Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs Part 3

Jesus, let mine eyes behold Thee; Lord, refresh me and uphold me!

Heart, rejoice, for He doth hear thee, And He visits thee again; Now thy Saviour draweth near thee, Bid Him gladsome welcome then, And prepare thee for thy guest, Enter thou into His rest, While with open heart receiving, Tell Him all that is thee grieving.

Lo! the things that seem'd to hinder How they all fall out for good.

Hark! how He in accents tender Comforts thee in gracious mood.

Ceas'd the dragon has to roar, Scheming, raging, now no more.

His advantages forsake him, He must to th' abyss betake him.

Now thy life is calm and even, All thy heart's desire is thine; Christ Himself to thee hath given All He hath--exhaustless mine!

His grace is thy fairest crown, Thou His seat art and His throne; With Himself as one He makes thee, Freely to His bosom takes thee.

G.o.d His golden-curtain'd Heaven Spreadeth to encompa.s.s thee!

Lest thou shouldst away be driven By thy raging enemy.

Angel hosts keep watch and ward At thy side and are thy guard; Lest in journeys aught should hurt thee, By the way their arms support thee.

All the ill thou hast done ever It is now remitted quite; G.o.d's love thee doth now deliver From sin's tyrant pow'r and might.

Christ the Prince hath won the day, Rise against thee what ill may, He, to purest good converting, Robbeth of the pow'r of hurting.

All for thine advantage proveth, E'en what hurtful may appear.

Christ accepteth thee and loveth, And His thoughts are all sincere.

Thou in turn but faithful be, Then shall certainly by thee, With the angel hosts in Heaven, Thanks and praise for aye be given.

SAY WITH WHAT SALUTATIONS?

Say with what salutations Shall I Thine advent greet?

Desire of all the nations, My Joy and Succour meet!

O Jesus! Jesus! lead me On by Thy blessed light; What's Thy delight thus guide me To understand aright.

With palms doth Zion meet Thee, Spreads branches in the way; To raise my soul to greet Thee Glad psalms I'll sing to-day.

My heart shall blossom ever, O'erflow with praises new, And from Thy name shall never Withhold the honour due.

What hast Thou e'er neglected For my good here below?

When heart and soul dejected, Were sunk in deepest woe, When from Thy presence hidden, Where peace and pleasure are, Thou camest, and hast bidden Me joy again, my Star!

In bitter bondage lying, Thou com'st and sett'st me free; 'Neath scorn and shame when sighing, Thou com'st and raisest me.

Thy grace high honour gives me, Abundance doth bestow, That wastes not, nor deceives me As earthly riches do.

No other impulse led Thee To leave Thy throne above, Upon Thine errand sped Thee, But world-embracing love!

A love that deeply feeleth The wants and woes of men, No tongue its fulness telleth, It pa.s.seth human ken.

In thy heart be this written, Thou much afflicted band!

Who evermore art smitten With griefs on every hand.

Fear not! let nothing grieve thee, For help is at thy door, He'll consolation give thee, Oil in thy wounds will pour.

No care nor effort either Is needed day and night, How thou may'st draw Him hither In thine own strength and might.

He comes, He comes with gladness!

O'erflows with love to thee, To chase away the sadness He knows oppresseth thee.

Sin's debt, the mighty burden Let not thy heart affright; The Lord will freely pardon, His grace will cover quite.

He comes! He comes! Salvation Proclaiming everywhere, Secures His chosen nation Their heritage so fair!

Thy foes why should they move thee?

Their wiles and rage are vain, Thy Saviour, who doth love thee, Will scatter them again.

He comes! a Conq'ror glorious, He'll scatter every band Of foes--His course victorious Too few they're to withstand.

He comes to judge each nation; Who curs'd Him, curse shall He; With grace and consolation, Who lov'd, receiv'd shall be.

Oh! come, Thou Sun, and lead us To everlasting light, Up to Thy mansions guide us Of glory and delight.

Birth of Christ.--Christmas.

OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANGELS.

Behold! behold! what wonder's here!

The gloomy night turns bright and clear, A brilliant light dispels the shade, The stars before it pale and fade.

A wondrous light it is, I trow, And not the ancient sun s.h.i.+nes now, For, contrary to nature, night Is turned by it to day so bright.

What means He to announce to us, Who nature's course can alter thus?

A mighty work design'd must be When such a mighty sign we see.

To us vouchsafed can it be The Sun of Righteousness to see, The Star from Jacob's stem so bright, The woman's Seed, the Gentiles' Light?

'Tis even so--for from the sky Heav'n's hosts with joyful tidings hie, That He is born in Bethl'hem's stall, Who Saviour is and Lord of all!

Oh blessedness! the goodly throng Of sainted fathers waited long To see this day, with hope deferr'd, As we may learn from G.o.d's own word.

Awake, ye sons of men, awake!

Up! up! and now your journey take With me, let us together go To where the blessed angels show.

Behold! there in yon gloomy stall He lies who ruleth over all; Where once their food the cattle sought, The Virgin's child for rest is brought.

Oh, child of Adam! ponder well, And stumble not at what I tell, He who appears in this low state For us is, and aye shall be great.

In mortal flesh we Him behold, Who all things made and doth uphold, The Word who was with G.o.d is He, Himself is G.o.d whom now we see.

It is G.o.d's sole-begotten Son Through whom we now approach His throne, The First and Last, the Prince of Peace, The Conqueror through whom wars cease.

The times predicted are fulfill'd, G.o.d's fiery wrath must now be still'd; His Son, made man, doth bear our load Of guilt, our peace buys with His blood.

It is a time of joy to-day, With mourning and with woe away!

Woe, woe to him who us revil'd!

G.o.d's seen in flesh--we're reconcil'd.