Lo, upon the altar lies
Bread of heaven from the skies,
Food to mortal wanderers given,
To the sons and heirs of heaven.
2. Jesus, Shepherd of the sheep!
Thou Thy flock in safety keep.
Living Bread! Thy life supply;
Strengthen us, or else we die.
3. Thou, who feedest us below,
Source of all we have or know,
Grant that with Thy saints above
We may reach Thy feast of love!

Thomas Aquinas, † 1274; E. Caswall, tr., 1848.

434

L. M.

The death of Jesus Christ, our Lord,
We celebrate with one accord;
It is our comfort in distress,
Our heart’s sweet joy and happiness.
2. He blotted out with His own blood
The judgment that against us stood;
He full atonement for us made,
And all our debt He fully paid.
3. That this is so and ever true
He gives an earnest ever new,
In this His holy Supper here
We taste His love so sweet, so near.
4. For His true body, as He said,
And His true blood, for sinners shed,
In this communion we receive;
His sacred Word we do believe.
5. A precious food this is indeed,—
It never faileth, such we need,—
A heavenly manna for our soul,
That we may safely reach our goal.
6. Then blessed is each worthy guest
Who in this promise finds His rest;
For Jesus will in love abide
With those who do in Him confide:
7. The guest that comes with true intent
To turn to God and to repent,
To live for Christ, to die to sin,
And thus a holy life begin.
8. Who does unworthy here appear,
Does not believe nor is sincere,
Salvation here he cannot find.
May we this warning bear in mind!
9. O Jesus Christ, our Brother dear,
Unto Thy cross we now draw near;
Thy sacred wounds indeed make whole
A wounded and afflicted soul.
10. Help us sincerely to believe
That we Thy mercy do receive
And in Thy grace do find our rest.
Amen. He who believes is blest.

H. Spegel, 1686; J. O. Wallin, 1814.

435

7, 6, 8 l

O living Bread from heaven,
How hast Thou fed Thy guest!
The gifts Thou now hast given
Have filled my heart with rest.
O wondrous Food of blessing!
O Cup that heals our woes!
My heart, this gift possessing,
In thankful song o’erflows.
2. My Lord, Thou here hast led me
Within Thy holiest place
And there Thyself hast fed me
With treasures of Thy grace;
And Thou hast freely given
What earth could never buy,
The Bread of life from heaven,
That now I shall not die.
3. Thou givest all I wanted.
The food can death destroy,
And Thou hast freely granted
The cup of endless joy.
Ah, Lord, I do not merit
The favor Thou hast shown,
And all my soul and spirit
Bow down before Thy throne.
4. Lord, grant me that, thus strengthened
With heavenly food, while here
My course on earth is lengthened,
I serve with holy fear;
And when Thou call’st my spirit
To leave this world below,
I enter, through Thy merit,
Where joys unmingled flow.

J. Rist, 1651, a.; C. Winkworth, tr., 1858.

436

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

Lord Jesus, Thou art truly good;
Thou spread’st for our salvation
Thy body and Thy blood as food
And giv’st us invitation;
As weary souls, with sin opprest,
We come to Thee for needed rest,
For counsel and forgiveness.
2. Although Thou didst ascend to heaven,
Where angels bow before Thee,
And now to mortals ’tis not given
By sight here to adore Thee,
Until begins Thy Judgment grand,
When we before Thy throne shall stand
And cheerfully behold Thee;
3. Yet art Thou ever with us, Lord,
And with Thy congregation
And not confined—so says Thy Word—
To any habitation.
Firm as a rock Thy Word still stands,
Unshaken by the en’mies’ hands
Though they be e’er so cunning.
4. Thou say’st: “This is My body; eat
And orally receive Me.
This is My blood; drink all of it
And henceforth never leave Me.”
What Thou hast spoken true must be;
Thou art almighty, and with Thee
Impossible is nothing.
5. Although my reason cannot see
How in so many places
Thy body at one time may be,
Yet faith Thy Word embraces.
How it can be I leave to Thee;
Thy Word alone sufficeth me,
For Thou wilt that we trust it.
6. Lord, I believe in simple trust,
Strength in my weakness give me,
For I am naught but sinful dust,
Nor of Thy Word bereave me!
Thy Baptism, Supper, and Thy Word
My consolation are, O Lord,
For they contain my treasure.
7. Grant that we worthily receive
Thy Supper, Lord, our Savior,
That for our sins we truly grieve
And prove by our behavior
That we obtained Thy saving grace
And trust in it throughout our days;
Then will our life be godly.
8. For Thy consoling Supper, Lord,
Be praised throughout all ages!
Preserve it, for with one accord
The world against it rages.
Grant that Thy body and Thy blood
May be my comfort and sweet food
In my last moments. Amen.

