III. SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

1. MORNING 159-164
2. EVENING 165-170
3. NEW YEAR 171-173
4. MARRIAGE 174,175
5. MISSIONS, see also HYMNS FOR EPIPHANY AND ON THE WORD OF GOD 176,177
6. SCHOOLS 178,179
7. ON A JOURNEY 180
8. HARVEST 181
9. PEACE AND WAR. FOR FASTS, see HYMNS FOR LENT AND ON PENITENCE
182-184

Morning

[480]159. Dayspring of eternity
[481]160. God who madest earth and heaven
[482]161. As a bird at dawning singeth
[483]162. Come, my soul, awake, 't is morning
[484]163. While yet the morn is breaking
[485]164. My inmost heart now raises

[486]Morning
(LXXIX.--"Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit.")
159.
Original Tune.
Sheet Music
Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit
[487]V. Rosenroth, 1684
Dayspring of eternity!
Hide no more Thy radiant dawning!
Light from Light's exhaustless sea,
Shine on us afresh this morning!
And dispel with glorious might
All our night.
Let Thy mercies' morning dew
Rouse our conscience from its blindness:
Gladden life's dry plains anew
With the rivers of Thy kindness;
Water daily us Thy flock
From the rock.
Let the glow of love distroy
Cold obedience faintly given,
Wake our hearts to love and joy
With the flushing eastern heaven;
Let us truly rise ere yet
Life hath set.
Brightest Star of eastern skies!
Grant that at Thy last appearing
These frail bodies may arise,
Joyfully Thy summons hearing,
Strong their heavenward course to run
As the sun.
Through this dark and tearful place
Never be Thy light denied us,
O Thou glorious Sun of grace,
To yon world of gladness guide us,
When to joys that never end
We ascend!
[488]Morning

(XXXII.--"Gott des Himmels und der Erden.")

160.
Original Tune.
Sheet Music
Gott des Himmels und der Erden
[489]H. Albert, 1644
God who madest earth and heaven,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Who the day and night hast given,
Sun and moon and starry host,
All things wake at Thy command,
Held in being by Thy hand.
God, I thank Thee! In Thy keeping
'Safely have I slumber'd here;
Thou hast guarded me while sleeping
From all danger, pain, and fear;
And the cunning of my foe
Hath not wrought my overthrow.
Let the night of sin that shrouded
All my life, with this depart;
Shine on me with beams unclouded,
Jesu! In Thy loving heart
Is my help and hope alone,
For the evil I have done,
Help me as the morn is breaking,
In the spirit to arise,
So from careless sloth awaking,
That when o'er the aged skies
Shall the morn of Doom appear,
I may see it free from fear.
Lead me, and forsake me never,
Guide my wand'ring by Thy Word;
As Thou hast been, be Thou ever
My defence, my refuge, Lord.
Never safe except with Thee,
Thou my faithful Guardian be!
O my God, I now commend me
Wholly to Thy mighty hand;
All the powers that Thou dost lend me
Let me use at Thy command;
Thou my boast, my strength divine,
Keep me with Thee, I am Thine.
Thus afresh with each new morning
Save me from the power of sin,
Hourly let me feel Thy warning
Ruling, prompting me within,
Till my final rest be come,
And Thine angel bear me home.
[490]Morning
(Index of Tunes, CXIII.)
161.

Tune.--"Sink not yet my soul to slumber." Sheet Music

Wie ein Vogel lieblich singet
[491]Anon., about 1580
As a bird at dawning singeth
In the woods or meadows fair,
Till the lonely forest ringeth,
And it fills the summer air,
So my heart to Thee would raise,
O my God, its song of praise,
That the gloom of night is waning,
And the Sun once more is reigning.
Sun of Love, when Thou dost greet me
All my heart with joy is stirr'd;
And it upward flies to meet Thee,
Gladsome as yon little bird.
Shine Thou in me clear and bright,
Till I learn to praise Thee right;
On the narrow way now speed me,
Let not darkness e'er mislead me.
Bless to-day what I am doing,
Bless whate'er I have and love;
With the morn my powers renewing,
Let me ne'er from virtue rove;
By Thy Spirit strengthen me
In the faith that leads to Thee,
So through life to journey fearless,
Heir of heaven, to glories peerless.
[492]Morning

(LXXXVIII. Psalm 38, Gaudimel. "Seele du musst munter werden.")

