From God shall naught divide me,
For He is true for aye
And on my path will guide me,
Who else should often stray;
His ever-bounteous hand
By night and day is heedful
And gives me what is needful,
Where’er I go or stand.
2. When man’s help and affection
Shall unavailing prove,
God grants me His protection
And proves His power and love;
He helps me in my need,
Delivers me from evil,
From sin and death and devil;
He is my Friend indeed.
3. If sorrow comes, He sent it,
In Him I put my trust;
I never shall repent it,
For He is true and just
And endeth every ill;
My life and soul I render
To God, my strong Defender;
Let Him do as He will.
4. Whate’er shall be His pleasure
Is surely best for me;
He sent His dearest Treasure
That our weak hearts may see
His good and gracious will.
In His own Son He gave us
Whate’er can bless and save us;
Praise Him who loves us still!
5. O praise Him, for He never
Forgets our daily need;
O blest the hour whenever
Our thoughts to Him can speed;
Yea, all the time we spend
Without Him is but wasted,
Till we His joy have tasted,
The joy that hath no end.
6. The world away is passing
With all its pomp and pride;
All we have been amassing
No longer may abide.
But in our earthly bed,
When safely we are sleeping,
God hath us in His keeping,
To wake us from the dead.
7. Our soul shall never perish,
But in yon paradise
The joys of heaven shall cherish.
Our body shall arise
Pure, holy, new-born, free
From every sin and evil;
The tempting of the devil
We then no more shall see.
8. Then, though on earth I suffer
Much trial, well I know
I merit ways still rougher,
And ’tis to heaven I go.
For Christ I know and love,
To Him I now am hasting,
And gladness everlasting
With Him my heart shall prove.
9. Such is His will that made us.
The Father seeks our good;
The Son of sin doth rid us,
And saves us by His blood;
His Spirit rules our ways,
Through faith in us abiding,
To heaven our footsteps guiding.
To Him be thanks and praise!

L. Helmbold, 1563.

510

8, 7, 8, 7

God is Love; His mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens:
God is Wisdom, God is Love.
2. Chance and change are busy ever,
Man decays, and ages move,
But His mercy waneth never:
God is Wisdom, God is Love.
3. E’en the hour that darkest seemeth
Will His changeless goodness prove;
From the gloom His brightness streameth:
God is Wisdom, God is Love.
4. He with earthly cares entwineth
Hope and comfort from above;
Everywhere His glory shineth:
God is Wisdom, God is Love.

J. Bowring, 1825.

511

8, 7, 8 l

Who puts his trust In God most just
Hath built his house securely;
He who relies On Jesus Christ,
Heaven shall be his most surely.
Then fixed on Thee My trust shall be,
For Thy truth cannot alter;
While mine Thou art Not death’s worst smart
Shall make my courage falter.
2. Though fiercest foes My course oppose,
A dauntless front I’ll show them;
My Champion Thou, Lord Christ, art now,
Who soon shalt overthrow them;
And if but Thee I have in me
With Thy good gifts and Spirit,
Nor death nor hell, I know full well,
Shall hurt me, through Thy merit.
3. I rest me here Without a fear;
By Thee shall all be given
That I can need, O Friend indeed,
For this life or for heaven.
O keep me true, My heart renew,
My soul and flesh deliver!
Lord, hear my prayer And in Thy care
Keep me in peace forever.

J. Magdeburg, 1572; C. Winkworth, tr.

512

11, 10, 11, 10

Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish,
Come to the mercy-seat, fervently kneel;
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.
2. Joy of the desolate, light of the straying,
Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure,
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot cure.
3. Here see the Bread of Life, see water flowing
Forth from the throne of God, pure from above.
Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing
Earth has no sorrow but Heaven can remove.

