Part 21
2. The world is like the smoke, A fleeting exhalation, A shadow faint and dim, Of very short duration. My Jesus doth abide, Though all things fade and flee; My everlasting Rock,— What is the world to me!
3. The world strives to be praised And honored by the mighty Nor will at all reflect How frail they are and flighty. But what I glory in Above all things is He, My Jesus, He alone,— What is the world to me!
4. The world seeks after wealth, And unto Mammon offers Its all, content if gold Is hoarded in its coffers. I know a higher good, Which e’er my joy shall be; My Jesus is my Wealth,— What is the world to me!
5. The world is sorely grieved Whenever it is slighted, As though an enemy Its honor would have blighted. Christ, I bear Thy reproach While thus it pleaseth Thee! I’m honored by my Lord,— What is the world to me!
6. The world cannot extol Too highly sinful pleasures And foolishly resigns For them the heavenly treasures. Let others love the world To please their vanity: I love the Lord, my God,— What is the world to me!
7. What is the world to me! It rapidly must vanish; With all its gorgeous pomp Pale death it cannot banish; Its riches pass away, And all its joys must flee. But Jesus doth abide,— What is the world to me!
8. What is the world to me! My Jesus is my Treasure, My Life, my Wealth, my All, My Friend, my Love, my Pleasure, My heavenly Happiness And Bliss eternally. Once more, then, I would say, What is the world to me!
G. M. Pfefferkorn, 1667; A. Crull, tr.
386
8, 8, 8, 4
My God, my Father, while I stray Far from my home, on life’s rough way, O teach me from my heart to say, “Thy will be done!”
2. Though dark my path and sad my lot, Let me be still and murmur not. Or breathe the prayer divinely taught, “Thy will be done!”
3. What though in lonely grief I sigh For friends beloved, no longer nigh, Submissive still would I reply, “Thy will be done!”
4. Though Thou hast called me to resign What most I prized, it ne’er was mine; I have but yielded what was Thine: “Thy will be done!”
5. Should grief or sickness waste away My life in premature decay, My Father, still I strive to say, “Thy will be done!”
6. Let but my fainting heart be blest With Thy sweet Spirit for its Guest; My God, to Thee I leave the rest: “Thy will be done!”
7. Renew my will from day to day; Blend it with Thine and take away All that now makes it hard to say, “Thy will be done!”
8. Then, when on earth I breathe no more, The prayer, oft mixed with tears before, I’ll sing upon a happier shore, “Thy will be done!”
Charlotte Elliott, 1834.
387
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My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Oh, may Thy will be mine! Into Thy hand of love I would my all resign. Through sorrow or through joy Conduct me as Thine own And help me still to say, My Lord, Thy will be done.
2. My Jesus, as Thou wilt! If needy here and poor, Give me Thy people’s bread, Their portion rich and sure. The manna of Thy Word Let my soul feed upon; And if all else should fail, My Lord, Thy will be done.
3. My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Though seen through many a tear, Let not my star of hope Grow dim or disappear, Since Thou on earth hast wept And sorrowed oft alone. If I must weep with Thee, My Lord, Thy will be done.
4. My Jesus, as Thou wilt! All shall be well for me; Each changing future scene I gladly trust with Thee. Straight to my home above I travel calmly on And sing in life or death, My Lord, Thy will be done.
B. Schmolck, † 1737; Jane Borthwick, tr., 1854.
388
S. M.
Blest be Thy love, dear Lord, That taught us this sweet way Only to love Thee for Thyself And for that love obey.
2. O Thou, our soul’s chief Hope, We to Thy mercy fly; Where’er we are Thou canst protect, Whate’er we need, supply.
3. Whether we sleep or wake, To Thee we both resign; The darkest night is as the day If Thy light on us shine.
4. Whether we live or die, Both we submit to Thee; In death we live, as well as life, If Thine in death we be.
John Austin, 1668.
389
C. M.
O Lord, my best desire fulfil And help me to resign Life, health, and comfort to Thy will And make Thy pleasure mine.
2. Why should I shrink at Thy command, Whose love forbids my fears, Or tremble at the gracious hand That wipes away my tears?
3. No, rather let me freely yield What most I prize to Thee, Who never hast a good withheld, Nor wilt withhold, from me.
4. Thy favor, all my journey through, Thou art engaged to grant; What else I want, or think I do, ’Tis better still to want.
W. Cowper, 1779.
CATECHISM.
390
L. M.
Lord, grant that we e’er pure retain The catechismal doctrine plain As Luther taught the heavenly truth In simple words to tender youth.
2. That we Thy holy Law may know And mourn our sin and all its woe And yet believe in Father, Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One.
3. That we on Thee, our Father, call, Who canst and wilt give help to all; That as Thy children we may live, Whom Thou in Baptism didst receive.