162.
Sheet Music
Seele du musst munter werden
[493]V. Canitz, died 1699
Come, my soul, awake, 't is morning,
Day is dawning
O'er the earth, arise and pray;
Come, to Hime who made this splendour
Thou must render
All thy feeble pow'rs can pay.
Soul, thy incense also proffer;
Thou shouldst offer
Praise to Him, who from thy head
Kept afar the storms of sorrow,
And the morrow
Finds the night in peace hath fled.
Bid Him bless what thou art doing,
If pursuing
Some good aim; but if there lurks
Ill intent in thine endeavour,
May He ever
Thwart and turn thee from thy works.
From God's glances shrink thou never,
Meet them ever;
Who submits him to His grace,
Finds that earth no sunshine knoweth
Such as gloweth
O'er his pathway all his days.
Wakenest thou again to sorrow,
Oh! then borrow
Strength from Him, whose sun-like might
On the mountain-summit tarries,
And yet carries
To the vales their mirth and light.
Pray that when thy life is closing,
Calm reposing
Thou mayst die, and not in pain;
That, the night of death departed,
Thou, glad-bearted,
Mayst behold the Sun again.
[494]Morning
(XVIII.--"Dank sei Gott in der Höhe.")
163.
Original Tune.
Sheet Music
Dank sei Gott in der Höhe
[495]J. Mühlmann, 1618
While yet the morn is breaking
I thank my God once more,
Beneath whose care awaking
I find the night is o'er;
I thank Him that He calls me
To life and health anew,
I know whte'er befalls me
His care will still be true.
Guardian of Israel, hear me,
Watch o'er me through the day,
In all I do be near me:
For others too I pray,
To Thee I would commend them,
Our Church, our youth, our land,
Direct them and defend them
When dangers are at hand.
O gently grant Thy blessing,
That we may do Thy will,
No more Thy ways transgressing,
Our proper task fulfil;
With Peter's full affiance
Let down our nets again,
If Thou art our reliance
Our toil will not be vain.
Thou art the Vine,--oh nourish
The branches graft in Thee,
And let them grow and flourish
A fair and fruitful tree;
Thy Spirit put within us,
And let His gifts of grace
To all good actions win us,
That best may show His praise.
[496]Morning
(XII.--"Aus meines Herzens Grunde.")
164.
Original Tune.
Sheet Music
Aus meines Herzens Grunde
[497]Anon., 1592
My inmost heart now raises,
In this fair morning hour,
A song of thankful praises
To Thine Almighty pow'r;
And so I have begun
This day, my God, my life shall be
Begun and closed with praise to Thee,
Through Christ Thy only Son.
For Thou from me hast warded
All perils of the night;
From every harm hast guarded
My soul till morning's light;
Humbly to Thee I cry,
Do Thou in grace the sins forgive
That anger Thee each day I live,
Have mercy, Lord most High!
And keep me of Thy kindness
From every harm to-day;
Nor let me in my blindness
To Satan fall a prey.
My cup with good o'erflows,
My soul and body, goods and life,
My home and friends, my child and wife,
Thy bounteous hand bestows.
And so to Thy good pleasure
My all I now commend,
And most, what most I treasure;
O Thou Almighty Friend,
Order my course for me,
And bless whate'er I undertake,
Since I in all my choice would make
As seemeth best to Thee.
Amen! I say, not fearing
That God rejects my prayer,
I doubt not He is hearing
And granting me His care;
And so I go my way,
And joyfully put forth my hands
To do the work that He commands,
And serve Him through the day.
Evening

[498]165. Now that the sun doth shine no more
[499]166. The happy sunshine all is gone
[500]167. Sink not yet, my soul, to slumber
[501]168. The day is done
[502]169. Now all the woods are sleeping
[503]170. Now God be with us, for the night is closing

[504]Evening

(LXXVI.--"Nun sich der Tag geendet hat.")