S. Kinner, 1638; E. Cronenwett, tr., 1880.

437

L. M.

An awful mystery is here
To challenge faith and waken fear;
The Savior comes as food divine,
Concealed in earthly bread and wine.
2. This world is loveless—but above,
What wondrous boundlessness of love!
The King of Glory stoops to me
My spirit’s Life and Strength to be.
3. In consecrated wine and bread
No eye perceives the mystery dread;
But Jesus’ words are strong and clear:
“My body and My blood are here.”
4. How dull are all the powers of sense,
Employed on proofs of love immense!
The richest food remains unseen,
And highest gifts appear how mean!
5. But here we have no boon on earth,
And faith alone discerns its worth;
The Word, not sense, must be our guide
And faith assure, since sight’s denied.
6. Lord, show us still that Thou art good
And grant us evermore this food;
Give faith to ev’ry wav’ring soul
And make each wounded spirit whole.

M. Loy, 1880.

438

L. M.

Invited, Lord, by boundless grace,
I stood a guest before Thy face;
As host Thou spread’st no common food;
Here is Thy body and Thy blood!
2. How holy is this Sacrament,
Where pardon, peace, and life are spent!
This bread and cup my lips have pressed;
Thou blessedst, and my soul is blessed.
3. Now lettest Thou Thy guest depart
With full assurance in his heart;
For such communion, Lord, with Thee
May a new life my offering be!
4. When Thou shalt in Thy glory come
To gather all Thy people home,
Then let me, as Thy heavenly guest,
In anthems praise Thee with the blest!

E. Cronenwett, c. 1880.

439

L. M.

’Twas on that dark, that doleful night,
When powers of earth and hell arose
Against the Son of God’s delight,
And friends betrayed Him to His foes.
2. Before the mournful scene began,
He took the bread and blessed and brake;
What love through all His actions ran!
What wondrous words of grace He spake!
3. “This is My body, broke for sin;
Receive and eat the living food”;
Then took the cup and blessed the wine:
“’Tis the new covenant in My blood.”
4. “Do this,” He said, “till time shall end,
In memory of your dying Friend.
Meet at My table and record
The love of your departed Lord.”
5. Jesus, Thy feast we celebrate;
We show Thy death, we sing Thy name,
Till Thou return and we shall eat
The marriage supper of the Lamb.

Isaac Watts, 1709, a.

440

L. M.

At Thy command, our dearest Lord,
Here we attend Thy dying feast;
Thy blood, like wine, adorns the board,
And Thine own flesh feeds every guest.
2. Our faith adores Thy bleeding love
And trusts for life in One that died;
We hope for heavenly crowns above
From a Redeemer crucified.
3. Let the vain world pronounce it shame
And fling their scandals on the cause;
We come to boast our Savior’s name
And make our triumphs in His cross.
4. With joy we tell the scoffing age,
He that was dead has left His tomb;
He lives above their utmost rage,
And we are waiting till He come.

Isaac Watts, 1707.

441

8, 8, 7, 8

Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior,
Turned away God’s wrath forever;
Suffering pains no tongue can tell,
He saved us from the pains of hell.
2. To remind us that, to save us,
He hath died, His flesh He gave us
With this bread, a quick’ning food,
And with this wine His precious blood.
3. Whoso to this board repaireth
Take good heed how he prepareth;
Death instead of life shall he
Receive who comes unworthily.
4. Thou shalt hold with faith unshaken
That this food is to be taken
By the sick who are distressed,
By those whose heart is sin-oppressed.
5. Christ says: “Come, ye heavy-laden,
I your weary hearts will gladden;
They that are yet strong and well,
Despise the best physician’s skill.
6. “Couldst thou earn thine own salvation,
Useless were My death and Passion;
This feast is not spread for thee
If thine own helper thou wilt be.”
7. If thou this believest truly
And confession makest duly,
Thou a welcome guest art here,
This heavenly food thy soul shall cheer.
8. But the fruits must not be missing,
Love thy neighbor without ceasing;
That true love let him receive
Which here to thee thy God doth give.

John Huss, † 1415; Martin Luther, 1524.

HOME, MARRIAGE, CHILDREN.

442

7, 6, 7, 6

The voice that breathed o’er Eden,
That earliest wedding-day,
The primal marriage blessing,—
It hath not passed away.
2. Still in the pure espousal
Of Christian man and maid,
The Holy Three are with us,
The threefold grace is said.
3. Be present, loving Father,
To give away this bride,
As Eve Thou gav’st to Adam
Out of his own pierced side.
4. Be present, Son of Mary,
To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal bands.
5. Be present, Holiest Spirit,
To bless them as they kneel,
As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom,
The heavenly spouse dost seal.
6. O spread Thy pure wings o’er them,
Let no ill power find place,
When onward to Thine altar
Their hallowed path they trace,
7. To cast their crowns before Thee
In perfect sacrifice,
Till to the home of gladness
With Christ’s own Bride they rise.

J. Keble, 1857, a.

443

C. M. 8 l

Lord, who at Cana’s wedding-feast
Didst as a Guest appear,
Thou dearer far than earthly guest,
Vouchsafe Thy presence here;
For holy Thou indeed dost prove
The marriage-vow to be,
Proclaiming it a type of love
Between the Church and Thee.
2. The holiest vow that man can make,
The golden thread in life,
The bond that none may dare to break,
That bindeth man and wife;
Which, blessed by Thee, whate’er betides,
No evil shall destroy,
Through care-worn days each care divides,
And doubles every joy.
3. On those who now before Thee kneel,
O Lord, Thy blessing pour,
That each may wake the other’s zeal
To love Thee more and more.
Oh, grant them here in peace to live,
In purity and love,
And, this world leaving, to receive
A crown of life above.

