Part 23
4. Here I with mouth and soul, Incomprehensibly, Shall eat the precious flesh of Christ In blest reality.
5. Search not how this takes place, Nor whether it can be; God can accomplish vastly more Than seemeth plain to thee.
6. Vouchsafe, O blessed Lord, That earth and hell combined May ne’er about this Sacrament A doubt raise in my mind!
7. And may I never fail To thank Thee day and night For Thy true body and true blood, O God, my Peace and Light!
G. W. Molanus, 1673; M. Loy, 1880, a.
431
11, 8, 11, 8, 5, 9, 9, 6, 7, 5
May God be praised henceforth and blest forever, Who, Himself both Gift and Giver, With His own flesh and blood our souls doth nourish; May they grow thereby and flourish! O Lord, have mercy! By Thy holy body, the selfsame Which from Thine own mother Mary came, By the drops Thou didst bleed, Help us in the hour of need. O Lord, have mercy!
2. Thou hast to death Thy holy body given, Life to win for us in heaven; By stronger love, dear Lord, Thou couldst not bind us, Whereof this should well remind us. O Lord, have mercy! Lord, Thy love constrained Thee for our good Mighty things to do by Thy dear blood; Thou hast paid all we owed, Thou hast made our peace with God. O Lord, have mercy!
3. May God bestow on us His grace and blessing, That, His holy footsteps tracing, We walk as brethren dear in love and union Nor repent this sweet Communion. O Lord, have mercy! Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us, Grant that heavenly-minded He make us, That Thy poor Church may see Days of peace and unity. O Lord, have mercy!
1st stanza 15th cent.; Martin Luther, 1524; R. Massie, tr., a.
432
L. M. 8 l
Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness, Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness, Come into the daylight’s splendor, There with joy thy praises render Unto Him whose grace unbounded Hath this wondrous banquet founded; High o’er all the heavens He reigneth, Yet to dwell with thee He deigneth.
2. Hasten as a bride to meet Him And with loving reverence greet Him; For with words of life immortal Now He knocketh at thy portal; Haste to ope the gates before Him, Saying, while thou dost adore Him, “Suffer, Lord, that I receive Thee, And I nevermore will leave Thee.”
3. He who costly goods desireth To obtain much gold requireth; But to freely give the treasure Of Thy love is Thy good pleasure; For on earth there is no coffer Which as payment we might offer For this cup, Thy blood containing, And this manna, on us raining.
4. Ah, how hungers all my spirit For the love I do not merit! Oft have I, with sighs fast thronging, Thought upon this food with longing, In the battle well-nigh worsted, For this cup of life have thirsted, For the Friend, who here invites us And to God Himself unites us.
5. Now I sink before Thee lowly, Filled with joy most deep and holy, As with trembling awe and wonder On Thy mighty works I ponder, How, by mystery surrounded, Depths no man hath ever sounded, None may dare to pierce unbidden, Secrets that with Thee are hidden.
6. Nay, though reason here doth ponder, It can never reach this wonder, That this bread is never lessened, Though it nourish thousands present, And that Christ His blood is giving With the wine we are receiving. Oh, these mysteries, unsounded, Are by God alone expounded!
7. Sun, who all my life doth brighten, Light, who dost my soul enlighten, Joy, the sweetest man e’er knoweth, Fount, whence all my being floweth,— At Thy feet I cry, my Maker, Let me be a fit partaker Of this blessed food from heaven, For our good, Thy glory, given.
8. Lord, Thy fervent love hath driven Thee to leave Thy throne in heaven, For us on the cross to languish And to die in bitter anguish, To forego all joy and gladness And to shed Thy blood in sadness, Which we drink now; grant that never We forget Thy love, dear Savior!
9. Jesus, Bread of life, I pray Thee, Let me gladly here obey Thee, Never to my hurt invited, Be Thy love with love requited; From this banquet let me measure, Lord, how vast and deep love’s treasure. Through the gifts Thou here dost give me As Thy guest in heaven receive me.
J. Franck, 1649; C. Winkworth, tr.
433
7s
Lo, upon the altar lies Bread of heaven from the skies, Food to mortal wanderers given, To the sons and heirs of heaven.
