Du Volk, das du getaufet bist.
Ye baptized people, one and all,
Who know your God in heaven,
Who have received a holy call,
To whom Christ's name is given,
Do not forget, but ponder well,
The gifts that now within you dwell,
The blessings of baptism.
This washing cleanseth us from sin
And lends a sacred beauty,
It makes us white and pure within,
Incites to love and duty,
From Satan's prison sets us free,
Enables us the sons to be
And heirs of God, our Father.
Our sinful nature is renewed,
The curse of God is lifted;
By choicest blessings thus endued
And with the Spirit gifted,
We unto sin are pledged to die
And by the pow'r of God on high
The gates of hell can conquer.
Here we with Jesus Christ are clad,
His righteousness receiving,
Which covers what in us is bad,
Our rescue thus achieving;
His holy blood, for sinners spilt,
Releases us from sin and guilt,
And we with God find favor.
O wondrous work, O sacred bath,
O water thou of blessing,
The world nowhere thy equal hath,
Such healing grace possessing.
Thou hast indeed a pow'r divine,
According to God's own design,
And with His word connected.
Thou art no water such as we
Can draw from well or river.
In thee the life of God we see,
Who is of grace the Giver.
His Holy Spirit in thee dwells,
Who ev'ry evil lust dispels
That in our hearts would linger.
O Christians, bear this well in mind,
And thank the Lord sincerely
For all the gifts that here you find,
And that you prize so dearly.
When nothing else can soothe the soul,
These gifts lend comfort till the goal
Of life on earth appeareth.
Use well the things you have in store,
That are for you intended,
And, cleansed by Jesus, sin no more
Until life's course is ended,
When you, in yonder happy land,
Before God's radiant throne shall stand,
In heaven's festal garments.
Paul Gerhardt, 1667.
Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.
Ich bin getauft auf deinen Namen.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I am baptized in Thy name;
In the seed Thou dost inherit,
With the people Thou dost claim,
I am reckoned:
And for me the Savior came.
Thou receivest me, O Father,
As a child and heir of Thine;
Jesus, Thou who diedst, yea, rather
Ever livest, Thou art mine
Thou, O Spirit,
Art my Guide, my Light divine.
I have pledged, and would not falter,
Truth, obedience, love to Thee;
I have vows upon Thine alter
Ever Thine alone to be,
And for ever
Sin and all its lusts to flee.
Gracious God, all Thou hast spoken
In this covenant shall take place;
But if I, alas! have broken
These my vows, hide not Thy face;
And from falling
O restore me by Thy grace.
Lord, to Thee I now surrender
All I have, and all I am;
Make my heart more true and tender,
Glorify in me Thy Name,
Let obedience
To Thy will be all my aim.
Help me in this high endeavor,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Bind my heart to Thee for ever,
Till I join the heavenly host.
Living, dying,
Let me make in Thee my boast.
Johann Jacob Rambach, 1734.
Tr. Chas. William Schaeffer, 1860.
Wir danken dir, o Jesu Christ.
We thank Thee, Jesus Christ, our Lord,
For all the help Thou dost afford.
Thou art the Lamb for sinners slain,
And this is our eternal gain.
Thy holy supper doth prepare
For us a precious fountain where
Salvation flows for ev'ry soul,
To make the wounded spirit whole.
This covenant Thou, Lord, didst make:
"Receive my body and partake
Of mine own blood which flowed for thee,
That thou a ransomed soul mightst be."
I eat Thy body, which for me
Was made to die upon the tree,
I drink Thy blood and thus receive
Life for my soul, as I believe.
And though I die, yet shall I live;
Thy body and Thy blood will give
To me eternal life above,
The fruit of Thy redeeming love.
Let me be numbered with the blest,
Who on Thy loving bosom rest,
Thy worthy guest, to sup with Thee
And praise Thy name eternally.
Nicolaus Selnecker, 1572.
Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.
Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir.
Out of the depths I cry to Thee,
Lord, hear me, I implore Thee!
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,
Let my prayer come before Thee!
If Thou remember each misdeed,
If each should have its rightful meed,
Who may abide Thy presence.
Our pardon is Thy gift; Thy love
And grace alone avail us.