T. Moore, 1816. Stanza 3 a.

513

4, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 7

God liveth still!
Soul, despair not, fear no ill!
God is good; from His compassion
Earthly help and comfort flow;
Strong is His right hand to fashion
All things well for man below.
Trial, oft the most distressing,
In the end has proved a blessing.
Wherefore, then, my soul, despair?
God still lives, who heareth prayer.
2. God liveth still!
Soul, despair not, fear no ill!
He who gave the eye its vision,
Shall He slumber once or sleep?
He who gave the ear its mission,
Hears He not His children weep?
God is God; His ear attendeth
When the sigh our bosom rendeth.
Wherefore, then, my soul, despair?
God still lives, who heareth prayer.
3. God liveth still!
Soul, despair not, fear no ill!
He who gives the clouds their measure,
Stretching out the heavens alone;
He who stores the earth with treasure,
Is not far from every one.
God in the hour of need defendeth
Him whose heart in love ascendeth.
Wherefore, then, my soul, despair?
God still lives, who heareth prayer.
4. God liveth still!
Soul, despair not, fear no ill!
Is thy cross too great and pond’rous,
Cast on Him thy grievous load;
God is great, His love is wondrous,
He will speed thee on the road.
For His truth endureth ever,
And His mercy ceaseth never.
Wherefore, then, my soul, despair?
God still lives, who heareth prayer.
5. God liveth still!
Soul, despair not, fear no ill!
Is the yoke of sin too galling?
Christ Himself has set thee free,
Borne for thee their weight appalling,
Cast them in oblivion’s sea!
In thy deepest grief and sadness
He can grant thee joy and gladness.
Wherefore, then, my soul, despair?
God still lives, who heareth prayer.
6. God liveth still!
Soul, despair not, fear no ill!
When the world would let thee perish,
Pathless all thy tangled way,
God the nearer draws to cherish
Him who makes the Lord his Stay.
Children oft that most He loveth
Thus with strictest rod He proveth.
Wherefore, then, my soul, despair?
God still lives, who heareth prayer.
7. God liveth still!
Soul, despair not, fear no ill!
Heaven’s huge vault may cleave asunder,
Earth’s round globe in ruins burst,
Satan’s fellest rage may thunder,
Death and hell may spend their worst;
Yet will God keep safe and surely
Those who trust in Him securely.
Wherefore, then, my soul, despair?
God still lives, who heareth prayer.
8. God liveth still!
Soul, despair not, fear no ill!
Be thy life until its ending
Full of thorns, of grief, or need,
God, in love the trial sending,
Thus His child would heavenwards lead.
For this life’s long night of sadness
He will give thee peace and gladness.
Wherefore, then, my soul, despair?
God still lives, who heareth prayer.

J. F. Zihn, 1782; F. E. Cox, tr., a.

514

L. M.

Thy ways, O Lord, with wise design
Are framed upon Thy throne above,
And every dark and bending line
Meets in the center of Thy love.
2. With feeble light and half obscure,
Poor mortals Thine arrangements view,
Not knowing that the least are sure
And the mysterious just and true.
3. Thy flock, Thine own peculiar care,
Though now they seem to roam uneyed,
Are led or driven only where
They best and safest may abide.
4. They neither know nor trace the way;
But whilst they trust Thy guardian eye,
Their feet shall ne’er to ruin stray,
Nor shall the weakest fail or die.
5. My favored soul shall meekly learn
To lay her reason at Thy throne;
Too weak Thy secrets to discern,
I’ll trust Thee for my guide alone.

Ambrose Serle, 1786.

515

L. M.

When in the hour of utmost need
We know not where to look for aid;
When days and nights of anxious thought
Nor help nor counsel yet have brought,
2. Then this our comfort is alone,
That we may meet before Thy throne
And cry, O faithful God, to Thee
For rescue from our misery;
3. To Thee may raise our hearts and eyes,
Repenting sore with bitter sighs,
And seek Thy pardon for our sin
And respite from our griefs within.
4. For Thou hast promised graciously
To hear all those who cry to Thee,
Through Him whose name alone is great,
Our Savior and our Advocate.
5. And thus we come, O God, to-day
And all our woes before Thee lay;
For tried, afflicted, lo! we stand,
Perils and foes on every hand.
6. Ah! hide not for our sins Thy face,
Absolve us through Thy boundless grace,
Be with us in our anguish still,
Free us at last from every ill,
7. That so with all our hearts we may
Once more our glad thanksgivings pay
And walk obedient to Thy Word
And now and ever praise Thee, Lord.