165.
Original Tune.
Sheet Music
Nun sich der Tag geendet hat
[505]Hertzog, 1670
Now that the sun doth shine no more,
And day hath reach'd its close,
They calmly sleep who wept before,
The wearied find repose.
But Thou, my God, no rest dost know
In Thy unslumb'ring might;
Thou hatest darkness as Thy foe,
For Thou Thyself art Light.
Then 'mid the blackness of these hours
Still think on me for good;
Refresh me,--let Thy heavenly powers
Now o'er my slumbers brood,
I know the evil I have done
Doth cry aloud to Thee;
But, ah! the mercy of Thy Son
Hath made amends for me.
And therefore now I close my eyes
And sleep with tranquil breast;
Why waste the time in fears or sighs?
God watches o'er my rest.
Hence, vain and evil thoughts, depart!
Roam not, my soul, abroad,
For now I build within my heart
A temple to my God.
And if this night my last should prove
In this dark land, I pray
Then take me to Thy heaven above,
The home of endless day.
[506]Evening
(Index of Tunes, LXXXII.)
166.

Tune.--"Lord Jesus Christ, my Life, my Light." Sheet Music

Hinunter ist der Sonnenschein
[507]N. Hermann, 1560
The happy sunshine all is gone,
The gloomy night comes swiftly on;
But shine Thou still, O Christ our Light,
Nor let us lose ourselves in night.
We thank Thee, Father, that this day
Thy angels watch'd around our way,
And free from harm and vexing fear,
Have led us on in safety here.
Lord, have we anger'd Thee to-day,
Remember not our sins, we pray,
But let Thy mercy o'er them sweep,
And give us calm and restful sleep.
Thy angels guard our sleeping hours,
And keep afar all evil Powers;
And Thou all pain and mischief ward
From soul and body, faithful Lord!
[508]Evening
(CXIII.--"Werde munter, mein Gemüthe.")
167.
Original Tune.
Sheet Music
Werde munter, mein Gemüthe
[509]Rist, 1642
Sink not yet, my soul, to slumber,
Wake, my heart, go forth and tell
All the mercies without number
That this bygone day befell;
Tell how God hath kept afar
All things that against me war,
Hath upheld me and defended,
And His grace my soul befriended.
Father, merciful and holy,
Thee to-night I praise and bless,
Who to labour true and lowly
Grantest ever meet success;
Many a sin and many a woe,
Many a fierce and subtle foe,
Hast Thou check'd that once alarm'd me,
So that nought to-day has harm'd me,
Now the light, that nature gladdens,
And the pomp of day is gone,
And my heart is tired and saddens;
As the gloomy night comes on;
Ah then, with Thy changeless light
Warm and cheer my heart to-night,
As the shadows round me gather
Keep me close to Thee, my Father.
Have I e'er from Thee departed,
Now I seek Thy face again,
And Thy Son, the loving-hearted,
Made our peace through bitter pain.
Yes, far greater than our sin,
Though it still be strong within,
Is the Love that fails us never,
Mercy that endures for ever.
Brightness of the eternal city!
Light of every faithful soul!
Safe beneath Thy sheltering pity,
Let the tempests past me roll:
Now it darkens far and near,
Still, my God, still be Thou here;
Thou canst comfort, and Thou only,
When the night is long and lonely.
E'en the twilight now hath vanish'd,
Send Thy blessing on my sleep,
Every sin and terror banish'd,
Let my rest be calm and deep.
Soul and body, mind and health,
Wife and children, house and wealth,
Friend and foe, the sick, the stranger,
Keep Thou safe from harm and danger.
O Thou mighty God, now hearken
To the prayer Thy child hath made;
Jesus, while the night-hours darken
Be Thou still my hope, my aid;
Holy Ghost, on Thee I call,
Friend and Comforter of all,
Hear my earnest prayer, oh hear me!
Lord, Thou hearest, Thou art near me.
[510]Evening
(Index of Tunes, LXXXIV.)
168.

