Chapter 6 of 32 · 3991 words · ~20 min read

Part 6

2. Of His deliverance I will boast Till all that are distrest From my example comfort take And charm their griefs to rest.

3. O magnify the Lord with me, With me exalt His name! When in distress on Him I called, He to my rescue came.

4. The hosts of God encamp around The dwellings of the just; Deliverance He affords to all Who on His succor trust.

5. O make but trial of His love! Experience will decide How blest are they, and only they, Who in His truth confide.

6. Fear Him, ye Christians, you will then Have nothing else to fear; Make you His service your delight, Your wants shall be His care.

Ps. 34. Tate and Brady, 1698, a.

S. M.

O bless the Lord, my soul! Let all within me join And aid my tongue to bless His name, Whose favors are divine.

2. O bless the Lord, my soul! Nor let His mercies lie Forgotten in unthankfulness And without praises die.

3. ’Tis He forgives thy sins; ’Tis He relieves thy pain; ’Tis He that heals thy sicknesses And gives thee strength again.

4. He crowns thy life with love When ransomed from the grave; He that redeemed my soul from death Hath sovereign power to save.

5. He fills the poor with good; He gives the sufferers rest: The Lord hath judgments for the proud And justice for th’ opprest.

6. His wondrous works and ways He made by Moses known, But sent the world His truth and grace By His beloved Son.

Ps. 103. Isaac Watts, 1719, a.

S. M.

My soul, repeat His praise, Whose mercies are so great; Whose anger is so slow to rise, So ready to abate.

2. God will not always chide; And when His wrath is felt, His strokes are fewer than our crimes And lighter than our guilt.

3. High as the heavens are raised Above the ground we tread, So far the riches of His grace Our highest thoughts exceed.

4. His grace subdues our sins; And His forgiving love Far as the east is from the west Doth all our guilt remove.

5. The pity of the Lord To those who fear His name Is such as tender parents feel; He knows our feeble frame.

6. Our days are as the grass Or like the morning flower; If one sharp blast sweep o’er the field, It withers in an hour.

7. But Thy compassions, Lord, To endless years endure; And children’s children ever find Thy words of promise sure.

Ps. 103. Isaac Watts, 1719.

L. M.

Before Jehovah’s awful throne, Ye nations, bow with sacred joy; Know that the Lord is God alone, He can create and He destroy.

2. His sov’reign power, without our aid, Made us of clay and formed us men; And when like wandering sheep we strayed, He brought us to His fold again.

3. We are His people, we His care, Our souls and all our mortal frame. What lasting honors shall we rear, Almighty Maker, to Thy name?

4. We’ll crowd Thy gates with thankful songs, High as the heavens our voices raise; And earth, with her ten thousand tongues, Shall fill Thy courts with sounding praise.

5. Wide as the world is Thy command, Vast as eternity Thy love; Firm as a rock Thy truth must stand When rolling years shall cease to move.

Isaac Watts, 1719, a.

L. M.

From all that dwell below the skies Let the Creator’s praise arise; Let the Redeemer’s name be sung Through every land, by every tongue.

2. Eternal are Thy mercies, Lord; Eternal truth attends Thy Word; Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore Till suns shall rise and set no more.

3. Your lofty themes, ye mortals, bring; In songs of praise divinely sing; The great salvation loud proclaim And shout for joy the Savior’s name.

4. In every land begin the song; To every land the strains belong; In cheerful sounds all voices raise And fill the world with loudest praise.

Isaac Watts, 1719.

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7

The Lord hath helped me hitherto By His surpassing favor; His mercies ev’ry morn were new, His kindness did not waver. God hitherto hath been my Guide, Hath pleasures hitherto supplied, And hitherto hath helped me.

2. I praise and thank Thee, Lord, my God, For Thine abundant blessing, Which heretofore Thou hast bestowed And I am still possessing. Inscribe this on my memory: The Lord hath done great things for me And graciously hath helped me.

3. Help me in future, God of grace, Help me on each occasion, Help me in each and ev’ry place, Help me through Jesus’ Passion; Help me in life and death, O God, Help me through Jesus’ dying blood, Help me as Thou hast helped me!

Emilia Juliana, Countess of Schwarzburg, † 1706; A. Crull, tr., 1882.

