Part 26
3. Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face? And shall I seek in vain? And can the ear of pardoning grace Be deaf when I complain?
4. No, still the ear of saving grace Attends the mourner’s prayer; O may I ever find access To breathe my sorrows there!
Anne Steele, 1760.
503
L. M.
O God, my days are dark indeed, How oft this aching heart must bleed; The narrow way,—how filled with pain, That I must pass, ere heaven I gain!
2. How hard to teach this flesh and blood To seek alone th’ eternal God! Ah! whither now for comfort turn? For Thee, my Jesus, do I yearn.
3. In Thee have I, howe’er distrest, Found ever counsel, aid, and rest! I cannot all forsaken be While still my heart can trust in Thee.
4. Thine office and Thy person show That Thou great miracles canst do; Miraculous was, Lord, Thy birth When Thou wert born a child on earth.
5. And by Thy death Thou mak’st me free So strangely from all misery. Jesus, my only God and Lord, What sweetness in Thy name is stored!
6. No grief can ever be so sore But Thy sweet name can cheer me more; So keen no sorrow’s rankling dart But Thy sweet name can heal my heart.
7. Although my flesh and heart may fail, I’ll heed it not, I shall not quail; My Savior, if I have but Thee, I shall be blest eternally.
8. With heart and soul I’m Thine fore’er; Sin, death, and hell I need not fear; The world can show no truth like Thine, And therefore will I not repine.
9. I know Thou wilt forsake me not, Thy truth is fixed, though dark my lot; Thou art my Shepherd, and Thy sheep From harm forever Thou wilt keep.
10. Jesus, my Boast, my Light, my Joy, The Treasure naught can e’er destroy, No words, no song that I can frame Speak half the sweetness of Thy name.
11. They only all its power shall prove Whose hearts have learned Thy faith and love; How many a time I’ve sadly said, Far better were it I were dead;
12. Far better ne’er the light to see If I had not this joy in Thee; For he who hath not Thee in faith, His very life is merely death.
13. Jesus, my Bridegroom and my Crown, If Thou but smile, the world may frown; In Thee lie depths of joy untold, Far richer than the richest gold.
14. Whenever I but think of Thee, Thy dews drop down and solace me; Whene’er I hope in Thee, my Friend, Thy comfort and Thy peace descend.
15. Whene’er in grief I pray and sing, I feel new courage in me spring; Thy Spirit witnesses that this Is foretaste of eternal bliss.
16. Therefore, while life remains in me, I’ll bear Thy cross and follow Thee. Grant me a patient, willing mood; I know that it shall work my good.
17. Help me to do my task aright, That it may stand before Thy sight; Let me this flesh and blood control, From sin and shame preserve my soul.
18. O keep me steadfast in the faith, Then I am Thine in life and death. Jesus, my Comfort, bend to me; Ah, would I were e’en now with Thee!
Conrad Hojer, 1597.
504
S. M.
In weariness and pain, By sins and fears opprest, I turn me to my Rest again, My soul’s eternal Rest.
2. The Lamb that died for me And still my load doth bear; To Jesus’ streaming wounds I flee And find my quiet there.
3. Jesus, was ever grief, Was ever love, like Thine? Thy sorrow, Lord, is my relief, Thy life hath ransomed mine.
4. O may I rise with Thee And soar to things above And spend a blest eternity In praise of dying love!
Charles Wesley, 1749, a.
505
8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8
Zion mourns in fear and anguish, Zion, city of our God. “Ah!” she saith, “how sore I languish, Bowed beneath so hard a load! God hath now forsook me quite And forgot my evil plight.” Nay, the Lord, who chose thee, spares thee, For within His heart He bears thee.
2. “Once,” she mourns, “He promised plainly That His help should aye be near, Yet I now must seek Him vainly In my days of woe and fear. Will He, then, forevermore Keep His anger and no more Help His chosen generation In its present tribulation?”
