Scripture Verse

Deacons…must be men worthy of respect, not double-tongued, not addicted to wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 1 Timothy 3:8

Introduction

portrait
George B. Ide (1804–1872)

Words: George B. Ide, The Bap­tist Harp (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Am­eri­can Bap­tist Pub­li­ca­tion So­ci­ety, 1849), num­ber 494.

Music: Ma­no­ah, ar­ranged from Gioa­chi­no A. Ros­si­ni (1792–1868) in Col­lect­ion of Church Mu­sic, by Hen­ry W. Great­or­ex, 1851 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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Gioachino A. Rossini
(1792–1868)

Lyrics

Vouchsafe, O Lord, Thy pre­sence now,
Direct us in Thy fear;
Before Thy throne we hum­bly bow,
And of­fer fer­vent pray­er.

Give us the men whom Thou shalt choose,
Thy house on earth to guide;
Those who shall ne’er their pow­er abuse,
Or rule with haugh­ty pride.

Inspired with wis­dom from above,
And with dis­cre­tion blest;
Displaying meek­ness, tem­per­ance, love,
Of ev­ery grace pos­sessed.

These are the men we seek of Thee,
O God of right­eous­ness;
Such may our dea­cons ever be,
With such Thy peo­ple blest.