THE REDEEMER.

8, 7, 8, 7

Lamb of God, we fall before Thee, Humbly trusting in Thy cross; That alone be all our glory, All things else are only dross.

2. Thee we own a perfect Savior, Only Source of all that’s good. Every grace and every favor Comes to us through Jesus’ blood.

3. Jesus gives us true repentance, By His Spirit sent from heav’n; Whispers this transporting sentence, “Son, thy sins are all forgiv’n.”

4. Faith He grants us to believe it, Grateful hearts His love to prize; Want we wisdom? He must give it; Hearing ears and seeing eyes.

5. Jesus gives us pure affections, Wills to do what He requires, Makes us follow His directions, And what He commands, inspires.

6. All our prayers and all our praises, Rightly offered in His name,— He that dictates them is Jesus; He that answers is the same.

Joseph Hart, 1759.

6, 6, 5, 6, 6, 5, 7, 8, 6

Jesus, priceless Treasure, Source of purest pleasure, Truest Friend to me! Long my heart hath panted, Till it well-nigh fainted, Thirsting after Thee. Thine I am, O spotless Lamb! I will suffer naught to hide Thee, Ask for naught beside Thee.

2. In Thine arms I rest me, Foes who would molest me Cannot reach me here; Though the earth be shaking, Every heart be quaking, Jesus calms my fear; Sin and hell, In conflict fell, With their heaviest storms assail me. Jesus will not fail me.

3. Satan, I defy thee; Death, I need not fly thee; Fear, I bid thee cease! Rage, O world; thy noises Cannot drown our voices Singing still of peace, For God’s power Guards every hour; Earth and all its depths adore Him, Silent bow before Him.

4. Wealth, I will not heed thee, Wherefore should I need thee? Jesus is my Joy. Honors, ye may glisten, But I will not listen, Ye the soul destroy. Want or loss Or shame or cross Ne’er to leave my Lord shall move me Since He deigns to love me.

5. Farewell, thou who choosest Earth and heaven refusest; Thou wilt tempt in vain. Farewell, sins, nor blind me, Get ye far behind me, Come not forth again. Past your hour, O pomp and power; Godless life, thy bonds I sever, Farewell now forever!

6. Hence, all fears and sadness! For the Lord of gladness, Jesus, enters in. Those who love the Father, Though the storms may gather, Still have peace within; Yea, whate’er I here must bear, Still in Thee lies purest pleasure, Jesus, priceless Treasure!

J. Franck, c. 1653; C. Winkworth, tr.

8, 7, 8, 7, 12, 12, 11, 11

One thing’s needful! then, Lord Jesus, Keep this one thing in my mind; All beside, though first it please us, Soon a grievous yoke we find; Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving, No true, lasting happiness ever deriving. The gain of this one thing all loss can requite And teach me in all things to find true delight.

2. Soul, wilt thou this one thing find thee? Seek not midst created things; What is earthly leave behind thee, Over nature stretch thy wings. For where God and Man both in One are united, With God’s perfect fulness the heart is delighted, There, there, is the worthiest lot and the best, My One and my All, and my Joy and my Rest.

3. How were Mary’s thoughts devoted Her eternal joy to find, As intent each word she noted, At her Savior’s feet reclined! How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling, While hearing the lessons that Christ was revealing! For Jesus all earthly concerns she forgot, And all was repaid in that one happy lot.

4. Thus my longings, heavenward tending, Jesus, rest alone on Thee; Help me, thus on Thee depending, Savior, come and dwell in me! Although all the world should forsake and forget Thee, In love I will follow Thee, ne’er will I quit Thee. Lord Jesus, both spirit and life is Thy Word; And is there a joy which Thou dost not afford?

5. Wisdom’s highest, noblest treasure, Jesus, lies concealed in Thee; Grant that this may still the measure Of my will and actions be. Humility there, and simplicity, reigning. My steps shall in wisdom forever be training. Oh! if I of Christ have this knowledge divine, The fulness of heavenly wisdom is mine.

6. Christ, Thou art the sole oblation That I’ll bring before my God; In His sight I’ve acceptation Only through Thy streaming blood. Immaculate righteousness I have acquired, Since Thou on the tree of the cross hast expired; The robe of salvation forever is mine, In this shall my faith through eternity shine.