4. That, if we fall, we rise again, Repentingly confess our sin, And take the Sacrament in faith.— Amen. God grant a happy death!
L. Helmbold, 1577; M. Loy, tr.
LAW.
391
8, 8, 8, 7, 4
That man a godly life might live, God did these Ten Commandments give By His true servant Moses, high Upon the Mount Sinai. Have mercy, Lord!
2. I am thy God and Lord alone, No other god beside Me own; Put thy whole confidence in Me And love Me e’er cordially. Have mercy, Lord!
3. By idle word and speech profane Take not My holy name in vain And praise but that as good and true Which I Myself say and do. Have mercy, Lord!
4. Hallow the day which God hath blest That thou and all thy house may rest; Keep hand and heart from labor free That God may so work in thee. Have mercy, Lord!
5. Give to thy parents honor due, Be dutiful, and loving too, And help them when their strength decays, So shalt thou have length of days. Have mercy, Lord!
6. In sinful wrath thou shalt not kill, Nor hate, nor render ill for ill; Be patient and of gentle mood, And to thy foe do thou good. Have mercy, Lord!
7. Be faithful to thy marriage vows, Thy heart give only to thy spouse; Thy life keep pure, and lest thou sin, Use temp’rance and discipline. Have mercy, Lord!
8. Steal not; all usury abhor Nor wring their life-blood from the poor, But open wide thy loving hand To all the poor in the land. Have mercy, Lord!
9. Bear not false witness nor belie Thy neighbor by foul calumny; Defend his innocence from blame; With charity hide his shame. Have mercy, Lord!
10. Thy neighbor’s house desire thou not, His wife, nor aught that he hath got, But wish that his such good may be As thy heart doth wish for thee. Have mercy, Lord!
11. God these commandments gave, therein To show thee, child of man, thy sin And make thee also well perceive How man unto God should live. Have mercy, Lord!
12. Help us, Lord Jesus Christ, for we A Mediator have in Thee. Our works cannot salvation gain; They merit but endless pain. Have mercy, Lord!
Martin Luther, 1524; R. Massie, tr., a.
392
8, 8, 8, 7, 4
Wilt thou, O man, live happily And dwell with God eternally? The Ten Commandments keep, for thus Our God Himself biddeth us. Have mercy, Lord!
2. I am thy Lord and God; take heed Lest other gods do thee mislead. Thy heart shall trust alone in Me; Thou shalt My own kingdom be. Have mercy, Lord!
3. Honor My name in word and deed And call on Me in time of need. Hallow the Sabbath that I may Work in thy heart on that day. Have mercy, Lord!
4. Obedient always, next to Me, To father and to mother be. Kill no man, but to wrath be slow. Be true to thy marriage vow. Have mercy, Lord!
5. Steal not nor do thy neighbor wrong By bearing witness with false tongue. Thy neighbor’s wife desire thou not Nor grudge him aught he hath got. Have mercy, Lord!
Martin Luther, 1525; R. Massie, tr., a.
CREED.
393
8, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7
We all believe in one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Present Helper in all need, Praised by all the heavenly host, By whose mighty power alone All is made and wrought and done.
2. And we believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Mary’s Son, Who from heaven above came down And leads us to heaven’s throne; By whose blood and death are we Rescued from all misery.
3. And we confess the Holy Ghost, Who from both fore’er proceeds; Who upholds and comforts us In the midst of fears and needs. Blest and holy Trinity, Praise forever be to Thee!
T. Clausnitzer, † 1684.
394
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We all believe in one true God, Maker of the earth and heaven, The Father, who to us in love Hath the claim of children given; He in soul and body feeds us, All we want His hand provides us, Through all snares and perils leads us Watches that no harm betides us; He cares for us by day and night, All things are governed by His might.
2. And we believe in Jesus Christ, His own Son, our Lord, possessing An equal Godhead, throne, and might, Through whom comes the Father’s blessing: Conceived of the Holy Spirit, Born of Mary, virgin-mother, That lost man might life inherit, Made true man, our Elder Brother, Was crucified for sinful men, And raised by God to life again.
3. We in the Holy Ghost believe, Who sweet grace and comfort giveth And with the Father and the Son In eternal glory liveth; Who the Christian Church doth even Keep in unity of spirit. Sins are truly here forgiven Through the blest Redeemer’s merit. All flesh shall rise again, and we Shall live with God eternally. Amen.
Martin Luther, 1525.
PRAYER.
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What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,— All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a Friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness,— Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our Refuge,— Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.
Joseph Scriven, 1855.
396
L. M. 6 l
Our Father, Thou in heaven above, Who biddest us to dwell in love, As brothers of one family, And cry for all we need to Thee: Teach us to mean the words we say And from our inmost heart to pray.