Tune.--"O darkest woe, ye tears, forth flow!" Sheet Music

Der Tag ist hin
[511]Freylinghausen, 1704
The day is done,
And, left alone,
My heart is fill'd with yearning
For the morn when grief and care
Shall have no returning.
The night is here,
Oh! be Thou near,
Christ, make it light within me;
Chase the darkness from my heart
That to ill might win me.
The sun's sweet light
Is sunk in night;
Oh Brightness uncreated,
Shine with joy on us who here
Long for Thee have waited.
Each living thing
Is slumbering,
While darkness round is closing;
Work Thou silently in me
While I lie reposing.
Ah when shall day
Have perfect sway,
By night no more attended?
When that fairest morn shall break
That shall ne'er be ended.
For Salem then
Shall ne'er again
Behold her brightness vanish,
Since the Lamb shall be her light,
And all night shall banish.
Oh were I there!
Where all the air
With lovely sounds is ringing,
Where the saints Thee, Holy Lord,
Evermore are singing!
Lord Jesus, Thou
My rest art now;
Grant me to stand before Thee,
Radiant with Thy light to shine,
And for aye adore Thee!
[512]Evening
(Index of Tunes, LXXXV.)
169.

Tune.--"O World, I now must leave thee." Sheet Music

Nun ruhen alle Wälder
[513]Gerhardt, 1653
Now all the woods are sleeping,
And night and stillness creeping
O'er city, man, and beast;
But thou, my heart, awake thee,
To pray'r awhile betake thee,
And praise thy Maker ere thou rest.
O Sun, where art thou vanish'd?
The Night thy reign hath banish'd,
Thy ancient foe, the Night.
Farewell, a brighter glory
My Jesus sheddeth o'er me,
All clear within me shines His light.
The last faint beam is going,
The golden stars are glowing
In yonder dark-blue deep;
And such the glory given
When called of God to heaven,
On earth no more we pine and weep.
The body hastes to slumber,
These garments now but cumber,
And as I lay them by
I ponder how the spirit
Puts off the flesh t' inherit
A shining robe with Christ on high.
Now thought and labour ceases,
For Night the tired releases
And bids sweet rest begin:
My heart, there comes a morrow
Shall set thee free from sorrow,
And all the dreary toil of sin.
Ye aching limbs! now rest you,
For toil hath sore oppress'd you,
Lie down, my weary head:
A sleep shall once o'ertake you
From which earth ne'er shall wake you,
Within a narrower, colder bed.
My heavy eyes are closing;
When I lie deep reposing,
Soul, body, where are ye?
To belpless sleep I yield them,
Oh let Thy mercy shield them,
Thou sleepless Eye, their guardian be!
My Jesus, stay Thou by me,
And let no foe come nigh me,
Safe shelter'd by Thy wing;
But would the foe alarm me,
Oh let him never harm me,
But still Thine angels round me sing!
My loved ones, rest securely,
From every peril surely
Our God will guard your heads;
And happy slumbers send you,
And bid His hosts attend you,
And golden-arm'd watch o'er your beds.
[514]Evening
(XXII.--"Die Nacht ist kommen.")
170.
Original Tune.
Sheet Music
Die Nacht ist kommen
[515]B. Brethren
Now God be with us, for the night is closing;
The light and darkness are of His disposing,

And 'neath His shadow here to rest we yield us,

For he will shield us.
Let evil thoughts and spirits flee before us;

Till morning cometh, watch, O Master, o'er us;

In soul and body Thou from harm defend us,
Thine angels send us.

Let pious thoughts be ours when sleep o'ertakes us,

Our earliest thoughts be Thine when morning wakes us;

All day serve Thee, in all that we are doing
Thy praise pursuing.
As Thy beloved soothe the sick and weeping,
And bid the captive lose his griefs in sleeping;
Widows and orphans, we to Thee commend them,
Do Thou befriend them.
We have no refuge; none on earth to aid us,
Save Thee, O Father, who Thine own hast made us;
But Thy dear presence will not leave them lonely,
Who seek Thee only.
Father, Thy name be praised, Thy kingdom given,
Thy will be done on earth as 'tis in heaven
Keep us in life, forgive our sins, deliver
Us now and ever.--Amen.
New Year