7. Let my soul, in full exemption, Wake up in Thy likeness now; Thou art made to me redemption, My sanctification Thou. Whatever I need for my journey to heaven, In Thee, O my Savior, is unto me given; O let me all perishing pleasure forego, And Thy life, O Jesus, alone let me know.

8. Where should else my hopes be centered? Grace o’erwhelms me with its flood; Thou, my Savior, once hast entered Holiest heaven through Thy blood. Eternal redemption for sinners there finding, From hell’s dark dominion my spirit unbinding, To me perfect freedom Thy entrance has brought, And childlike to cry, “Abba, Father,” I’m taught.

9. Christ Himself, my Shepherd, feeds me, Peace and joy my spirit fill; In a pasture green He leads me Forth beside the waters still. Oh, naught to my soul is so sweet and reviving As thus unto Jesus alone to be living; True happiness this, and this only, supplies, Through faith on my Savior to fasten mine eyes.

10. Therefore, Jesus, my Salvation, Thou my One, my All, shalt be. Prove my fixed determination, Root out all hypocrisy. Look well if on sin’s slipp’ry paths I am hasting, And lead me, O Lord, in the way everlasting! This one thing is needful, all others are vain; I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.

J. H. Schroeder, 1697; F. E. Cox, tr., a.

L. M. 6 l

Jesus, Thy boundless love to me No thought can reach, no tongue declare; Unite my thankful heart to Thee And reign without a rival there. Thine wholly, Thine alone, I am; Be Thou alone my constant flame.

2. O grant that nothing in my soul May dwell but Thy pure love alone; O may Thy love possess me whole, My Joy, my Treasure, and my Crown. Strange flames far from my heart remove; My every act, word, thought, be love!

3. O Love, how cheering is Thy ray! All pain before Thy presence flies; Care, anguish, sorrow, melt away, Where’er Thy healing beams arise. O Jesus, nothing may I see, Nothing desire or seek but Thee.

4. Unwearied, may I this pursue, Dauntless to the high prize aspire; Hourly within my soul renew This holy flame, this heavenly fire; And day and night be all my care To guard this sacred treasure there.

5. O draw me, Savior, after Thee! So shall I run and never tire. With gracious words still comfort me; Be Thou my Hope, my sole Desire. Free me from every weight. Nor fear Nor sin can come if Thou art here.

6. From all eternity, with love Unchangeable Thou hast me viewed; Ere knew this beating heart to move, Thy tender mercies me pursued. Ever with me may they abide And close me in on every side.

7. Still let Thy love point out my way; How wondrous things Thy love hath wrought! Still lead me lest I go astray; Direct my work, inspire my thought; And if I fall, soon may I hear Thy voice and know that love is near.

8. In suffering be Thy love my peace, In weakness be Thy love my power; And when the storms of life shall cease, Jesus, in that important hour, In death as life be Thou my Guide And save me, who for me hast died!

P. Gerhardt, 1666; J. Wesley, tr., a.

L. M. 6 l

The Lord my pasture shall prepare And feed me with a shepherd’s care; His presence shall my wants supply And guard me with a watchful eye; My noonday walks He shall attend And all my midnight hours defend.

2. While on the sultry glebe I faint Or on the thirsty mountain pant, To fertile vales and dewy meads My ever wandering steps He leads, Where peaceful rivers soft and slow Amid the verdant landscape flow.

3. Though in a bare and rugged way, Through devious lonely wilds, I stray, Thy bounty shall my pains beguile; The barren wilderness shall smile, With sudden greens and herbage crowned, And streams shall murmur all around.

4. Though in the paths of death I tread, With gloomy horrors overspread, My steadfast heart shall fear no ill, For Thou, O Lord, art with me still; Thy friendly crook shall give me aid And guide me through the dreadful shade.

J. Addison, 1712.

8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus only Can my heartfelt longing still; Without Him my soul is lonely, And I wish what Jesus will. For my heart, which He hath filled, Ever cries: Lord, as Thou wilt.

2. One it is for whom I’m living, Whom I’m loving faithfully; Jesus, unto whom I’m giving What in love He gave to me. Jesus’ blood hides all my guilt; Lord, O lead me as Thou wilt.

