Part 10
4. To Thee, then, O Jesus, this day of Thy birth, Be glory and honor through heaven and earth, True Godhead incarnate, omnipotent Word! O come, let us hasten to worship the Lord!
Latin, 17th cent.; E. Caswall, tr., 1848.
160
8, 7, 8, 7
Hark! what mean those holy voices Sweetly sounding through the skies? Lo! th’ angelic host rejoices, Heavenly hallelujahs rise.
2. Listen to the wondrous story Which they chant in hymns of joy, Glory in the highest, glory! Glory be to God most high!
3. Peace on earth, good will from heaven, Reaching far as man is found; Souls redeemed and sins forgiven! Loud our golden harps shall sound.
4. Christ is born, the great Anointed; Heaven and earth, His praises sing! O receive whom God appointed For your Prophet, Priest, and King.
5. Hasten, mortals, to adore Him, Learn His name and taste His joy, Till in heaven ye sing before Him, Glory be to God most high!
6. Let us learn the wondrous story Of our great Redeemer’s birth; Spread the brightness of His glory Till it cover all the earth.
J. Cawood, 1819.
161
L. M. (with Hall.)
Immanuel, we sing Thy praise, Thou Prince of Life and Fount of grace, Thou Flower of heaven and Star of morn, Thou Lord of lords, Thou Virgin-born. Hallelujah!
2. With all Thy saints to Thee we sing, Praise, honor, thanks to Thee we bring, That Thou, O long-expected Guest, Hast come at last to make us blest! Hallelujah!
3. For Thee, since first the world was made, So many hearts have watched and prayed; The patriarchs’ and prophets’ throng For Thee have hoped and waited long. Hallelujah!
4. Above all others longed for Thee Thy people’s king and shepherd, he With whom Thou, Lord, so well wert pleased When with his harp Thy name he praised. Hallelujah!
5. Oh, that the Savior soon would come To break our bonds and lead us home! Oh, that He might salvation bring! Then Jacob would rejoice and sing. Hallelujah!
6. Now Thou art here, Thou Ever-blest! In lowly manger Thou dost rest; Great things Thou makest, yet art small; Naked Thyself, who clothest all. Hallelujah!
7. All heavens are Thine, yet Thou dost come To sojourn in a stranger’s home; A mother’s milk dost not despise, Who art the Joy of angels’ eyes. Hallelujah!
8. Thou hast set bounds to earth and sea, Yet swaddling-bands encircle Thee; Thou’rt God—a bed of straw Thou hast; Thou’rt man—yet art the First and Last. Hallelujah!
9. From Thee above all gladness flows, Yet Thou must bear such bitter woes; The Gentiles’ Light and Hope Thou art, Yet findest none to soothe Thy heart. Hallelujah!
10. The sweetest Friend of man Thou art, Yet many hate Thee in their heart; By Herod’s heart Thou art abhorred, Yet Thou art our Salvation, Lord. Hallelujah!
11. But I, Thy humblest servant, may Confess my love and freely say, I love Thee truly, but I would That I might love Thee as I should. Hallelujah!
12. I have the will, the power is weak, Yet, Lord, my humble offering take And graciously the love receive Which my poor heart to Thee can give. Hallelujah!
13. Thou to be weak dost not disdain, Dost choose the things the world deems vain, Art poor and needy and content To suffer poverty and want. Hallelujah!
14. Thou sleepest on the lap of earth; The manger where Thou at Thy birth Wast laid to rest, the hay, the stall, Were mean and miserable all. Hallelujah!
15. And therefore doth my courage rise, Me also Thou wilt not despise; O dearest Lord, Thy tender grace Fills me with hope and happiness. Hallelujah!
16. Although I’ve passed in sin my days And wandered far from wisdom’s ways, Yet Thou for this to earth hast come, To bring the wandering sinner home. Hallelujah!
17. Had I no load of sin to bear, Thy grace, O Lord, I could not share; In vain had’st Thou been born for me If from God’s wrath I had been free. Hallelujah!
18. Now fearlessly I come to Thee, From every grief Thou mak’st me free; Thou bear’st the wrath, dost death destroy, And turnest sorrow into joy. Hallelujah!
