Chapter L: M. 8 l

Arm these Thy soldiers, mighty Lord,
With shield of faith and Spirit’s sword.
Forth to the battle may they go
And boldly fight against the foe,
With banner of the Cross unfurled,
And by it overcome the world;
And so at last receive from Thee
The palm and crown of victory.

2. Come, ever-blessed Spirit, come
And make Thy servants’ hearts Thy home;
May each a living temple be,
Hallowed forever, Lord, to Thee!
Enrich that temple’s holy shrine
With sevenfold gifts of grace divine;
With wisdom, light, and knowledge bless,
With counsel, strength, fear, godliness.

3. O Trinity in Unity,
One only God and Persons Three;
In whom, through whom, by whom we live,
To Thee we praise and glory give.
O grant us so to use Thy grace
That we may see Thy glorious face
And ever with the heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

C. Wordsworth, 1862.

411

7s

Thine forever, God of Love!
Hear us from Thy throne above,
Thine forever may we be
Here and in eternity.

2. Thine forever, Lord of Life!
Shield us through our earthly strife;
Thou, the Life, the Truth, the Way,
Guide us to the realms of day.

3. Thine forever! O how blest
They who find in Thee their rest!
Savior, Guardian, heavenly Friend,
O defend us to the end!

4. Thine forever! Savior, keep
These Thy frail and trembling sheep!
Safe alone beneath Thy care,
Let us all Thy goodness share.

5. Thine forever! Thou our Guide,
All our wants by Thee supplied,
All our sins by Thee forgiven;
Lead us, Lord, from earth to heaven.

Mary F. Maude, 1848.

412

C. M.

My God, accept my heart this day
And make it always Thine
That I from Thee no more may stray,
No more from Thee decline.

2. Before the cross of Him who died,
Behold, I prostrate fall;
Let every sin be crucified,
Let Christ be all in all!

3. Anoint me with Thy heavenly grace,
Adopt me for Thine own,
That I may see Thy glorious face
And worship at Thy throne!

4. May the dear blood, once shed for me,
My blest atonement prove
That I from first to last may be
The purchase of Thy love!

5. Let every thought and work and word
To Thee be ever given;
Then life shall be Thy service, Lord,
And death the gate of heaven.

M. Bridges, 1848.

CONFESSION.

413

8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 4, 8

Lord Jesus Christ, in Thee alone
My only hope on earth I place;
For other comforter is none,
No help have I but in Thy grace.
There is no man nor creature here,
No angel in the heavenly sphere,
Who in my need can succor me.
I cry to Thee,
For Thee I trust implicitly.

2. My sin is very sore and great,
I mourn beneath its dreadful load;
O free me from this heavy weight,
My Savior, through Thy precious blood;
And with Thy Father for me plead
That Thou hast suffered in my stead;
From me the burden then is rolled.
Lord, I lay hold
On Thy dear promises of old.

3. And in Thy mercy now bestow
True Christian faith on me, O Lord,
That all the sweetness I may know
Which in Thy holy Cross is stored,
Love Thee o’er earthly pride or pelf,
And love my neighbor as myself;
And when at last is come my end,
Be Thou my Friend,
From Satan’s wiles my soul defend.

4. Glory to God in highest heaven,
The Father of eternal love;
To His dear Son, for sinners given,
Whose watchful grace we daily prove;
To God the Holy Ghost on high;
Oh, ever be His comfort nigh,
And teach us, in His love and fear,
To please Him here
And serve Him in the heavenly sphere!

J. Schneesing, 1542; C. Winkworth, tr., a., 1858.

414

7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7

“Jesus sinners doth receive!”
O may all this saying ponder
Who in sin’s delusions live
And from God and heaven wander!
This alone sure hope can give—
“Jesus sinners doth receive!”

2. We deserve but grief and shame,
Yet His words, rich grace revealing,
Pardon, peace, and life proclaim;
Here their ills have perfect healing
Who with humble hearts believe—
“Jesus sinners doth receive!”

3. Sheep that from the fold did stray
Every faithful shepherd seeketh;
Weary souls that lost their way,
Christ, the Shepherd, seeks and taketh
In His arms that they may live—
“Jesus sinners doth receive!”

4. Come, ye sinners, one and all,
Come, ye all have invitation;
Come, obey His gracious call,
Come, accept His free salvation!
Firmly in these words believe:
“Jesus sinners doth receive!”

5. I, a sinner, come to Thee
And acknowledge my transgression;
Tender mercy show to me,
Grant me graciously remission;
Let these words my soul relieve:
“Jesus sinners doth receive!”

