Part 16
4. Therefore saith God: “I must arise To quell their great wrong-doing; To Me ascend My people’s sighs, And I have heard their suing. My saving Word shall take the field, Shall be the poor man’s strength and shield, Shall conquer all opponents.”
5. As silver seven times furnace-tried, Is pure from all its drosses, So doth the Word of God abide The brighter for its crosses; For trial shows its worth aright And manifests its strength and light, That through all lands it shineth.
6. O God, preserve it pure and free From this vile generation And let us be preserved by Thee From their abomination. The wicked walk on every side When mid Thy flock the vile abide In power and are exalted.
Ps. 12. Martin Luther, 1524.
279
10, 10, 10, 4
Christ, Thou the Champion of the band who own Thy Cross, O make Thy succor quickly known! The schemes of those who long our blood have sought Bring Thou to naught.
2. Do Thou Thyself for us, Thy children, fight, Withstand the devil, quell his rage and might; Whate’er assails Thy members left below Do Thou o’erthrow.
3. And give us Thy peace: peace in Church and school; Peace to the powers who o’er our country rule; Peace to the conscience, peace within the heart, Do Thou impart.
4. So shall Thy goodness here be still adored, Thou Guardian of Thy little flock, dear Lord; And heaven and earth through all eternity Shall worship Thee.
M. A. von Loewenstern, 1644; C. Winkworth, tr. abr.
280
11, 11, 11, 5
Ah! Lord, our God, let them not be confounded Who, though by want and woe and pain surrounded, Yet day and night still for Thy hope are sighing, To Thee are crying.
2. But put to shame Thy foes who breathe defiance And make their own vain might their sole reliance. O turn in mercy to Thy generation; Lord, have compassion!
3. We stand bereft of help and poor and lonely; ’Twere vain to trust in man. With Thee, Lord, only We may defeat the enemies around us Who seek to wound us.
4. Thou art our Champion, who canst overthrow them And save the little flock now crushed below them. We trust in Thee; for Jesus’ sake be near us; Help, Helper, hear us!
J. Heermann, 1630; C. Winkworth, tr.
281
L. M.
No change of time shall ever shock My firm affection, Lord, to Thee; For Thou hast always been a Rock, A Fortress, and Defense to me.
2. Thou my Deliverer art, my God; My trust is in Thy mighty power. Thou art my Shield from foes abroad; At home, my Safeguard and my Tower.
3. To Thee I will address my prayer, To whom all praise we justly owe; So shall I, by Thy watchful care, Be guarded safe from every foe.
4. Let the eternal Lord be praised, The Rock on whose defense I rest. O’er highest heavens His name be raised Who me with His salvation blest.
Ps. 18. Tate and Brady, 1698, abr.
282
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Had God not come, may Israel say, Had God not come to aid us, Our enemies before this day Would surely have dismayed us; For we are but a handful small, Held in contempt and scorn by all, All men rise up against us.
2. Their furious Wrath, did God permit, Would surely have consumed us And in the deep and yawning pit With life and limb entombed us; Like men o’er whom dark waters roll, The streams had gone e’en o’er our soul And mightily o’erwhelmed us.
3. Blest be the Lord, who from the pit Snatched us when it was gaping; Our souls, like birds that break the net, To the blue skies escaping; The snare is broken—we are free! Our help is ever, Lord, in Thee, The God of earth and heaven.
Ps. 124. Martin Luther, 1525; R. Massie, tr., a.
283
L. M.
When Rome had shrouded earth in night, God said again, Let there be light! And Luther with the Gospel came To spread the truth in Jesus’ name.
2. When Rome the saints of God oppressed, And burdened souls could find no rest, Through Luther God deliv’rance sent By His pure Word and Sacrament.
3. Though hosts against us stand arrayed, Christ bids us still, Be not afraid. Though all its powers the truth assail, The gates of hell shall not prevail.
4. To-day with joyful hearts we sing The guardian care of Christ, our King, Who through His chosen instrument To us hath this salvation sent.
