486.

C.M.- Watching for Souls, in the View of the great Account.

Heb. xiii. 17.
1 LET 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 fill'd a Saviour's hands.
3 They watch for souls, for which the Lord

Did heavenly bliss forego;
For souls, which must for ever live

In raptures, or in wo.
4 All to the great tribunal haste,

The account to render there;
And should'st thou strictly mark our faults,

Lord, how should we appear?
5 May they that Jesus whom they preach,

Their own Redeemer see;
And watch thou daily o'er their souls,
That they may watch for thee.

487.

C.M.-Prayer for Ministers.
1 CHIEF Shepherd of thy chosen sheep,

From death and sin set free;
May every under shepherd keep

His eye intent on thee! 2 With plenteous grace their hearts prepare,

To execute thy will:
Compassion, patience, love, and care,

And faithfulness and skill.
3 Inflame their minds with holy zeal

Their flocks to feed and teach;
And let them live and let them feel

The sacred truths they preach.

488. L.M.- The People's Prayer for their Minister. 1 WITH heavenly power, O Lord, defend

Him whom we now to thee commend; His person bless, his soul secure,

And make him to the end endure. 2 Gird him with all-sufficient grace,

Direct his feet in paths of peace;
Thy truth and faithfulness fulfil,

And help him to obey thy will.
3 Enlarge, inflame, and fill his heart,

In him thy mighty power exert;
That thousands yet unborn may praise
The wonders of redeeming grace.

489.
S.M.- Ministerial Desires. 1 Thes. iii. 8.
1 BLEST Jesus, bow thine ear,

While we entreat thy love;
O come, and all our hearts possess,

And our best passions move. 2 May we stand fast in thee,

Though storms and tempests beat;
And in thy guardian-arms obtain

A calm and safe retreat.
3 Still be thy truth maintain'd,

And still thy word obeyed,
And to the merits of thy blood

A constant homage paid.
4 So shall thy shepherds live,

And raise their cheerful head,
And, in such blessings on their flock,

Confess their toils repaid.

490. C.M.-Christ's Care of Ministers and Churches. Rev. ii. 1. 1 WE bless the eternal Source of light,

Who makes the stars to shine;
And through this dark, beclouded world,

Diffuseth rays divine.
2 We bless the church's sovereign King,

Whose golden lamps we are; Fix'd in the temples of his love,

To shine with radiance fair. 3 Still be our purity preserv'd;

Still fed with oil the flame; And in deep characters inscrib'd

Our heavenly master's name. 4 Then, while between our ranks he walks,

And all our state surveys,
His smiles shall with new lustre deck

The people of his praise.

491. L.M.- Paul's Solicitude to finish his Course with Joy.Acts xx. 24. 1 ASSIST us, Lord, thy name to praise

For this rich gospel of thy grace;
And, that our hearts may love it

more, Teach them to feel its vital

power.
2 With joy may we our course pursue,

And keep the crown of life in view;
That crown which in one hour repays

The labour of ten thousand days.
3 Should bonds or death obstruct our way,

Unmov'd their terrors we'll survey;
And the last hour improve for thee,

The last of life, or liberty.
4 Welcome those bonds, which may unite

Our souls to their supreme delight!
Welcome that death, whose painful strife
Bears us to Christ, our better life.

492.

C.M.-Christ's condescending Regard to little Children. Mark x. 14. 1 SEE Israel's gentle Shepherd stands

With all-engaging charms;
Hark! how he calls the tender lambs,

And folds them in his arms.
2 “ Permit them to approach,” he cries,

« Nor scorn their humble name;
- For 'twas to bless such souls as these,

“ The Lord of angels came.
3 We bring them, Lord, in thankful hands,

And yield them up to thee; Joyful, that we ourselves are thine,

Thine let our offspring be.
4 Ye little flock, with pleasure hear;

Ye children seek his face;
And fly with transport to receive

The blessings of his grace.
5 If orphans they are left behind,

Thy guardian care we trust:
That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,

If weeping o'er their dust.

493.
L.M.- Prayer of Parents for themselves and their Children.
1 FATHER of all, by whom we are,

For whom was made whatever is,
Who hath entrusted to our care

These candidates for glorious bliss. 2 Poor worms of earth, for help we cry,

For grace to guide what grace has given; We ask for wisdom from on high

To train our infants up for heaven. 3 Them we may tend, severely kind,

As guardians of their thoughtless youth; And plant thou in their tender mind

The principles of heavenly truth.

494.

L.M.- Prayer for Children. 1 THOU God of love and

mercy,

hear Our grateful vows, our fervent prayer; And with thy choicest favours bless,

And own as thine our infant race.
2 Incline their hearts to learn thy will,

Their opening minds with knowledge fill;
Impress thine image on their breast,
And guide them to eternal rest.

495.
C.M.-Joining the Church of Christ.
1 WITNESS, ye men and angels now,

Before the Lord we speak;
To him we make our solemn vow,

A vow we dare not break.
2 That long as life itself shall last,

Ourselves to Christ we yield; Nor from his cause will we depart,

Or ever quit the field.
3 We trust not in our native strength,

But on his grace rely,
That, with returning wants, the Lord

Will all our need supply.
4 O guide our doubtful feet aright,

And keep us in thy ways; And while we turn our vows to prayers,

Turn thou our prayers to praise.

496.

C.M.-Self-Dedication. Ps. cxvi.
1 I LOVE the Lord ;-He lent an ear

When I for help implor’d;
He rescu'd me from all my fear,

Therefore I love the Lord.