5. He spake, and light shone round his head,
On a bright cloud to heav'n he rode;
They to the farthest nations spread
The grace of their ascended God.

Hymn 371. L M.

The institution of a gospel ministry from Christ.
Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12.

1.

of

Smile on our homage, and our vows;
While with a grateful heart we share
These pledges of our Saviour's care.
2. The Saviour, when to heav'n he rose,
In splendid triumph o'er his foes
Scatter'd his gifts on men below,
And wide his royal bounties flow.

3. Hence sprung th' Apostle's, honour'd name, Sacred beyond heroic fame;

In lowlier forms to bless our eyes, Pastors from hence, and Teachers rise. 4. From Christ their varied gifts derive, And fed by Christ their graces live: While guarded by his potent hand, 'Midst all the rage of hell they stand. 5. So shall the bright succession run

Through the last courses of the sun; While unborn churches by their care Shall rise and flourish large and fair. 6. Jesus our Lord their hearts shall know, The spring, whence all these blessings flow; Pastors and people shout his praise Through the long round of endless days..

Hymn 372. c. M.

ESUS, thou all-redeeming Lord,
Thy blessing we implore,

Open the door to preach thy word,
The great, effectual door.

2. Gather the outcasts in, and save
From sin and satan's pow'r?
And let them now acceptance have,
And know their gracious hour.
3. Lover of souls, thou know'st to prize
What thou hast bought so dear :
Come then, and in thy people's eyes,
With all thy wounds appear!

4. Appear, as when of old confest,
The suff'ring Son of God;
And let them see thee in thy-vest
But newly dipt in blood.

5. The stony from their hearts remove,
Thou, who for all hast dy'd ;
Shew them the tokens of thy love,
Thy feet, thy hands, thy side!

6. Thy feet were nail'd to yonder tree,
To trample down their sin;

Thy hands they all stretch'd out may see,
To take thy murd❜rers in.

7. Thy side an open fountain is, Where all may freely go,

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And drink the living streams of bliss,
And wash them white as snow.

8. Ready thou art the blood t' apply,
And prove the record true;
And all thy wounds to sinners cry:
“I suffer'd this for you!"

Hymn 373. P. M.

TH

HOU Shepherd of Israel and mine, The joy and desire of my heart, For closer communion I pine,

I long to reside where thou art;

The pasture I languish to find,
Where all who their shepherd obey,
Are fed, on thy bosom reclin'd,

And screen'd from the heat of the day. 2. Ah! shew me that happiest place,

That place of thy people's abode, Where saints in an ecstacy gaze

And hang on a merciful God: Thy love for a sinner declare,

Thy passion and death on the tree; My spirit to Calvary bear,

To suffer and triumph with thee. 3. 'Tis there with the lambs of thy flock, There only I covet to rest;

To lie at the foot of the rock,

Or rise to be hid in thy breast: 'Tis there I would always abide, And never a moment depart ; Conceal'd in the cleft of thy side, Eternally held in thy heart.

Hymn 374. s. M.

The blessedness of gospel times.
Isai. v. 2, 7, 8, 9, 10. Matt. xiii. 16, 17.

"H

1. 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!

How sweet the tidings are! "Zion, behold thy Saviour 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 heav'nly light!
Prophets and kings desir'd it long,
But dy'd 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
Thro' all the earth abroad;
Let every nation now behold
Their Saviour and their God.

1.

Hymn 375. c. M.

ESUS, great Shepherd of thy sheep,
To thee for help we fly :
Thy little flock in safety keep,
For O the wolf is nigh!

2. He comes, of hellish malice full,
To scatter, tear, and slay;
He seizes ev'ry straggling soul,
As his own lawful prey.

3. Us into thy protection take,

And gather with thine arm:
Unless the fold we first forsake,
The wolf can never harm.

4. We laugh to scorn his cruel pow'r,
While by our Shepherd's side;
The sheep he never can devour,
Unless he first divide.

5. O do not suffer him to part
The souls that here agree!
But make us of one mind and heart,
And keep us one in thee!

A a

6. Together let us sweetly live,
Together let us die;

And each a starry crown receive,
And reign above the sky.

Hymn 376. L. M.

ESUS, 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. S. 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. In ev'ry messenger reveal

The grace they preach divinely free; That each may by thy Spirit tell :

"He dy'd for all, who dy'd for me." 5. A double portion from above,

Of thy all-quick'ning Spirit impart;
Shed forth thy universal love

In ev'ry faithful pastor's heart.

1.

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6. 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.

Hymn 377. L. M.

C

OMFORT, ye ministers of grace, Comfort the people of your Lord; Olift ye up the fallen race,

And cheer them by the gospel-word.'.