6. Henceforth I need fear no foe;
Were as scarlet my transgression,
It shall be as white as snow
By the virtue of Thy Passion;
For in these words I believe:
“Jesus sinners doth receive!”

7. Now my conscience is at ease,
Now I fear no condemnation.
He who grants me full release
Hath atoned for my transgression.
In true faith to Him I cleave,—
“Jesus sinners doth receive!”

Erdmann Neumeister, 1718.

415

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7

Out of the depths I cry to Thee,
Lord, hear my lamentation;
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me
And grant my supplication;
For if Thou fix Thy searching eye
On all sin and iniquity,
Who, Lord, can stand before Thee?

2. But love and grace with Thee prevail,
O God, our sins forgiving;
The best and holiest deeds must fail
Of all before Thee living;
Before Thee none can boasting stand,
But all must fear Thy strict demand
And live alone by mercy.

3. My hope I rest, then, on the Lord
And build not on my merit;
My heart shall trust His gracious Word,
His goodness stays my spirit.
His precious Word assureth me
He will my Joy and Comfort be;
This is my firm reliance.

4. And though it tarry till the night
And till the morn appeareth,
My heart still trusteth in His might,
It doubteth not nor feareth.
Do thus, O ye of Israel’s seed,
Ye of the Spirit born indeed,
Wait for your God’s appearing.

5. 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 Shepherd is the Lord, and He
At last shall set His Israel free
From all their sin and sorrow.

Martin Luther, 1524.

416

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8

Lord, to Thee I make confession,
I have sinned and gone astray,
I have multiplied transgression,
Chosen for myself my way.
Led at last to see my errors,
Lord, I tremble at Thy terrors.

2. Yet, though conscience’ voice appall me,
Father, I will seek Thy face;
Though Thy child I dare not call me,
Yet receive me to Thy grace;
Do not for my sins forsake me,
Let not yet Thy wrath o’ertake me.

3. For Thy Son hath suffered for me,
And the blood He shed for sin,
That can heal me and restore me,
Quench this burning fire within;
’Tis alone His cross can vanquish
These dark fears and soothe this anguish.

4. Then on Him I cast my burden,
Sink it in the depths below!
Let me feel Thy gracious pardon,
Wash me, make me white as snow.
Let Thy Spirit leave me never,
Make me only Thine forever!

J. Franck, 1649; C. Winkworth, tr., 1862.

417

L. M.

O Jesus, Lamb of God, who art
The Life and Comfort of my heart,
I, wretched sinner, come to Thee
And bring so many sins with me.

2. O God, my sinfulness is great,
I groan beneath a dreadful weight;
Yet be Thou merciful, I pray,
Take guilt and punishment away.

3. Saint John the Baptist biddeth me
To cast my burden, Lord, on Thee,
Since Thou hast left Thy heavenly throne
That for our sins Thou might’st atone.

4. Help me amend my ways, O Lord,
And willingly obey Thy Word;
Do always, then, abide with me,
And when I die, take me to Thee.

B. Helder, 1620; A. Crull, tr., 1880.

418

L. M.

With broken heart and contrite sigh,
A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry;
Thy pardoning grace is rich and free;
O God, be merciful to me!

2. I smite upon my troubled breast,
With deep and conscious guilt opprest;
Christ and His Cross my only plea;
O God, be merciful to me!

3. Far off I stand with tearful eyes
Nor dare uplift them to the skies;
But Thou dost all my anguish see;
O God, be merciful to me!

4. Nor alms nor deeds that I have done
Can for a single sin atone;
To Calvary alone I flee;
O God, be merciful to me!

5. And when, redeemed from sin and hell,
With all the ransomed throng I dwell,
My raptured song shall ever be,
God has been merciful to me!

C. Elven, 1852.

419

L. M.

O Thou that hear’st when sinners cry,
Though all my crimes before Thee lie,
Behold them not with angry look,
But blot their memory from Thy book.

2. Create my nature pure within,
And form my soul averse to sin;
Let Thy good Spirit ne’er depart
Nor hide Thy presence from my heart.

3. I cannot live without Thy light,
Cast out and banished from Thy sight;
Thy holy joys, my God, restore
And guard me that I fall no more.

4. Though I have grieved Thy Spirit, Lord,
His help and comfort still afford;
And let me now come near Thy throne
To plead the merits of Thy Son.

5. A broken heart, my God, my King,
Is all the sacrifice I bring;
Look down, O Lord, with pitying eye
And save the soul condemned to die.

6. O may Thy love inspire my tongue!
Salvation shall be all my song;
And all my powers shall join to bless
The Lord, my Strength and Righteousness.

Isaac Watts, 1719, a.

420