3 Avert thy desolating stroke,

Nor smite the shepherd of the flock;
Restore him, sinking to the grave;

Stretch out thine arm; make haste to save!

4 Bound to each soul by tender ties,
In every heart his image lies;
Thy pitying aid, O God, impart,
Nor rend him from each bleeding heart.

5 But if our supplications fail,

And prayers and tears cannot prevail,
Be thou his strength, be thou his stay;
Support him through the gloomy way.

6 Around him may thine angels stand,
Waiting the signal of thy hand,
To bid his happy spirit rise,

And bear him to their native skies!

HYMN 170. C. M.

For a vacant Congregation on the Death of its Minister. 1 THOUGH earthly shepherds dwell in dust, The aged and the young;

The watchful eye in darkness closed,
And mute th' instructive tongue;

2 Th' eternal Shepherd still survives,
New comfort to impart;

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

3 To him, when mortal comforts fail,
His suppliant people fly;

And on th' eternal Shepherd's care
With cheerful hope rely.

4 The powers of nature, Lord, are thine,
And thine the aids of grace;
Thine arm has borne thy churches up,
Through every rising race.

5 Exert thy sacred influence here;
Thy mourning servants bless;
O change to strains of cheerful praise
Their accents of distress!

HYMN 171. L. M.

A Funeral Hymn.

1 THE God of love will sure indulge
The flowing tear, the heaving sigh,
When righteous persons fall around,
When friends beloved, and kindred die.

2 Yet not one anxious, murmuring thought
Should with our mourning passions blend;
Nor should our bleeding hearts forget
Th' almighty, ever-living Friend.

3. Parent, Protector, Guardian, Guide!
Thou art each tender name in one;
On thee we cast our every care,
And comfort seek from thee alone.

4 Our Father, God! to thee we look;
Our Rock, our Portion, and our Friend!
And on thy gracious love and truth
Our sinking souls shall still depend.

HYMN 172. L. M.

A Hymn for Morning or Evening.

' 1 My God, how endless is thy love!
Thy gifts are every evening new;
And morning mercies from above,
Gently distil, like morning dew.

2 Thou spread'st the curtains of the night, Great Guardian of our sleeping hours! Thy sovereign word restores the light, And quickens all our drowsy powers.

3 We yield our powers to thy command; To thee we consecrate our days; Perpetual blessings from thy hand Demand perpetual songs of praise.

HYMN 173. 7s. M.

Meditations in the Night Season.

1 WHAT though downy slumbers flee,
Strangers to my couch and me;
While with God's protection blest,
Cares and fears ne'er haunt my breast.

2 While the empress of the night
Scatters mild her silver light;
While the vivid planets stray
Various through their mystic way:

3 While the stars unnumbered roll
Round the ever-constant pole ;
Far above these spangled skies,
All my soul to God shall rise.

4 Midst the silence of the night,
Mingling with those angels bright,
Whose harmonious voices raise
Ceaseless love and ceaseless praise;

5 Midst the throng, his gentle ear
Shall my grateful accents hear:
From on high will he impart
Secret comfort to my heart;

6 Lifting all my thoughts above
On the wings of faith and love :
Blest alternative to me,

Thus to sleep, or wake, with thee!

HYMN 174. L. M.

Morning Hymn.

1 IN sleep's serene oblivion laid,
I safely passed the silent night:
Again I see the breaking shade,
I drink again the morning light.

2 New-born, I bless the waking hour; Once more, with awe, rejoice to be; My conscious soul resumes her power, And springs, my guardian God! to thee.

3 O guide me through the various maze My doubtful feet are doomed to tread; And spread thy shield's protecting blaze Where dangers press around my head.

4 A deeper shade will soon impend,
A deeper sleep my eyes oppress;
Yet then thy strength shall still defend,
Thy goodness still delight to bless.

5 That deeper shade shall break away,
That deeper sleep shall leave my eyes:
Thy light shall give eternal day;
Thy love, the rapture of the skies.