Part 11
3. Within the Jordan’s crystal flood In meekness stands the Lamb of God And, sinless, sanctifies the wave, Mankind from sin to cleanse and save.
4. At Cana first His power is shown; His might the blushing waters own And, changing, as He speaks the word, Flow wine, obedient to their Lord.
5. All glory, Jesus, be to Thee For this Thy glad Epiphany; Whom with the Father we adore And Holy Ghost forevermore.
From the Latin of Sedulius, 5th cent.; J. N. Neale, tr. 1852, a.
181
11, 10, 11, 10
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid; Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
2. Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining; Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall: Angels adore Him in slumber reclining, Maker and Monarch and Savior of all!
3. Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, Odors of Edom and offerings divine, Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?
4. Vainly we offer each ample oblation; Vainly with gifts would His favor secure. Richer by far is the heart’s adoration; Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
5. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid; Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Reginald Heber, 1811.
182
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Hail, Thou Source of every blessing, Sovereign Father of mankind! Gentiles now, Thy grace possessing, In Thy courts admission find. Grateful now we fall before Thee, In Thy Church obtain a place; Now by faith behold Thy glory, Praise Thy truth, adore Thy grace.
2. Once far off, but now invited, We approach Thy sacred throne; In Thy covenant united, Reconciled, redeemed, made one. Now revealed to Eastern sages, See the star of mercy shine; Mystery hid in former ages, Mystery great of love divine.
3. Hail, Thou all-inviting Savior! Gentiles now their offerings bring; In Thy temple seek Thy favor. Jesus Christ, our Lord and King. May we, body, soul, and spirit, Live devoted to Thy praise, Glorious realms of bliss inherit, Grateful anthems ever raise!
Basil Wood, 1813.
183
7s 6 l
As with gladness men of old Did the guiding star behold, As with joy they hailed its light, Leading onward, beaming bright, So, most gracious Lord, may we Evermore be led by Thee.
2. As with joyful steps they sped To that lowly manger-bed. There to bend the knee before Him whom heaven and earth adore, So may we with willing feet Ever seek Thy mercy-seat.
3. As they offered gifts most rare At that manger rude and bare, So may we with holy joy, Pure and free from sin’s alloy, All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.
4. Holy Jesus, every day Keep us in the narrow way; And when earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls at last Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Thy glory hide.
5. In the heavenly country bright Need they no created light; Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown, Thou its Sun which goes not down; There forever may we sing Alleluias to our King!
W. C. Dix, 1860.
184
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Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise, Manifested by the star To the sages from afar, Branch of royal David’s stem, In Thy birth at Bethlehem. Anthems be to Thee addressed, God in man made manifest.
2. Manifest at Jordan’s stream, Prophet, Priest, and King supreme, And at Cana, wedding-guest, In Thy Godhead manifest; Manifest in power divine, Changing water into wine. Anthems be to Thee addressed, God in man made manifest.
3. Manifest in making whole Palsied limbs and fainting soul; Manifest in valiant fight, Quelling all the devil’s might; Manifest in gracious will, Ever bringing good from ill. Anthems be to Thee addressed, God in man made manifest.
4. Sun and moon shall darkened be, Stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee; Christ will then like lightning shine, All will see His glorious sign; All will then the trumpet hear, All will see the Judge appear; Thou by all wilt be confessed, God in man made manifest.
5. Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord, Present in Thy holy Word; May we imitate Thee now And be pure as pure art Thou, That we like to Thee may be At Thy great Epiphany And may praise Thee, ever blest, God in man made manifest.
C. Wordsworth, 1862.
PRESENTATION OF CHRIST.
185
8, 5, 8, 4, 7, 7
In peace and joy I now depart At God’s disposing; For full of comfort is my heart, Soft reposing. So the Lord hath promised me, And death is but a slumber.
2. ’Tis Christ that wrought this work for me. The faithful Savior, Whom Thou hast made mine eyes to see By Thy favor. Now I know He is my Life, My Help in need and dying.