5. O Lord, whose mercies still endure, Preserve to us Thy Gospel pure; Let it alone within us reign That Thine the glory may remain.
M. Loy, 1880.
284
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7
If God were not upon our side When round us foes are raging, Were not Himself our Help and Guide When bitter war they’re waging, Were He not Israel’s mighty Shield, To whom their utmost craft must yield, We surely must have perished.
2. But now no human wit or might His chosen people frighteth; God sitteth in the highest height, And He their counsels blighteth. When craftiest snares and nets they lay, God doth His work another way And makes a path before us.
3. Against our souls they rage and mock, Exciting great commotion; As billows meet with angry shock Out on the stormy ocean, So they our lives with fury seek. But God hath pity on the weak, And Him they have forgotten.
4. They call us heretics and aye Their Christian name are flaunting; They seek to spill our blood, while they Their fear of God are vaunting. Ah, God! that precious name of Thine O’er many a wicked deed must shine, But Thou wilt once avenge it.
5. They open wide their ravenous jaws And threaten to devour us, But thanks to God, who rules our cause, They shall not overpower us; Their snares He yet will bring to naught And overthrow what they have taught; God is too mighty for them.
6. How richly He consoleth those Whom no one else befriendeth! The door of grace doth never close; Sense cannot comprehend it How this may be and deems all lost, When through this very cross a host Of champions God is raising.
7. Our foes, O God, are in Thy hand, Thou knowest their endeavor; But only give us strength to stand And let us waver never, Though reason strives with faith, and still It fears to wholly trust Thy will And sees not Thy salvation.
8. But heaven and earth, O Lord, are Thine, For Thou alone hast made them; Thy light let on Thy people shine And in their sorrow aid them. Ignite our hearts to love and faith That shall be steadfast e’en to death, Howe’er the world may murmur.
Ps. 124. Justus Jonas, 1524; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.
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Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright, Filled with celestial resplendence and light, These that, where night never followeth day, Raise the “Thrice holy, Lord!” ever and aye!
2. These are Thy ministers, these dost Thou own, Lord God of Sabaoth, nearest Thy throne. These are Thy messengers; these dost Thou send, Help of the helpless ones, man to defend.
3. When by Thy word earth was first poised in space, When the far planets first sped on their race, When was completed the six days’ employ, Then “all the sons of God shouted for joy.”
4. Still let them succor us; still let them fight, Lord of angelic hosts, battling for right, Till, where their anthems they ceaselessly pour, We with the angels may bow and adore.
Joseph of the Studium, c. 850; J. M. Neale, tr., 1862, a.
286
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Lord God, we all to Thee give praise, Thank-offerings meet to Thee we raise, That Thou didst angel hosts create Around Thy glorious throne to wait.
2. They glow with light and heavenly grace And constantly behold Thy face; Obedience to Thy voice they yield And are with godly wisdom filled.
3. They never rest nor sleep as we; Their whole delight is but to be Forever near Thee, gracious Lord, Thy little flock to watch and guard.
4. The foul old Dragon and dread Foe With envy, hate, and wrath doth glow; It always is his aim and pride Thy Christian people to divide.
5. As he has blighted earth of old, He keeps e’en now his deathly hold, Chafes madly to annihilate All virtue, honor, Church, and State.
6. Therefore no halt or rest he knows; A roaring lion round he goes, Or lies in wait with baneful snare To drive the Christians to despair.
7. But watchful is the angel band That follows Christ on every hand And guards Thy holy Christendom From harm that might from Satan come.
8. From Daniel’s case this may be seen When he sat in the lions’ den, And likewise angels rescued Lot That the ungodly harmed him not.
9. When the three Hebrews were at last Into the fiery furnace cast, No power had fiercest flames to harm Against the rescuing angel’s arm.
10. And thus our God, still at this day, From harm and many an evil way Keeps near us His dear angel guard, Placed over us as watch and ward.
11. For this, now and eternally, Our praise shall rise, O God, to Thee, Whom all the angel hosts adore With joy now and forevermore.
