The pastor when his flock he leaves

Verse 1
The pastor when his flock he leaves,
A parting benediction gives;
The flock his prosperous labours shares,
And help the pastor by their prayers,
His fatherly concern approve,
With piety of filial love.

Verse 2
To God each other they commend,
And showers of grace on both descend:
In body for a while they part,
Inseparable still in heart:
To earth’s remotest corners driven,
They part below, to meet in heaven.

Hymnal/Album: Originally titled: “‘Paul departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.’—[Acts 15,] v. 40.” This hymn appears in the 1764 manuscript “MS Acts.” This manuscript is part of the collection of the Methodist Archive and Research Centre in The John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester (accession number MA 1977/555, Charles Wesley Notebooks Box 1). Accessed through the website of The Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition, Duke Divinity School. Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 12 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1871), page 311.
Publishing: Public Domain