Paul Eber, 1547; C. Winkworth, tr.

516

7s

Seems it in my anguish lone
As if God forsook His own,
Yet I hold the knowledge fast
God will surely help at last.
2. Though awhile it be delayed,
He denieth not His aid;
Though it come not oft with speed,
It will surely come at need.
3. As a father not too soon
Grants his child the longed-for boon,
So our God gives when He will;
Wait His pleasure and be still.
4. I can rest in thoughts of Him
When all courage else grows dim,
For I know my soul shall prove
His is more than father’s love.
5. Would the powers of ill affright,
I can smile at all their might;
Or the cross be pressing sore,
God, my God, lives evermore.
6. Man may hate me causelessly,
Man may plot to ruin me,
Foes my heart may pierce and rend;
God in heaven is still my Friend.
7. Earth against me may declare,
For her love I do not care;
Though the world bear me a grudge,
God, my Father, is my Judge.
8. Earth may all her gifts deny,
Safe my treasure is on high;
And if heaven at last be mine,
All things else I can resign.
9. I renounce thee willingly,
World, I hate what pleases thee.
Baneful every gift of thine;
Only be, my God, still mine.
10. Ah! Lord, if but Thee I have,
Naught of other good I crave;
Bright is even death’s dark road
If but Thou art there, my God.

C. Titius, † 1703; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

517

L. M.

Lord God, who art my Father dear,
I pray in Jesus’ name: O hear
What, trusting in His promised Word,
I humbly ask of Thee, good Lord.
2. Grant us Thy Word, Thy Spirit give,
That by His grace we godly live;
Give shelter, peace, good friends, and food,
Protect our native land, O God.
3. Save us from sin and Satan’s fraud,
Deliver us from evil, God,
Be with us in our dying hour;
Thine is the kingdom, glory, power.
4. Lord, at Thy word Amen I say;
Increase my feeble faith, I pray.
Thou lead’st me with a father’s care;
Oh, let me be Thy child and heir!

J. Mathesius, † 1565; A. Crull, tr.

518

S. M.

Beloved, “It is well!”
God’s ways are always right;
And perfect love is o’er them all
Though far above our sight.
2. Beloved, “It is well!”
Though deep and sore the smart,
The hand that wounds knows how to bind
And heal the broken heart.
3. Beloved, “It is well!”
Though sorrow clouds our way,
’Twill only make the joy more dear
That ushers in the day.
4. Beloved, “It is well!”
The path that Jesus trod,
Though rough and strait and dark it be,
Leads home to heaven and God.

G. W. Doane, 1833.

519

S. M.

My Father! cheering name!
O may I call Thee mine!
Give me with humble hope to claim
A portion so divine.
2. Whate’er Thy will denies
I calmly would resign;
For Thou art just and good and wise,—
Oh, bend my will to Thine!
3. Whate’er Thy will ordains,
Oh, give me strength to bear!
Still let me know a Father reigns
And trust a Father’s care.
4. Thy ways are little known
To my weak, erring sight;
Yet shall my soul, believing, own
That all Thy ways are right.

Anne Steele, 1760, a.

520

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

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
2. Nearer, my Lord, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
Who to Thy cross didst come
Dying for me.
Strengthen my willing feet,
Hold me in service sweet
Nearer, O Christ, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
3. Nearer, O Comforter,
Nearer to Thee!
Who with my loving Lord
Dwellest with me.
Grant me Thy fellowship,
Help me each day to keep
Nearer, my Guide, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
4. But to be nearer still,
Bring me, O God,
Not by the visioned steeps
Angels have trod.
Here where Thy cross I see,
Jesus, I wait for Thee,
Then evermore to be
Nearer to Thee!

Sarah F. Adams, 1841; a. by H. D. Ganse, † 1891.

