A Prayer For Ministers

Father of mercies, bow Thine ear,

Attentive to our earnest prayer:

We plead for those who plead for Thee;

Successful pleaders may they be!

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.

Clothe, then with energy divine

Their words, and let their words be Thine;

To them Thy sacred truth reveal,

Suppress their fear, inflame their zeal.

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.

Let thronging multitudes around

Hear from their lips the joyful sound;

In humble strains Thy grace implore,

And feel Thy new-creating power.

Let sinners break their massy chains,

Distressèd souls forget their pains;

Let light through distant realms be spread,

And Sion rear her drooping head.