[516]171. The old year now hath pass'd away
[517]172. Help us, O Lord, behold we enter
[518]173. Oh wouldst Thou in Thy glory come

[519]New Year
(XIX.--"Das alte jahr vergangen ist.")
171.
Original Tune.
Sheet Music
Das alte jahr vergangen ist
[520]Tapp, 1603
The old year now hath pass'd away,
We thank Thee, O our God, to-day,
That Thou hast kept us through the year,
When danger and distress were near.
We pray Thee, O Eternal Son,
Who with the Father reign'st as One,
To guard and rule Thy Christendom
Through all the ages yet to come.
Take not Thy saving Word away,
Our souls' true comfort and their stay;
Abide with us, and keep us free
From errors, following only Thee.
Oh help us to forsake all sin,
A new and holier course begin,
Mark not what once was done amiss,
A happier, better year be this:
Wherein as Christians we may live,
Or die in peace that Thou canst give,
To rise again when Thou shalt come,
And enter Thine eternal home.
There shall we thank Thee, and adore,
With all the angels evermore;
Lord Jesus Christ, increase our faith
To praise Thy name through life and death!
[521]New Year
(Index of Tunes, CXV.)
172.

Tune.--"If thou but suffer God to guide thee." Sheet Music

Hilf, Herr Jesu, lass gelingen
[522]Rist, 1644
Help us, O Lord, behold we enter
Upon another year to-day;
In Thee our hopes and thoughts now centre,
Renew our courage for the way:
New life, new strength, new happiness,
We ask of Thee,--oh hear and bless!
May every plan and undertaking
This year be all begun with Thee,
When I am sleeping or am waking,
Still let me know Thou art with me;
Abroad do Thou my footsteps guide,
At home be ever at my side.
Be this a time of grace and pardon,
Thy rod I take with willing mind,
But suffer nought my heart to harden,
Oh let me now Thy mercy find;
In Thee alone, my God, I live,
Thou only canst my sins forgive.
And may this year to me be holy,
Thy grace so fill my ev'ry thought
That all my life be pure and lowly
And truthful, as a Christian's ought;
So make me while yet dwelling here
Pious and blest from year to year.
Jesus, be with me and direct me;
Jesus, my plans and hopes inspire;
Jesus, from tempting thoughts protect me;
Jesus, be all my heart's desire;
Jesus, be in my thoughts all day,
Nor suffer me to fall away!
And grant, Lord, when the year is over,
That it for me in peace may close;
In all things care for me, and cover
My head in time of fear and woes;
So may I, when my years are gone,
Appear with joy before Thy throne.
[523]New Year
(Index of Tunes, LXXI.)
173.

Tune.--"Ah! God, from heaven look down and see." Sheet Music

Gottlob, ein Schritt zur Ewigkeit
[524]A. H. Francke, 1691
Oh wouldst Thou in Thy glory come,
As Thou, Lord, hast foretold it!
I count the moment's weary sum
Until we may behold it;
With burning lamp, the Church, Thy Bride,
Is waiting for the holy tide
When Thou, Lord, wilt unfold it.
Yet I would leave it to thy choice,
The hour when we shall meet Thee!
Though Thou dost love that heart and voice
Should daily thus entreat Thee,
And henceforth all my course should be
Still looking on and up to Thee,
With heart prepared to greet Thee.
I joy that from Thy love divine
No power my soul can sever;
That I may dare to call Thee mine,
My Lord, my Friend, for ever!
That I, O Prince of Life, shall be
Made wholly one in heaven with Thee,
In life that endeth never.
And therefore do my thinks o'erflow
That one more year is ended,
And of this Time, so puor, so slow,
Another step ascended;
And with a heart that may not wait
I hasten towards the golden gate
Where long my hopes have tended.
And when the wearied hands give way,
And wearied knees are failing,
Then make Thy mighty arm my stay,
Though faith and hope seem quailing;
That so my heart drink in new strength,
And fear no more the journey's length,
O'er doubt and pain prevailing.
Then on, my soul, with fearless faith,
Let nought to terror move thee,
Nor list what earthly pleasure saith,
When she would lure and prove thee;
The eagles' wings of love and prayer
Will bear thee through life's toil and care
To Him who still doth love thee.
Marriage