3. What to me may seem a treasure, But displeasing is to Thee, O remove such harmful pleasure; Give instead what profits me. Let my heart by Thee be stilled, Make me Thine, Lord, as Thou wilt.

4. Grant that always I endeavor Thy good pleasure to fulfil; In me, through me, with me ever, Lord, accomplish Thou Thy will. Let me die, Lord, on Thee built, When and where and as Thou wilt.

5. Lord, my praise shall be unceasing, For Thou gav’st Thyself to me And, besides, so many a blessing, That I sing most joyfully: Be it unto me, my Shield, As Thou wilt, Lord, as Thou wilt.

Ludaemilia Elizabeth, Countess of Schwarzburg, 1668; A. Crull, tr.

11, 4, 4, 11, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8

I leave Thee not; Thou art my Jesus ever, Though earth rebel, And death and hell Would from its steadfast hold my faith dissever. Ah, no! I ever will Cling to my Helper still. Hear what my love is taught: Thou art my Jesus ever, I leave Thee not, I leave Thee not!

2. I leave Thee not, O Love! of love the highest, Though doubt display Its battle-day; I own the power which Thou, my Lord, appliest. Thou didst bear guilt and woe; Shall I to torment go When into Judgment brought? O Love! of love the highest, I leave Thee not, I leave Thee not!

3. I leave Thee not, O Thou who sweetly cheerest, Whose fresh supplies Cause strength to rise Just in the hour when faith’s decay is nearest. If sickness chill the soul And nights of languor roll, My heart one hope hath caught. O Thou who sweetly cheerest, I leave Thee not, I leave Thee not!

4. I leave Thee not, Thou Help in tribulation! Heap ill on ill, I trust Thee still; I hope when all seems near to desolation. Do what Thou wilt with me, Yet will I cling to Thee; Thy grace I have besought. Thou Help in tribulation, I leave Thee not, I leave Thee not!

5. I leave Thee not; shall I forsake salvation? No, Jesus, no! Thou shalt not go; Mine still Thou art, to free from condemnation. Beyond this fleeting night Thy presence brings me light, Whose ray my soul hath sought; Shall I forsake salvation? I leave Thee not, I leave Thee not!

6. I leave Thee not; Thy Word my way shall brighten. With Thee I go Through weal and woe; Thy precept wise shall every burden lighten. My Lord, on Thee I hang Nor heed the journey’s pang, Though thorny be my lot; Thy Word my way shall brighten. I leave Thee not, I leave Thee not!

7. I leave Thee not, Thou Source of all my pleasure; For should I stray From Thee away, My richest joy must cease to be a treasure. All joys are dross to me, Unless delight from Thee Doth cheer my earthly lot. Thou Source of all my pleasure, I leave Thee not, I leave Thee not!

8. I leave Thee not! I fear no condemnation; For how could share Thy child and heir The lot of those who spurn their soul’s salvation? Thy blood, Lord, cleanseth me, And therefore I am free From hell, the sinners’ lot. I fear no condemnation; I leave Thee not, I leave Thee not!

9. I leave Thee not, my God, my Lord, my Heaven! Nor death shall rend From Thee, my Friend, Who for my sake Thyself to death hast given. Thou diedst for love to me, My love goes back to Thee; My heart has but one thought: My God, my Lord, my Heaven, I leave Thee not, I leave Thee not!

W. C. Dessler, 1692; J. W. Alexander, tr., 1851.

7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7

My dear Jesus I’ll not leave, Who for me Himself has given; Therefore unto Him I’ll cleave, Nor from Him be ever driven; Life from Him doth light receive,— My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.

2. Jesus I will never leave While on earth I am abiding; My full trust He shall receive; What I have, without dividing, All to Him I freely give,— My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.

3. Though my eyesight pass away, Hearing, taste, and feeling fail me; Though the earth’s last light of day Shall o’ertake and sore assail me; When my dying sigh I heave,— My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.

4. Nor will I my Jesus leave When at length I shall come thither Where His saints He will receive, Where in bliss they live together; Endless joy to me He’ll give,— My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.

5. Not for earth’s vain joys I crave, Not for heaven’s glorious pleasure; Jesus, who my soul did save, Shall be my Desire and Treasure; He redemption did achieve,— My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.

