2 Be thy rich blessing shed On thy young servant's head, In this bright hour, Who at thine altar stands, With trusting heart and hands, Waiting thy true commands,-- Seeking thy power. 3 Grant him thy wisdom, Lord, And with thy mighty word Armed may he be; Faithful in teaching here, Moved by thy holy fear,-- May his great charge be dear, Father, to thee. 4 And when, his toilings ceased, To heaven, from earth released, Thou bid him come; Then, where no sin-cloud lowers, Be his glad theme and ours, Love's high redeeming powers, Man's endless home! 716. 8s. 7s. & 4s. M. L. C. Browne. The Same. 1 As the evening shadows gather O'er us, from thy holy hill May thy blessing, righteous Father, Like the evening dew distil; And thy presence Every heart with rapture fill! 2 While in summer's warmth and beauty, We our brother set apart To the pastor's solemn duty, May thy spirit warm his heart; Without measure, Wisdom, strength and love impart. 3 To perform the sacred function As thy servant we ordain, Father, may the holy unction Fall on him, like summer rain! Make him fertile, Bearing fruit like golden grain. 4 In the path of duty guide him, Firm in virtue may he stand; And from storm and peril, hide him In the hollow of thy hand; Keep his footsteps Till he tread the better land. 5 When at last his toils are over, Summer ended, autumn near, May he and his flock, like clover Ripened for the scythe, appear; And when falling, Guardian angels linger near. 717. 8s. 7s. & 4s. M. E. H. Chapin. The Same. 1 Father! at this altar bending, Set our hearts from world-thoughts free; Prayer and praise their incense blending, May our rites accepted be: Father, hear us, Gently draw our souls to thee. 2 Deign to smile upon this union Of a pastor and a flock; Sweet and blest be their communion: May he sacred truths unlock-- And this people Plant their feet on Christ the Rock. 3 Be his life a living sermon, Be his thoughts one ceaseless prayer: Like the dews that fell on Hermon, Making green the foliage there, May his teachings Drop on souls beneath his care. 4 Here may Sin repent its straying, Here may Grief forget to weep, Here may Hope its light displaying, And blest Faith, their vigils keep, And the dying Pass from hence in Christ to sleep. 5 When _his_ heart shall cease its motion, All its toils and conflicts o'er; When _they_ for an unseen ocean, One by one, shall leave the shore; Pastor, people, there--in heaven, May they meet to part no more. 718. C. M. H. Bacon.