3. “Zion, surely I have loved thee!” Thus to her the Highest saith. “Although many woes have proved thee And thy soul is sad to death, Yet now cast thy griefs behind; Where wilt thou a mother find For her own child not providing Or in hatred with it chiding?
4. “And if thou couldst find a mother Who forgot her infant’s claim Or whose wrath her love could smother, Yet would I be still the same; For My truth is pledged to thee, Zion, thou art dear to Me; I within My heart have set thee, And I never can forget thee.
5. “Let not Satan make thee craven; He can fight, but cannot harm. On My hands thy name is graven, And thy shield is still My arm. How, then, could it ever be That I failed to think of thee, Build the wall of My own city And look down on thee with pity?
6. “Thou before My eyes art ever, In My bosom thou art laid As a nursing child, and never Shalt thou lack My timely aid. Me and thee no time nor stress, War, nor danger, nor distress, No, nor Satan’s self shall sever,— Only be thou faithful ever.”
J. Heermann, 1636; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
506
8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8
Let not such a thought e’er pain thee As that thou art cast away, But within God’s Word restrain thee, That far otherwise doth say. E’en though thou unrighteous art, True and faithful is God’s heart. Hast thou death deserved forever? God’s appeased, despond thou never!
2. Thou art, as is every other, Tainted by the poison sin, That the Serpent and our father Adam, by the Fall, brought in. But if God’s voice thou dost hear, “Turn to Me, do good,” ne’er fear, Be of good cheer, He thy yearning Will regard, thy prayer ne’er spurning.
3. He is not a bear or lion Thirsting only for thy blood, Faithful is thy God in Zion, Gentle ever is His mood. God aye as a Father feels, He’s afflicted by our ills; Our misfortune sorrow gives Him, And our dying ever grieves Him.
4. “Truly,” saith He, “as I’m living, I the death of none desire, But that men, themselves upgiving, May be rescued from sin’s mire.” When a prodigal returns, God’s heart then with rapture burns, Wills that not the least one even Ever from His flock be driven.
5. Shepherd was so faithful never, Seeking sheep that go astray. Couldest thou God’s heart see ever How He cares for them alway, How it thirsts and sighs and burns After him who from Him turns, From His people’s midst doth wander, Love would make thee weep and ponder.
6. God the good not only loveth, Those who in His house now dwell, But His heart compassion moveth For those whom the Prince of hell Hath enslaved, the cruel foe, Who men’s hearts with hate to glow Makes ’gainst Him, who when He ever Moves His foot, can make earth quiver.
7. Deep His love and most enduring, His desire is ever great; He is calling and alluring Us to enter heaven’s gate. When they come, whoe’er they be, Seeking now that liberty From the devil’s fangs be given, Glad are all the hosts of heaven.
8. God and all those with Him dwelling, ’Fore whom heaven must hush its voice When their Maker’s praise forth telling, O’er our penitence rejoice; But what has been done amiss Covered now and buried is, All offense to Him we’ve given,— All, yea all, is now forgiven.
9. From no lake so much is gushing, No depth is so deep at all, With such force no stream is rushing, All compared with God is small; Naught is like His grace so great, That remits our mighty debt, That He ever throweth over All our lives e’en as a cover.
10. Soul, why art thou sad and dreary? Rest now and contented be! Why wilt thou thyself so weary When there is no need for thee? Though thy sins appear to thee Like a vast and shoreless sea, If with God’s heart thou compare them, ’Twill a trifle seem to bear them.
11. Could we myriad worlds discover, All sunk in apostasy, Had the sins there o’er and over Every one been done by thee, Oh! still there were less by far Than the light of grace so clear Could on earth extinguish ever, God from greater could deliver.
12. Of such wondrous love and favor Open wide the door to me; Everywhere and aye, my Savior, Tasted be Thy grace by me. Love me, Lord, and let me be Nearer ever drawn to Thee That I may embrace and love Thee, Nevermore to anger move Thee.