[525]174. Jesu, day by day [526]175. Oh blest the hourse, whate'er befall

[527]Marriage
(XCV.--"Seelenbräutigam.")
174.
Sheet Music
Jesu, geh voran
[528]Zinzendorf
Jesu, day by day
Guide us on life's way;
Nought of dangers will we reckon,
Simply haste where Thou didst beckon,
Lead us by the hand
To our fatherland.
Hard should seem our lot,
Let us waver not,
Never murmur at our crosses
In dark days of grief and losses
'Tis through trial we
Here must pass to Thee.
When the heart must know
Pain for others' woe,
When beneath its own 'tis sinking,
Give us patience, hope unshrinking,
Fix our eyes, O Friend,
On our Journey's end.
Thus our path shall be
Daily traced by Thee;
Draw Thou nearer when 'tis rougher,
Help us most when most we suffer,
And when all is o'er,
Ope to us Thy door!
[529]Marriage

(CXXI.--"Wo Gott zum Haus nicht giebt sein' Gunst.")

175.
Sheet Music
Wohl einem Haus wo Jesus Christ
[530]C. C. L. von Pfeil, 1735
Oh blest the hourse, 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!
Oh 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.
Blest, where their prayers shall daily rise
As fragrant incense to the skies,
While in their lives the world is taught
That forms without the heart are nought.
Blest, where the busy hands fulfil
Their proper task with ready skill,
While through their different works ye see
One spirit run of unity.
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.
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.
Missions
[531]176. Spread, oh spread, thou mighty Word
[532]177. For the Lord reigneth
[533]Missions
(Index of Tunes, XXXIII.)
176.

Tune.--"Let the earth now praise the Lord." Sheet Music

Walte, walte, nah und fern
[534]Bahnmaier, 1823
Spread, oh spread, thou mighty Word,
Spread the kingdom of the Lord,
Wheresoe'er His breath has given
Life to beings meant for heaven.
Tell them how the Father's will
Made the world, and keeps it still,
How He sent His Son to save
All who help and comfort crave.
Tell of our Redeemer's love,
Who for ever doth remove
By His holy sacrifice,
All the guilt that on us lies.
Tell them of the Spirit given
Now, to guide us up to heaven,
Strong and holy, just and true,
Working both to will and do.
Word of Life! most pure and strong,
Lo! for Thee the nations long;
Spread, till from its dreary night
All the world awakes to light.
Up, the ripening fields ye see,
Mighty shall the harvest be,
But the reapers still are few,
Great the work they have to do.
Lord of harvest, let there be
Joy and strength to work for Thee,
Till the nations far and near
See Thy Light, and learn Thy fear.
[535]Missions
(LXXV.--"Nun preiset alle.")
177.
Original Tune.
Sheet Music
Nun preiset alle Gottes Barmherzigleit
[536]Löwenstern, died 1648
For the Lord reigneth
Over the universe,
All He sustaineth,
All things His praise rehearse,
The host of angels round Him dwelling,
||:Psalter and harp of His Praise are telling.::|
Rise then, ye nations,
Cast off your mournfulness;
Into His pastures
Will ye not gladly press?
For there His Word abroad is sounded,
||:Pardon for sinners, and grace unbounded.:||
Richly he feeds us,
Always and everywhere;
Gently He leads us
With a true Father's care;
The late and early rains He sends us,
||:Daily His blessing, His love attends Us.:||
Sing we His praises
Who is thus merciful;
Christendom raises
Songs to His glorious rule!
Rejoice! no foe shall now alarm us,
||:He will protect us, and who can harm us?:||
Now let us loudly
Praise God, the Merciful;
Christendom proudly
Tells of His glorious rule;
Gently He bids thee come before Him,
||:Haste then, O Israel, now adore Him!:||
Schools
[537]178. Jesu, when Thou once returnedst
[538]179. Lord Jesus Christ, we come to Thee
[539]Schools
(Index of Tunes, VII.)
178.

