The Little Treasure of Prayers Part 10

10. Should this night prove the last for me In this sad vale of tears, Then lead me, Lord, in heaven to thee And thy elect compeers.

Hymns of Cross and Consolation.

Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten.

If thou but suffer G.o.d to guide thee, And hope in Him through all thy ways, He'll give thee strength whate'er betide thee, And bear thee through the evil days.

Who trusts in G.o.d's unchanging love Builds on the Rock that naught can move.

2. What can these anxious cares avail thee, These never-ceasing moans and sighs?

What can it help, if thou bewail thee O'er each dark moment as it flies?

Our cross and trials do but press The heavier for our bitterness.

3. Only be still and wait His leisure In cheerful hope, with heart content To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure And all-deserving love hath sent, Nor doubt our inmost wants are known To Him who chose us for His own.

4. He knows the time for joy, and truly Will send it when He sees it meet, When He has tried and purged thee throughly And finds thee free from all deceit, He comes to thee all unaware And makes thee own His loving care.

5. Nor think amid the heat of trial That G.o.d hath cast thee off unheard, That he whose hopes meet no denial Must surely be of G.o.d preferred; Time pa.s.ses and much change doth bring, And sets a bound to everything.

6. All are alike before the Highest.

'Tis easy to our G.o.d, we know, To raise thee up though low thou liest, To make the rich man poor and low; True wonders still by Him are wrought Who setteth up and brings to naught.

7. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving, So do thine own part faithfully, And trust His Word, though undeserving, Thou yet shalt find it true for thee; G.o.d never yet forsook at need The soul that trusted Him indeed.

Warum sollt ich mich denn graemen?

Why should sorrow ever grieve me?

Christ is near, What can here E'er of Him deprive me?

Who can rob me of my heaven That G.o.d's Son, As mine own, To my faith hath given?

2. Naked was I and unswathed When on earth At my birth My first breath I breathed.

Naked hence shall I betake me, When I go From earth's woe, And my breath forsake me.

3. Nought, not e'en the live I'm living, Is mine own, G.o.d alone All to me is giving.

Must I then His own restore Him?

Though bereft Of each gift, Still shall I adore Him.

4. Though a heavy cross I'm bearing, And my heart Feels the smart, Shall I be despairing?

G.o.d can help me, who doth send it, He doth know All my woe And how best to end it.

5. G.o.d oft gives me days of gladness, Shall I grieve If He give Seasons too of sadness?

G.o.d is good and tempers ever Every hurt, Me desert Wholly can He never.

6. Though united world and devil All their power Can no more Do than mock and cavil.

Let derision now employ them, Christ e'en here Will appear And 'fore all destroy them.

7. True believers shrinking never, Where they dwell Should reveal Their true colors ever.

When approaching death would scare them, Still should they Patient stay And with courage bear them.

8. Death can never kill us even, But relief From all grief To us then is given.

It doth close life's mournful story, Make a way That we may Pa.s.s to heavenly glory.

9. There I'll reap enduring pleasure, After woe Here below Suffer'd in large measure.

Lasting good we find here never, All the earth Deameth worth Vanisheth forever.

10. What is all that life possesseth?

But a hand Full of sand That the heart distresseth.

n.o.ble gifts that tire me never, Christ so free There gives me To enjoy forever.

11. Shepherd! Lord! joy's fountain ever, Thou art mine, I am thine, No one can us sever.

I am thine, because thou gavest Life and blood For my good, By thy death me savest.

12. Thou'rt mine, for I love and own thee, Ne'er shall I, Light of joy, From my heart dethrone thee.

Let me, let me soon behold thee Face to face, Thy embrace May it soon enfold me.

Hilf, Helfer, hilf in Angst und Noth.

Help, helper, help in fear and need, Have mercy, faithful G.o.d, give heed!

I know thou lov'st me still as thine, Though 'gainst me world and h.e.l.l combine.

2. I trust in thee--whom I adore; If I have thee, what need I more?

And, my Lord Jesus, this I laud: That thou art mine, my Saviour-G.o.d.

3. This blest a.s.surance cheers my heart, To bide thy time--till clouds depart; I'll rest the while me on thee, then, Cry: Helper, help! and say: Amen!

Christian Life.

Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir.

Lord, as thou wilt, be it with me, No other wish I cherish, I, living, dying, seek but thee, O Lord, let me not perish; Let but thy grace ne'er from me part, Else as thou wilt, grant patient heart, Thy will the best is ever.

2. Grant honor, truth, and self-control, And love thy Word to ponder, From errors false preserve my soul; And grant, both here and yonder, What will but tend to blessed days, Keep far all wrong and crooked ways From all my life and doings.

3. When once, according to thy will, I pa.s.s the bourne of sadness, Then let thy grace my bosom fill, That I may go with gladness; My body, soul, commend I thee, O Lord, a blessed end grant me Through Jesus Christ, yea, Amen.

Hope in Death.

Wenn mein Stuendlein vorhanden ist.

When once in turn my hour is here, And I shall hence betake me, Then, O Lord Jesus, keep thou near, With help do not forsake me; My soul then at my final end Into thy hand I do commend: Thou wilt, Lord, safely guard it.

2. My sins will press my heart with care, My conscience will accuse me, For they are many, yet despair With doubts shall not confuse me; I will remember, Lord, thy death, And wounds, and words of thy last breath: Yea, these will then sustain me.