Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs Part 8

TO THE COUNTENANCE OF THE LORD JESUS.

Oh! bleeding head, and wounded, And full of pain and scorn, In mockery surrounded With cruel crown of thorn!

Oh Head! before adorned With grace and majesty, Insulted now and scorned, All hail I bid to Thee!

They spit upon and jeer Thee, Thou n.o.ble countenance!

Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee, And flee before Thy glance.

How hath Thy colour faded, The light too of Thine eye!

Say who to pale hath made it?

None shone so brilliantly.

Now from Thy cheeks is vanish'd Their colour once so fair; From Thy red lips is banish'd The splendour that was there.

Death's might hath all things taken, Hath robb'd Thee ruthlessly; Thy frame, of strength forsaken, Doth hence in weakness lie.

O Lord! it was my burden That brought this woe on Thee, I earn'd it--for my pardon It has been borne by Thee.

A child of wrath, look on me, Turn not away Thy face; O Saviour! deign to own me, And smile on me in grace.

My Guardian, now confess me, My Shepherd, me receive!

Thou evermore dost bless me, All good things dost Thou give.

Thy mouth hath often given Me milk and sweetest food.

And many a taste of Heaven Thy Spirit hath bestow'd.

Oh! do not, Lord, deride me, I will not hence depart, Here will I stand beside Thee, When breaks Thine anguish'd heart; When on Thy breast is sinking In death's last fatal grasp Thy head, e'en then unshrinking Thee in mine arms I'll clasp.

Nought ever so much blesses, So much rejoices me, As when in Thy distresses I share a part with Thee.

My Life, ah! were it ever Vouchsaf'd me on Thy cross My soul up to deliver, How blessed were my loss!

Thanks from my heart I offer Thee, Jesus, dearest Friend, For all that Thou didst suffer, My good didst Thou intend.

Ah! grant that I may ever To Thy truth faithful be, And in the last death-s.h.i.+ver May I be found in Thee.

When hence I must betake me, And death at last must meet, Lord, do not then forsake me, Thy child with welcome greet.

When terror has bereft me, Of heart and hope, again, Lord! from my woe uplift me, In virtue of Thy pain.

Be Thou my consolation When death o'ertaketh me; May Thy death-tribulation Before mine eyes then be!

I'll on Thee, fondly gazing, Fix my believing eyes, While firmly Thee embracing,-- He dies well who so dies.

THE SEVEN WORDS SPOKEN BY THE LORD JESUS ON THE CROSS.

My heart! the seven words hear now That Jesus Christ hath spoken, When on the cross His heart through woe And murder dire was broken; Ope now the shrine, And lock them in, As gifts all price excelling.

In bitter grief, They'll give relief, 'Neath crosses joy instilling.

His first and chiefest care He made Who hated Him to cover: G.o.d for the wicked men He pray'd, That He'd their sin look over.

"Forgive, forgive,"

He said in love, "Them every one, O Father!

Not one doth see What doeth he, In ignorance 'tis rather!"

How fair it is, let all learn here, To love their foes who grieve them, And all their faults with hearts sincere Aye freely to forgive them.

He also shows, How grace o'erflows His heart, how kind His mood is, That e'en his foe, Who'd work Him woe, Doth in Him find what good is!

Then to His mother doth He speak, Who stood near him He loveth, And as He can, though voice be weak, With words of comfort sootheth: "Woman! there see Thy son, for me Thou shalt by him be guarded.

Disciple! see, Let her by thee As mother be regarded."

O faithful heart! thou car'st for all Thine own who truly love Thee, When they in tribulation fall Thou seest, the sight doth move Thee; A friend in need, In word and deed, Thou at their side appearest, Dost by Thy grace Find them a place, Them to good souls endearest.

The third thing that Thy lips have said Thou spak'st to him beside Thee, When, "Think upon me then," he pray'd, "When G.o.d Himself shall guide Thee Up to Thy throne, Thy head shall crown As Lord of earth and heaven:"

"To walk with Me To-day shall thee In Paradise be given."

O blessed word! O voice of joy!

Can aught affright us?--never!

Let death who seeketh to destroy, Now disappear for ever!

Though he rage sore, What can he more Than soul and body sever?

And meanwhile I Mount up on high, In joy to dwell for ever.

Christ's word gives deepest peace and joy, The robber's trouble stilleth; But He cries from the agony His holy breast that filleth, "Eli, my G.o.d, What heavy load Am I, Thy Son, now bearing?

I call, and Thou Art silent now, Though I sink, seem'st not caring."

This lesson learn, thou child of faith, When G.o.d His count'nance veileth, Lest thou be cast down in the path When trouble thee a.s.saileth: Firm to Him cleave, Though He may leave, He'll comfort soon, and cheer thee; True do thou be, Cry mightily, Until He turn and hear thee.

The Lord His voice now clear doth raise Through thirst that paineth sorely; "I thirst," the Spring eternal says, The Lord of life and glory.

What meaneth He?

He showeth thee How He thy load sinks under, That thou did'st pile For Him, the while In sin's ways thou did'st wander.

Thereby He also telleth thee How much He longs that ever His cross in each may fruitful be, Fail of its end may never.

Mark this all ye, Now carefully, Who're in soul tribulation: Th' eternal Sun Refuseth none The soul's part and salvation.

And as the gloomy night of death Upon the Lord descended, "'Tis finish'd," He with dying breath Said, "now my work is ended; What was foretold In days of old, By seers who went before me, Doth now betide; I'm crucified, And men now triumph o'er me."

"'Tis finish'd!"--why then toilest thou?

In vain thy labour ever!

As if aught human strength can do, Could e'er from guilt deliver!

'Tis done! beware, And never dare To add aught to it ever; Do thou believe, In faith aye cleave To Him, forsake Him never.

His voice at length the Lord doth raise, High over all 'tis swelling: "My spirit, Father! to the place Take where Thou'rt ever dwelling, My soul receive, That now doth leave This body sorely riven."

And at the word, To the great Lord Release from pain was given.

Oh! would to G.o.d, that I might end My life as His was ended, My spirit unto G.o.d commend As His was then commended.

O Christ, my Lord!

May Thy last word The last be by me spoken; So happily I'll go to Thee, When life's last thread is broken.

Resurrection of Christ.--Easter.