3. Him Thou hast unto all set forth Their great Salvation, And to His kingdom called the earth, Every nation, By Thy dear and wholesome Word, In every place resounding.
4. He is the Hope and saving Light Of lands benighted; By Him are they who dwelt in night Fed and lighted; He is Israel’s Praise and Bliss, Their Joy, Reward, and Glory.
Martin Luther, 1524; L. W. Bacon, tr., a.
186
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In His Temple now behold Him, See the long-expected Lord; Ancient prophets had foretold Him, God has now fulfilled His word. Now to praise Him, His redeemed Shall break forth with one accord.
2. In the arms of her who bore Him, Virgin pure, behold Him lie, While His aged saints adore Him Ere in faith and hope they die. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Lo, th’ incarnate God most high.
3. Jesus, by Thy presentation, Thou, who didst for us endure, Make us see our great salvation, Seal us with Thy promise sure, And present us in Thy glory To Thy Father, cleansed and pure.
H. J. Pye, 1853.
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Angels, from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth: Come and worship, Come and worship; Worship Christ, the new-born King.
2. Shepherds, in the fields abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing, Yonder shines the heav’nly Light: Come and worship, Come and worship; Worship Christ, the new-born King.
3. Sages, leave your contemplations; Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great Desire of nations, Ye have seen His natal star: Come and worship, Come and worship; Worship Christ, the new-born King.
4. Saints, before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear, Suddenly the Lord descending, In His temple shall appear: Come and worship, Come and worship; Worship Christ, the new-born King.
James Montgomery, 1816, a.
188
L. M.
O dearest Jesus, Thee I pray: Within my heart now make Thy stay, That I, like Simeon of old, By faith may gladly Thee enfold.
2. Thou art my Life and Happiness, Whom God hath sent my soul to bless; O cleanse and purify my heart That from Thy paths I ne’er depart.
3. Lord, with Thy light show me the way That never I may go astray; Ward off all sorrow and despair And let me be Thine own fore’er.
4. Lift up Thy face upon me, Lord, In life and death Thy help afford; Then I’ll depart most cheerfully This life whene’er it pleaseth Thee.
John Mylius, 1596; A. Crull, tr.
189
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7 (Iambic)
Thank God! my Jesus cleanseth me From all sins I committed; He paid my debt and set me free, I, therefore, am acquitted Of sin’s and Satan’s bondage fell. My faith now laughs at death and hell, Because my life is Jesus.
2. Why should I grieve? He who fulfilled The Law, thus to release us, He who His Father’s wrath has stilled By His own death, this Jesus Still liveth, and all that He hath He giveth unto me through faith; Is there a greater treasure?
3. Because my Jesus cleanseth me From sin by His own merit, I am from pain and fear set free, Death cannot daunt my spirit; I trust in Jesus’ righteousness, His innocence and blessedness Are now my life and treasure.
4. Now I, like Simeon, can end My life in peace and gladness, And to my God I can commend My spirit without sadness; For when my weary eyes I close, My death becomes a sweet repose, I see the joys of heaven.
5. How happy, therefore, shall I be When life’s frail thread is broken; When holy angels carry me To joys that ne’er were spoken; When I behold Him face to face, When I have gained that blessed place, Prepared for me by Jesus.
6. Lord, grant that e’er prepared I be, That naught from Thee me sever. And when I die, let me with Thee In glory live forever; Come quickly to deliver me, Lord, by Thy death and agony. Yea, come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
J. Olearius, 1671; A. Crull, tr.
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Light of the Gentile nations, Thy people’s Joy and Love! Drawn by Thy Spirit hither, We gladly come to prove Thy presence in Thy temple And seek with earnest mind, As Simeon once had waited His Savior God to find.
2. Yea, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee, E’en now, in every place Where Thy true Word hath promised That they should see Thy face. Thou yet wilt gladly grant us, Who gather round Thee here, In faith’s strong arms to bear Thee, As did that aged seer.
