Pastors

897 Choosing a Minister

1 LORD, Thy church, without a pastor, Cries to Thee in her distress;

Hear us, gracious Lord and Master, And with heavenly guidance bless.

2 Walking midst Thy lamps all golden, Thou preservest still the light;

Stars in Thy right hand are holden, Stars to cheer Thy church's night.

3 Find us, Lord, the man appointed Pastor of this flock to be, One with holy oil anointed, Meet for us, and dear to Thee.

4 Send a man, O King in Zion.

Made according to Thine heart, Meek as lamb, and bold as lion, Wise to act a shepherd's part.

5 Grant us now Thy heavenly leading, Over every heart preside, Now, in answer to our pleading, All our consultations guide.

Charles H. Spurgeon, 1866.

898 Watching for Souls

1 LET Zion's watchmen all awake, And take the alarm they give!

Now let them from the mouth of God, Their awful 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 woe.

4 All to the great tribunal haste, The account to render there; And shouldst 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.

Philip Doddridge, 1755

899 Welcoming a new Minister

1 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, Fill'd with the Spirit, fired with love;

Live to behold our large increase, And die to meet us all above.

James Montgomery, 1825

900 Minister bold for his Lord

1 SHALL I, for fear of feeble man, Thy Spirit's course in me restrain? Or undismay'd in deed and word, Be a true witness for my Lord?

3 Awed by a mortal's frown, shall I Conceal the Word of God Most High?

How then before Thee shall I dare To stand, or how Thy anger bear?

3 Shall I, to soothe th' unholy throng, Soften Thy truths and smooth my tongue? To gain earth's gilded toys, or flee The cross endured, my God, by Thee?

4 The love of Christ doth me constrain To seek the wandering souls of men; With cries, entreaties, tears, to save, To snatch them from the fiery wave.

5 My life, my blood, I here present, If for Thy truth they may be spent:

Fulfil Thy sovereign counsel, Lord!

Thy will be done, Thy name adored!

6 Give me Thy strength, O God of power!

Then let winds blow, or thunders roar, Thy faithful witness will I be:

'Tis fix'd! I can do all through Thee!

John Joseph Winkler, 1714; tr. by John Wesley, 1739.

901 Prayer for a 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 Before him Thy protection send;

Oh love him, save him to the end: Nor let him as Thy pilgrim rove, Without the convoy of Thy love.

4 Enlarge, inflame, and fill his heart; In him Thy mighty power exert; That thousands yet unborn may praise The wonders of redeeming grace.

Rowland Hill's Coll., 1774, a.

902 Prayer for Ministers

1 FATHER of mercies, bow Thine ear, Attentive to our earnest prayer;

We plead for those who plead for Thee;

Successful pleaders may they be!

2 Clothe Thou with energy divine Their words, and let those words be Thine; To them Thy sacred truth reveal, Suppress their fear, inflame their zeal.

3 Teach them aright to sow the seed:

Teach them Thy chosen flock to feed;

Teach them immortal souls to gain, Nor let them labour. Lord. in vain.

4 Let thronging multitudes around Hear from their lips the joyful sound, In humble strains Thy grace adore, And feel Thy new-creating power.

5 Let sinners break their massy chains, Distressed souls forget their pains;

Let light through distant realms be spread, Till Zion rears her drooping head.

Benjamin Beddome, 1818.

903 Dangerous Illness of a Minister

1 O THOU, before whose gracious throne We bow our suppliant spirits down, Avert Thy swift descending stroke, Nor smite the shepherd of the flock.

2 Restore him, sinking to the grave;

Stretch out Thine arm, make haste to save:

Back to our hopes and wishes give, And bid our friend and father live.

3 Bound to each soul by tenderest ties, In every breast his image lies;

Thy pitying aid, O God impart, Nor rend him from each bleeding heart.

4 Yet if our supplications fall, And prayers and tears can nought prevail, Be Thou his strength, be Thou his stay, Support him through the gloomy way.

5 Around him may Thy angels wait, Deck'd with their robes of heavenly state, To teach his happy soul to rise, And waft him to his native skies.

George Keith, 1787.

904 Deacons or Elders

1 RISEN Lord, Thou hast received Gifts to bless the sons of men, That with souls who have believed, God might dwell on earth again.

2 Now these gifts be pleased to send us, Elders, deacons, still supply, Men whom Thou art pleased to lend us, All the saints to edify.

3 Guide us while we here select them, Let the Holy Ghost be nigh, Do Thou, Lord, Thyself elect them, And ordain them from on high.

[Pause while the election is made.]

4 Lord, Thy church Invokes Thy blessing On her chosen (elders', deacons') head, Here we stand, our need confessing, Waiting till Thy grace be shed.

6 Pour on them Thy rich anointing, Fill Thy servants with Thy power, Prove them of Thine own appointing, Bless them from this very hour.

Charles H. Spurgeon, 1866.