1 Father of mercies, bow thine ear
Attentive to our earnest prayer;
We plead for those who plead for thee,
Successful pleaders may they be?

2 How great their work, how vast their charge!
Do thou their anxious souls enlarge;
Their best acquirements are our gain,
We share the blessings they obtain.

3 Clothe then with Energy divine,
Their words, and let their words be thine:
To them thy sacred truth reveal,
Suppress their fear, inflame their zeal.

4 Teach them to sow the precious seed,
Teach them thy chosen flock to feed
Teach them immortal souls to gain—
Souls which will well reward their pain.

5 Let thronging multitudes around,
Hear from their lips the joyful sound;
In humble strains thy grace implore,
And feel thy new-creating power.

6 Let sinners break their massy chains,
Distressed souls forget their pains;
Let light thro' distant realms be spread,
And Zion rear her drooping head.