Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs Part 6

Ah Zion! that thy Lord to thee Would come and set thy captives free; Ah! that our help would now arise And gladden Jacob's waiting eyes.

Hallelujah!

There art Thou now, Thou ever-bless'd!

There dost Thou in the manger rest; The world Thou deck'st, all things hast made-- Thou'rt naked there, in weakness laid.

Hallelujah!

A stranger art Thou here below, To whom the Heav'ns allegiance owe; A mother's milk dost not despise, Who art the Joy of angels' eyes.

Hallelujah!

The bounds of ocean fix'd hast Thou, Who art a swaddled infant now; Thou'rt G.o.d--a bed of straw Thou hast.

Thou'rt man--yet art the First and Last.

Hallelujah!

Of every joy Thou art the spring, Yet sorrow oft Thy heart doth wring.

The Gentiles' Light and Hope Thou art, Yet findest none to soothe Thy heart.

Hallelujah!

The sweetest Friend of man Thou art, Though many hate Thee in their heart!

The heart of Herod loathed Thee, Yet what art Thou? Salvation free!

Hallelujah!

Thy meanest servant, Lord! am I, I say it in sincerity; I love Thee, but not half so well As I should love,--more love I'd feel.

Hallelujah!

My pow'r is weak, though will be there, But my poor heart against Thee ne'er Shall rise t' oppose,--Thou wilt receive By grace the little I can give.

Hallelujah!

Thou to be weak dost not disdain, Dost choose the things the world deems vain, Art poor and needy, and dost come, By love impell'd, to want's drear home!

Hallelujah!

Thou sleepest on the lap of earth, The manger where Thou at Thy birth Wast laid to rest, the hay, the stall Were mean, were miserable all.

Hallelujah!

And therefore doth my courage rise, Thy servant wilt Thou not despise; The gracious mind that dwells in Thee Fills me with hope and gladdens me.

Hallelujah!

Lord! though I've pa.s.s'd in sin my days, And wandered far from wisdom's ways, Yet therefore Thou to earth hast come, To bring the wand'ring sinner home.

Hallelujah!

Had I no debt of sin to face, How could I ever share Thy grace?

In vain for me Thine advent here, Had I no wrath of G.o.d to fear.

Hallelujah!

Lord, fearlessly I come to Thee, Thou keep'st my soul from anguish free; Thou bear'st the wrath, dost death destroy, And sorrow turnest into joy.

Hallelujah!

My Head Thou art, Thy member I In turn am, and Thy property; Lord, I will serve Thee while I live With all the grace Thou deign'st to give.

Hallelujah!

Loud hallelujahs here I'll sing, With joy that from my heart doth spring, And when I reach yon mansions fair I will repeat them ever there.

Hallelujah!

New Year.

OF THE CIRc.u.mCISION OF CHRIST.

Why should they such pain e'er give Thee, Why inflict such cruel smart?

Jesus, why should they so grieve Thee, Who're uncirc.u.mcis'd in heart, By this rite? Though Thou art free From the law's yoke utterly, Yet man's nature art Thou wearing, But no sin its beauty marring.

For Thyself Thou dost not bear it, Of the Cov'nant Thou art Head; 'Tis our debts that make Thee share it, That like grievous load of lead Lie upon us, and Thy heart Pierce e'en to the inmost part; These Thou bearest to deliver Us, who could have paid them never.

Let your hearts be glad, ye debtors!

Let the world rejoice to-day, For the Son of G.o.d our fetters Breaks, the price begins to pay.

This day is the Law fulfill'd, This day is G.o.d's anger still'd, Whom to death law did deliver, G.o.d's Son makes G.o.d's heirs for ever.

We this grace enough can never Own, nor for it grateful be; Heart and mouth, O Saviour! ever Shall exalt and honour Thee!

We shall praise with all our pow'r All Thy goodness, Thee adore, While in weakness here we wander, And Thy praise re-echo yonder!

SONG.

In pray'r your voices raise ye To G.o.d, and Him now praise ye, Who to our life from heaven All needed strength hath given.

The stream of years is flowing, And we are onward going, From old to new surviving, And by His mercy thriving.

In woe we often languish, And pa.s.s through times of anguish, When fearful war aboundeth, That earth itself surroundeth.

As faithful mother keepeth Guard while her infant sleepeth, And all its grief a.s.suageth When angry tempest rageth;

So G.o.d His children s.h.i.+eldeth, Them full protection yieldeth; When need and woe distress them, His loving arms caress them.

In vain is all our doing, The labour we're pursuing In our hands prospers never, Unless G.o.d watcheth ever.

Our song to Thee ascendeth, Who every day defendeth Us, and whose arm averteth The pain our hearts that hurteth.

O G.o.d of mercy! hear us; Our Father! be Thou near us; 'Mid crosses and in sadness Be Thou our Spring of gladness.

To me and all be given, Who from the heart have striven To gain Thy benediction, Hearts patient in affliction.

Oh! close the gates of sorrow, And by a glorious morrow Of peace, may places sadden'd By bloodshed dire be gladden'd.

With richest blessings crown us, In all our ways, Lord! own us; Give grace, who grace bestowest To all, e'en to the lowest.