6. Jesus I shall never leave, To His side still firmly clinging. Christ leads all who Him receive To life’s waters ever springing. Blessed they who to Him cleave!— My dear Jesus I’ll not leave.

Chr. Keymann, c. 1656.

7, 4, 7, 4, 7, 4, 6

Jesus, Thou my heart’s Delight, Sweetest Jesus! Thrill’st my soul with rapture quite, Sweetest Jesus! All cares vanish at Thy sight, Sweetest Jesus! Jesus, sweetest Jesus!

2. Evermore I think of Thee, My Redeemer! And I long for none but Thee, My Redeemer! Yearns my soul with Thee to be, My Redeemer! Jesus, my Redeemer!

3. Feed Thou me and fill my soul, Heavenly Manna! Quench my thirst, my heart make whole, Help, Hosanna! Be the Rest unto my soul, Rest of weary, Jesus, Rest of weary!

4. Naught is lovelier than Thou, Fairest Lover! Naught is friendlier than Thou, Gentle Lover! And naught sweeter is than Thou, Sweetest Lover, Jesus, sweetest Lover!

5. I am weak; come, strengthen me, Strength in weakness! Faint am I, refresh Thou me, Sweetest Jesus! When I die, console Thou me, Thou Consoler, Jesus, my Consoler!

J. Flittner, 1661; J. A. Rimbach, tr., 1903, a.

C. M.

O Jesus, King most wonderful, Thou Conqueror renowned, Thou Sweetness most ineffable, In whom all joys are found!

2. When once Thou visitest the heart, Then truth begins to shine, Then earthly vanities depart, Then kindles love divine.

3. O Jesus, Light of all below, Thou Fount of life and fire, Surpassing all the joys we know, All that we can desire,—

4. May every heart confess Thy name, And ever Thee adore, And, seeking Thee, itself inflame To seek Thee more and more.

5. Thee may our tongues forever bless, Thee may we love alone, And ever in our lives express The image of Thine own.

Bernard of Clairvaux, † 1153; E. Caswall, tr., 1848.

L. M.

Jesus, and shall it ever be, A mortal man ashamed of Thee? Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise, Whose glories shine through endless days?

2. Ashamed of Jesus! Sooner far Let evening blush to own a star; He sheds the beams of light divine O’er this benighted soul of mine.

3. Ashamed of Jesus! Just as soon Let midnight be ashamed of noon. ’Tis midnight with my soul till He, Bright Morning-Star, bids darkness flee.

4. Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend On whom my hopes of heaven depend! No; when I blush, be this my shame, That I no more revere His name.

5. Ashamed of Jesus! Yes, I may, When I’ve no guilt to wash away, No tear to wipe, no good to crave, No fears to quell, no soul to save.

6. Till then—nor is my boasting vain— Till then I boast a Savior slain; And oh, may this my glory be, That Christ is not ashamed of me!

J. Grigg, 1765; B. Francis, 1787.

L. M.

Awake, my soul, to joyful lays And sing Thy great Redeemer’s praise; He justly claims a song from me,— His loving-kindness, O how free!

2. He saw me ruined in the Fall, Yet loved me notwithstanding all; He saved me from my lost estate,— His loving-kindness, O how great!

3. When I was Satan’s easy prey And deep in debt and bondage lay, He paid His life for my discharge,— His loving-kindness, O how large!

4. Though numerous hosts of mighty foes, Though earth and hell my way oppose, He safely leads my soul along,— His loving-kindness, O how strong!

5. When trouble, like a gloomy cloud, Has gathered thick and thundered loud, He near my soul has always stood,— His loving-kindness, O how good!

6. When earthly friends forsake me quite And I have neither skill nor might, He’s sure my Helper to appear,— His loving-kindness, O how near!

7. Often I feel my sinful heart Prone from my Jesus to depart; But though I have Him oft forgot, His loving-kindness changes not.

8. When I shall pass death’s gloomy vale And all my mortal power must fail, O may my last, expiring breath His loving-kindness sing in death!

9. Then shall I mount and soar away To the bright world of endless day And sing with rapture and surprise His loving-kindness in the skies.

S. Medley, 1782.

C. M.

All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem And crown Him Lord of all!