19. Thou art my Head, my Lord divine; I am Thy member, wholly Thine, And by Thy Spirit’s gracious power Will seek to serve Thee evermore. Hallelujah!
20. I’ll sing loud hallelujahs here With joyful spirit year by year; And in Thy courts of joy above Forever I will sing Thy love. Hallelujah!
Paul Gerhardt, 1653; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
162
L. M.
To shepherds, as they watched by night, Appeared a troop of angels bright; Behold the tender Babe, they said, In yonder lowly manger laid,
2. At Bethlehem, in David’s town, As Micah did of old make known; ’Tis Jesus Christ, your Lord and King, Who doth to all salvation bring.
3. Rejoice ye, then, that through His Son God is with sinners now at one; Made like yourselves of flesh and blood, Your Brother is th’ eternal God.
4. What harm can sin and death, then, do? The true God now abides with you. Let hell and Satan rage and chafe, God is your Brother—ye are safe.
5. Not one He will, nor can, forsake Who Him his confidence doth make; E’en if their worst your en’mies try, Ye may their powerless rage defy.
6. Ye must prevail at last, for ye Have now become God’s family; To God forever give ye praise, Patient and cheerful all your days.
Martin Luther, 1543; R. Massie, tr., a.
END OF YEAR.
163
7s 8 l
While with ceaseless course the sun Hasted through the former year, Many souls their race have run, Nevermore to meet us here; Fixed in an eternal state, They have done with all below; We a little longer wait, But how little, none can know.
2. As the wingèd arrow flies Speedily, the mark to find; As the lightning from the skies Darts and leaves no trace behind; Swiftly thus our fleeting days Bear us down life’s rapid stream. Upward, Lord, our spirits raise; All below is but a dream.
3. Thanks for mercies past receive, Pardon of our sins renew, Teach us henceforth how to live With eternity in view. Bless Thy Word to young and old, Fill us with a Savior’s love; And when life’s short tale is told, May we dwell with Thee above.
John Newton, 1774.
164
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7 (Iambic)
Across the sky the shades of night This winter’s eve are fleeting; We deck Thine altar, Lord, with light, In solemn worship meeting; And as the year’s last hours go by, We raise to Thee our earnest cry, Once more Thy love entreating.
2. Before the cross subdued we bow, To Thee our prayers addressing, Recounting all Thy mercies now, And all our sins confessing; Beseeching Thee this coming year To keep us in Thy faith and fear And crown us with Thy blessing.
3. And while we pray, we lift our eyes To dear ones gone before us, Safe home with Thee in Paradise, Whose peace descendeth o’er us; And beg of Thee, when life is past To reunite us all at last With those who’ve gone before us.
4. We gather up, in this brief hour, The memory of Thy mercies: Thy wondrous goodness, love, and power Our grateful song rehearses: For Thou hast been our Strength and Stay In many a dark and dreary day Of sorrows and reverses.
5. In many an hour, when fear and dread, Like evil spells, have bound us And clouds were gathering overhead, Thy providence hath found us. In many a night, when seas ran high, Thy gracious presence, drawing nigh, Hath made all calm around us.
6. Then, O great God, in years to come, Whatever may betide us, Right onward through our journey home Be Thou at hand to guide us; Nor leave us till, at close of life, Safe from all perils, toil, and strife. Heaven shall enfold and hide us.
James Hamilton, 1882.
165
7s
Thou who roll’st the year around, Crowned with mercies large and free, Rich Thy gifts to us abound, Warm our praise shall rise to Thee.
2. Kindly to our worship bow, While our grateful thanks we tell, That, sustained by Thee, we now Bid the parting year farewell!
3. All its numbered days are sped, All its busy scenes are o’er, All its joys forever fled, All its sorrows felt no more.
4. Mingled with th’ eternal past, Its remembrance shall decay, Yet to be revived at last At the solemn Judgment Day.
5. All our follies, Lord, forgive! Cleanse us from each guilty stain; Let Thy grace within us live That we spend not years in vain.
6. Then, when life’s last eve shall come, Happy spirits, may we fly To our everlasting home, To our Father’s house on high!