Our works could ne'er our guilt remove,
The strictest life must fail us.
That none may boast himself of aught,
But own in fear Thy grace hath wrought
What in him seemeth righteous.
And thus my hope is in the Lord,
And not in mine own merit;
I rest upon His faithful word
To them of contrite spirit.
That He is merciful and just,--
Here is my comfort and my trust,
His help I wait with patience.
And though it tarry till the night,
And round till morning waken,
My heart shall ne'er mistrust Thy might,
Nor count itself forsaken.
Do thus, O ye of Israel's seed,
Ye of the Spirit born indeed,
Wait for your God's appearing.
Though great our sins and sore our woes,
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our utmost need it soundeth.
Our kind and faithful Shepherd, He,
Who shall at last set Israel free
From all their sin and sorrow.
Martin Luther, 1524.
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1862.
Eines wuensch ich mir vor allem andern.
One thing I above all others cherish,
For one thing I long and pray.
Though in sorrow's vale fond hopes may perish,
This will prove my staff and stay:
To behold the Man who, deeply sighing
And upon earth's bosom prostrate lying,
Drank the bitter cup of woe
Since the Father willed it so.
Ever shall my soul retain the vision
Of that Lamb, for sinners slain,
Pale and wounded, held in deep derision,
Hanging on the wood of pain,
Wrestling there in thirst and mortal anguish,
Lest my soul eternally should languish,
Being mindful, too, of me
When He died the world to free.
O Lord Jesus, keep me mindful ever
Of my guilt and of Thy grace.
Be it Thou all bonds of sin dost sever
And all blots of guilt efface.
Thou of night the brightest daylight makest,
And Thy lamb into Thy bosom takest,
As the Shepherd good and fair,
Nursing it with tender care.
I am Thine! Wilt Thou reply by saying,
"Thou forever shalt be mine!"
Cause Thy precious name, all fears allaying,
Brightly in my heart to shine!
Be with Thee all things begun and ended,
Who from earth to heaven hast ascended.
Yea, this shall, till life is spent,
Be our law and testament.
Albert Knapp, 1829 (1823).
Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.
Meine Seel, ermuntre dich.
Come, my soul, again inquire
If the love of Christ constrain thee.
To His cross again retire;
See Him give Himself to gain thee.
Search His faithfulness and try Him,
Glad in Him and gladdened by Him.
See Him there, God's only Son
On the tree for thee suspended,
Crowned with thorns, by grief undone,
Crimson stains with crimson blended,
Pierced for thee, transfixed, forsaken:
Deathless love by death o'ertaken.
Thou, yea thou hadst known the rod,
Endless pain thy sole possession;
Thou hadst been cast off by God
For thy multiplied transgression;
But the Lord thy cause defended;
By His grace thou art befriended.
When in mighty woe He died
Vengeance ceased and wrath abated;
Sinai was satisfied;
All things old were new-created;
Sin and death and hell were thwarted;
Life and health and heaven imparted.
Jesus, grace sufficient give
That this mind be ever in me:--
Thine I am; to Thee would live;
Naught from Thee shall ever win me.
Thou wilt not forsake nor leave me;
Let me, Lord, in love receive Thee.
Johann Caspar Schade, 1692.
Tr. A. Ramsey.
So nimm denn meine Haende.
Take, then, my hands, O Father,
And lead Thou me
Until my journey endeth,
Eternally.
Alone I will not wander
One single day.
Be Thou my true Companion
And with me stay.
O cover with Thy mercy
My poor, weak heart!
Let ev'ry thought rebellious
From me depart.
Permit Thy child to linger
Here at Thy feet
And blindly trust Thy goodness
With faith complete.
Though naught of Thy great power
May move my soul,
With Thee through night and darkness
I reach the goal.
Take, then, my hands, O Father,
And lead Thou me
Until my journey endeth,
Eternally.
Julie von Haussmann.
Tr. H. Brueckner, 1916.
Jesu, geh voran.
Jesus, still lead on,
Till our rest be won;
And although the way be cheerless,
We will follow, calm and fearless,
Guide us by Thy hand
To our fatherland.
If the way be drear,
If the foe be near,
Let not faithless fears o'ertake us,
Let not faith and hope forsake us;
For through many a foe
To our home we go.