2. Jesus, Shepherd of the sheep! Thou Thy flock in safety keep. Living Bread! Thy life supply; Strengthen us, or else we die.
3. Thou, who feedest us below, Source of all we have or know, Grant that with Thy saints above We may reach Thy feast of love!
Thomas Aquinas, † 1274; E. Caswall, tr., 1848.
434
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The death of Jesus Christ, our Lord, We celebrate with one accord; It is our comfort in distress, Our heart’s sweet joy and happiness.
2. He blotted out with His own blood The judgment that against us stood; He full atonement for us made, And all our debt He fully paid.
3. That this is so and ever true He gives an earnest ever new, In this His holy Supper here We taste His love so sweet, so near.
4. For His true body, as He said, And His true blood, for sinners shed, In this communion we receive; His sacred Word we do believe.
5. A precious food this is indeed,— It never faileth, such we need,— A heavenly manna for our soul, That we may safely reach our goal.
6. Then blessed is each worthy guest Who in this promise finds His rest; For Jesus will in love abide With those who do in Him confide:
7. The guest that comes with true intent To turn to God and to repent, To live for Christ, to die to sin, And thus a holy life begin.
8. Who does unworthy here appear, Does not believe nor is sincere, Salvation here he cannot find. May we this warning bear in mind!
9. O Jesus Christ, our Brother dear, Unto Thy cross we now draw near; Thy sacred wounds indeed make whole A wounded and afflicted soul.
10. Help us sincerely to believe That we Thy mercy do receive And in Thy grace do find our rest. Amen. He who believes is blest.
H. Spegel, 1686; J. O. Wallin, 1814.
435
7, 6, 8 l
O living Bread from heaven, How hast Thou fed Thy guest! The gifts Thou now hast given Have filled my heart with rest. O wondrous Food of blessing! O Cup that heals our woes! My heart, this gift possessing, In thankful song o’erflows.
2. My Lord, Thou here hast led me Within Thy holiest place And there Thyself hast fed me With treasures of Thy grace; And Thou hast freely given What earth could never buy, The Bread of life from heaven, That now I shall not die.
3. Thou givest all I wanted. The food can death destroy, And Thou hast freely granted The cup of endless joy. Ah, Lord, I do not merit The favor Thou hast shown, And all my soul and spirit Bow down before Thy throne.
4. Lord, grant me that, thus strengthened With heavenly food, while here My course on earth is lengthened, I serve with holy fear; And when Thou call’st my spirit To leave this world below, I enter, through Thy merit, Where joys unmingled flow.
J. Rist, 1651, a.; C. Winkworth, tr., 1858.
436
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7
Lord Jesus, Thou art truly good; Thou spread’st for our salvation Thy body and Thy blood as food And giv’st us invitation; As weary souls, with sin opprest, We come to Thee for needed rest, For counsel and forgiveness.
2. Although Thou didst ascend to heaven, Where angels bow before Thee, And now to mortals ’tis not given By sight here to adore Thee, Until begins Thy Judgment grand, When we before Thy throne shall stand And cheerfully behold Thee;
3. Yet art Thou ever with us, Lord, And with Thy congregation And not confined—so says Thy Word— To any habitation. Firm as a rock Thy Word still stands, Unshaken by the en’mies’ hands Though they be e’er so cunning.
4. Thou say’st: “This is My body; eat And orally receive Me. This is My blood; drink all of it And henceforth never leave Me.” What Thou hast spoken true must be; Thou art almighty, and with Thee Impossible is nothing.
5. Although my reason cannot see How in so many places Thy body at one time may be, Yet faith Thy Word embraces. How it can be I leave to Thee; Thy Word alone sufficeth me, For Thou wilt that we trust it.
6. Lord, I believe in simple trust, Strength in my weakness give me, For I am naught but sinful dust, Nor of Thy Word bereave me! Thy Baptism, Supper, and Thy Word My consolation are, O Lord, For they contain my treasure.
7. Grant that we worthily receive Thy Supper, Lord, our Savior, That for our sins we truly grieve And prove by our behavior That we obtained Thy saving grace And trust in it throughout our days; Then will our life be godly.