3. Be Thou our Joy, our Brightness, That shines mid pain and loss, Our Sun in times of terror, The Glory round our cross; A Glow in sinking spirits, A Sunbeam in distress, Physician, Friend, in sickness; In death, our Happiness.
4. Let us, O Lord, be faithful Like Simeon to the end, So that his dying anthem May from our hearts ascend: “O Lord, now let Thy servant Depart in peace, I pray, Since I have seen my Savior, Have here beheld His day.”
5. My Savior, I behold Thee Now with the eye of faith; No foe of Thee can rob me, Though bitter words he saith. Within Thy heart abiding, As Thou dost dwell in me, No pain, no death, has terrors To part my soul from Thee.
6. Lord, here on earth Thou seemest At times to frown on me, And through my tears I often Can scarce distinguish Thee; But in the heavenly mansions Shall nothing dim my sight, And I shall see forever Thine always glorious light.
J. Franck, 1674; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
PASSION OF CHRIST.
GENERAL.
191
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7
A lamb goes uncomplaining forth, The guilt of all men bearing; ’Tis laden with the sin of earth, None else the burden sharing; It goes its way, grows weak and faint, To slaughter led without complaint, Its spotless life to offer; Bears shame, and stripes, and wounds, and death, Anguish and mockery, and saith, “Willing all this I suffer.”
2. This Lamb is Christ, the soul’s great Friend And everlasting Savior; Him, Him God chose sin’s reign to end And bring us to His favor. “Go forth, My Son!” He said, “and bail The children who are doomed to hell But for Thine intercession. The punishment is great, and dread The wrath, but Thou Thy blood shalt shed And save them from perdition.”
3. “Yea, Father, yea, most willingly I’ll bear what Thou commandest; My will conforms to Thy decree, I do what Thou demandest.” O wondrous Love, what hast Thou done! The Father offers up His Son, The Son, content, descendeth! O Love, O Love, how strong art Thou! In shroud and grave Thou lay’st Him low Whose word the mountains rendeth.
4. Thou lay’st Him, Love, upon the cross, With nails and spear Him bruising; Thou slay’st Him as a lamb, His loss From soul and body oozing; From body ’tis the crimson flood Of precious sacrificial blood; From soul, the strength of anguish. My gain it is; sweet Lamb to Thee What can I give, whose love to me For me doth make Thee languish?
5. Lord, all my life I’ll cleave to Thee, Thy love fore’er beholding, Thee ever, as Thou ever me, With loving arms enfolding. Yea, Thou shalt be my Beacon-light To guide me safe through death’s dark night And cheer my heart in sorrow. Henceforth myself and all that’s mine To Thee, my Savior, I consign, From whom all things I borrow.
6. From morn till eve my theme shall be Thy mercy’s wondrous measure; To sacrifice myself to Thee, My foremost aim and pleasure. My stream of life shall flow for Thee, Its steadfast current ceaselessly In praise to Thee outpouring; And all that Thou hast done for me I’ll treasure in my memory, Thy gracious love adoring.
7. Enlarge, shrine of my heart, and swell, To thee shall now be given A treasure that doth far excel The worth of earth and heaven. Away with the Arabian gold, With treasures of an earthly mold! I’ve found a better jewel. My priceless treasure, Lord, my God, Is Thy most holy, precious blood, Which flowed from wounds so cruel.
8. This treasure ever I’ll employ, This every aid shall yield me; In sorrow it shall be my joy, In conflict it shall shield me; In joy, the music of my feast, And when all else has lost its zest, This manna still shall feed me; In thirst my drink; in want my food; My company in solitude, To comfort and to lead me.
9. Death’s poison cannot harm me now, Thy blood new life bestoweth; My Shadow from the heat art Thou, When noonday’s sunlight gloweth. When I’m by inward grief opprest, On Thee my weary soul shall rest, As sick men on their pillows. Thou art my Anchor, when by woe My bark is driven to and fro On trouble’s restless billows.