When we seek relief
From a long-felt grief,
When temptations come alluring,
Make us patient and enduring;
Show us that bright shore
Where we weep no more.
Jesus, still lead on,
Till our rest be won;
Heavenly Leader, still direct us,
Still support, console, protect us,
Till we safely stand
In our fatherland.
Nicolaus Ludwig v. Zinzendorf, 1721.
Tr. Jane Borthwick, 1846. a.
Befiehl du deine Wege.
Commit thy ways and faring
With all that grieves thy soul,
To His e'er faithful caring
Who doth the heavens control;
Who giving course and highway
To clouds and winds and breeze,
Will find for thee a byway
Where thou canst fare at ease.
But thou must trust Him wholly
To make thy welfare sure;
And look to His work solely
To have thy works endure.
God lets none snatch a blessing
By fretful grief and care
Nor one's own self-distressing;
It must be got by prayer.
Thy faithfulness unfailing,
O Father, and Thy grace
Mark good or ill prevailing
Amongst this mortal race;
Then what Thou wilt decreeing
And pressing on with ease,
Thou bring'st to pass and being
Whate'er Thy counsels please.
All ways do Thine possessing,
Thou lack'st not means nor might.
Thy deed is purest blessing,
Thy path serenest light.
And none Thy work can hinder,
Nor can Thy labors rest
Whenever Thou wouldst render
Thy children what is best.
Though devils all endeavor,
And fain would work defeat,
Beyond all doubt soever
The Lord will not retreat.
Whatever He proposes,
Whate'er He takes in hand,
Whene'er His set time closes
Will come to pass as planned.
Hope on, poor soul, and bravely;
Hope on, no more perplexed.
God from those deeps will save thee
Where thou by griefs art vexed.
With grace will He secure thee;
But wait His time as thine,
And thou wilt see most surely
The sun of gladness shine.
Up! Up! Away with grieving.
Bid anxious fret begone,
Thy heart its sadness leaving,
Its woes ne'er dwelt upon.
Though thou, who dost not govern,
Canst naught at all compel,
God sits enthroned and sov'reign
And doeth all things well.
Let Him, a Ruler knowing,
Arrange for thee, and do.
Thou'lt see with wonder growing
How He will bring thee through;
And how, by means most seemly,
By counsels wondrous deep,
He bears Himself supremely
In works which thou dost weep.
True, He awhile will tarry,
His comforting delayed,
And seem Himself to carry
As minded not to aid;
May seem to turn Him from thee,
Nor e'en, though o'er and o'er
Thy cares and griefs o'ercome thee
To ask about thee more.
But though thou seem neglected,
And yet believing be,
When least by thee expected
Will He deliver thee.
Thy heart will He deliver
From all its burd'ning woe
Which thou, unharmed however,
Hast carried hitherto.
And well with thee thereafter,
Child of the Faithful, found
Midst praise and thanks and laughter,
A conqueror, and crowned.
The palms in hand before him,
Which God Himself bestows,
With glad songs thou'lt adore Him
Who turned aside thy woes.
Make end, O Lord, good ending
To all our woes ere long.
With strength on us attending,
Our hands and feet make strong.
Thy faithful care bestowing,
Till death, our ways attend;
Then surely, heavenward going
Our ways in heaven will end.
Paul Gerhardt, 1656.
Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.
Alle Menschen muessen sterben.
Man is but a transient being
And a pilgrim here below,
Like a shadow, swiftly fleeing,
Like the days that come and go.
He must pass through death's dark portal,
To obtain that life immortal
Which on yonder blissful shore
Blooms in glory evermore.
So I willingly surrender
To the Lord my fleeting breath,
Knowing that His love so tender
Will allay all fear of death.
In His wounds there is redemption
And His death assures exemption
From the punishment of sin
And the sense of guilt within.
Jesus died upon the mountain,
There His precious blood was spilt.
Now an ever flowing fountain
Cleanseth me from all my guilt.
Hence my soul, endowed with pinions,
Leaves for heaven's fair dominions,
There in blissful joy to see
God, the holy Trinity.
In those fair celestial regions
All is life and peace and joy.