8. For Thy consoling Supper, Lord, Be praised throughout all ages! Preserve it, for with one accord The world against it rages. Grant that Thy body and Thy blood May be my comfort and sweet food In my last moments. Amen.
S. Kinner, 1638; E. Cronenwett, tr., 1880.
437
L. M.
An awful mystery is here To challenge faith and waken fear; The Savior comes as food divine, Concealed in earthly bread and wine.
2. This world is loveless—but above, What wondrous boundlessness of love! The King of Glory stoops to me My spirit’s Life and Strength to be.
3. In consecrated wine and bread No eye perceives the mystery dread; But Jesus’ words are strong and clear: “My body and My blood are here.”
4. How dull are all the powers of sense, Employed on proofs of love immense! The richest food remains unseen, And highest gifts appear how mean!
5. But here we have no boon on earth, And faith alone discerns its worth; The Word, not sense, must be our guide And faith assure, since sight’s denied.
6. Lord, show us still that Thou art good And grant us evermore this food; Give faith to ev’ry wav’ring soul And make each wounded spirit whole.
M. Loy, 1880.
438
L. M.
Invited, Lord, by boundless grace, I stood a guest before Thy face; As host Thou spread’st no common food; Here is Thy body and Thy blood!
2. How holy is this Sacrament, Where pardon, peace, and life are spent! This bread and cup my lips have pressed; Thou blessedst, and my soul is blessed.
3. Now lettest Thou Thy guest depart With full assurance in his heart; For such communion, Lord, with Thee May a new life my offering be!
4. When Thou shalt in Thy glory come To gather all Thy people home, Then let me, as Thy heavenly guest, In anthems praise Thee with the blest!
E. Cronenwett, c. 1880.
439
L. M.
’Twas on that dark, that doleful night, When powers of earth and hell arose Against the Son of God’s delight, And friends betrayed Him to His foes.
2. Before the mournful scene began, He took the bread and blessed and brake; What love through all His actions ran! What wondrous words of grace He spake!
3. “This is My body, broke for sin; Receive and eat the living food”; Then took the cup and blessed the wine: “’Tis the new covenant in My blood.”
4. “Do this,” He said, “till time shall end, In memory of your dying Friend. Meet at My table and record The love of your departed Lord.”
5. Jesus, Thy feast we celebrate; We show Thy death, we sing Thy name, Till Thou return and we shall eat The marriage supper of the Lamb.
Isaac Watts, 1709, a.
440
L. M.
At Thy command, our dearest Lord, Here we attend Thy dying feast; Thy blood, like wine, adorns the board, And Thine own flesh feeds every guest.
2. Our faith adores Thy bleeding love And trusts for life in One that died; We hope for heavenly crowns above From a Redeemer crucified.
3. Let the vain world pronounce it shame And fling their scandals on the cause; We come to boast our Savior’s name And make our triumphs in His cross.
4. With joy we tell the scoffing age, He that was dead has left His tomb; He lives above their utmost rage, And we are waiting till He come.
Isaac Watts, 1707.
441
8, 8, 7, 8
Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior, Turned away God’s wrath forever; Suffering pains no tongue can tell, He saved us from the pains of hell.
2. To remind us that, to save us, He hath died, His flesh He gave us With this bread, a quick’ning food, And with this wine His precious blood.
3. Whoso to this board repaireth Take good heed how he prepareth; Death instead of life shall he Receive who comes unworthily.
4. Thou shalt hold with faith unshaken That this food is to be taken By the sick who are distressed, By those whose heart is sin-oppressed.
5. Christ says: “Come, ye heavy-laden, I your weary hearts will gladden; They that are yet strong and well, Despise the best physician’s skill.
6. “Couldst thou earn thine own salvation, Useless were My death and Passion; This feast is not spread for thee If thine own helper thou wilt be.”
7. If thou this believest truly And confession makest duly, Thou a welcome guest art here, This heavenly food thy soul shall cheer.
8. But the fruits must not be missing, Love thy neighbor without ceasing; That true love let him receive Which here to thee thy God doth give.
John Huss, † 1415; Martin Luther, 1524.
HOME, MARRIAGE, CHILDREN.