2. Thy name be hallowed! Help us, Lord, To keep in purity Thy Word And lead according to Thy name A holy life, untouched by blame. Let no false teachings do us hurt, All poor, deluded souls convert.
3. Thy kingdom come! Thine let it be In time and through eternity! Oh, let Thy Holy Spirit dwell With us to rule and guide us well. From Satan’s mighty power and rage Preserve Thy Church from age to age.
4. Thy will be done on earth, O Lord, As where in heaven Thou art adored! Patience in time of grief bestow, Obedience in weal and woe; Our sinful flesh and blood control That thwart Thy will within the soul.
5. Give us this day our daily bread And all that for this life we need; From war and strife be our Defense, From famine and from pestilence, That we may live in godly peace, Unvexed by cares and avarice.
6. Lord, all our trespasses forgive That they our hearts no more may grieve, As we forgive their trespasses Who unto us have done amiss. Thus let us dwell in charity And serve each other willingly.
7. Into temptation lead us not; And when the Foe doth war and plot Against our souls on every hand, Then, armed with faith, O may we stand Against him as a valiant host, Through comfort of the Holy Ghost.
8. From evil, Lord, deliver us; The times and days are perilous. Redeem us from eternal death; And when we yield our dying breath, Console us, grant us calm release, And take our souls to Thee in peace.
9. Amen! that is, So let it be! Confirm our faith continually That we may doubt not, but believe That what we ask we shall receive; Thus in Thy name and at Thy word We say: Amen; O hear us, Lord!
Martin Luther, 1539.
397
S. M.
Our heavenly Father, hear The prayer we offer now; Thy name be hallowed far and near, To Thee all nations bow.
2. Thy kingdom come; Thy will On earth be done in love, As saints and seraphim fulfil Thy holy will above.
3. Our daily bread supply While by Thy word we live; The guilt of our iniquity Forgive as we forgive.
4. From dark temptation’s power, From Satan’s wiles defend; Deliver in the evil hour And guide us to the end.
5. Thine shall forever be Glory and power divine; The scepter, throne, and majesty Of heaven and earth are Thine.
James Montgomery, 1825.
398
C. M.
Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed; The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast.
2. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear, The upward glancing of an eye, When none but God is near.
3. Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try; Prayer the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high.
4. Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice, Returning from his ways, While angels in their songs rejoice And cry, “Behold, he prays!”
5. Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath. The Christian’s native air, His watchword at the gate of death,— He enters heaven with prayer.
6. The saints in prayer appear as one In word and deed and mind, While with the Father and the Son Sweet fellowship they find.
7. Nor prayer is made by man alone,— The Holy Spirit pleads, And Jesus on th’ eternal throne For sinners intercedes.
8. O Thou, by whom we come to God, The Life, the Truth, the Way, The path of prayer Thyself hast trod,— Lord, teach us how to pray!
James Montgomery, 1818.
399
C. M.
Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat, Where Jesus answers prayer; There humbly fall before His feet, For none can perish there.
2. Thy promise is my only plea, With this I venture nigh; Thou callest burdened souls to Thee, And such, O Lord, am I.
3. Bowed down beneath a load of sin, By Satan sorely pressed, By wars without and fears within, I come to Thee for rest.
4. Be Thou my Shield and Hiding-place, That, sheltered near Thy side, I may my fierce Accuser face And tell him Thou hast died.
5. O wondrous Love, to bleed and die, To bear the cross and shame, That guilty sinners such as I Might plead Thy gracious name!
John Newton, 1779.
BAPTISM.
400
9, 8, 9, 8, 8, 8
Baptized into Thy name most holy, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I claim a place, though weak and lowly, Among Thy seed, Thy chosen host. Buried with Christ and dead to sin, Thy Spirit now shall live within.
2. My loving Father, Thou dost take me To be henceforth Thy child and heir; My faithful Savior, Thou dost make me The fruit of all Thy sorrows share; Thou, Holy Ghost, wilt comfort me When darkest clouds around I see.
3. And I have vowed to fear and love Thee And to obey Thee, Lord, alone; I felt Thy Holy Spirit move me And freely pledged myself Thine own, Renouncing sin to keep the faith And war with evil unto death.
4. My faithful God, Thou failest never, Thy covenant surely will abide; O cast me not away forever Should I transgress it on my side; If I have sore my soul defiled, Yet still forgive, restore Thy child.
5. Yea, all I am and love most dearly, To Thee I offer new the whole; O let me make my vows sincerely, Take full possession of my soul; Let naught within me, naught I own, Serve any will but Thine alone.
6. Depart, depart, thou Prince of Darkness! No more by thee I’ll be enticed. Mine is indeed a tarnished conscience, But sprinkled with the blood of Christ. Away, vain world! O sin, away! Lo! I renounce you all this day.
7. And never let my purpose falter, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, But keep me faithful to Thine altar Till Thou shalt call me from my post; So unto Thee I’ll live and die And praise Thee evermore on high.