12. We also pray Thee to defend By them unto the latter end Thy fold, that little flock, O Lord, That holds in honor Thy blest Word.
From the Latin of Philip Melanchthon. Paul Eber, 1566.
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Jesus, Brightness of the Father, Life and Strength of all who live! In the presence of the angels Glory in Thy name we give: And Thy wondrous praise rehearse, Singing in harmonious verse.
2. Blessed Lord, by their protection Shelter us from harm this day; Keep us pure in flesh and spirit; Save us from the Foe, we pray: And vouchsafe us by Thy grace In Thy paradise a place.
3. Glory to th’ almighty Father, Sing we with the heavenly host; Glory to the great Redeemer, Glory to the Holy Ghost; Three in One, and One in Three, Throughout all eternity!
Rhabanus Maurus, † 856; E. Caswall, tr., 1848, a.
ALL SAINTS.
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Ten thousand times ten thousand In sparkling raiment bright, The armies of the ransomed saints Throng up the steeps of light. ’Tis finished! all is finished, Their fight with death and sin; Fling open wide the golden gates, And let the victors in.
2. What rush of alleluias Fills all the earth and sky! What ringing of a thousand harps Bespeaks the triumph nigh! O day, for which creation And all its tribes were made; O joy, for all its former woes A thousandfold repaid!
3. Oh, then, what raptured greetings On Canaan’s happy shore; What knitting severed friendships up, Where partings are no more! Then eyes with joy shall sparkle That brimmed with tears of late; Orphans no longer fatherless Nor widows desolate.
4. Bring near Thy great salvation, Thou Lamb for sinners slain; Fill up the roll of Thine elect, Then take Thy power and reign. Appear, Desire of nations, Thine exiles long for home; Show in the heav’ns Thy promised sign; Thou Prince and Savior, come!
H. Alford, 1867.
289
S. M.
For all Thy saints, O Lord, Who strove in Thee to live, Who followed Thee, obeyed, adored, Our grateful hymn receive.
2. For all Thy saints, O Lord, Accept our thankful cry, Who counted Thee their great reward And strove in Thee to die.
3. They all in life and death, With Thee, their Lord, in view, Learned from Thy Holy Spirit’s breath To suffer and to do.
4. For this Thy name we bless And humbly pray that we May follow them in holiness And live and die in Thee.
R. Mant, 1837, abr.
290
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Hark! the sound of holy voices Chanting o’er the crystal sea, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord, to Thee! Multitudes which none can number Like the stars in glory stand, Clothed in white apparel, holding Palms of vict’ry in their hand.
2. Patriarch, and holy prophet, Who prepared the way of Christ, King, apostle, saint, confessor, Martyr and evangelist, Saintly maiden, godly matron, Widows who have watched to prayer, Joined in holy concert, singing To the Lord of all, are there.
3. They have come from tribulation And have washed their robes in blood, Washed them in the blood of Jesus; Tried they were, and firm they stood. Mocked, imprisoned, stoned, tormented, Sawn asunder, slain with sword, They have conquered death and Satan By the might of Christ the Lord.
4. Marching with Thy cross, their banner, They have triumphed, following Thee, the Captain of salvation, Thee, their Savior and their King. Gladly, Lord, with Thee they suffered, Gladly, Lord, with Thee they died, And by death to life immortal They were born and glorified.
5. Now they reign in heavenly glory. Now they walk in golden light, Now they drink, as from a river, Holy bliss and infinite. Love and peace they taste forever And all truth and knowledge see In the beatific vision Of the blessed Trinity.
C. Wordsworth, 1862.
HARVEST AND THANKSGIVING.
291
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O Lord, whose bounteous hand again Hath poured Thy gifts in plenty down, Who all creation dost sustain And all the earth with goodness crown: Lord of the harvest, here we own Our joy Thy gift, and Thine alone.
2. O may we ne’er with thankless heart Forget from whom our blessings flow. Still, Lord, Thy heavenly grace impart; Still teach us what to Thee we owe. Lord, may our lives with fruit divine Return Thy care and prove us Thine.
