And, by their fair example led, The way to Zion's pasture tread. 4 Here hast thou listen'd to our vows, And scatter'd blessings on thy house; Thy saints are succour'd, and, no more As sheep without a guide deplore. 5 Completely heal each former stroke, And bless the shepherd and the flock; Confirm the hopes thy mercies raise, And own this tribute of our praise. 474. C. M. Dr. Doddridge. Heb. xiii. 17. The Importance of the Pastoral Office. At the Ordination of a Minister.

1LET Zion's watchmen all awake,
And take th' 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 heav'nly bliss forego;

For souls which must for ever live,
In raptures or in woe.

4 All to the great tribunal haste,

Th' 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.

475. C. M. Dr. Doddridge. Mourning the Loss of Ministers. Numb. xxvii. 15-17. 1ATHER of Spirits! from thy hand, Our souls immortal came:

And still thine energy divine
Supports th' ethereal flame.

2 To thee, when mortal comforts fail,
Thy flock, deserted, flies;

And, on th' eternal Shepherd's care,
Our cheerful hope relíes.

3 When o'er thy faithful servant's dust
Thy dear assemblies monrn,

S

In speedy tokens of thy grace,
O'Israel's God, return!

4 The pow'rs of nature all are thine,
And thine the aids of grace:

Thine arm hath borne thy churches up,
Through ev'ry rising race.

5 Brect thy sacred influence here,
And here thy suppliants bless,

And change to strains of cheerful praise,
Their accents of distress.

6 With faithful heart, with skilful band,
May this thy flock be fed;
And with a steady growing pace,
To Zion's mountain led.

476. C. M. Dr. Doddridge.

Support under the Loss of Ministers.
Joshua i. 2, 4, 5.

TOW let our mourning hearts revive,
And all our tears be dry:

NOW

Why should those eyes be drown'd in grief,
Which view a Saviour nigh?

2 What though the arm of conqu❜ring death
Doth God's own house invade?

What though the prophet and the priest
Be number'd with the dead?

3 Though earthly shepherds dwell in dust,
The aged, and the young,

The watchful eye in darkness clos'd,
And mute th instructive tongue?
4 Th' eternal Shepherd still survives,
New comfort to impart;

His eye still guides us, and his voice
Still animates our heart.

5" Lo, I am with you, (saith the Lord),
"My church shall safe abide ;

"For I will ne'er forsake my own,
"Whose souls in me confide."

6 Through ev'ry scene of life and death,
This promise is our trust;

And this shall be our children's song,
When we are turn'd to dust.

477. L. M. Dr. Watts.

The Church's Safety and Triumph over national Desolations. Psalm xlvi. First Part. OD is the refuge of his saints,

'G When storms of sharp distress invade;

Ere we can offer our complaints,
Behold him present with his aid!
2 Let mountains from their seats be hurl'd
Down to the deep, and buried there:
Convulsions shake the solid world,
Our faith shall never yield to fear.
3 Loud may the troubled ocean roar,
In sacred peace our souls abide;
While every nation, ev'ry shore,
Trembles, and dreads the swelling tide.
4 There is a stream, whose gentle flow
Supplies the city of our God;
Life, love, and joy, still gliding through,
And wat'ring our divine abode.
5 That sacred stream, thy holy word,
That, all our raging fear controls:
Sweet peace thy promises afford,
And give new strength to fainting souls.
6 Sion enjoys her monarch's love,

Secure against a threat'ning hour;
Nor can her firm foundations move,
Built on his truth, and arm'd with pow'r.
478. L. M. Dr. Watts.

The Church protected by the Power of God. Psalm xlvi. Second Part.

1 ET Sion in her King rejoice,

LeThough tyrants rare, and kingdoms rise;

He utters his almighty voice,

The nations melt, the tumult dies.
2 The Lord of old for Jacob fought,
And Jacob's God is still our aid:
Behold the works his hand has wrought,
What desolations he has made!

3 From sea to sea, through all the shores,
He makes the noise of battle cease:
When from on high his thunder roars,
He awes the treinbling world to peace.
4 He breaks the bow, he cuts the spear;
Chariots he burns with heav'nly flame;
Keep silence all the earth, and hear
The sound and glory of his name.
5"Be still, and know that I am God;
"I'll be exalted o'er the lands;
"I will be known and fear'd abroad;
"But still my throne in Sion stands."

6 O Lord of hosts, almighty king!
While we so near thy presence dwell,
Our faith shall sit secure, and sing
Defiance to the gates of hell.

1

479. S. M. Dr. Watts.

The Church is the Honour and Safety of a
Nation. Psalm xlviii. 1-8.
REAT is the Lord our God,
And let his praise be great;
He makes his churches his abode,
His most delightful seat.

G

2 These temples of his grace,
How beautiful they stand!
The honours of our native place,
And bulwarks of our land.
3 In Sion God is known,
A refuge in distress;

How bright has his salvation shone
Through all her palaces!

4 Oft have our fathers told

Our eyes have often seen
How well our God secures the fold
Wheres own sheep have been.
5 In ev'ry new distress

We'll to his house repair,

We'll think upon his wondrous grace,
And seek deliv'rance there.

480. S. M. Dr. Watts.
The Beauty of the Church.
Psalm xlviii. 10-14.

1FAThe world declares thy praise;

AR as thy name is known,

Thy saints, O Lord, before thy throne
Their songs of honour raise.

2 With joy let Judah stand

On Sion's chosen hill,

Proclaim the wonders of thy hand,
And counsels of thy will.

3 Let strangers walk around

The city where we dwell,

Compass and view thine holy ground
And mark the building well:

4 The orders of thy house,

The worship of thy court,

The cheerful songs, the solemn vows,
And make a fair report.

5 How decent and how wise!

How glorious to behold!

Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes,
And rites adorn'd with gold.

6 The God we worship now

Will guide us till we die!

Will be our God while here below,
And ours above the sky.

481. L. M. Dr. Watts.

Jews and Gentiles united in the Christian Church. Psalm. lxxxvii.

1GOD in his earthly temple lays

JFoundations for his heav'nly praise: He likes the tents of Jacob well, But still in Zion loves to dwell. 2 His mercy visits every house

That pay their night and morning vows; But makes a more delightful stay Where churches meet to praise and pray. 3 What glories were describ'd of old! What wonders are of Zion told! Thou city of our God below,

Thy fame shall Tyre and Egypt know.
4 Egypt and Tyre, and Greek and Jew,
Shall there begin their lives anew:
Angels and inen shall join to sing
The bill where living waters spring.
When God makes up his last account
Of natives in his holy mount,'
'Twill be an honour to appear
As one new-born, or nourish'd there!
482. L. M. Dr. Watts.

The Church the Garden of God.
Psalm xcii. 12, &c.

1L Ingardens planted by thine hand;
Let me within thy courts be seen,
Like a young cedar, fresh and green.
2 There grow thy saints in faith and love,
Blest with thine influence from above,
Not Lebanon, with all its trees,
Yields such a comely sight as these.
3 The plants of grace shall ever live;
Nature decays, but grace must thrive)

TORD, 'tis a pleasant thing to stand