3 Watch! ’tis the Lord’s command; And while we speak, he’s near; Mark the first signal of his hand, And ready all appear.
4 O happy servant he, In such a posture found! He shall his Lord with rapture see, And be with honor crowned.
473 S. M. D. Math. 9:38.
Lord of the harvest! hear Thy needy servants’ cry; Answer our faith’s effectual prayer, And all our wants supply. On thee we humbly wait; Our wants are in thy view; The harvest truly, Lord! is great, The laborers are few.
2 Convert and send forth more Into thy Church abroad; And let them speak thy word of power, As workers with their God. Give the pure gospel-word, The word of general grace; Thee let them preach, the common Lord, The Saviour of our race.
3 O, let them spread thy name; Their mission fully prove; Thy universal grace proclaim, Thy all-redeeming love. On all mankind, forgiven, Empower them still to call, And tell each creature under heaven, That thou hast died for all.
474 5s & 6s. Preach the word. 2 Tim. 4:2.
You servants of God, Your Master proclaim, And publish abroad His wonderful name: The name all victorious Of Jesus extol; His kingdom is glorious, And rules over all.
2 Christ ruleth on high, Almighty to save: And still he is nigh— His presence we have: The great congregation His triumph shall sing, Ascribing salvation To Jesus our King.
3 Salvation to him, Who sits on the throne— Let all cry aloud, And honor the Son; Our Saviour’s praises The angels proclaim, They fall on their faces And worship the Lamb.
4 Him let us adore, And give him his right; All glory and power, And wisdom and might; All honor and blessing With angels above, And thanks never ceasing, For infinite love.
475 7s. Prayer for deacons.
Son of God, our glorious Head! On us now thy blessing shed; From thy throne let mercy flow To thy waiting flock below.
2 Taught by thee, with prayer sincere, We have called thy servants here, For thy needy ones to care, And thy holy feast to bear.
3 May the Spirit from above Fill their hearts with faith and love; Make them humble, zealous, wise, Strife to shun, and good devise.
4 When their earthly work is done, When the crown of life is won, May they, with thy favor blest, Pass from labor into rest.
476 7s & 6s. The fields are white already to harvest. John 4:35.
Ho, reapers of life’s harvest, Why stand with rusted blade, Until the night draws round thee, And day begins to fade? Why stand ye idle, waiting For reapers more to come? The golden morn is passing, Why sit ye idle, dumb?
2 Thrust in your sharpened sickle, And gather in the grain: The night is fast approaching, And soon will come again. Thy Master calls for reapers; And shall he call in vain? Shall sheaves lie there ungathered, And waste upon the plain?
3 Come down from hill and mountain, In morning’s ruddy glow, Nor wait until the dial Points to the noon below; And come with the strong sinew, Nor faint in heat or cold; And pause not till the evening Draws round its wealth of gold.
4 Mount up the hights of wisdom, And crush each error low; Keep back no words of knowledge That human hearts should know; Be faithful to thy mission In service of thy Lord; And then a golden chaplet Shall be thy just reward.