GOD’S WORD.

110

L. M.

Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide,

For round us falls the eventide;

Let not Thy Word, that heavenly light,

For us be ever veiled in night.

2. In these last days of sore distress

Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness,

That pure we keep, till life is spent,

Thy holy Word and Sacrament.

3. Lord Jesus, help, Thy Church uphold,

For we are sluggish, thoughtless, cold;

Indue Thy Word with power and grace

And spread its truth in every place.

4. O keep us in Thy Word, we pray;

The guile and rage of Satan stay;

Unto Thy Church grant, Lord, Thy grace,

Peace, concord, patience, fearlessness.

5. O God! how sin’s dread works abound!

Throughout the earth no rest is found,

And wide has falsehood’s spirit spread,

And error boldly rears its head.

6. Those haughty spirits, Lord, restrain

Who o’er Thy Church with might would reign

And always offer something new,

Devised to change Thy doctrine true.

7. And since the cause and glory, Lord,

Are Thine, not ours, do Thou afford

Us help and strength and constancy;

With all our heart we trust in Thee.

8. A trusty weapon is Thy Word,

Thy Church’s buckler, shield, and sword;

Lord, let us in this Word abide,

That we may seek no other guide.

9. O grant that in Thy holy Word

We here may live and die, dear Lord;

And when our journey endeth here,

Receive us into glory there.

N. Selnecker, 1611 (3-9 anon.).

111

C. M.

How precious is the Book Divine,

By inspiration given!

Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine

To guide our souls to heaven.

2. Its light, descending from above,

Illumes this world so drear,

Displays a Savior’s boundless love,

And brings His glories near.

3. It shows to man his wandering ways

And where his feet have trod,

And brings to view the matchless grace

Of a forgiving God.

4. O’er all the straight and narrow way

Its radiant beams are cast;

A light whose never weary ray

Grows brightest at the last.

5. It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts

In this dark vale of tears;

Life, light, and joy it still imparts

And quells our rising fears.

6. This lamp, through all the tedious night

Of life shall guide our way

Till we behold the clearer light

Of an eternal day.

J. Fawcett, 1782, abr.

112

C. M.

How shall the young secure their hearts

And guard their lives from sin?

Thy Word the choicest rules imparts

To keep the conscience clean.

2. ’Tis like the sun, a heavenly light,

That guides us all the day,

And through the dangers of the night

A lamp to lead our way.

3. The starry heavens Thy rule obey,

The earth maintains her place;

And these Thy servants, night and day,

Thy skill and power express.

4. But still Thy Law and Gospel, Lord,

Have lessons more divine;

Not earth stands firmer than Thy Word,

Nor stars so nobly shine.

5. Thy Word is everlasting truth;

How pure is every page!

That holy Book shall guide our youth

And well support our age.

Isaac Watts, 1719.

113

7s, 6s 8 l

O Word of God Incarnate,

O Wisdom from on high,

O Truth unchanged, unchanging,

O Light of our dark sky,—

We praise Thee for the radiance

That from the hallowed page,

A lantern to our footsteps,

Shines on from age to age.

2. The Church from her dear Master

Received the gift divine,

And still that light she lifteth

O’er all the earth to shine.

It is the golden casket,

Where gems of truth are stored;

It is the heaven-drawn picture

Of Christ, the living Word.

3. It floateth like a banner

Before God’s host unfurled;

It shineth like a beacon

Above the darkling world;

It is the chart and compass

That o’er life’s surging sea,

Mid mists and rocks and quicksands,

Still guides, O Christ, to Thee.

4. Oh, make Thy Church, dear Savior,

A lamp of burnished gold,

To bear before the nations

Thy true light as of old;

Oh, teach Thy wandering pilgrims

By this their path to trace,

Till, clouds and darkness ended,

They see Thee face to face.

W. W. How, 1867, a.

114

L. M.

The heavens declare Thy glory, Lord,

In every star Thy wisdom shines;

But when our eyes behold Thy Word,

We read Thy name in fairer lines.

2. The rolling sun, the changing light,

And nights and days, Thy power confess;

But the blest Volume Thou didst write

Reveals Thy justice and Thy grace.

3. Thy Gospel-heralds dare not rest

Till through the world Thy truth has run;

Till Christ has all the nations blest

That see the light or feel the sun.

4. Great Sun of Righteousness, arise;

Bless the dark world with heavenly light;

The Gospel makes the simple wise,

Thy laws are pure, Thy judgments right.

5. Thy noblest wonders here we view

In souls renewed and sins forgiv’n.

Lord, cleanse our sins, our souls renew,

And make Thy Word our guide to heav’n.

Isaac Watts, 1719, abr.

115

L. M.

The Law of God is good and wise

And sets His will before our eyes,

Shows us the way of righteousness,

And dooms to death when we transgress.

2. Its light of holiness imparts

The knowledge of our sinful hearts,

That we may see our lost estate

And seek deliv’rance ere too late.

3. To those who help in Christ have found

And would in works of love abound

It shows what deeds are His delight

And should be done as good and right.

4. When men the offered help disdain

And wilfully in sin remain,

Its terror in their ear resounds

And keeps their wickedness in bounds.