521

C. M. 8 l

And let this feeble body fail
And let it faint or die;
My soul shall quit the mournful vale
And soar to worlds on high;
Shall join the disembodied saints
And find its long-sought rest,
That only bliss for which it pants,
In my Redeemer’s breast.
2. In hope of that immortal crown
I now the cross sustain
And gladly wander up and down
And smile at toil and pain.
I suffer on my threescore years
Till my Deliverer come
And wipe away His servant’s tears
And take His exile home.
3. Oh, what hath Jesus bought for me!
Before my ravished eyes
Rivers of life divine I see
And trees of paradise!
I see a world of spirits bright
Who reap the pleasures there;
They all are robed in spotless white,
And conquering palms they bear.
4. Oh, what are all my sufferings here
If, Lord, Thou count me meet
With that enraptured host t’appear
And worship at Thy feet!
Give joy or grief, give ease or pain,
Take life or friends away,
But let me find them all again
In that eternal day.

Charles Wesley, 1759, a.

522

L. M.

God of my life, to Thee I call;
Afflicted, at Thy feet I fall:
When the great water-floods prevail,
Leave not my trembling heart to fail.
2. Friend of the friendless and the faint,
Where should I lodge my deep complaint?
Where but with Thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor?
3. Did ever mourner plead with Thee,
And Thou refuse that mourner’s plea?
Does not the word still fixed remain,
That none shall seek Thy face in vain?
4. That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst Thou not hear and answer prayer;
But a prayer-hearing, answering God
Supports me under every load.
5. Fair is the lot that’s cast for me;
I have an Advocate with Thee;
They whom the world caresses most
Have no such privilege to boast.
6. Poor though I be, despised, forgot,
Yet God, my God, forgets me not;
And he is safe and must succeed
For whom the Lord Himself does plead.

W. Cowper, 1779, a.

523

L. M.

Help me, O Lord, in fear and need,
Have mercy, to my prayer give heed!
I know Thou lov’st me still as Thine,
Though world and hell ’gainst me combine.
2. My God and Lord, I trust in Thee;
What need I if Thou art with me?
And Thou, Lord Jesus Christ, art mine;
My God and Savior, I am Thine.
3. Therefore my happiness is great;
I am content, for Thee I wait,
Trust wholly in Thy name, and then
I know Thy help is sure. Amen.

Martin Moller, 1598.

524

C. M.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
2. Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
3. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
4. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
5. His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
6. Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

W. Cowper, 1772.

525

7, 6, 8 l

Commit whatever grieves thee
At heart, and all thy ways,
To Him who never leaves thee,
On whom creation stays,
Who freest courses maketh
For clouds and air and wind,
Who care and counsel taketh
A path for thee to find.
2. On God repose forever
If thou wouldst prosper sure;
On his work gaze thou ever,
If thine is to endure.
By anxious care and grieving,
By self-consuming pain,
God is not moved to giving;
By prayer must thou obtain.
3. Thy grace, that ever floweth,
O Father, what is good
Or evil, ever knoweth,
To mortal flesh and blood.
What to Thine eye all-seeing,
And to Thy counsel wise
Seems good must into being,
O mighty Prince, arise.
4. For means it fails Thee never,
Thou always find’st a way,
Thy deeds are blessing ever,
Thy path like brightest day.
Thy work no one can hinder,
Thy labor cannot rest,
If Thou design’st Thy tender
Children should all be blessed.
5. Though all the power of evil
Should rise up to resist,
Without a doubt or cavil
God never will desist;
His undertakings ever
At length He carries through;
What He designs He never
Can fail at all to do.
6. Hope on, thou heart, grief-riven,
In hope courageous be;
Where anguish thee had driven
Thou shalt deliverance see.
God from thy pit of sadness
Shall raise thee graciously;
Wait, and the sun of gladness
Thine eyes shall early see.
7. Arise, to pain and anguish
A long good night now say;
Drive all that makes thee languish
In grief and woe away.
Not thine ’tis to endeavor
The ruler’s part to play;
God sits as Ruler ever,
Guides all things well each day.
8. Let Him alone and tarry,
He is a Prince all-wise,
He shall Himself so carry
’Twill strange seem in thine eyes,
When He, as Him beseemeth,
In wonderful decree,
Shall as Himself good deemeth,
O’errule what grieveth thee.
9. He may, a while still staying,
His comforts keep from thee
And, on His part delaying,
Seem to have utterly
Forgotten and forsaken
And put thee out of mind,
Though grief hath thee o’ertaken,
No time for thee to find.
10. But if thou never shrinkest
And true dost still remain,
He’ll come when least thou thinkest
And set thee free again,
Thee from the load deliver,
That burdeneth thy heart,
That thou hast carried never
For any evil part.
11. Hail! child of faith, who gainest
The victory alway,
Who honor’s crown obtainest,
That never fades away.
God in thy hand will give thee
One day the glorious palm;
Who ne’er in grief did leave thee,
To Him thou’lt sing thy psalm.
12. O Lord, no longer lengthen
Our time of misery;
Our hands and feet do strengthen;
And until death may we
By Thee be watched and cared for,
In faithfulness and love.
So come we where prepared for
Us is our blessed abode.

