Morning and Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week Part 11

Thou art no water such as we Can draw from well or river.

In thee the life of G.o.d we see, Who is of grace the Giver.

His Holy Spirit in thee dwells, Who ev'ry evil l.u.s.t 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 G.o.d'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 l.u.s.ts to flee.

Gracious G.o.d, 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 G.o.d'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 s.h.i.+ne!