Scripture Verse

They gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Acts 1:26

Introduction

portrait
Gerard Moultrie (1829–1885)

Words: Ger­ard Moul­trie, Hymns and Lyr­ics for the Sea­sons and Saints’ Days of the Church 1867.

Music: Sher­borne (Monk) Will­iam H. Monk, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Ratisbon Jo­hann G. Wer­ner, 1815 (🔊 pdf nwc)
portrait
William H. Monk (1823–1889)

Lyrics

Bishop of the souls of men,
When the foe­man’s step is nigh,
When the wolf lays wait by night
For the lambs con­tin­ual­ly,
Watch, O Lord, about us keep,
Guard us, Shep­herd of the sheep.

When the hire­ling flees away,
Caring on­ly for his gold,
And the gate un­guard­ed stands
At the en­trance to the fold,
Stand, O Lord, Thy flock be­fore
Thou the guard­ian, Thou the door.

Lord, whose guid­ing fin­ger ruled
In the cast­ing of the lot,
That Thy Church might fill the throne
Of the lost Is­ca­ri­ot,
In our trou­ble ev­er thus
Stand, good Mas­ter, nigh to us.

When the saints their or­der take
In the New Je­ru­sa­lem,
And Mat­thi­as stands elect,
Give us part and lot with him,
Where in Thine own dwell­ing place
We may wit­ness face to face.