1 "Repent, re­pent," the Bap­tist cries
"For near at hand is He
Who with the Spir­it will bap­tize:
Th’in­car­nate De­i­ty!
I am the voice, He th’eter­nal Word;
I but a ser­vant, He th’al­migh­ty Lord."

2 As Thou Thy messenger didst send
O Lord, before Thy face,
So send’st Thou ever, till the end,
Thy ministers of grace;
Thou comest in them; all they have is Thine;
They are but channels, Thou the source divine.

3 O blessed Savior, may we learn
Thee in Thy church to see,
Thee in Thy ministers discern,
And in them honor Thee;
Thou at the font and al­tar, Lord, dost stand,
Tending, unseen, Thy people with Thy hand.

O may Thy pastors faithful be,
And feed with wholesome food
Thy own dear flock, redeemed by Thee
With Thy most precious blood.
So at Thy second coming we and they
May in Thy heav’nly fold be safe alway.