3. Lord, grant that each may sow to Thee; Grant us in endless life to reap. Of every heart the Guardian be; By day and night Thy servants keep That all to Thee may joy afford On Thy great harvest-day, O Lord.
Anon.
292
C. M.
O Lord, I sing with lips and heart, Joy of my soul, to Thee; To earth Thy knowledge I impart As it is known to me.
2. Thou art the Fount of grace, I know, And Spring so full and free, Whence saving health and goodness flow Each day so bounteously.
3. For what have all that live and move Through this wide world below That does not from Thy bounteous love, O heavenly Father, flow?
4. Who built the lofty firmament? Who spread th’ expanse of blue? By whom are to our pastures sent Refreshing rain and dew?
5. Who warmeth us in cold and frost? Who shields us from the wind? Who orders it that oil and must We in their season find?
6. Who is it life and health bestows? Who keeps us with His hand In golden peace, wards off war’s woes From our dear native land?
7. O Lord, of this and all our store Thou art the Author blest; Thou keepest watch before our door While we securely rest.
8. Thou feedest us from year to year And constant dost abide; With ready help in time of fear Thou standest at our side.
9. With patience dost Thou ever chide And chasten’st sparingly; Thou castest all our sins aside And drown’st them in the sea.
10. When silent woe our bosom rends, Thy pity sees our grief And gives what to our glory tends No less than our relief.
11. Thou knowest when a Christian weeps And why his tear-drops fall; And in the book Thy mercy keeps These things are noted all.
12. Our deepest needs dost Thou supply, Thou giv’st what lasts for aye; Thou lead’st us to our home on high When hence we pass away.
13. Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing, A cheerful trust maintain! For God, the Source of everything, Thy Portion will remain.
14. He is thy Treasure, He thy Joy, Thy Life and Light and Lord, Thy Counselor when doubts annoy, Thy Shield and great Reward.
15. In restless thought or blank despair Why spend each day and night? On Him who made thee cast thy care; He makes our burdens light.
16. Did not His love and truth and power Watch o’er thy childhood’s day? Has He not oft in threatening hour Turned dreaded ills away?
17. His wisdom never plans in vain, Ne’er falters or mistakes; All that His counsels did ordain A happy ending makes.
18. Upon thy lips, then, lay thy hand And trust His guiding love; Then firm as rock thy peace shall stand Here and in heaven above.
Paul Gerhardt, 1653.
293
C. M.
We sing th’ almighty power of God, Who bade the mountains rise, Who spread the flowing seas abroad, And built the lofty skies.
2. We sing the wisdom that ordained The sun to rule the day; The moon shines, too, at His command, And all the stars obey.
3. We sing the goodness of the Lord, Who fills the earth with food; Who formed His creatures by a word And then pronounced them good.
4. Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed Where’er we turn our eyes, Whene’er we view the ground we tread Or gaze upon the skies!
5. There’s not a plant nor flower below But makes Thy glories known; And clouds arise and tempests blow By order from Thy throne.
6. On Thee each moment we depend; If Thou withdraw, we die. Oh, may we ne’er that God offend Who is forever nigh!
Isaac Watts, 1715.
294
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To Thee, O Lord, our hearts we raise In hymns of adoration, To Thee bring sacrifice of praise With shouts of exultation: Bright robes of gold the fields adorn, The hills with joy are ringing, The valleys stand so thick with corn That even they are singing.
2. And now, on this our festal day, Thy bounteous hand confessing, Upon Thine altar, Lord, we lay The first-fruits of Thy blessing. By Thee the souls of men are fed With gifts of grace supernal, Thou who dost give us earthly bread, Give us the Bread eternal.
3. We bear the burden of the day And often toil seems dreary; But labor ends with sunset ray, And rest comes for the weary. May we, the angel-reaping o’er, Stand at the last accepted, Christ’s golden sheaves forevermore To garners bright elected.
4. Oh, blessed is that land of God Where saints abide forever; Where golden fields spread fair and broad, Where flows the crystal river. The strains of all its holy throng With ours to-day are blending; Thrice blessed is that harvest-song Which never hath an ending.
