TUNE 95.-" O Gott du fromer Gott."
BLEST be my Lord and God,
My Light, Life, and Creator ;
Life to my dust He gives,
And an immortal nature.
Me with a father's love
He watch'd from infancy,
And every moment pours
His blessings still on me.
Blest be my Lord and God,
My Life and my Salvation,
Th' eternal Son, to me
Given at His incarnation.
He hath my soul redeem'd
With His most precious blood;
And to my faith He gives
Himself, my highest good.
Blest be my Lord and God,
The Father's gracious Spirit,
My Comforter, my Life,-
Gift of my Saviour's merit :
His strength doth me sustain ;
His breath renews my heart:
In all distress He doth
Aid, counsel, peace impart.
Blest be my Lord and God,
Oh praise Him, all creation!
Adore His holy name,
Each ransom'd tribe and nation:
Him by His name adore,
For holy is His name :
Let all the Father, Son,
And Spirit, God proclaim.
TUNE 31.-"Erhalt uns Herr."
FROM all her foes Thy Church, O Lord,
Protect and keep by Thy blest word;
Our foes and Thine, who would dethrone
Christ Jesus Thy beloved Son.
Lord Jesu Christ! now let Thy might,
Thou Lord of lords, appear in sight :
Thy helpless heritage defend;
So shall they praise Thee without end.
God, Holy Ghost! our joy Thou art ;
Give to Thy fold on earth one heart :
In our last trial be our stay;
Our guide through all our mortal way.
A STRONG tower is our God's great name,
A bulwark that availeth:
He doth deliver us from shame
Now evil us assaileth:
The old cruel Foe
Thirsts us to o'erthrow:
Great deceit, great might,
Prepare him for the fight:
On earth there is none like him.
Soon are we lost: by our poor might
In vain the war's sustainèd :
For us that Righteous One doth fight
Whom God Himself ordainèd.
Him shall we proclaim?
Jesus Christ His name :
He is God alone;
Him Lord of Hosts we own:
He on the field must triumph.
Though all the world with fiends abound,
Who would devour and rend us,
Dismay shall not our hearts confound:
Success shall yet attend us.
This world's prince may rage,
And to hurt engage:
Powerless yet is he
He doth but heaven's decree :
A word can overwhelm him.
O CHRIST, the Light of heavenly day!
The shades of darkness chase away:
Those who in paths of danger roam,
Bring to Thy fold, their happy home.
Those who in error wander wide,
Let Thy bright beams of mercy guide;
With those who in their secret heart,
By sin misled, from Thee depart.
And all beside who Thee forsake,
Partakers of Thy mercy make:
Whom sin hath bruised and wounded, heal;
To them the hope of glory seal.
Oh that the deaf might hear Thy voice,
The dumb to speak of Thee rejoice;
The thankless heart its silence break,
And, taught by faith, confession make.
O Lord, give sight unto the blind,
And join us all in heart and mind:
Oh gather the dispersed to Thee:
The wavering, Lord, from doubt set free.
So they with us in bonds of love
Shall sing Thy praise on earth--above,
And Thee for all Thy grace adore,
Here, and in heaven for evermore.
TUNE 20.-" Da Christus geboren."
JESU! as a Saviour aid;
On Thy name our hope is stay'd:
Help of man we seek in vain;
With Thy hand our souls sustain.
Be to us a wall around,
So shall fear our foe confound,
Brought with trembling to the ground.
Rock most High, Immanuel,
Who around, within dost dwell,
God with us in all distress,
Who dost soul and body bless,
God our aid till time shall end,
Those who now our hurt intend,
Let Thy heavenly chastenings mend.
Death, the might of Thy great name
Did, O Prince of Peace! proclaim:
By Thy death the serpent fell;
Peace return'd on earth to dwell.
Jesu, graciously give peace;
So Thy people's joys increase,
And our praise shall never cease.
TUNE 259.-" Mein Licht."
O THOU who over all dost reign,
Thine arm Thy fold defendeth;
Thy might the weakest doth sustain,
And help in trouble sendeth.
Thy Church, O Lord, on Thy sure word,
Thy promised grace, relieth:
For blest repose from all her woes,
To Thee with prayer she flieth.
Hear us, O Lord: Thy flock unite,
And grant our supplication,
That all may in Thy truth delight,
And in Thy great salvation.
From darkness free our eyes to see
The word Thyself hast given:
On Christ the Rock set Thou His flock,
And guide us hence to heaven.
TUNE 276.-"O du Hüter."
THOU who keepest Israel,
Is there not to Thy displeasure
Bound or measure?
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