5. The Law is good; but since the Fall

Its holiness condemns us all;

It dooms us for our sin to die

And has no power to justify.

6. To Jesus we for refuge flee,

Who from the curse has set us free,

And humbly worship at His throne,

Saved by His grace through faith alone.

M. Loy, 1863.

116

L. M.

The Gospel shows the Father’s grace,

Who sent His Son to save our race,

Proclaims how Jesus lived and died

That man might thus be justified.

2. It sets the Lamb before our eyes

Who made th’ atoning sacrifice

And calls the souls with guilt opprest

To come and find eternal rest.

3. It brings the Savior’s righteousness

Our souls to robe in royal dress;

From all our guilt it brings release

And gives the troubled conscience peace.

4. It is the power of God to save

From sin and Satan and the grave;

It works the faith which firmly clings

To all the treasures which it brings.

5. It bears to all the tidings glad

And bids their hearts no more be sad;

The heavy-laden soul it cheers

And banishes their guilty fears.

6. May we in faith its tidings learn,

Nor thanklessly its blessings spurn;

May we in faith its truth confess

And praise the Lord, our Righteousness!

M. Loy, 1863.

117

C. M.

Father of mercies, in Thy Word

What endless glory shines!

Forever be Thy name adored

For these celestial lines.

2. Here the Redeemer’s welcome voice

Spreads heavenly peace around;

And life and everlasting joys

Attend the blissful sound.

3. Oh, may these heavenly pages be

My ever dear delight;

And still new beauties may I see

And still increasing light!

4. Divine Instructor, gracious Lord!

Be Thou forever near;

Teach me to love Thy sacred Word

And view my Savior there.

Anne Steele, 1760.

118

L. M.

When Israel through the desert passed,

A fiery pillar went before

To guide them through the dreary waste

And lessen the fatigues they bore.

2. Such is Thy glorious Word, O God!

’Tis for our light and guidance giv’n;

It sheds its luster all abroad

And points the path to bliss and heav’n.

3. It fills the soul with sweet delight

And quickens its inactive powers;

It sets our wand’ring footsteps right,

Displays Thy love, and kindles ours.

4. Its promises rejoice our hearts,

Its doctrines are divinely true;

While highest wisdom it imparts,

It comforts and instructs us too.

5. Ye favored lands, that have this Word,

Ye saints, who feel its saving power,

Unite your tongues to praise the Lord

And His distinguished grace adore!

B. Beddome, 1769.

119

C. M.

Lamp of our feet, whereby we trace

Our path when wont to stray,

Stream from the fount of heav’nly grace,

Brook by the traveler’s way;

2. Bread of our souls, whereon we feed,

True manna from on high;

Our guide and chart, wherein we read

Of realms beyond the sky;

3. Pillar of fire, through watches dark,

Or radiant cloud by day;

When waves would break our tossing bark,

Our anchor and our stay:—

4. Word of the ever-living God,

Will of His glorious Son;

Without thee, how could earth be trod

Or heaven itself be won?

5. Lord, grant us all aright to learn

The wisdom it imparts

And to its heavenly teaching turn

With simple, childlike hearts.

B. Barton, 1826, a.

120

L. M.

We have a sure prophetic Word,

By inspiration of the Lord;

And though assailed on every hand,

Jehovah’s Word shall ever stand.

2. By powers of empire banned and burned,

By pagan pride rejected, spurned,

The Word still stands the Christian’s trust

While haughty empires lie in dust.

3. Lo! what the Word in times of old

Of future days and deeds foretold

Is all fulfilled, while ages roll,

As traced on the prophetic scroll.

4. Abiding, steadfast, firm, and sure,

The teachings of the Word endure:

Blest he who trusts this steadfast Word,

His anchor holds in Christ, the Lord!

E. Cronenwett, 1880.

121

8, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7

Christians, come, in sweetest measures,

Sing of those who spread the treasures

In the holy Gospel shrined;

Blessed tidings of salvation,

Peace on earth their proclamation,

Love from God to lost mankind.

2. See the rivers four that gladden

With their streams the better Eden,

Planted by our Savior dear:

Christ the Fountain, these the waters.

Drink, O Zion’s sons and daughters,

Drink, and find salvation here.

3. Here our souls, by Jesus sated,

More and more shall be translated

Earth’s temptations far above;

Freed from sin’s abhorred dominion,

Soaring on angelic pinion,

They shall reach the source of love.

4. Then shall thanks and praise ascending,

For Thy mercies without ending,

Rise to Thee, O Savior blest.

With Thy gracious aid defend us,

Let Thy guiding light attend us,

Bring us to Thy place of rest.

Adam of St. Victor, 1150; R. Campbell, tr., 1850, a.

122

L. M.

In vain would boasting reason find

The path to happiness and God;

Her weak directions leave the mind

Bewildered in a doubtful road.

2. Jesus, Thy words alone impart

Eternal life; on these I live;

Here sweeter comforts cheer my heart

Than all the powers of nature give.

3. Here let my constant feet abide;

Thou art the true, the living Way.

Let Thy good Spirit be my guide

To the bright realms of endless day.

4. The various forms that men devise

To shake my faith with treacherous art

I scorn as vanity and lies

And bind Thy Gospel to my heart.

Anne Steele, 1760, a.