Ray Palmer, 1858.
NEW YEAR.
166
7, 5, 8 l
Father, let me dedicate All this year to Thee, In whatever earthly state Thou wilt have me be. Not from sorrow, pain, or care, Freedom dare I claim; This alone shall be my prayer: Glorify Thy name.
2. Can a child presume to choose Where or how to live? Can a Father’s love refuse All the best to give? More Thou givest every day Than the best can claim, Nor withholdest aught that may Glorify Thy name.
3. If in mercy Thou wilt spare Joys that yet are mine; If on life, serene and fair, Brighter rays may shine, Let my glad heart, while it sings, Thee in all proclaim, And, whate’er the future brings, Glorify Thy name.
4. If Thou callest to the cross And its shadow come, Turning all my gain to loss, Shrouding heart and home, Let me think how Thy dear Son To His glory came And in deepest woe pray on: “Glorify Thy name.”
L. Tuttiett, 1825.
167
L. M.
Great God, we sing that mighty Hand By which supported still we stand; The opening year Thy mercy shows; Let mercy crown it till it close.
2. By day, by night, at home, abroad, Still we are guarded by our God, By His incessant bounty fed, By His unerring counsel led.
3. With grateful hearts the past we own; The future, all to us unknown, We to Thy guardian care commit And, peaceful, leave before Thy feet.
4. In scenes exalted or depressed Be Thou our Joy and Thou our Rest; Thy goodness all our hopes shall raise, Adored through all our changing days.
5. When death shall interrupt our songs And seal in silence mortal tongues, Our Helper, God, in whom we trust, In better worlds our soul shall boast.
Philip Doddridge, 1755.
168
7s
For Thy mercy and Thy grace, Constant through another year, Hear our song of thankfulness; Jesus, our Redeemer, hear!
2. Lo! our sins on Thee we cast, Thee, our perfect Sacrifice, And, forgetting all the past, Press unto our glorious prize.
3. Dark the future; let Thy light Guide us, bright and Morning Star: Fierce our foes and hard the fight; Arm us, Savior, for the war.
4. In our weakness and distress, Rock of strength, be Thou our Stay; In the pathless wilderness Be our true and living Way.
5. Who of us death’s awful road In the coming year shall tread? With Thy rod and staff, O God, Comfort Thou his dying bed.
6. Keep us faithful, keep us pure, Keep us evermore Thine own; Help, O help us to endure; Fit us for the promised crown.
7. So within Thy palace gate We shall praise, on golden strings, Thee the only Potentate, Lord of lords and King of kings.
H. Downton, 1841, a.
169
L. M.
The new-born Child this early morn, The dear Christ-child, of virgin born, Again brings from His heavenly home A new year to all Christendom.
2. This causes joy to angels fair, Who love to keep us in their care; They sing that in this wondrous Child God now with man is reconciled.
3. Since God is reconciled with men, What harm can Satan do us, then? O’er Satan and the gates of hell This Christ-child shall for us prevail.
4. He brings the year of jubilee! Why doubt we yet despondently? Rejoice! This is a happy day; The Christ-child drives all care away.
C. Schneegass, † 1597; E. Cronenwett, tr., a.
170
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7
O Lord, our Father, thanks to Thee In this new year we render, For Thou hast been from misery And dangers our Defender; Through all the year that now has fled Hast given us life and daily bread And peace within our borders.
2. Lord Jesus Christ, our thanks to Thee In this new year we render, For Thou still rulest zealously Thy fold, with mercy tender; Thou hast redeemed us with Thy blood, Thou art our only Trust and Good, In life and death our Savior.
3. Lord Holy Ghost, our thanks to Thee In this new year we render, For by Thy grace it is that we Enjoy Thy Word’s pure splendor; Thus Thou hast kindled from above Within our hearts true faith and love And other Christian virtues.
4. Our faithful God, we cry to Thee: Still bless us with Thy favor, Blot out all our iniquity, And hide our sins forever; Grant us a happy, good New Year And, when the hour of death draws near, A blest departure. Amen.