Souls are there in countless legions,
Happy in the Lord's employ.
There bright Seraphim are dwelling,
Who, in majesty excelling,
Praise with heaven's mighty host
Father, Son and Holy Ghost
There the patriarchs are living,
There the prophets all abide.
There, to Jesus homage giving,
His apostles, too, reside.
There the Lord's whole congregation
Has a place of habitation.
There, to honor God, their King,
All their hallelujahs sing.
O thou city of the sainted,
Heavenly Jerusalem!
How thy beauty is untainted,
Sparkling like a precious gem!
What soft music there is sounding,
What sweet joys are there abounding!
Night shall never follow day,
But the sun shall reign for aye.
Ah, mine eyes have seen the glory
Of that city fair and high,
And mine ears have heard the story
Of those mansions in the sky.
Now the pure white robe of heaven
And a crown to me are given,
Now that light of joy is mine
Which shall never cease to shine.
John G. Albinus, 1652.
Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.
Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt.
Jerusalem, thou city built on high,
Would God I were in thee!
My eager spirit hath so yearned to fly
And bides no more with me.
O'er hill and valley mounting
High, high o'er fields and wastes,
O'er all, all worthless counting,
Afar from earth it hastes.
O lovely day, O hour more lovely still,
When wilt thou be revealed,
When blissfully, my voice with joy athrill,
My soul to God I yield,
His pledge ordained, unfailing
In His all-faithful hand,
That haven waits my hailing
In yonder Fatherland?
'Twill mount in e'en the twinkling of an eye
Beyond the firmament,
So wondrously, so gently laying by
Its outworn earthly tent;
Midst chariots ascending
While bright angelic bands,
Around it safe attending,
Will bear it in their hands.
All hail to thee, O glorious city, now!
Lift up thy gates of grace
How long the time I yearned for thee, and how,
Before I reached this place
From yonder life of grieving,
Of vanity and strife,
From God at length receiving
The heritage of life.
What folk is this now drawing near to me,
This throng of worthies blest?
These, one time of th'elect on earth, I see;
The noblest crown and best
Which Christ, with grace compelling,
Sent me in other years
When still far distant dwelling
In mine own land of tears.
Lo, patriarchs renowned and prophets great
And gathered saintly folk,
Who while on earth endured the tyrant's hate
And wore the Savior's yoke!
But soaring now in freedom,
With honor clothed upon,
Midst radiant light I see them,
And shining like the sun.
Then when at length I enter in a thrill
That Paradise of God,
My every sense with rapturous joy will fill,
My mouth with praise and laud.
Hosannas there ascending
Make holy minstrelsy,
With Alleluiahs blending
For all eternity.
With instruments and with a joyful noise
Are choirs unnumbered singing,
Till by the sound and shoutings set apoise
The courts of joy are ringing.
With ten ten-thousand voices
And tens of thousands more,
The heavenly host rejoices
As ever from of yore.
Johann Matthaeus Meyfart, 1626.
Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.
Unter Lilien jener Freuden.
Midst the lilies blooming yonder
Thou shalt wander,
Oh my soul, and be at home.
Rise, then, as on eagle-pinions--
Thy dominions
Are above where angels roam.
Guide my ship, Thou First-born Brother,
To no other
Than that peaceful haven where,
Sheltered from all storms forever,
I shall never
Know of sorrow, sin or care.
Thou canst fill our mouths with laughter,
And hereafter
Make our tongues to sing Thy praise.
Thou canst softly lead us mortals
Through death's portals
And above all evils raise.
For our sins and grievous errors
All the terrors
Of the cross Thou didst endure.
Death, thy sting for aye has vanished,
Thou art banished,
And I rest from thee secure.
J. L. K. Allendorf, 1731.
Tr. H. Brueckner, 1917.
Die wir uns allhier beisammen finden.
Gathered here, we join our hands, O Savior,
And upon Thy death unite,
Ever to be true in our behavior
Unto Thee, eternal Light.
And as here Thy praises, Lord, are spoken,
Enter Thou into our midst in token
Of Thy love so pure and true,
Saying, "Peace I give to you!"
C. R. Zinzendorf, 1754.
Tr. H. Brueckner, 1916.