201

O

DAY full of grace, which we behold,

Now gently to view ascending;
Thou over the earth Thy reign unfold,

Good cheer to all mortals lending,
That children of light in ev'ry clime

May prove that the night is ending.

2 How blest was that gracious midnight hour,

When God in our flesh was given; There flushed the dawn with light and power,

That spread o'er the darkened heaven; Then rose o'er the world that Sun divine

Which gloom from our hearts had driven.

3 Yea, were ev'ry tree endowed with speech,

And every leaflet singing, They never with praise His worth could

reach, Though earth with their praise were ring

ing Who fully could praise the Light of life,

Who light to our souls is bringing ?

4 As birds in the morning sing God's praise,

His fatherly love we cherish, For giving to us this day of grace,

For life that shall never perish:
His church He hath kept these thousand

vears,
And hungering souls did nourish.

5 Pass on to thy close, O Whit-Sunday,

With sunlight about thee beaming, And scatter thy blessings on thy way,

As brooks through the meadows streaming E’er leave in their wake the woods and fields

In beauty and fruitfulness dreaming.

6 With joy we depart for our Fatherland,

Where God our Father is dwelling, Where ready for us His mansions stand,

Where heaven with praise is swelling; And there we shall walk in endless light, With blest ones His praise forth telling.

N. F. S. Grundtvig. Smeby, Rygh, Doving, Trs.

202
OVE divine, all love excelling,

Joy of heav'n, to earth come down!
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,

All Thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, Thou art all compassion,

Pure, unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation,

Enter ev'ry trembling heart. 2 Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit

Into every troubled breast ! Let us all in Thee inherit,

Let us find that promised rest,
Take away that love of sinning, ,

Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith as its beginning,

Set our hearts at liberty.

3 Come, Almighty to deliver,

Let us all Thy life receive; Come to us, dear Lord, and never,

Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,

Serve Thee as Thy hosts above;
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing:

Glory in Thy perfect love.

4 Finish then Thy new creation,

Pure and spotless let us be: Let us see our whole salvation

Perfectly secured in Thee; Changed from glory into glory,

Till in heaven we take our place; Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love and praise.

C. Wesley.

204

HOLY Ghost. Thou Gift divine,

And Giver of all blessing,
Thou with the Father and the Son,

True God-head art possessing,
And from them both art shed abroad,
Eternal Spirit, Lord and God,

In Thee all Christians glory.

20 Spirit blest, we Thee entreat;

O grant us that we ever,
With heart and soul, as it is meet,

May serve our Lord and Savior, And Him confess till our last breath, As Lord of life and Lord of death,

And give Him praise and honor.

3 Our hearts let new-created be,

Our walk make pure and holy;
Help us offense and sin to flee,

And ever serve God solely,
So that our faith in Christ our Lord
May prove itself in deed and word

Before the world about us.

4 Thy gracious heavenly dew let fall,

Thy fainting church to quicken;
Thy soothing ointment pour on all

Whose souls are sad and stricken;
Sustain us, Lord, in evil days,
And let our lives in all our ways,

Abound in love and wercy.

5 Give strength and courage to contend

Against the hosts of evil,
That we may vanquish, in the end,

The world, the flesh, the Devil;
And when death's billow o'er us rolls,
Bear Thou to heaven our ransomed souls,
While dust to dust returneth.

B. Ringwaldt. 0. H. Smeby, Tr.

205

COME
OME, O come, Thou quick’ning Spirit,

Thou forever art divine;
Let Thy power never fail me,

Always fill this heart of mine:
Thus shall grace, and truth and light
Dissipate the gloom of night.

2 Grant my mind and my affections

Wisdom, counsel, purity, That I may be ever seeking

Naught but that which pleases Thee; Let Thy knowledge spread and grow, Working error's overthrow.

3 Holy Spirit, strong and mighty,

Thou who makest all things new,
Make Thy work within me perfect,

Help me by Thy word so true;
Arm me with that sword of Thine,
And the vict'ry shall be mine.

4 Ir the faith, O make me steadfast;

Let not Satan, death, or shame
Of my confidence deprive me;

Lord, my refuge is Thy name:
When the flesh inclines to ill,
Let Thy word prove stronger still.

H. Held.
C. W. Schaeffer, Tr.