707. L. M. Pierpont.

Ordination Hymn.

1O Thou, who art above all height!

Our God, our Father, and our Friend!

Beneath thy throne of love and light,

Let thine adoring children bend.

2We kneel in praise, that here is set

A vine that by thy culture grew;

We kneel in prayer, that thou wouldst wet

Its opening leaves with heavenly dew.

3Since thy young servant now hath given

Himself, his powers, his hopes, his youth

To the great cause of truth and heaven,

Be thou his guide, O God of truth!

4Here may his doctrines drop like rain,

His speech like Hermon's dew distil,

Till green fields smile, and golden grain,

Ripe for the harvest, waits thy will.

5And when he sinks in death,--by care,

Or pain, or toil, or years oppressed,--

O God! remember then our prayer,

And take his spirit to thy rest.

Benefits of the Ministry.

1Blest is the hour when cares depart,

And earthly scenes are far,--

When tears of woe forget to start,

And gently dawns upon the heart

Devotion's holy star.

2Blest is the place where angels bend

To hear our worship rise,

Where kindred thoughts their musings blend,

And all the soul's affections tend

Beyond the veiling skies.

3Blest are the hallowed vows that bind

Man to his work of love,--

Bind him to cheer the humble mind,

Console the weeping, lead the blind,

And guide to joys above.

4Sweet shall the song of glory swell,

Spirit divine to thee,

When they whose work is finished well,

In thy own courts of rest shall dwell,

Blest through eternity.