Tune.--"Hark! a voice saith, All are mortal." Sheet Music

Jesu, als du wiederkehrtest
[540]Bahnmaier, 1823
Jesu, when Thou once returnedst
From the temple of the Lord,
Where His holy will Thou learnedst,
Gladly to Thy home restored,
Thou wast readt to fulfil,
As a child, Thy parents' will;
Grace and sweet humility,
Evermore were seen in Thee.
See Thy little flock dispersing
From their school with joyous hearts;
Here Thy lessons oft rehearsing,
Train them for lif's busy parts;
Lord, at home or by the way,
Lonely, or in merry play,
Be our Pattern ne'er forgot;
Friend of children, leave us not!
[541]Schools
(Index of Tunes, CXXI.)
179.
Sheet Music

Tune.--"O blest the house, whate'er befall." Sheet Music

Nun hilf uns, O Herr Jesu Christ
[542]B. Brethren
Lord Jesus Christ, we come to Thee,
For that hast deign'd on earth to be
A pious and a loving child,
Whom never sin nor guilt defiled.
We ask but one thing for our lot,
O Lord, deny Thy children not,--
Teach us to rest upon Thy will,
And take Thee for our Pattern still.
Oh put Thy Spirit in our breast,
Help us to learn with childlike rest,
That we may lay the one true ground,
And evermore in Thee be found.
On a Journey
[543]180. In God's name let us on our way
[544]On a Journey
(Index of Tunes, XXVIII.)
180.

Tune.--"Ere yet the dawn hath fill'd the skies."
Sheet Music
Sheet Music

In Gottes Namen fahren wir
[545]Anon., before Luther
In God's name let us on our way!
The Father's help and grace we pray;
His love shall guard us round about
From foes within and harms without.
Hallelujah.
And Christ, be Thou our Friend and Guide,
Throught all our wanderings at our side,
Help us all evil to withstand
That wars against Thy least command.
Hallelujah.
The Holy Spirit o'er us brood
With all His gifts of richest good,
With hope and strength when dark our road,
And bring us home again in God!
Hallelujah.
Harvest

[546]181. Come, Christians, praise your Maker's goodness

[547]Harvest
(Index of Tunes, LXXVIII.)
181.

Tune.--"Oh would, my God, that I could praise Thee." Sheet Music

Kommt, Christen, Gottes Huld zu feiern
[548]Liebich, 1768

Come, Christians, praise your Maker's goodness,

Rejoice in Him and in His gift;
To-day before the Lord of harvest
In happy songs your voices lift;
For He who cared for us of yore
Hath bless'd our fields and homes once more.
Accept, O Lord, our thankful praises
For all our Father's blessing gives;
May it increase our faith, and lead us
To praise Thee by obedient lives,
That every deed and word may prove
We feel and trust our Father's love.
Thou feedest us in pure compassion;
Teach us to care for others' need;
Let each, as he is able, comfort
The sick and poor, the hungry feed:
O Father Thou of all below,
On each, what most he needs, bestow.
Open Thy bounteous hands in blessing
Thus to refresh us, year by year;
Provide for us through all life's journey,
And make us faithful stewards while here
Of all that to our care is given,
That greater gifts be ours in heaven.
Preserve to us what Thou hast sent us,
And grant us calm and peaceful days
And grateful hearts, that we may use it
In quiet gladness to Thy praise:
And while our bodies thus are fed,
O grant our souls the Living Bread!
Peace and War

[549]182. Lord Jesu Christ, the Prince of Peace
[550]183. Lord God, we worship Thee
[551]184. Thank God it hath resounded

[552]Peace and War

(XXIV.--"Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ.")