C. Schneegass, † 1597; A. Crull, tr.
171
9, 8, 9, 8, 8, 8
Help me, O Lord! Behold, I enter Upon another year to-day; In Thee my hopes and thoughts now center, Renew my courage for the way: New life, new strength, new happiness I ask of Thee, O hear and bless!
2. May every plan and undertaking This year be all begun with Thee; When I am sleeping or am waking, Still let me know Thou art with me; Abroad do Thou my footsteps guide, At home be ever at my side.
3. Be this a time of grace and pardon; Thy rod I take with willing mind, But suffer naught my heart to harden; O let me now Thy mercy find; In Thee alone, my God, I live, Thou only canst my sins forgive.
4. And may this year to me be holy; Thy grace so fill my every thought That all my life be pure and lowly And truthful as a Christian’s ought; So make me, while yet dwelling here, Pious and blest from year to year.
5. And grant, Lord, when the year is over, That it for me in peace may close; In all things care for me and cover My head in time of fear and woes; So may I, when my years are gone, Appear with joy before Thy throne.
J. Rist, 1642; C. Winkworth, tr.
172
C. M.
O God, our Help in ages past, Our Hope for years to come, Our Shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal Home!
2. Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.
3. Before the hills in order stood Or earth received her frame, From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same.
4. A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun.
5. Thy word commands our flesh to dust: “Return, ye sons of men!” All nations rose from earth at first And turn to earth again.
6. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day.
7. Like flowery fields the nations stand, Pleased with the morning light; The flowers beneath the mower’s hand Lie withering ere ’tis night.
8. O God, our Help in ages past, Our Hope for years to come, Be Thou our Guard while troubles last And our eternal Home.
Isaac Watts, 1719.
173
L. M.
The old year now hath passed away, We thank Thee, Christ, our Lord, to-day That Thou hast kept us through the year When danger and distress were near.
2. We pray Thee, O eternal Son, Who with the Father reign’st as one, To guard and rule Thy Christendom Through all the ages yet to come.
3. Take not Thy saving Word away, Our souls’ true comfort, staff, and stay; Abide with us and keep us free From all false doctrines graciously.
4. O help us to forsake all sin, A new and holier course begin; From last year’s sins, Lord, hide Thy face, In this new year grant us Thy grace,
5. That as true Christians we may live Or die in peace that Thou wilt give, To rise again when Thou shalt come, And enter our eternal home.
J. Steuerlein, 1588; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
174
7s
Now let us come before Him, With songs and prayers adore Him, Who to our life from heaven All needed strength hath given.
2. The stream of years is flowing, And we are onward going, From old to new surviving, And by His mercy thriving.
3. In woe we often languish And pass through times of anguish, Of wars and trepidation, Alarming every nation.
4. A faithful mother keepeth Guard while her infant sleepeth, Its fear and grief assuaging When angry storms are raging.
5. Thus God His children shieldeth And full protection yieldeth; When need and woe distress them, His loving arms caress them.
6. In vain is all our doing; The labor we’re pursuing In our hands prospers never Unless God watches ever.
7. Our song to Thee ascendeth, Whose mercy never endeth; Our thanks to Thee we render, Who art our strong Defender.
8. O God of mercy, hear us; Our Father, be Thou near us; Mid crosses and in sadness Be Thou our Fount of gladness.
9. To all that bow before Thee And for Thy grace implore Thee, O grant Thy benediction And patience in affliction.
10. With richest blessings crown us. In all our ways, Lord, own us; Give grace, who grace bestowest To all, e’en to the lowest.
11. To all forlorn be Father, Thy erring children gather, And of the poor and needy Be Thou the Helper speedy.
12. Grant help to all afflicted; And to the souls dejected, By melancholy haunted, May cheerful thoughts be granted!
13. O Lord, assistance lend us, Thy Holy Spirit send us That He may make us glorious And lead to Thee victorious.
14. All this Thy hand bestoweth, Thou Life, whence our life floweth; To me and all believers Grant, Lord, these New Year’s favors.
Paul Gerhardt, † 1676; J. Kelly, tr., a.
CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST.
175
S. M.
The year begins with Thee, And Thou begin’st with woe To let the world of sinners see That blood for sin must flow.
