o'er the earth abroad, The hoary shrines of error Have cast aside; and free From darkness, doubt, and terror Its children come to thee. 3The Present! Loudly sounding, Its cheering tones are heard; Be our full hearts abounding In its strong Hope and Word! Be strength and wisdom, Father! Bestowing what we need, Truth's harvest-sheaves to gather-- Christ's kingdom here to speed. 4The Future! Indications Of mightier works are there:-- Truth's promised revelations; Thine arm of power made bare; From sin's dread reign exemption: Man's life in Christ, divine; The erring world's redemption; The glory, Father, thine! 729. C. M. Mrs. Sawyer.The Same. 1We gather in the name of God, And, bowing down the head, We stretch our waiting hands abroad, And humbly ask for aid: For aid, when o'er the spirit's day, Thick clouds of darkness rest, That we may chase the gloom away, And light the darkened breast. 2For strength to lead the poor, the weak Who tread the vale of years,-- For pity's hand to dry the cheek Where sorrow sits in tears; For hope, the beautiful and bright, That whispers, "Ne'er despond!" For faith, that through the darkest night Still sees a star beyond. 3Bold heralds of the cross, O God, Undaunted send us forth; Salvation be our rallying word,-- Our field, the boundless earth; Love on our lips, and in our soul, Our labors never done; O Sovereign Helper! till the goal By all at last be won. 730. 7s. M. H. K. White.Closing Hymn at an Association. 1Christians! brethren! ere we part, Every voice and every heart Join, and to our Father raise One last hymn of grateful praise. 2Though we here should meet no more, Yet there is a brighter shore; There, released from toil and pain, There we all may meet again. 3Now to him who reigns in heaven Be eternal glory given; Grateful for thy love divine, O may all our hearts be thine! 731. C. M. Sutton.The Same. 1Hail, sweetest, dearest tie that binds Our glowing hearts in one; Hail, sacred hope, that tunes our minds To sing what God hath done. It is the hope, the blissful hope, Which gospel grace hath given; The hope, when days and years are past, We all shall meet in heaven. 2From eastern shores, from northern lands, From western hill and plain, From southern climes, the brother-bands May hope to meet again; It is the hope, the blissful hope, Which love divine hath given: The hope, when life and time are o'er, We all shall meet in heaven. 3No hope deferred, no parting sigh, That blessed meeting knows; There friendship beams from every eye, And hope immortal grows. It is the hope, the precious hope, Which boundless grace hath given: The hope, when time shall be no more, We all shall meet in heaven. 732. C. M. W. Ward.Prayer for the Success of the Gospel. 1Great God, the nations of the earth Are by creation thine; And in thy works, by all beheld, Thy radiant glories shine. 2But, Lord, thy greater love has sent Thy gospel to mankind, Unveiling what rich stores of grace Are treasured in thy mind. 3O, when shall these glad tidings spread The spacious earth around, Till every tribe and every soul Shall hear the joyful sound? 4Smile, Lord, on each divine attempt To spread the gospel's rays, And build on sin's demolished throne The temples of thy praise. 733. 7s. & 6s. M. Heber.Missionary Hymn. 1From Greenland's icy mountains, From India's coral strand,-- Where Afric's sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand,-- From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain,-- They call us to deliver Their land from error's chain. 2What though the spicy breezes Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle; Though every prospect pleases, And only man is vile; In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strown; The heathen in his blindness Bows down to wood and stone. 3Shall we, whose souls are lighted By wisdom from on high, Shall we to men benighted The lamp of life deny? Salvation! O, salvation! The joyful sound proclaim, Till each remotest nation Has learnt Messiah's name. 734. 7s. M. Pratt's Coll.The Same. 1Go! ye messengers of God, Like the beams of morning, fly; Take the wonder-working rod, Wave the Banner-Cross on high! Where th' lofty minaret Gleams along the morning skies, Wave it till the crescent set, And the "Star of Jacob" rise. 2Go! to many a tropic isle, In the bosom of the deep; Where the skies forever smile, And th' oppressed forever weep! O'er the negro's night of care Pour the living light of heaven; Chase away the fiend despair, Bid him hope to be forgiven! 3When the golden gates of day Open on the palmy east, Wide the bleeding cross display, Spread the gospel's richest feast: Circumnavigate the ball, Visit every soil and sea; Preach the Cross of Christ to all-- Jesus' love is full and free! 735. C. M. S. W. Livermore.The Western Churches. 1Our pilgrim brethren dwelling far,-- O God of truth and love, Light thou their path with thine own star, Bright beaming from above. 2Wide as their mighty rivers flow, Let thine own truth extend; Where prairies spread and forests grow, O Lord, thy gospel send. 3Then will a mighty nation own A union firm and strong;-- The sceptre of th' eternal throne Shall rule its councils long. 736. C. P. M. Episcopal Coll.On Western Missions. 1When, Lord, to this our western land, Led by thy providential hand, Our wandering fathers came, Their ancient homes, their friends in youth Sent forth the heralds of thy truth, To keep them in thy name. 2Then, through our solitary coast, The desert features soon were lost; Thy temples there arose; Our shores, as culture made them fair, Were hallowed by thy rites, by prayer, And blossomed as the rose. 3And O, may we repay this debt To regions solitary yet Within our spreading land! There brethren, from our common home, Still westward, like our fathers, roam, Still guided by thy hand. 4Father, we own this debt of love; O, shed thy Spirit from above, To move each Christian breast, Till heralds shall thy truth proclaim, And temples rise, to fix thy name, Through all our boundless West! 737. L. M. Winchell's Sel.Missionaries Encouraged. 1Ye Christian heralds,--go, proclaim Salvation in Immanuel's name: To distant climes the tidings bear, And plant the rose of Sharon there. 2He'll shield you with a wall of fire, With holy zeal your hearts inspire, Bid raging winds their fury cease, And calm the savage breast to peace. 3And when our labors all are o'er, Then shall we meet to part no more,-- Meet, with the ransomed throng to fail, And crown the Saviour Lord of all. |
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