Change to strains of cheerful praise / Our accents of distress

1084 C. M.
The death of a pastor.

TO thee, O God, when creatures fail,
   Thy flock, deserted, flies;
   And on the’ eternal Shepherd’s care,
   Our steadfast hope relies.

2 When o’er thy faithful servant’s dust
   Thy saints assembled mourn,
   In speedy tokens of thy grace,
   O Zion’s God, return!

3 The powers of nature all are thine,
   And thine the aids of grace;
   Thine arm has borne thy churches up,
   Through each succeeding race.

4 Exert thy sacred influence here,
   And here thy suppliants bless;
   And change to strains of cheerful praise
   Our accents of distress.
                         Philip Doddridge
                         Methodist Episcopal hymnal (1870 edition)