10. And when Thy glory I shall see And taste Thy kingdom’s pleasure, Thy blood my royal robe shall be And joy beyond all measure; It then shall be my glorious crown, Thus I’ll appear before the throne Of God and need not hide me; And shall, by Him to Thee betrothed, By Thee in bridal garments clothed, Stand as a bride beside Thee.
Paul Gerhardt, 1653.
192
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Jesus, I will ponder now On Thy holy Passion; With Thy Spirit me endow For such meditation. Grant that I in love and faith May the image cherish Of Thy suffering, pain, and death, That I may not perish.
2. Make me see Thy great distress, Anguish, and affliction, Bonds and stripes and wretchedness And Thy crucifixion; Make me see how scourge and rod, Spear and nails did wound Thee, How for man Thou diedst, O God, Who with thorns had crowned Thee.
3. Yet, O Lord, not thus alone Make me see Thy Passion, But its cause to me make known And its termination. Ah! I also and my sin Wrought Thy deep affliction; This the cause alone hath been Of Thy crucifixion.
4. Grant that I Thy Passion view With repentant grieving Nor Thee crucify anew By unholy living. How could I refuse to shun Every sinful pleasure Since for me God’s only Son Suffered without measure?
5. If my sins give me alarm And my conscience grieve me, Let Thy cross my fear disarm, Peace of conscience give me. Grant that I may trust in Thee And Thy holy Passion. If His Son so loveth me, God must have compassion.
6. Grant that I may willingly Bear with Thee my crosses, Learning humbleness of Thee, Peace mid pain and losses. May I give Thee love for love. Hear me, O my Savior, That I may in heaven above Sing Thy praise forever.
Sigmund von Birken, 1653; A. Crull, tr.
193
L. M.
To Thee, Lord Jesus, thanks we give, Who diedst for us that we might live And through Thy holy, precious blood Hast made us righteous before God.
2. We pray Thee, O true God and Man, Who wast for our offenses slain: Save us from everlasting death And cheer us when we yield our breath.
3. Defend us, Lord, from sin and shame; Help us by Thine almighty name To bear our crosses patiently, To trust in Thy great agony,
4. And thence the full assurance gain That Thou wilt e’er our Friend remain And not forsake us in our strife Until we enter into life.
Chr. Fischer, c. 1568; A. Crull, tr., a.
194
8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8
Jesus, grant that balm and healing In Thy holy wounds I find, Every hour that I am feeling Pains of body and of mind. Should some evil thought upstart, Let Thy cross defend my heart, Show the peril and from sinning Keep me ere its first beginning.
2. Should some lust or sharp temptation Prove too strong for flesh and blood, Let me think upon Thy Passion, And the breach is soon made good. Or should Satan make his way To my heart, O let me say: “Jesus Christ for me was wounded,” And the Tempter flees confounded.
3. If the world my heart entices On the broad and easy road, Filled with mirth and pleasant vices, Let me think upon the load Thou didst once for me endure, That I flee all thoughts impure, Banishing each wild emotion, Calm and blest in my devotion.
4. Yes, whate’er may pain or grieve me, Let Thy wounds, Lord, make me whole. When I’m faint, let them revive me, Granting new life to my soul. May Thy comfort render sweet Every bitter cup I meet, Thou, who by Thy death and Passion Hast procured my soul’s salvation!
5. O my God, my Rock and Tower! Grant that in Thy death I trust, Knowing Death has lost his power Since Thou trod’st him in the dust. Savior, let Thine agony Ever help and comfort me; Let Thy death be my protection, Safety, life, and resurrection.
6. Jesus, grant that balm and healing In Thy holy wounds I find, Every hour that I am feeling Pains of body and of mind; And when I this world must leave, Grant that, Lord, to Thee I cleave, In Thy wounds find consolation, And obtain my soul’s salvation.
J. Heermann, 1644, a.
195
L. M.
Lord Jesus Christ, my Life, my Light, My Strength by day, my Trust by night, On earth I’m but a passing guest And sorely with my sins opprest.
