Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs Part 27

That we enjoy them, And can still employ them, Our mind and senses and our every member, Thanks do we owe for this let us remember.

Praise ye Jehovah!

By flames o'erpowering, Us and ours devouring, From house and homestead that we've not been driven We owe it to the care of G.o.d in Heaven.

Praise ye Jehovah!

That no thief, breaking Through our doors and taking Our property, and us a.s.saulting hurt us, Is that He sent His angels to support us.

Praise ye Jehovah!

Oh, faithful Saviour!

Fount of every favour!

Ah! let Thy kindness and protection hover, By day and night our life at all times over.

Praise ye Jehovah!

Deign, Lord, to hear us, And to-day be near us!

Supported by Thy grace, may nought e'er hinder Our progress; and, in need, help speedy render.

Praise ye Jehovah!

Our will subduing, Make us Thine be doing, Teach us to labour faithfully; whenever Beneath the load we're sinking, then deliver.

Praise ye Jehovah!

Do Thou direct us When Thou dost afflict us, That we may never mock; but be preparing Before Thy throne hereafter for appearing.

Praise ye Jehovah!

And all true-hearted Who're by grace converted Wilt Thou, Lord, come for, and by grace be bringing Where all Thine angels evermore are singing, Praise ye Jehovah!

EVENING BLESSING.

The daylight disappeareth, It fleeth, and night neareth, Its gloom is spreading o'er us, With slumber to o'erpower us And all the wearied earth.

The working day now endeth, My heart to Thee ascendeth, For toil and rest who'st given The morning and the even,-- In praise my heart bursts forth.

Break forth, my heart, in singing, Praise to thy Maker bringing, Who soul and body giveth, More good than heart conceiveth, Or tongue can ever tell; No moment pa.s.seth over That doth not much discover Of goodness overflowing, He's aye on us bestowing, Each hour doth show it well.

Just as the shepherd's treasure, The sheep in boundless pleasure O'er greenest pastures wander, Their guardian's guidance under, With free and fearless mind, Themselves with flowers filling, Their thirst at fresh springs stilling, So me to-day hath guided, With every good provided, My Shepherd, good and kind.

G.o.d hath not me forsaken, Though I sin's course have taken, Not fearing e'er to leave Him, By waywardness to grieve Him, And wound His Father-heart.

Let, Father, Thy zeal never Burn 'gainst me, nor me sever From Thee and from Thy blessing; My doing and transgressing Awake regret and smart.

Oh! hear me, Father, praying, My waywardness and straying From Thee, my evil doing, Into the ocean throwing, Forgive eternally.

But may Thine angels hover Round me, and be my cover, All evil from me keeping; With Thee will I be sleeping, I'll rise again with Thee.

Now may mine eyelids closing Be peacefully reposing, All free from care and sorrow, Till on the golden morrow I joyfully awake.

Thy wings shall s.h.i.+eld me ever, The enemy shall never Thy flock and me endanger, Whom day and night in anger His prey he seeks to make.

When silent or when talking, When sitting or when walking, To Thee I'm wholly given, Thou art my life from heaven, This word is true and sore.

In every undertaking, In sleeping hours and waking, My fortress art Thou ever, Thine arm doth aye deliver, My bliss doth aye endure.

NOW SPREAD ARE EVENING'S SHADOWS.

Now spread are evening's shadows, O'er forests, towns, and meadows, And sleepeth ev'ry eye; Awake my pow'rs and sing ye, And pray'r and praises bring ye, That your Creator please on high!

O Sun! where art thou vanish'd?

The night thy light hath banish'd, The night of day the foe; Go then, for now appeareth Another Sun and cheereth My heart--'tis Jesus Christ, my joy!

We've seen the day's declining, The golden stars are s.h.i.+ning In yonder dark-blue sky.

There shall I be for ever When G.o.d doth me deliver, From this low vale of misery.

To rest the body hasteth, Itself of clothes divesteth, Type of mortality!

I'll put it off, and o'er me Christ will the robe of glory Throw, and of immortality!

Head, hands, and feet so tired Are glad the day's expired, That work comes to an end; My heart be fill'd with gladness That G.o.d from all earth's sadness, And from sin's toil relief will send.

Lie down, my members tired Upon your couch desired, Lie down my wearied head!

A day and hour is nearing They'll be for you preparing Beneath the sod, a quiet bed.

Mine eyes scarce ope are keeping, A moment--I'll be sleeping, Where's body then and soul?

In grace Thy care then make me, May evil ne'er o'ertake me, Thou Shepherd Lord of Israel!

O Jesus, be my cover!

And spread both Thy wings over Thy child, and s.h.i.+eld Thou me!

Though Satan would devour me, Let angels ever o'er me Sing, "This child shall uninjur'd be!"

And you, my well beloved!

Shall by no ill be moved, No danger shall betide.

G.o.d peaceful slumbers send you, With golden arms defend you, Send guardian angels to your side!

Miscellaneous.

SUMMER SONG.

Go forth, my heart, and seek delight In this summer time so bright, The bounties G.o.d displayeth, The garden's splendour go and see, Behold how G.o.d for me and thee Them gorgeously arrayeth.

The trees with leaves are cover'd o'er, The earth with carpet spreads her floor Of green, all fresh and tender, The tulip and narcissus wear Attire of finer texture fair Than Solomon in splendour.

The lark aspiring soars on high, Flies from her cleft the dove so shy, And seeks the woodland shadow; The nightingale with song so rare Delights and fills the ev'ning air O'er mountain, vale, and meadow.

Leads forth her little brood the hen, The stork builds near the haunts of men, And feed their young the swallows; The stag so swift, the roe so light Of foot, come bounding from the height Into the gra.s.sy hollows.

The brooklets murmur in the sand, And fringe the edge on either hand With myrtle rich in shadow; The shepherds and the sheep rejoice, In joy and mirth you hear their voice Sound from the neighb'ring meadow.

The bee through all the live-long hours, Unwearied roams among the flow'rs, Its precious stores to gather; The strong juice of the vine each hour Is ever gaining strength and pow'r This glorious summer weather.