130. At the Settlement of a Minister. (L.M.)
HEPHERD of Israel, thou dost keep
With constant care thy humble sheep;
By thee inferior pastors rise,
To feed our souls, and bless our eyes.
2 To all thy churches such impart,
Modell'd by thine 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 pastures tread.
4 Here 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.
131. Christ ever present with his Ministers. (P.M.) 1 WIDE o'er all worlds the Saviour reigns, Unmov'd his power and love remains;
And on his arm his church shall rest.
Fair Zion, joyful in her King,
Through every changing age shall sing,
With his perpetual presence blest.
2 Tyrannic death, in vain thy rage,
Thy triumphs new in every age,
O'er the first heroes of his host;
Conscious of more than mortal aid,
Our bleeding hearts are not dismay'd,
But an immortal leader boast.
3 Though buried deep in dust they lie,
Whose tuneful voices rais'd on high
Led the sweet anthems to his name;
The children learn the father's song,
And unform'd tongues shall still prolong
The ever-present Saviour's fame.
4 The present Saviour, he shall give
Millions of future saints to live,
And crowd the temples of his grace:
The present Saviour, lo, he comes,
To call whole legions from their tombs,
And teach their dust sublimer praise.
132. Prayer and Hope of Victory. (L. M.)
NOW may the God of pow'r and grace,
Attend his people's humble cry!
Jehovah hears when Isr'el prays,
And brings deliv'rance from on high.
2 The name of Jacob's God defends,
Better than shields or brazen walls;
He, from his sanctuary, sends,
Succour and strength when Zion calls.
3 Well he remembers all our sighs; His love exceeds our best deserts; His love accepts the sacrifice,
Of humble groans, and broken hearts. 4 In his salvation is our hope,
And in the name of Isr'el's God,
Our troops shall lift their banners up,-
Our navies spread their flags abroad.
5 Some trust in horses train'd for war,
And some of chariots make their boast:
t;
Our surest expectations are,
From thee, the Lord, of heav'nly hosts.
60 may the mem'ry of thy name
Inspire our armies for the fight!
Our foes shall fall, and die with shame,
Or quit the field with shameful flight!
7 Now save us, Lord, from slavish fear;
Now let our hopes be firm and strong,
"Till thy salvation shall appear,
And joy and triumph raise the song.
The Church's Safety. (L. M.)
OD is the refuge of his saints,
When storms of sharp distress invade;
Ere we can offer our complaints,
Behold him present with his aid.
2 Let mountains from their seats be hurl'd,
Down to the deep, and buried there;
Convulsions shake the solid world,
Our faith shall never yield to fear.
3 Loud may the troubled ocean roar,
In sacred peace our souls abide;
While ev'ry nation, ev'ry shore,
Trembles, and dreads the swelling tide.
4 There is a stream, whose gentle flow
Supplies the city of our God:
Life, love, and joy, still gliding through,
And wat'ring our divine abode.
5 That sacred stream, thine holy word,
That all our raging fears controuls ;
Sweet peace thy promises afford,
And give new strength to fainting souls.
6 Sion enjoys her Monarch's love,
Secure against a threat'ning hour;
Nor can her firm foundations move,
Built on his truth, and arm'd with pow'r,
134. On a Day of Humiliation for Disappointment
1 ORD, hast thou cast the nation off?
Must we for ever mourn?
Wilt thou indulge immortal wrath?
Shall mercy ne'er return?
2 The terror of one frown of thine,
Melts all our strength away;
Like men that totter, drunk with wine,
We tremble in dismay.
3 Great Britain shakes beneath thy stroke,
And dreads thy threat'ning hand:
O heal the island thou hast broke ;-
Confirm the wav'ring land.
4 Lift up a banner in the field,
For those that fear thy name;
Save thy beloved with thy shield,
And put our foes to shame.
5 Go with our armies to the fight,
Like a confed'rate God;
In vain confed'rate pow'rs unite,
Against thy lifted rod.
6 Our troops shall gain a wide renown,
By thine assisting hand;
"Tis God that treads the mighty down,
And makes the feeble stand.
National Judgments. (C. M.)
THE gathering clouds, with aspect dark,
A rising storm presage;
O! to be hid within the ark,
And shelter'd from its rage!
2 See the commission'd angel frown;
That vial in his hand,
Fill'd with fierce wrath, is pouring down,
Upon our guilty land!
3 May we, at least, with one consent,
Fall low before the throne;
With tears the nation's sins lament,-
The church's and our own.
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