J. J. Rambach, † 1735; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
401
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7
To Jordan came our Lord, the Christ, To do God’s pleasure willing, And there was by Saint John baptized, All righteousness fulfilling; There did He consecrate a bath To wash away transgression And quench the bitterness of death By His own blood and Passion, He would a new life give us.
2. So hear ye all and well perceive What God doth call a Baptism And what a Christian should believe Who error shuns and schism: That we should water use the Lord Declareth is His pleasure, Not simple water, but the Word And Spirit without measure;— He is the true Baptizer.
3. To show us this, He hath His Word With signs and symbols given; On Jordan’s banks was plainly heard The Father’s voice from heaven: “This is My well-beloved Son, In whom My soul delighteth; Hear Him!” Yea, hear Him, every one, Whom He Himself inviteth; Hear and obey His teaching!
4. In tender manhood God the Son In Jordan’s water standeth; The Holy Ghost from heaven’s throne In dovelike form descendeth; That thus the truth be not denied, Nor should our faith e’er waver, That all three Persons do preside At Baptism’s holy laver And dwell with the believer.
5. Thus Jesus His disciples sent: Go, teach ye every nation, That, lost in sin, they must repent And flee from condemnation. He that believes and is baptized Shall thereby have salvation, A new-born man he is in Christ, From death free and damnation, He shall inherit heaven.
6. Who in this mercy hath not faith Nor aught therein discerneth, Is yet in sin, condemned to death And fire that ever burneth; His holiness avails him not, Nor aught which he is doing; His inborn sin brings all to naught And maketh sure his ruin; Himself he cannot succor.
7. The eye of sense alone is dim And nothing sees but water; Faith sees Christ Jesus and in Him The Lamb ordained for slaughter; It sees the cleansing fountain, red With the dear blood of Jesus, Which from the sins, inherited From fallen Adam, frees us And from our own misdoings.
Martin Luther, 1543; R. Massie, tr., a.
402
7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 8
Blessed Jesus, here we stand, Met to do as Thou hast spoken; And this child, at Thy command, Now we bring to Thee in token That to Christ it here is given; For of such shall be Thy heaven.
2. Yes, Thy warning voice is plain, And we would obey it duly: “He who is not born again, Heart and life renewing truly, Born of water and the Spirit, Will My kingdom ne’er inherit.”
3. Therefore hasten we to Thee; Take the pledge we bring, O take it! Let us here Thy glory see And in tender pity make it Now Thy child and leave it never, Thine on earth and Thine forever.
4. Wash it, Jesus, in Thy blood From the sin-stain of its nature; Let it rise from out this flood Clothed in Thee, a new-born creature; May it, washed as Thou hast bidden, In Thine innocence be hidden.
5. Turn its darkness into light, To Thy grace receive and save it; Heal the Serpent’s venomed bite In the font where now we lave it; Here let flow a Jordan river And from leprosy deliver.
6. Make it, Head, Thy member now; Shepherd, take Thy lamb and feed it; Prince of Peace, its Peace be Thou; Way of Life, to heaven lead it; Vine, this branch may nothing sever, Graft by faith in Thee forever.
7. Now into Thy heart we pour Prayers that from our hearts proceeded; Let our sighing heavenward soar, Let our warm desires be heeded. Write the name we now have given, Write it in the book of heaven.
B. Schmolck, 1704; C. Winkworth, tr.
403
L. M.
Now Christ, the very Son of God, On sinners sends another flood; It is the water which the Lord Has comprehended in the Word.
2. This flood, to cleanse sin’s leprosy, Mere earthly water cannot be; But water and God’s gracious Word Conjoined, this saving bath afford.
3. “Go ye,” says Christ, “My Word proclaim, Baptize the nations in God’s name; All who are baptized and believe My full salvation shall receive.”
4. God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, To be baptized invites the host; He will be present, though unseen, From all their sins to wash them clean.
5. So, too, by our repentance, must The old man, with his sins and lust, Be daily drowned and then arise A new man, righteous, pure, and wise.
6. That by the water and the Word We’re born again, we thank Thee, Lord. In life and death Thine let us be And Thine in all eternity.
N. Selnecker, 1572; C. H. L. Schuette, tr., 1880.
404
L. M.
This child we dedicate to Thee, O God of grace and purity! Shield it from sin and threatening wrong And let Thy love its life prolong.
2. Oh, may Thy Spirit gently draw Its willing soul to keep Thy Law! May virtue, piety, and truth Dawn even with its dawning youth!
3. We, too, before Thy gracious sight, Once shared the blest baptismal rite And would renew its solemn vow With love and thanks and praises now.
4. Grant that with true and faithful heart We still may act the Christian’s part, Cheered by each promise Thou hast given And laboring for the prize in heaven.