Part 25
5. Then all these wastes, a dreary scene, That makes us sadden as we gaze, Shall grow with living waters green And lift to heaven the voice of praise.
William Cullen Bryant, 1840, a.
480
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7
May God bestow on us His grace, With blessings rich provide us, And may the brightness of His face, To life eternal guide us, That we His gracious work may know And what is His good pleasure, And also to the heathen show Christ’s riches without measure And unto God convert them.
2. Thine over all shall be the praise And thanks of every nation, And all the world with joy shall raise The voice of exultation; For Thou shalt judge the earth, O Lord, Nor suffer sin to flourish; Thy people’s pasture is Thy Word Their souls to feed and nourish, In righteous paths to keep them.
3. O let the people praise Thy worth, In all good works increasing; The land shall plenteous fruit bring forth, Thy Word is rich in blessing. May God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit bless us! Let all the world praise Him alone, Let solemn awe possess us. Now let our hearts say, Amen.
Martin Luther, 1524.
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Awake, Thou Spirit, who didst fire The watchmen of the Church’s youth, Who faced the foe’s envenomed ire, Who witnessed day and night Thy truth, Whose voices loud are ringing still And bringing hosts to know Thy will.
2. Lord, let our earnest prayer be heard, The prayer Thy Son hath bid us pray; For, lo, Thy children’s hearts are stirred In every land in this our day To cry with fervent soul to Thee, O help us, Lord! So let it be!
3. O haste to help ere we are lost! Send preachers forth, in spirit strong, Armed with Thy Word, a dauntless host, Bold to attack the rule of wrong; Let them the earth for Thee reclaim, Thy heritage, to know Thy name.
4. Would there were help within our walls! O let Thy Spirit come again, Before whom every barrier falls; And now once more shine forth as then. O rend the heavens and make us free! Come, Lord, and bring us back to Thee!
5. And let Thy Word have speedy course, Through every land be glorified, Till all the heathen know its force And fill Thy churches far and wide. Spread Thou the conquest of Thy Word And let Thy kingdom come, O Lord!
6. The Church’s desert paths restore; Let stumbling-blocks that in them lie Hinder Thy Word henceforth no more; Error destroy, and heresy, And let Thy Church, from hirelings free, Bloom as a garden fair to Thee.
C. H. Bogatzky, 1750; C. Winkworth, tr., a., 1855.
482
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Soldiers of the Cross, arise, Gird you with your armor bright; Mighty are your enemies, Hard the battle ye must fight.
2. O’er a faithless, fallen world Raise your banner in the sky; Let it float there wide unfurled; Bear it onward, lift it high.
3. Mid the homes of want and woe, Strangers to the living Word, Let the Savior’s heralds go, Let the voice of hope be heard.
4. Where the shadows deepest lie, Carry truth’s unsullied ray; Where are crimes of blackest dye, There the saving sign display.
5. To the weary and the worn Tell of realms where sorrows cease; To the outcast and forlorn Speak of mercy and of peace.
6. Guard the helpless; seek the strayed; Comfort troubles; banish grief; In the might of God arrayed, Scatter sin and unbelief.
7. Be the banner still unfurled, Still unsheathed the Spirit’s Sword, Till the kingdoms of the world Are the kingdom of the Lord.
W. W. How, 1854.
483
L. M.
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun Does his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
2. To Him shall endless prayer be made And endless praises crown His head; His name, like sweet perfume, shall rise With every morning sacrifice.
3. People and realms of every tongue Dwell on His love with sweetest song; And infant voices shall proclaim Their early blessings on His name.
4. Blessings abound where’er He reigns; The prisoner leaps to loose his chains, The weary find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest.
5. Where He displays His healing power, Death and the curse are known no more; In Him the tribes of Adam boast More blessings than their father lost.
6. Let every creature rise and bring Peculiar honors to our King; Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the loud Amen.
Isaac Watts, 1719.
484
8, 8, 8, 6
Send Thou, O Lord, to every place Swift messengers before Thy face, The heralds of Thy wondrous grace, Where Thou Thyself wilt come.
2. Send men whose eyes have seen the King, Men in whose ears His sweet words ring; Send such Thy lost ones home to bring; Send them where Thou wilt come,—
3. To bring good news to souls in sin, The bruised and broken hearts to win; In every place to bring them in Where Thou Thyself wilt come.
4. Thou who hast died, Thy victory claim; Assert, O Christ, Thy glory’s name And far to lands of pagan shame Send men where Thou wilt come.
5. Gird each one with the Spirit’s Sword, The sword of Thine own deathless Word, And make them conquerors, conquering Lord, Where Thou Thyself wilt come.
6. Raise up, O Lord the Holy Ghost, From this broad land a mighty host, Their war-cry, “We will seek the lost Where Thou, O Christ, wilt come!”
Mrs. M. E. Gates, 1889.
THE MINISTRY.
485
8, 8, 6, 8, 8, 6 (C. P. M.)
Lord of the Church, we humbly pray For those who guide us in Thy way And speak Thy holy Word; With love divine their hearts inspire And touch their lips with hallowed fire And needful strength afford.
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
L. M.
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
S. M.
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.
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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
L. M.
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.
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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
C. M.
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
C. M.
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.