Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs Part 24

But true to Thee must we abide, For ne'er from us dost Thou quite hide Thy saving health and light.

How many hast Thou given o'er, We've oft been s.h.i.+elded by Thy pow'r.

In many a sad and weary hour, When gath'ring clouds did o'er us low'r Above our anxious heads, Thou still'd'st the storm, whose mighty hand Upholdeth sky and sea and land.

How often, Lord, by day and night, Our enemies with craft and might Have threaten'd us, Thy flock!

But, faithful Shepherd! Thou wast near, Repell'dst the wolf and still'dst our fear.

Our brethren are compell'd to roam, Are driven forth from house and home, While we, Lord, still enjoy Each one his seat beneath the shade By his own vine and fig-tree made.

Behold! my heart, on every hand The towns and fields of many a land Are doom'd to ruin sure, The homes of men are overthrown, The houses of our G.o.d cast down.

But rest and order still remain With us, and we can still maintain The wors.h.i.+p of our G.o.d.

G.o.d's mind from out His holy word 'Mongst us is daily taught and heard.

Whoever this doth not perceive, But to the winds such thoughts doth give, Who in such blessed light No grace, no love, no goodness find, How dark, thrice darken'd is their mind!

O gracious G.o.d! preserve us free For aye from such stupidity; Lord, give us grat.i.tude, That songs of praise in sweetest tone We may present before Thy throne.

To nought we've done, or e'er can do, To Thee--to Thee alone is due The praise, O fount of love!

We've earned destruction from Thy face, Thou deal'st with us in love and grace.

Oh! may we meditate Thy grace, Till heart shall burn and tongue shall praise, And give angelic zeal, That every throbbing pulse may be A note of praise, O Lord! to Thee.

But let the tide of woe recede, Restore to us our joy, we plead, May peace to us return.

How many in this vale of tears Have never witness'd peaceful years!

Are we unworthy? then with Thee We plead for helpless infancy, Who wrong have never done.

Shall cradled infants feel the stroke, Shall they endure the heavy yoke?

Have pity, Lord! oh, tender heart!

What heavy sighs, what bitter smart, From our sad hearts are wrung!

No stone, our Saviour G.o.d art Thou, How canst Thou so afflict us now?

How grievous are our wounds and sore, They stink and fester more and more, But Thou canst heal them all.

Pour in the oil of grace, that whole Can make the body and the soul.

This wilt Thou do, we certainly Believe, although we nowhere see The means in all the world.

But Thou in our extremity Dost find Thine opportunity.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE DECLARATION OF PEACE.

Praise G.o.d! for forth hath sounded The n.o.ble word of joy and peace, There's rest where strife abounded, The sword and spear their murders cease.

Up! up! again, and bring ye Now forth the sounding lyre, O Germany! and sing ye In full and n.o.ble choir, Your hearts and minds now raise ye And thank the Lord, and say, "Thy grace and goodness praise we For they endure for aye!"

'Twere just if G.o.d were driving Us in dire wrath from 'fore His face, For with us still are thriving The thorns of sin that grow apace.

In deed and truth we feel it-- His rod of chastis.e.m.e.nt!

But say whoe'er can tell it-- Who are they who repent?

We're only evil ever, G.o.d's true continually, He helpeth to deliver From war and misery.

With grateful hearts o'erflowing We greet thee, n.o.ble gift of peace!

Where'er thou dwell'st, now knowing How richly thou dost ever bless.

G.o.d to thy keeping giveth Our good and happiness, Who woundeth thee and grieveth, In his own heart doth press Grief's arrow, and in madness He quencheth in the land The golden light of gladness With suicidal hand.

What could this lesson ever Grave on our hearts so solemnly, As forts laid low for ever, And towns that now in ruins lie: As fair and fertile meadows That wav'd with golden grain, Now wrapt in forest shadows And run to waste again.

As graves full of the buried, Who fell in the dread hour Of battle in ranks serried, Whose like we'll see no more.

O man! be now afflicted, And let thy tears in torrents flow, With countenance dejected To ponder to thy closet go; What heretofore hath given Thy G.o.d, didst thou deride, Thy Father who's in Heaven Now turn'd hath to thy side.

From fury and from pressing He turneth for thy good, As if by love and blessing Constrain thy heart He would.

Awake thee! now awake thee!

Thou hard, cold world awaken'd be; Ere doom's dread hour o'ertake thee, By thee unlook'd for, suddenly.

Ye for the Saviour living!

Unshaken be your mood, The peace He now is giving Can only bring us good.

This lesson He is giving, The end of all is nigh, Thou shalt with Him be living In peace eternally.

O LORD! I SING WITH MOUTH AND HEART.

O Lord! I sing with mouth and heart, Joy of my soul! to Thee To earth Thy knowledge I impart, As it is known to me.

Thou art the Fount of grace, I know, And Spring aye fall and free, Whence saving health and goodness flow Each day so bounteously.

What have we here or what are we, Of good what can earth give, That we do not alone from Thee, Our Father, aye receive?

The tent-like firmament who builds, Who spreads th' expanse of blue, Who sends to fertilize our fields Refres.h.i.+ng rain and dew?

Who warmeth us in cold and frost, Who s.h.i.+elds us from the wind, Who orders it that wine and must We in their season find?

Who is it life and health bestows, Who keeps us with His hand In golden peace, wards off war's woes, From our dear native land?

The work is Thine, my G.o.d! my Lord!

And Thine must ever be; Before our door Thou keepest guard, In rest we're kept by Thee.

Thou feedest us from year to year, And constant dost abide; When danger fills our hearts with fear, With help art at our side.

With patience dost Thou ever chide, Nor long Thine anger keep, But castest all our sins aside Into the ocean deep.

Whene'er our burden'd hearts we raise To Thee, Thou'rt soon appeas'd; The help Thou send'st shows forth Thy praise, And our sad hearts are eas'd.

Thou mark'st how oft Thy people weep And what their sorrows are, Their tears dost in Thy bottle keep, However small they are.

Our deepest needs dost Thou supply, Thou giv'st what lasts for aye, Thou lead'st us to our home on high, When hence we pa.s.s away.

Awake! my heart, awake and sing, And joyous be thy mood, Thy G.o.d who maketh everything Is, and abides thy good--

Thy treasure and inheritance!