442
7, 6, 7, 6
The voice that breathed o’er Eden, That earliest wedding-day, The primal marriage blessing,— It hath not passed away.
2. Still in the pure espousal Of Christian man and maid, The Holy Three are with us, The threefold grace is said.
3. Be present, loving Father, To give away this bride, As Eve Thou gav’st to Adam Out of his own pierced side.
4. Be present, Son of Mary, To join their loving hands, As Thou didst bind two natures In Thine eternal bands.
5. Be present, Holiest Spirit, To bless them as they kneel, As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom, The heavenly spouse dost seal.
6. O spread Thy pure wings o’er them, Let no ill power find place, When onward to Thine altar Their hallowed path they trace,
7. To cast their crowns before Thee In perfect sacrifice, Till to the home of gladness With Christ’s own Bride they rise.
J. Keble, 1857, a.
443
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Lord, who at Cana’s wedding-feast Didst as a Guest appear, Thou dearer far than earthly guest, Vouchsafe Thy presence here; For holy Thou indeed dost prove The marriage-vow to be, Proclaiming it a type of love Between the Church and Thee.
2. The holiest vow that man can make, The golden thread in life, The bond that none may dare to break, That bindeth man and wife; Which, blessed by Thee, whate’er betides, No evil shall destroy, Through care-worn days each care divides, And doubles every joy.
3. On those who now before Thee kneel, O Lord, Thy blessing pour, That each may wake the other’s zeal To love Thee more and more. Oh, grant them here in peace to live, In purity and love, And, this world leaving, to receive A crown of life above.
A. Thrupp, 1853, a.
444
11, 10, 11, 10
O perfect Love, all human thought transcending, Lowly we kneel in pray’r before Thy throne, That theirs may be the love which knows no ending, Whom Thou forevermore dost join in one.
2. O perfect Life, be Thou their full assurance Of tender charity and steadfast faith, Of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance, With childlike trust, that fears nor pain nor death.
3. Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow; Grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife, And to life’s day the glorious unknown morrow That dawns upon eternal love and life.
Dorothy F. Bloomfield, 1883.
445
L. M.
O blest the house, whate’er befall, Where Jesus Christ is all in all; Yea, if He were not dwelling there, How poor and dark and void it were!
2. O blest that house where faith ye find, And all within have set their mind To trust their God and serve Him still And do in all His holy will!
3. O blest the parents who give heed Unto their children’s foremost need And weary not of care or cost! To them and heaven shall none be lost.
4. Blest such a house, it prospers well, In peace and joy the parents dwell, And in their children’s lot is shown How richly God can bless His own.
5. Then here will I and mine to-day A solemn covenant make and say: Though all the world forsake Thy Word, I and my house will serve the Lord.
C. C. von Pfeil, 1782; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
446
L. M.
Happy the man who feareth God, Whose feet His holy ways have trod; Thine own good hand shall nourish thee, And well and happy shalt thou be.
2. Lo! to that man these blessings cleave Who in God’s holy fear doth live; From him the ancient curse hath fled By Adam’s race inherited.
3. Out of Mount Zion God shall send And crown with joy thy latter end, That thou Jerusalem may’st see In favor and prosperity.
4. He shall be with thee in thy ways And give thee health and strength of days; Yea, thou shalt children’s children see, And peace on Israel shall be.
5. Praise God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit, Three in One; As ’twas through ages heretofore, Is now, and shall be evermore.
Martin Luther, 1524; R. Massie, tr., abr.
447
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Gracious Savior, gentle Shepherd, Children all are dear to Thee; Gathered with Thine arms and carried In Thy bosom may they be; Sweetly, fondly, safely tended, From all want and danger free.
2. Tender Shepherd, never leave them From Thy fold to go astray; By Thy warning love directed, May they walk the narrow way! Thus direct them, thus defend them, Lest they fall an easy prey.
3. Cleanse their hearts from sinful folly In the stream Thy love supplied, Mingled stream of blood and water Flowing from Thy wounded side; And to heavenly pastures lead them, Where Thine own still waters glide.
4. Let Thy holy Word instruct them; Fill their minds with heavenly light; Let Thy powerful grace constrain them To approve whate’er is right; Let them feel Thy yoke is easy, Let them prove Thy burden light.