182.
Original Tune.
Sheet Music
Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ
[553]Ebert, died 1614
Lord Jesu Christ, the Prince of Peace,
True God and Man art Thou!
Mighty to help in life and death,
O hear and help us now!
'T is through Thy name alone we claim
The mercy of Thy Father!
The times are sore and perilous
With heavy woes and wars,
Whence no man can deliver us
But Thou! Oh pleade our cause,
That God may lay His wrath away,
Nor deal with us in anger!
We have deserved, and patiently
Would bear, whate'er Thou wilt,
But grace is mightier far with Thee
Than all our sin and guilt;
Forgive us then, dear Lord, again,
Thy love is ever faithful.
(Danger and grief around us stand,
When plagues are in the air;
But far more wretched is the land
When cruel war is there;
Men scorn the good, in reckless mode
All holy things despising.
There law and judgment yield to force,
None asketh what is right;
Thy Word is hinder'd in its course,
And quench'd its blessed light;
Then drive afar this harmful war,
Help, save us from its terrors.)
And let Thy grace, O Lord, control
Our minds and hearts, that none
Should make a sport, that kills the soul,
Of evils war hath done.
'T is Thou alone who from Thy throne
Canst rule us thus, and save us!
[554]Peace and War
(Index of Tunes, LXX.)
183.
Tune.--"Now thank we all our God."
Sheet Music
Herr Gott, wir danken Dir
[555]J. Franck, 1653
Lord God, we worship Thee!
In loud and happy chorus,
We praise Thy love and pow'r,
Whose goodness reigneth o'er us!
To heav'n our song shall soar,
For ever shall it be
Resounding o'er and o'er;
Lord God, we worship Thee!
Lord God, we worship Thee!
For Thou our land defendest,
Thou pourest down Thy grace,
And strife and war Thou endest;
Since golden Peace, O Lord,
Thou grantest us to see,
Our land with one accord,
Lord God, gives thanks to Thee!
Lord God, we worship Thee!
Thou didst indeed chastise us,
Yet still Thy anger spares,
And still Thy mercy tries us;
Once more our Father's hand
Doth bid our sorrows flee,
And Peace recoice our land;
Lord God, we worship Thee.
Lord God, we worship Thee!
And pray Thee, who hast blest us,
That we may live in peace,
And none henceforth molest us;
O crown us with Thy love;
Fulfil our cry to Thee,
O Father, grant our prayer;
Lord God, we worship Thee!
[556]Peace and War
(Index of Tunes, LXXIV.)
184.
Tune.--"My soul, now praise thy Maker."
Sheet Music
Gottlob, es ist erschollen
[557]Gerhardt, 1648
Thank God it hath resounded,
The blessed voice of joy and Peace!
And murder's reign is bounded,
And spear and sword at last may cease.
Bright hope is breaking o'er us,
Arise, my land, once more,
And sing in full-ton'd chorus
Thy happy songs of yore;
Oh raise thy heart to God and say:
Thy covenants, Lord, endure,
Thy mercies do not pass away,
Thy promises are sure.
O welcome day, that brought us
This precious noble gift of Peace!
For war hath deeply taught us
What sorrows come where she doth cease;
In her our God now layeth
All hope, all happiness;
Who woundeth her, or slayeth,
Doth, like a madman, press
The arrow to his own heart's core,
And quench with impious hand
The golden torch of Peace once more,
That glads at last our land.
This ye could teach us only,
So dull and hard these hearts of ourse,
Ye homes, now stripp'd and lonely,
Ye wasted cities, ruin'd towers;
Ye fields, once fairly blooming,
With golden harvest graced,
Where forests now are glooming,
Or spreads a dreary waste;
Ye graves, with corpses piled, where lies
Full many a hero brave,
Whose like no more shall meet our eyes,
Who died, yet could not save.
O man, with bitter mourning
Remember now the by-gone years,
When thou hast met God's warning
With careless scoff, not contrite tears;
Yet like a loving father
He lays aside His wrath,
And seeks with kindness rather
To lure thee to His path;
He tries if love may yet constrain
The heart that hath withstood
His rod,--oh let Him not in vain
Now strive with Thee for good.
Thou careless world, awaken!
Awake, awake, all ye that sleep,
Ere yet ye be o'ertaken
With ruin sudden, swift, and deep!
But he who knows Christ liveth,
May hope and fear no ill,
The Peace that now He giveth
Hath deeper meaning still,
For He will surely teach us this:
"The end is nigh at hand,
When ye in perfect rest and peace
Before your God shall stand."