4 The word they still shall let remain,
And not a thank have for it;
He's by our side upon the plain
With His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life,
Goods, fame, child and wife:
Let these all be gone,
They yet have nothing won;
The kingdom ours remaineth.
M. Luther. Tr. Composite.
THE Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the word;
From heav'n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.
2 Elect from every nation
Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.
3 Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore opprest,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distrest;
Yet saints their watch are keeping,
Their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song.
4 'Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.
5 Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace, that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee!
ORWARD still! Forward still!
Zion, rise and onward move;
Let thy light be brightly glowing,
Cease not from thy early love:
Seek the Fount of life that's flowing;
Strait the gate, yet on with steadfast will. Forward still! Forward still!
2 | Firm endure! :||
Zion, though with every breath
Anguish, scorn and grief swell o'er thee,
Be thou faithful unto death:
See the crown of life before thee;
E'en the serpent's sting hath found a cure. : Firm endure! : ||
3 : Follow not!: ||
Zion, follow not the world:
Vain its pledge to make thee greater,
Vain its bribes, its gifts impearled;
Be no dragon's slave, no traitor;
Zion, soon the promise is forgot.
Follow not!: ||
4 || On once more! : ||
Zion, in thy might, display
Brother-love, all warm and fervent;
Show the love of Christ, today,
Wrought by Him, in thee, His servant:
Zion, through the widely opened door,
|: On once more! : ||
5 Still hold fast! : ||
Be thou faithful as of old,
Lukewarm let not Jesus find thee,
On, soon comes thy crown of gold!
On, forget what is behind thee;
Zion, in the battle's strife, at last,
||Still hold fast!: ||
J. E. Schmidt. C. A. Miller, Tr.
WATCHMAN, is the darkness waning?
Watchman, is the morning near? Oft we count the hours remaining Till the glorious dawn appear; Till the dark today be bidden
And the stars' faint gleams be hidden; Till the sun-beams warm and bright, Flood the vales and hills with light.
2 God of power and might unbounded,
Lo, we stand in strange surprise,
By Thy glorious deeds confounded:
Yea, 'tis marv'lous in our eyes.
Many a soul to Thee Thou sealest;
Many an open door revealest;
Many a pledge dost give, and sign
That the heathen shall be Thine.
3 On Thy little troop is pressing
To the farthest hostile shore;
On they go, the land possessing;
On Thy banner goes before.
E'en when hope is long debating,
Open doors are waiting, waiting;
Where our feeble feet are slow,
Swiftly Thine to vict'ry go.
4 Hindered ever, even halted,
Often hardnesses we bear;
But from heights serene, exalted,
Soon Thy hand works ev'rywhere.
Thy great deeds with wonder viewing,
We have yet short time for doing;
Lead us, Lord; we should not stay
When Thine arm prepares the way.
5 Led by Thee, though few and feeble,
Blessings round our path shall throng;
When Thy streams refresh Thy people
Desert lands will bloom ere long.
Nations to Thy gates are flowing;
Ev'rywhere the sound of going;
Filled with joy Thy light to see,
Lo, the Gentiles come to Thee.
C. G. Barth. A. Ramsey, Tr.
MY CHURCH! my church! my dear old
My fathers' and my own, On prophets and apostles built,
And Christ the corner-stone;
All else beside, by storm or tide,
May yet be overthrown;
But not my church, my dear old church,
My fathers' and my own.
2 My church! my church! my dear old church! My glory and my pride!
Firm in the faith Immanuel taught,
She holds no faith beside.
Upon this Rock, 'gainst every shock,
Though gates of hell assail,
She stands secure, with promise sure-
"They never shall prevail."
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