2. Thine infant cries, O Lord, Thy tears upon the breast Are not enough; the legal sword Must do its stern behest.
3. Seemeth it strange to me My own will to deny? Seemeth it sad, my soul, to thee Under the yoke to lie?
4. I look, and hold my peace: The Giver of all good E’en from His birth takes no release From suffering, tears, and blood.
5. That I may reap in love, Help me to sow in fear; So life a winter’s morn may prove To a bright endless year.
J. Keble, 1827, a.
176
S. M.
The ancient Law departs, And all its terrors cease; For Jesus makes with faithful hearts A covenant of peace.
2. The Light of light divine, True brightness undefiled, He bears for us the shame of sin, A holy, spotless Child.
3. His infant body now Begins our pain to feel; Those precious drops of blood that flow For death the victim seal.
4. To-day the name is Thine At which we bend the knee. They call Thee Jesus, Child Divine; Our Jesus deign to be.
5. All praise, eternal Son, For Thy redeeming love, With Father, Spirit, ever one, In glorious might above.
Abbé Besnault, 1736.
177
L. M.
O sacred day, when first was poured The blood of our redeeming Lord! O solemn day, when first began His sufferings for sinful man!
2. Just born into this world of woe, His blood for man was made to flow. His future death was thus expressed; Thus, too, His early love confessed.
3. From heaven descending to fulfil The mandates of His Father’s will, E’en now behold the Victim lie, The Lamb of God, prepared to die.
4. Beneath the knife behold the Child, The Innocent, the Undefiled; For captives He the ransom pays, For lawless man the Law obeys.
5. Lord, circumcise our hearts, we pray, Our fleshly natures purge away; Thy name, Thy likeness, may we bear; O stamp Thy holy image there.
Abbé Besnault, 1736; J. Chandler, tr., a.
178
7s
Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Name all other names above, Unto which must every knee Bow in deep humility.
2. Jesus! Name decreed of old, To the maiden mother told, Kneeling in her lowly cell, By the angel Gabriel.
3. Jesus! Name of priceless worth To the fallen sons of earth, For the promise that it gave,— “Jesus shall His people save.”
4. Jesus! Name of mercy mild, Given to the holy Child When the cup of human woe First He tasted here below.
5. Jesus! Only name that’s given Under all the mighty heaven Whereby man, to sin enslaved, Bursts his fetters and is saved.
6. Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Human name of God above. Pleading only this, we flee, Helpless, O our God, to Thee.
W. W. How, 1854, a.
EPIPHANY.
179
7, 6, 8 l
O Jesus, King of Glory! Both David’s Lord and Son! Thy realm endures forever, In heaven is fixed Thy throne; Help that in earth’s dominions, Throughout from pole to pole, Thy realm may spread salvation To each benighted soul!
2. The Eastern sages, bringing Their tribute-gifts to Thee, Bear witness to Thy kingdom And humbly bow the knee. To Thee the star is pointing, To Thee, Incarnate Word; Hence joyously we hail Thee: Our Savior and our Lord!
3. Thou art a mighty Monarch, As by the Word we’re told, Yet carest Thou but little For earthly goods or gold; On no proud steed Thou ridest, Thou wear’st no jeweled crown, Nor dwell’st in lordly castle, But bearest scoff and frown.
4. Yet art Thou decked with beauty, With rays of glorious light; Thou ever teem’st with goodness, And all Thy ways are right. Vouchsafe to shield Thy people With Thine almighty arm That they may dwell in safety From those who mean them harm.
5. Ah, look on me with pity, Though I am weak and poor, Admit me to Thy kingdom, To dwell there, blest and sure!
I pray Thee, guide and keep me Safe from my bitter foes, From sin and death and Satan; Free me from all my woes.
6. And bid Thy Word within me Shine as the fairest star; Keep sin and all false doctrine Forever from me far. Help me confess Thee truly And with Thy Christendom Here own Thee King and Savior And in the world to come.
Martin Behm, 1606.
180
L. M.
The Star proclaims the King is here; But, Herod, why this senseless fear? He takes no realms of earth away Who gives the realms of heavenly day.
2. The wiser Magi see from far And follow on His guiding star; And led by light to light they press And by their gifts their God confess.