1 God of the prophets! Bless the prophets’ sons;
Elijah’s mantle o’er Elisha fast;
Each age its solemn task may claim but once;
Make each one nobler, stronger than the last.
2 Anoint them prophets! Make their ears attent
To Thy divinest speech, their hearts awake
To human need; their lips make eloquent
To gird the right and every evil break.
3 Anoint them priests! Strong intercessors, Lord!
Anoint them with the Spirit of Thy Son;
Theirs not a jeweled crown, a blood-stained sword;
Theirs, by sweet love, for Christ a kingdom won.
4 Make them apostles! Heralds of Thy cross.
Forth may they go to tell all realms Thy grace,
Inspired of Thee, may they count all but loss,
And stand at last with joy before Thy face.