A. Thrupp, 1853, a.

444

11, 10, 11, 10

O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
Lowly we kneel in pray’r before Thy throne,
That theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
Whom Thou forevermore dost join in one.
2. O perfect Life, be Thou their full assurance
Of tender charity and steadfast faith,
Of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,
With childlike trust, that fears nor pain nor death.
3. Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
Grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife,
And to life’s day the glorious unknown morrow
That dawns upon eternal love and life.

Dorothy F. Bloomfield, 1883.

445

L. M.

O blest the house, whate’er befall,
Where Jesus Christ is all in all;
Yea, if He were not dwelling there,
How poor and dark and void it were!
2. O blest that house where faith ye find,
And all within have set their mind
To trust their God and serve Him still
And do in all His holy will!
3. O blest the parents who give heed
Unto their children’s foremost need
And weary not of care or cost!
To them and heaven shall none be lost.
4. Blest such a house, it prospers well,
In peace and joy the parents dwell,
And in their children’s lot is shown
How richly God can bless His own.
5. Then here will I and mine to-day
A solemn covenant make and say:
Though all the world forsake Thy Word,
I and my house will serve the Lord.

C. C. von Pfeil, 1782; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

446

L. M.

Happy the man who feareth God,
Whose feet His holy ways have trod;
Thine own good hand shall nourish thee,
And well and happy shalt thou be.
2. Lo! to that man these blessings cleave
Who in God’s holy fear doth live;
From him the ancient curse hath fled
By Adam’s race inherited.
3. Out of Mount Zion God shall send
And crown with joy thy latter end,
That thou Jerusalem may’st see
In favor and prosperity.
4. He shall be with thee in thy ways
And give thee health and strength of days;
Yea, thou shalt children’s children see,
And peace on Israel shall be.
5. Praise God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One;
As ’twas through ages heretofore,
Is now, and shall be evermore.

Martin Luther, 1524; R. Massie, tr., abr.

447

8, 7, 6 l

Gracious Savior, gentle Shepherd,
Children all are dear to Thee;
Gathered with Thine arms and carried
In Thy bosom may they be;
Sweetly, fondly, safely tended,
From all want and danger free.
2. Tender Shepherd, never leave them
From Thy fold to go astray;
By Thy warning love directed,
May they walk the narrow way!
Thus direct them, thus defend them,
Lest they fall an easy prey.
3. Cleanse their hearts from sinful folly
In the stream Thy love supplied,
Mingled stream of blood and water
Flowing from Thy wounded side;
And to heavenly pastures lead them,
Where Thine own still waters glide.
4. Let Thy holy Word instruct them;
Fill their minds with heavenly light;
Let Thy powerful grace constrain them
To approve whate’er is right;
Let them feel Thy yoke is easy,
Let them prove Thy burden light.
5. Taught to lisp Thy holy praises
Which on earth Thy children sing,
Both with lips and hearts, unfeignèd,
Glad thank-offerings may they bring;
Then with all the saints in glory
Join to praise their Lord and King.

Jane E. Leeson, 1857.

448

6, 6, 4, 6, 6, 6, 4

Shepherd of tender youth,
Guiding in love and truth
Through devious ways;
Christ, our triumphant King,
We come Thy name to sing
And here our children bring
To join Thy praise.
2. Thou art our holy Lord,
O all-subduing Word,
Healer of strife.
Thou didst Thyself abase
That from sin’s deep disgrace
Thou mightest save our race
And give us life.
3. Thou art the great High Priest;
Thou hast prepared the feast
Of holy love;
And in our mortal pain
None calls on Thee in vain;
Help Thou dost not disdain,
Help from above.
4. Ever be near our side,
Our Shepherd and our Guide,
Our Staff and Song;
Jesus, Thou Christ of God,
By Thine enduring Word
Lead us where Thou hast trod,
Make our faith strong.
5. So now, and till we die,
Sound we Thy praises high
And joyful sing;
Let all the holy throng
Who to Thy Church belong
Unite and swell the song
To Christ, our King!

Clement of Alexandria, 211; H. M. Dexter, tr., 1846.

449

8, 7, 8, 7

Savior, who Thy flock art feeding
With the Shepherd’s kindest care,
All the feeble gently leading,
While the lambs Thy bosom share,—
2. Now, these little ones receiving,
Fold them in Thy gracious arm;
There, we know, Thy Word believing,
Only there secure from harm.
3. Never, from Thy pasture roving,
Let them be the Lion’s prey;
Let Thy tenderness, so loving,
Keep them through life’s dangerous way.
4. Then within Thy fold eternal
Let them find a resting-place,
Feed in pastures ever vernal,
Drink the rivers of Thy grace.

W. A. Muehlenberg, 1826.