5. Taught to lisp Thy holy praises Which on earth Thy children sing, Both with lips and hearts, unfeignèd, Glad thank-offerings may they bring; Then with all the saints in glory Join to praise their Lord and King.
Jane E. Leeson, 1857.
448
6, 6, 4, 6, 6, 6, 4
Shepherd of tender youth, Guiding in love and truth Through devious ways; Christ, our triumphant King, We come Thy name to sing And here our children bring To join Thy praise.
2. Thou art our holy Lord, O all-subduing Word, Healer of strife. Thou didst Thyself abase That from sin’s deep disgrace Thou mightest save our race And give us life.
3. Thou art the great High Priest; Thou hast prepared the feast Of holy love; And in our mortal pain None calls on Thee in vain; Help Thou dost not disdain, Help from above.
4. Ever be near our side, Our Shepherd and our Guide, Our Staff and Song; Jesus, Thou Christ of God, By Thine enduring Word Lead us where Thou hast trod, Make our faith strong.
5. So now, and till we die, Sound we Thy praises high And joyful sing; Let all the holy throng Who to Thy Church belong Unite and swell the song To Christ, our King!
Clement of Alexandria, 211; H. M. Dexter, tr., 1846.
449
8, 7, 8, 7
Savior, who Thy flock art feeding With the Shepherd’s kindest care, All the feeble gently leading, While the lambs Thy bosom share,—
2. Now, these little ones receiving, Fold them in Thy gracious arm; There, we know, Thy Word believing, Only there secure from harm.
3. Never, from Thy pasture roving, Let them be the Lion’s prey; Let Thy tenderness, so loving, Keep them through life’s dangerous way.
4. Then within Thy fold eternal Let them find a resting-place, Feed in pastures ever vernal, Drink the rivers of Thy grace.
W. A. Muehlenberg, 1826.
CHURCH.
LAYING OF CORNER-STONE.
450
L. M.
O Lord of hosts, whose glory fills The bounds of the eternal hills And yet vouchsaf’st, in Christian lands, To dwell in temples made with hands;
2. Grant that all we who here to-day Rejoicing this foundation lay May be in very deed Thine own, Built on the precious Corner-stone.
3. The heads that guide endue with skill, The hands that work preserve from ill, That we, who these foundations lay May raise the top-stone in its day.
4. But now and ever, Lord, protect The temple of Thine own elect; Be Thou in them and they in Thee, O ever-blessed Trinity!
J. M. Neale, 1844, abr.
451
8, 7, 8 l
In the name which earth and heaven Ever worship, praise, and fear, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Shall a house be builded here. Here with prayer its deep foundations, In the faith of Christ, we lay, Trusting by His help to crown it With the top-stone in its day.
2. Here as in their due succession Stone on stone the workmen place; Thus, we pray, unseen, but surely, Jesus, build us up in grace; Till, within these walls completed, We complete in Thee are found And to Thee, the one Foundation, Strong and living stones, are bound.
3. Fair shall be Thine earthly temple; Here the careless passer-by Shall bethink him, in its beauty, Of the holier house on high; Weary hearts and troubled spirits Here shall find a still retreat; Sinful souls shall bring their burden Here to the Absolver’s feet.
4. Yet with truer, nobler beauty, Lord, we pray, this house adorn, Where Thy Bride, Thy Church redeemèd, Robes her for her marriage morn; Clothed in garments of salvation, Rich with gems of heavenly grace, Spouse of Christ, arrayed and waiting Till she may behold His face.
5. Here in due and solemn order May her ceaseless prayer arise; Here may strains of holy gladness Lift her heart above the skies; Here the Word of Life be spoken; Here the child of God be sealed; Here the Bread of Heaven be broken, “Till He come,” Himself revealed.
6. Praise to Thee, O Master Builder, Maker of the earth and skies; Praise to Thee, in whom Thy temple, Fitly framed together, lies; Praise to Thee, eternal Spirit, Binding all that lives in one, Till our earthly praise be ended And th’ eternal song begun!
J. Ellerton, 1871, a.
452
C. M.