Scripture Verse

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:1–2

Introduction

portrait
John B. Dykes (1823–1876)

Words: James Mont­go­me­ry, The Chris­tian Psalm­ist (Glas­gow, Scot­land: Chal­mers & Col­lins, 1825), page 424. On the ap­point­ment of a min­is­ter.

Music: Ke­ble John B. Dykes, 1875 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Herr Je­su Christ, Mein’s As Hym­no­dus Sa­cer (Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny: 1625) (🔊 pdf nwc)
portrait
James Montgomery
(1771–1854)

Lyrics

We bid thee wel­come in the name
Of Je­sus, our ex­alt­ed head.
Come as a ser­vant, so He came,
And we re­ceive thee in His stead.

Come as a shep­herd, guard and keep
This fold from hell and world and sin;
Nourish the lambs and feed the sheep;
The wound­ed heal, the lost bring in.

Come as a watch­man; take thy stand
Upon thy tow­er amidst the sky,
And when the sword comes on the land,
Call us to fight, or warn to fly.

Come as an an­gel, hence to guide
A band of pil­grims on their way,
That safe­ly walk­ing at thy side,
We fail not, faint not, turn nor stray.

Come as a teach­er sent from God,
Charged His whole coun­sel to de­clare.
Lift o’er our ranks the pro­phet’s rod
While we up­hold thy hands with pray­er.

Come as a mes­sen­ger of peace,
Filled with the Spir­it, fired with love;
Live to be­hold our large in­crease
And die to meet us all above.