S.M. JAMES MONTGOMERY.

940 Let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual

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2

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covenant.-Jeremiah 1. 5.

OME, ye that fear the Lord,
COME
And love Him while ye fear;

Come, and with heart and hand record,

Your vow and covenant here.

Vow to be His alone,

Who bought you with a price;
Now render back to God His own,

By free-will sacrifice.

Here to His altar brought,

Your covenant renew,

To be in word, and deed, and thought,

Faithful to Him and true.

And true and faithful He

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To you will ever prove,

Though hills were swept into the sea,
And mountains should remove.

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Then be His law our choice,

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The joy of young and old,

As sheep that hear their shepherd's voice,

And follow to the fold.

So shall His staff and rod,

Conduct us and defend;

God is a covenant-keeping God,

And loves unto the end.

C.M. [JAMES NEWTON.]

941 They commended them to the Lord, on whom

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they believed.-Acts xiv. 23.

LE Who, hoping in Thy word,

ET plenteous grace descend on those

This day have publicly declared
That Jesus is their Lord.

945

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Brethren, farewell—2 Cor. x 11.
OLEST be the dear miting love,
That will not let ms part;
Our bodies may far off remove,

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We still are one in heart.

2 Joined in one Spirit to our Head,
Where He appoints we go;
And still in Jesus' footsteps tread,
And show His praise below.
30 may we ever walk in Him,
And nothing know beside;
Nothing desire, nothing esteem,
But Jesus crucified.

4 Partakers of His heavenly grace,
The same in mind and heart;
Nor joy, nor grief, nor time, nor place,
Nor life, nor death can part.

5 Thus let us hasten to the day

Which shall our flesh restore;

When death shall all be done away,
And we shall part no more.

CHOICE OF OFFICERS.

[COLLYER.]

C.M.

946 Look ye out...men of honest report.

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Acts vi. 3.

JESUS, in this solemn hour,
Be with Thy people here;
Let Thine authority and power
To rule Thy church appear.

2 As Master, Lawgiver, and Head,
Thee only we confess;
Upon us now Thy Spirit shed,
To sanctify and bless.

3 O may the choice which we have made
By Thee be ratified;

Thy servants' fitness be displayed,
As they are further tried.

4 With faithfulness may they fulfil
The office in their hands,

And seek to know and do Thy will,

In all that will demands.

[The words italicised may be changed into the singular number. [

FOR A CHURCH WITHOUT A PASTOR.

L.M.

A.L.P. (PEOPLE'S HYMNAL.)

947 He gave some...pastors.—Ep. iv. 11.

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TERNAL Shepherd, God most High,
In mercy hearken as we cry,
And send us in our time of need,
A pastor wise, Thy flock to lead.
2 Upon him pour the Holy Ghost
With all the flame of Pentecost;
With Peter's faith, vouchsafe him all
The love of John, the zeal of Paul.
3 Be his, like Thee, O Jesus meek,
To heal the bruised, to stay the weak,
And, in Thy might made brave and strong,
To war with sin, to right the wrong.
4 So leading where Thyself hast trod,
So guiding with Thy staff and rod,
May he Thy sheep in safety bring
To those bright pastures of the King.

5 And when at last, O gracious Lord,
Thou shalt bestow his full reward,
Let those whom he hath led aright
Be jewels in his crown of light. Amen.

THE MINISTRY.

948

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Pray ye the Lord of the harvest.—Matt. ix. 38.

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ORD of the harvest, hear

Thy needy servants' cry;

Answer Thy people's earnest prayer,
And all our wants supply.

2 On Thee we humbly wait;

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Our wants are in Thy view;
The harvest truly, Lord, is great;
The labourers are few.

Convert and send forth more

Into Thy church abroad;

And let them speak Thy word with power,

Co-workers with their God.

O let them spread Thy name;
Their mission fully prove;

Thy universal grace proclaim,
Thine all-embracing love.

L.M.

DODDRIDGE.

949 And He gave some, apostles;...and some,

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pastors and teachers.-Eph. iv. II.

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HE Saviour, when to heaven He rose
In splendid triumph o'er His foes,
Scattered His gifts on men below;
And wide His royal bounties flow.

2 Hence sprang the apostles' honoured name, Sacred beyond heroic fame;

In lowlier forms, to bless our eyes, Pastors from hence, and teachers rise. 3 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. 4 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.

C.M.

NEWTON.

950 Being ensamples to the flock.—1 Pet. v. 3.

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HIEF Shepherd of Thy chosen sheep,
From death and sin set free,

May every under-shepherd keep
eye intent on Thee.

His

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
Thy flock to feed and teach;
And let them live, and let them feel,
The sacred truths they preach.

L.M.

KEBLE.*

951 God, that comforteth those that are cast down.

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2 Cor. vii. 6.

PIRIT of Light and Truth, to Thee,
We trust Thy servants in this hour;
May they with open heart and free
Teach all Thy word, in all its power.