Paul Gerhardt, 1653; J. Kelly, tr.
507
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7
Whatever God ordains is good! His righteous will abideth; I will be still whate’er He doth And follow where He guideth. He is my God; Though dark my road, He knoweth how to shield me, Wherefore to Him I yield me.
2. Whatever God ordains is good! He never will deceive me; He leads me by the proper path, I know He will not leave me, And take content What He hath sent; His hand that sends my sadness Will turn my tears to gladness.
3. Whatever God ordains is good! His loving thought attends me; No poisoned draught the cup can be That my Physician sends me, But medicine; God true has been. Of doubt, then, I’ll divest me And on His goodness rest me.
4. Whatever God ordains is good! My Life, my Light, can never Intend me harm; then, to His care I give myself forever In weal or woe; For well I know Some day I shall see clearly That God did love me dearly.
5. Whatever God ordains is good! Though now this cup in drinking May bitter to my taste appear I take it all unshrinking; For to my heart God will impart A timely balm of healing And end each painful feeling.
6. Whatever God ordains is good! Here shall my stand be taken; Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, Yet am I not forsaken; My Father’s care Is round me there, His arms embrace and shield me; Then to my God I yield me.
Samuel Rodigast, 1675; C. Winkworth, 1863, a.
508
6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7
In God, my faithful God, I trust when dark my road; Though many woes o’ertake me, Yet He will not forsake me; His love it is doth send them And, when ’tis best, will end them.
2. My sins assail me sore, But I despair no more. I build on Christ, who loves me; From this Rock nothing moves me. To Him I all surrender, To Him, my soul’s Defender.
3. If death my portion be, Then death is gain to me, And Christ my Life forever, From whom death cannot sever; Come when it may, He’ll shield me, To Him I wholly yield me.
4. O Jesus Christ, my Lord, So meek in deed and word, Thou once didst die to save us, Because Thou fain wouldst have us After this life of sadness The heirs of heavenly gladness.
5. “So be it,” then I say With all my heart each day. We, too, dear Lord, adore Thee, We sing for joy before Thee. Guide us while here we wander Till safely landed yonder.
S. Weingaertner, 1607; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
509
7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 7, 7, 6
From God shall naught divide me, For He is true for aye And on my path will guide me, Who else should often stray; His ever-bounteous hand By night and day is heedful And gives me what is needful, Where’er I go or stand.
2. When man’s help and affection Shall unavailing prove, God grants me His protection And proves His power and love; He helps me in my need, Delivers me from evil, From sin and death and devil; He is my Friend indeed.
3. If sorrow comes, He sent it, In Him I put my trust; I never shall repent it, For He is true and just And endeth every ill; My life and soul I render To God, my strong Defender; Let Him do as He will.
4. Whate’er shall be His pleasure Is surely best for me; He sent His dearest Treasure That our weak hearts may see His good and gracious will. In His own Son He gave us Whate’er can bless and save us; Praise Him who loves us still!
5. O praise Him, for He never Forgets our daily need; O blest the hour whenever Our thoughts to Him can speed; Yea, all the time we spend Without Him is but wasted, Till we His joy have tasted, The joy that hath no end.
6. The world away is passing With all its pomp and pride; All we have been amassing No longer may abide. But in our earthly bed, When safely we are sleeping, God hath us in His keeping, To wake us from the dead.
7. Our soul shall never perish, But in yon paradise The joys of heaven shall cherish. Our body shall arise Pure, holy, new-born, free From every sin and evil; The tempting of the devil We then no more shall see.
8. Then, though on earth I suffer Much trial, well I know I merit ways still rougher, And ’tis to heaven I go. For Christ I know and love, To Him I now am hasting, And gladness everlasting With Him my heart shall prove.
9. Such is His will that made us. The Father seeks our good; The Son of sin doth rid us, And saves us by His blood; His Spirit rules our ways, Through faith in us abiding, To heaven our footsteps guiding. To Him be thanks and praise!