W. C. Dix, 1864.
295
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Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of Harvest-home; All is safely gathered in Ere the winter storms begin; God, our Maker, doth provide For our wants to be supplied. Come to God’s own temple, come; Raise the song of Harvest-home.
2. We ourselves are God’s own field, Fruit unto His praise to yield; Wheat and tares together sown, Unto joy or sorrow grown; First the blade and then the ear, Then the full corn shall appear. Lord of harvest, grant that we Wholesome grain and pure may be.
3. For the Lord, our God, shall come and shall take His harvest home; From His field shall purge away All that doth offend, that day; Give His angels charge at last In the fire the tares to cast, But the fruitful ears to store In His garner evermore.
4. Come, Thou Lord of harvest, come To Thy final Harvest-home; Gather Thou Thy people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin, There, forever purified, In Thy garner to abide. Come with all Thine angels, come, Raise the glorious Harvest-home!
H. Alford, 1845.
296
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Christ, by heav’nly hosts adored, Gracious, mighty, sov’reign Lord, God of nations, King of kings, Head of all created things, By the Church with joy contest, God o’er all forever blest; Pleading at Thy throne we stand, Save Thy people, bless our land.
2. On our fields of grass and grain Send, O Lord, the kindly rain; O’er our wide and goodly land Crown the labors of each hand. Let Thy kind protection be O’er our commerce on the sea. Open, Lord, Thy bounteous hand, Bless Thy people, bless our land.
3. Let our rulers ever be Men that love and honor Thee; Let the powers by Thee ordained Be in righteousness maintained; In the people’s hearts increase Love of piety and peace. Thus united we shall stand One wide, free, and happy land.
H. Harbaugh, 1860.
297
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Praise, O praise our God and King, Hymns of adoration sing; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.
2. Praise Him that He made the sun Day by day his course to run; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.
3. And the silver moon by night, Shining with her gentle light; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.
4. Praise Him that He gave the rain To mature the swelling grain; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.
5. And hath bid the fruitful field Crops of precious increase yield; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.
6. Praise Him for our harvest store, He hath filled the garner floor; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.
7. And for richer food than this, Pledge of everlasting bliss; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.
8. Glory to our bounteous King, Glory let creation sing; Glory to the Father, Son, And the Spirit, Three in One!
H. W. Baker, 1861.
298
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Praise to God, immortal praise, For the love that crowns our days; Bounteous Source of every joy, Let Thy praise our tongues employ. All to Thee, our God, we owe, Source whence all our blessings flow.
2. All the plenty summer pours; Autumn’s rich, o’erflowing stores; Flocks that whiten all the plain; Yellow sheaves of ripened grain. Lord, for these our souls shall raise Grateful vows and solemn praise.
3. Peace, prosperity, and health, Private bliss, and public wealth, Knowledge with its gladdening streams, Pure religion’s holier beams. Lord, for these our souls shall raise Grateful vows and solemn praise.
4. As Thy prospering hand hath blest, May we give Thee of our best And by deeds of kindly love For Thy mercies grateful prove; Sinking thus through all our days, Praise to God, immortal praise.
A. L. (Aikin) Barbauld, 1773, abr.
NATIONAL.
299
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Swell the anthem, raise the song, Praises to our God belong; Saints and angels join to sing Praises to the heavenly King. Blessings from His liberal hand Flow around this happy land. Kept by Him, no foes annoy; Peace and freedom we enjoy.
2. Here, beneath a peaceful sway, May we cheerfully obey; Never feel oppression’s rod, Ever own and worship God. Hark! the voice of nature sings Praises to the King of kings; Let us join the choral song And the grateful notes prolong.
Nathan Strong, 1799.
300
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O bless, Thou heavenly Potentate, With wisdom, strength, the powers of state, That wrong and violence may cease And Church and home abide in peace.
2. Bless rich and poor, the great and small, Both friend and foe; Lord, bless Thou all The family on earth in love And fit all for Thy home above.