4 Because, O Lord, Thou lovedst us
With everlasting love;
Because Thy Son came down to die,
That we might live above;
Because when we were heirs of wrath,
Thou gavest hopes of heaven;
Yes; much we love, who much have sinned,
And much have been forgiven.
[SPITTA, tr. H. L. LUTHER.]
460 If any man be in Christ he is a new creature.
WE praise and bless Thee, gracious Lord,
Our Saviour, kind and true,
For all the old things passed away,
For all Thou hast made new.
2 New hopes, new purposes, desires,
And joys, Thy grace has given;
Old ties are broken from the earth,
New ties attach to heaven.
3 But yet, how much must be destroyed,
How much renewed must be,
Ere we can fully stand complete
In likeness, Lord, to Thee!
4 Thou, only Thou, must carry on
The work Thou hast begun ;
Of Thine own strength Thou must impart,
In Thine own ways to run,
5 Ah! leave us not; from day to day
Revive, restore again;
Our feeble steps do Thou direct,
Our enemies restrain.
6 So shall we faultless stand at last,
Before Thy Father's throne;
The blessedness for ever ours,
The glory all Thine own.
461 This thy brother was dead and is alive again,
and was lost and is found.-Luke xv. 32. THEN I had wandered from His fold, His love the wanderer sought;
When slave-like into bondage sold,
His blood my freedom bought;
2 Therefore that life, by Him redeemed,
Is His through all its days;
And as with blessings it hath teemed,
So let it teem with praise;
3 For I am His, and He is mine,
The God whom I adore !
My Father, Saviour, Comforter,
Now and for evermore.
4 When sunk in sorrow, I despaired,
And changed my hopes for fears,
He bore my griefs, my burden shared,
And wiped away my tears;
5 Therefore the joy by Him restored,
To Him by right belongs;
And to my gracious, loving Lord
I'll sing through life my songs;
6 For I am His, and He is mine,
The God whom I adore;
My Father, Saviour, Comforter,
Now and for evermore.
462 Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
THEN this passing world is done,
When has sunk yon radiant sun;
When I stand with Christ on high,
Looking o'er life's history,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then-how much I owe.
2 When I stand before the throne,
Dressed in beauty not mine own;
When I see Thee as Thou art,
Love Thee with unsinning heart;
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then-how much I owe.
3 Now on earth, as through a glass,
Darkly let Thy glory pass;
Make forgiveness feel so sweet,
Make Thy Spirit's help so meet,
E'en on earth, Lord, make me know
Something of the debt I owe.
463 we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
INCE first Thy word awaked my heart,
Like new life dawning o'er me,
Where'er I turn mine eyes Thou art
All light and love before me;
Nought else I feel, or hear, or see,
All bonds of earth I sever;
Thee, O God! and only Thee,
I live for, now and ever.
2 Like him, whose fetters dropped away
When light shone o'er his prison,
My spirit, touched by mercy's ray,
Has from her chains arisen.
And shall a soul Thou hast made free
Return to bondage? Never!
Thee, O God! and only Thee,
I live for, now and ever.
OW long wilt Thou forget me, Lord?
Must I for ever mourn?
How long wilt Thou withdraw from me,
Oh! never to return?
2 O hear, and to my longing eyes
Restore Thy wonted light;
And suddenly, or I shall sleep
In everlasting night.
3 Since I have always placed my trust
Beneath Thy mercy's wing,
Thy saving health will come, and then
My heart with joy shall spring.
4 Then shall my song, with praise inspired,
To Thee, my God, ascend,
Who to Thy servant in distress
Such bounty didst extend.
UDGE me, Lord, in righteousness,
Plead for me in my distress;
Good and merciful Thou art;
Bind this bleeding, broken heart;
Cast me not despairing hence;
Be Thy love my confidence.
2 Send Thy light and truth to guide
Me, too prone to turn aside,
On Thy holy hill to rest,
In Thy tabernacles blest;
There to God, my chiefest joy,
Praise shall all my powers employ.
3 Why, my soul, art Thou dismayed?
Why of earth or hell afraid?
Trust in God; disdain to yield,
While o'er thee He casts His shield,
And His countenance divine
Sheds the light of heaven on thine.
466 That walketh in darkness, and hath no light.
EAR, gracious God! my humble moan;
To Thee I breathe my sighs;
When will the mournful night be gone,
And when my joys arise?
2 My God! O could I make the claim-
My Father and my Friend-
And call Thee mine, by every name
On which Thy saints depend!
3 By every name of power and love
I would Thy grace entreat;
Nor should my humble hopes remove,
Nor leave Thy sacred seat.
4 Yet, though my soul in darkness mourns,
Thy word is all my stay;
Here would I rest till light returns,
Thy presence makes my day.
5 Speak, Lord, and bid celestial peace
Relieve my aching heart!
O smile, and bid my sorrows cease,
And all the gloom depart.
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