L. Helmbold, 1563.
510
8, 7, 8, 7
God is Love; His mercy brightens All the path in which we rove; Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens: God is Wisdom, God is Love.
2. Chance and change are busy ever, Man decays, and ages move, But His mercy waneth never: God is Wisdom, God is Love.
3. E’en the hour that darkest seemeth Will His changeless goodness prove; From the gloom His brightness streameth: God is Wisdom, God is Love.
4. He with earthly cares entwineth Hope and comfort from above; Everywhere His glory shineth: God is Wisdom, God is Love.
J. Bowring, 1825.
511
8, 7, 8 l
Who puts his trust In God most just Hath built his house securely; He who relies On Jesus Christ, Heaven shall be his most surely. Then fixed on Thee My trust shall be, For Thy truth cannot alter; While mine Thou art Not death’s worst smart Shall make my courage falter.
2. Though fiercest foes My course oppose, A dauntless front I’ll show them; My Champion Thou, Lord Christ, art now, Who soon shalt overthrow them; And if but Thee I have in me With Thy good gifts and Spirit, Nor death nor hell, I know full well, Shall hurt me, through Thy merit.
3. I rest me here Without a fear; By Thee shall all be given That I can need, O Friend indeed, For this life or for heaven. O keep me true, My heart renew, My soul and flesh deliver! Lord, hear my prayer And in Thy care Keep me in peace forever.
J. Magdeburg, 1572; C. Winkworth, tr.
512
11, 10, 11, 10
Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish, Come to the mercy-seat, fervently kneel; Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.
2. Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure, Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot cure.
3. Here see the Bread of Life, see water flowing Forth from the throne of God, pure from above. Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing Earth has no sorrow but Heaven can remove.
T. Moore, 1816. Stanza 3 a.
513
4, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 7
God liveth still! Soul, despair not, fear no ill! God is good; from His compassion Earthly help and comfort flow; Strong is His right hand to fashion All things well for man below. Trial, oft the most distressing, In the end has proved a blessing. Wherefore, then, my soul, despair? God still lives, who heareth prayer.
2. God liveth still! Soul, despair not, fear no ill! He who gave the eye its vision, Shall He slumber once or sleep? He who gave the ear its mission, Hears He not His children weep? God is God; His ear attendeth When the sigh our bosom rendeth. Wherefore, then, my soul, despair? God still lives, who heareth prayer.
3. God liveth still! Soul, despair not, fear no ill! He who gives the clouds their measure, Stretching out the heavens alone; He who stores the earth with treasure, Is not far from every one. God in the hour of need defendeth Him whose heart in love ascendeth. Wherefore, then, my soul, despair? God still lives, who heareth prayer.
4. God liveth still! Soul, despair not, fear no ill! Is thy cross too great and pond’rous, Cast on Him thy grievous load; God is great, His love is wondrous, He will speed thee on the road. For His truth endureth ever, And His mercy ceaseth never. Wherefore, then, my soul, despair? God still lives, who heareth prayer.
5. God liveth still! Soul, despair not, fear no ill! Is the yoke of sin too galling? Christ Himself has set thee free, Borne for thee their weight appalling, Cast them in oblivion’s sea! In thy deepest grief and sadness He can grant thee joy and gladness. Wherefore, then, my soul, despair? God still lives, who heareth prayer.
6. God liveth still! Soul, despair not, fear no ill! When the world would let thee perish, Pathless all thy tangled way, God the nearer draws to cherish Him who makes the Lord his Stay. Children oft that most He loveth Thus with strictest rod He proveth. Wherefore, then, my soul, despair? God still lives, who heareth prayer.
7. God liveth still! Soul, despair not, fear no ill! Heaven’s huge vault may cleave asunder, Earth’s round globe in ruins burst, Satan’s fellest rage may thunder, Death and hell may spend their worst; Yet will God keep safe and surely Those who trust in Him securely. Wherefore, then, my soul, despair? God still lives, who heareth prayer.
