3 Oh, may these heavenly pages be
My ever dear delight;
And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.
4 Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be Thou forever near;
Teach me to love Thy sacred Word,
And view my Saviour there.
WORD of God incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky;
We praise Thee for the radiance
That from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps,
Shines on from age to age.
2 The Church from her dear Master
Received the gift divine,
And still that light she lifteth
O'er all the earth to shine.
It is the golden casket
Where gems of truth are stored,
It is the heaven-drawn picture
Of Christ, the living Word.
3 It floateth like a banner
Before God's host unfurled;
It shineth like a beacon
Above the darkling world;
It is the chart and compass
That o'er life's surging sea,
'Mid mists, and rocks, and quicksands,
Still guides, O Christ, to Thee.
4 Oh, make Thy Church, dear Saviour,
A lamp of purest gold,
To bear before the nations
Thy true light as of old;
Oh, teach Thy wandering pilgrims
By this, their path to trace,
Till, clouds and darkness ended,
They see Thee face to face.
Also the following:
72 Not by Thy mighty hand.
497 Come, pure hearts, in sweetest measures.
ORD of the living harvest
That whitens o'er the plain,
Where angels soon shall gather
Their sheaves of golden grain;
Accept these hands to labor,
These hearts to trust and love,
And deign with them to hasten
Thy kingdom from above.
2 As laborers in Thy vineyard
Still faithful may they be,
Content to bear the burden
Of weary days for Thee;
To ask no other wages,
When Thou shalt call them home,
But to have shared the travail
Which makes Thy kingdom come.
3 Come down, Thou Holy Spirit,
And fill their souls with light;
Clothe them in spotless raiment,
In vesture clean and white;
Within Thy sacred temple
Be with them where they stand,
To guide and teach Thy people
Throughout our native land.
4 Be with them, God the Father!
Be with them, God the Son!
And God the Holy Spirit!
Most blessed Three in One!
Make them a holy priesthood,
Thee humbly to adore,
And fill them with Thy fullness
Both now and evermore!
OW 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 Saviour, from Thy pierced 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.
ATHER of mercies, bow Thine ear,
Attentive to our earnest prayer:
We plead for those who plead for Thee;
Successful pleaders may they be!
2 How great their work, how vast their charge!
Do Thou their anxious souls enlarge:
Their best acquirements are our gain;
We share the blessings they obtain.
3 Clothe, then, with energy divine
Their words, and let those words be Thine;
To them Thy sacred truth reveal,
Suppress their fear, inflame their zeal.
4 Teach them to sow the precious seed;
Teach them Thy chosen flock to feed;
Teach them immortal souls to gain,
Souls that will well reward their pain.
5 Let thronging multitudes around
Hear from their lips the joyful sound;
In humble strains Thy grace implore,
And feel Thy new-creating power.
6 Let sinners break their massy chains,
Distressed souls forget their pains;
Let light through distant realms be spread,
And Sion rear her drooping head.
SPIRIT of the living God,
In all Thy plenitude of grace,
Where'er the foot of man hath trod,
Descend on our apostate race.
2 Give tongues of fire and hearts of love,
To preach the reconciling word;
Give power and unction from above,
Whene'er the joyful sound is heard.
3 Be darkness, at Thy coming, light;
Confusion, order, in Thy path;
Souls without strength inspire with might,
Bid mercy triumph over wrath.
4 Convert the nations! far and nigh
The triumphs of the cross record;
The Name of Jesus glorify,
Till every people call Him Lord.
OME, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire.
2 Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost Thy sevenfold gifts impart.
3 Thy blessed unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.
4 Enable with perpetual light
The dullness of our blinded sight.
5 Anoint and cheer our soilèd face With the abundance of Thy grace.
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