Paul Gerhardt, 1656; J. Kelly, tr., a.

526

7, 6, 8 l

If God Himself be for me,
I may a host defy,
For when I pray, before me
My foes confounded fly.
If Christ, my Head and Master,
Befriend me from above,
What foe or what disaster
Can drive me from His love?
2. This I believe—yea, rather,
Of this I make my boast,
That God is my dear Father,
The Friend who loves me most;
And that, whate’er betide me,
My Savior is at hand
Through stormy seas to guide me
And bring me safe to land.
3. I build on this foundation,
That Jesus and His blood
Alone are my salvation,
The true, eternal good;
Without Him all that pleases
Is valueless on earth;
The gifts I owe to Jesus
Alone my love are worth.
4. My Jesus is my Splendor,
My soul’s bright-beaming Sun;
Were He not my Defender
Before God’s awful throne,
I never should find favor
And mercy in His sight,
But be destroyed forever,
As darkness by the light.
5. He canceled my offenses
And saved my soul from death;
’Tis He who ever cleanses
Me from my sins through faith.
In Him I can be cheerful,
Bold, and undaunted aye;
In Him I am not fearful
Of God’s great Judgment Day.
6. Naught, naught can e’er condemn me
Nor set my hope aside;
Now hell no more can claim me,
Its fury I deride.
No sentence e’er reproves me,
No ill destroys my peace,
For Christ, my Savior, loves me
And screens me with His grace.
7. His Spirit in me dwelleth,
And o’er my mind He reigns.
All sorrow He dispelleth
And soothes away all pains.
He crowns His work with blessing
And helpeth me to cry,
“My Father!” without ceasing,
To Him who dwells on high.
8. To mine His Spirit speaketh
Sweet words of holy cheer,
How God, to Him that seeketh
For rest, is always near,
And how He hath erected
A city fair and new,
Where what our faith expected
We evermore shall view.
9. In yonder home doth flourish
My heritage, my lot;
Though here I die and perish,
My heaven shall fail me not.
Though care my life oft saddens
And causeth tears to flow,
The light of Jesus gladdens
And sweetens every woe.
10. Who clings with resolution
To Him whom Satan hates
Must look for persecution;
For him the burden waits
Of mockery, shame, and losses,
Heaped on his guiltless head;
A thousand plagues and crosses
Shall be his daily bread.
11. All this I am prepared for,
Yet am I not afraid;
By Thee shall all be cared for,
To whom my vows were paid.
Though life and limb it cost me
And everything I have,
Unshaken shall I trust Thee,
Thee never shall I leave.
12. Though earth be rent asunder,
Thou’rt mine eternally;
Not fire nor sword nor thunder
Shall sever me from Thee;
Not hunger, thirst, nor danger,
Not pain nor poverty,
Nor mighty princes’ anger,
Shall ever hinder me.
13. No angel and no gladness,
No throne, no pomp, no show,
No love, no hate, no sadness,
No pain, no depth of woe,
No scheme of man’s contrivance,
However small or great,
Shall draw me from Thy guidance
Nor from Thee separate.
14. My heart for joy is springing
And can no more be sad,
’Tis full of mirth and singing,
Sees naught but sunshine glad.
The Sun that cheers my spirit
Is Jesus Christ, my King;
That which I shall inherit
Hereafter, makes me sing.

Rom. 8, 31-39. Paul Gerhardt, 1664; R. Massie, tr., a.