8. God liveth still! Soul, despair not, fear no ill! Be thy life until its ending Full of thorns, of grief, or need, God, in love the trial sending, Thus His child would heavenwards lead. For this life’s long night of sadness He will give thee peace and gladness. Wherefore, then, my soul, despair? God still lives, who heareth prayer.
J. F. Zihn, 1782; F. E. Cox, tr., a.
514
L. M.
Thy ways, O Lord, with wise design Are framed upon Thy throne above, And every dark and bending line Meets in the center of Thy love.
2. With feeble light and half obscure, Poor mortals Thine arrangements view, Not knowing that the least are sure And the mysterious just and true.
3. Thy flock, Thine own peculiar care, Though now they seem to roam uneyed, Are led or driven only where They best and safest may abide.
4. They neither know nor trace the way; But whilst they trust Thy guardian eye, Their feet shall ne’er to ruin stray, Nor shall the weakest fail or die.
5. My favored soul shall meekly learn To lay her reason at Thy throne; Too weak Thy secrets to discern, I’ll trust Thee for my guide alone.
Ambrose Serle, 1786.
515
L. M.
When in the hour of utmost need We know not where to look for aid; When days and nights of anxious thought Nor help nor counsel yet have brought,
2. Then this our comfort is alone, That we may meet before Thy throne And cry, O faithful God, to Thee For rescue from our misery;
3. To Thee may raise our hearts and eyes, Repenting sore with bitter sighs, And seek Thy pardon for our sin And respite from our griefs within.
4. For Thou hast promised graciously To hear all those who cry to Thee, Through Him whose name alone is great, Our Savior and our Advocate.
5. And thus we come, O God, to-day And all our woes before Thee lay; For tried, afflicted, lo! we stand, Perils and foes on every hand.
6. Ah! hide not for our sins Thy face, Absolve us through Thy boundless grace, Be with us in our anguish still, Free us at last from every ill,
7. That so with all our hearts we may Once more our glad thanksgivings pay And walk obedient to Thy Word And now and ever praise Thee, Lord.
Paul Eber, 1547; C. Winkworth, tr.
516
7s
Seems it in my anguish lone As if God forsook His own, Yet I hold the knowledge fast God will surely help at last.
2. Though awhile it be delayed, He denieth not His aid; Though it come not oft with speed, It will surely come at need.
3. As a father not too soon Grants his child the longed-for boon, So our God gives when He will; Wait His pleasure and be still.
4. I can rest in thoughts of Him When all courage else grows dim, For I know my soul shall prove His is more than father’s love.
5. Would the powers of ill affright, I can smile at all their might; Or the cross be pressing sore, God, my God, lives evermore.
6. Man may hate me causelessly, Man may plot to ruin me, Foes my heart may pierce and rend; God in heaven is still my Friend.
7. Earth against me may declare, For her love I do not care; Though the world bear me a grudge, God, my Father, is my Judge.
8. Earth may all her gifts deny, Safe my treasure is on high; And if heaven at last be mine, All things else I can resign.
9. I renounce thee willingly, World, I hate what pleases thee. Baneful every gift of thine; Only be, my God, still mine.
10. Ah! Lord, if but Thee I have, Naught of other good I crave; Bright is even death’s dark road If but Thou art there, my God.
C. Titius, † 1703; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
517
L. M.
Lord God, who art my Father dear, I pray in Jesus’ name: O hear What, trusting in His promised Word, I humbly ask of Thee, good Lord.
2. Grant us Thy Word, Thy Spirit give, That by His grace we godly live; Give shelter, peace, good friends, and food, Protect our native land, O God.
3. Save us from sin and Satan’s fraud, Deliver us from evil, God, Be with us in our dying hour; Thine is the kingdom, glory, power.