2. Far off I see my fatherland, Where through Thy blood I hope to stand. But ere I reach that Paradise, A weary way before me lies.
3. My heart sinks at the journey’s length, My wasted flesh has little strength, My soul alone still cries in me: “Lord, take me home, take me to Thee!”
4. O let Thy sufferings give me power To meet the last and darkest hour; Thy sweat refresh and comfort me, Thy bonds and fetters make me free!
5. The blows and stripes that fell on Thee Heal up the wounds of sin in me; Thy crown of thorns, Thy foes’ mad spite, Let be my glory and delight.
6. That thirst and bitter draught of Thine Cause me to bear with patience mine; Thy piercing cry uphold my soul When floods of anguish o’er me roll.
7. O let Thy holy wounds for me Clefts in the rock forever be Where as a dove my soul can hide And safe from Satan’s rage abide.
8. And when my lips grow white and chill, Thy Spirit cry within me still And help my soul Thy heaven to find When these poor eyes grow dark and blind.
9. And when my spirit flies away, Thy dying words shall be my stay. Let me depart with peaceful brow When I in death my head shall bow.
10. Thy cross shall be my staff in life, Thy holy grave my rest from strife; The winding-sheet that covered Thee, Oh, let it be a shroud for me!
11. Lord, in Thy nail-prints let me read That Thou to save me hast decreed, And grant that in Thy opened side My troubled soul may ever hide.
12. Since Thou hast died, the Pure, the Just, I take my homeward way in trust. The gates of heaven, Lord, open wide When here I may no more abide.
13. And when the last Great Day shall come And Thou, our Judge, shalt speak the doom, Let me with joy behold the light And set me then upon Thy right.
14. Renew this wasted flesh of mine That like the sun it there may shine Among the angels pure and bright, Yea, like Thyself in glorious light.
15. Ah, then I’ll have my heart’s desire, When, singing with the angels’ choir, Among the ransomed of Thy grace, Forever I’ll behold Thy face!
Martin Behm, 1603.
196
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 7
Christ, the Life of all the living, Christ, the Death of death, our foe, Who, Thyself for me once giving To the darkest depths of woe, Madest reconciliation And hast saved me from damnation: Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.
2. Thou, ah! Thou, hast taken on Thee Bonds and stripes, a cruel rod; Pain and scorn were heaped upon Thee, O Thou sinless Son of God! Thus didst Thou my soul deliver From the bonds of sin forever. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.
3. Thou hast borne the smiting only That my wounds might all be whole; Thou hast suffered, sad and lonely, Rest to give my weary soul; Yea, the curse of God enduring, Blessing unto me securing. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.
4. Heartless scoffers did surround Thee, Treating Thee with cruel scorn, And with piercing thorns they crowned Thee; All disgrace Thou, Lord, hast borne That as Thine Thou mightest own me And with heavenly glory crown me. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.
5. Thou hast suffered men to bruise Thee That from pain I might be free; Falsely did Thy foes accuse Thee— Thence I gain security; Comfortless once Thou didst languish Me to comfort in my anguish. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.
6. Thou hast suffered great affliction And hast borne it patiently, Even death by crucifixion, Fully to atone for me; Thou didst choose to be tormented That my doom should be prevented. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.
E. C. Homburg, 1659.
197
7, 6, 7, 6, 8, 7, 6
When o’er my sins I sorrow, Lord, I will look to Thee And hence my comfort borrow That Thou wast slain for me; Yea, Lord, Thy precious blood was spilt For me, O most unworthy, To take away my guilt.
2. Oh, what a marvelous offering! Behold! the Master spares His servants, and their suffering And grief for them He bears. God stoopeth from His throne on high; For me, His guilty creature, He deigns as man to die.
3. My manifold transgression Henceforth can harm me none, Since Jesus’ bloody Passion For me God’s grace hath won. His precious blood my debts hath paid; Of hell and all its torments I am no more afraid.