How great the bliss to be a sheep of Jesus

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How great the bliss to be a sheep of Jesus

Author: Johann Jacob Rambach; Translator: Chriatian I. LaTrobe
Tune: AGNUS CHRISTI
Published in 11 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 How great the bliss to be a sheep of Jesus,
and to be guided by his shepherd-staff!
Earth’s greatest honors, howsoe’er they please us,
compared to this are vain and empty chaff.
Yea, what this world can never give,
may, through the Shepherd’s grace, each needy sheep receive.

2 Here is a pasture, rich and never failing,
here living waters in abundance flow;
none can conceive the grace with them prevailing,
who Jesus’ shepherd-voice obey and know.
He banishes all fear and strife,
and leads them gently on to everlasting life.

3 Whoe’er would spend his days in lasting pleasure
must come to Christ and join his flock with speed;
here is a feast prepared, rich beyond measure,
the world meanwhile on empty husks must feed.
Those souls may share in ev'ry good
whose Shepherd does possess the treasuries of God.

Source: Moravian Book of Worship #593

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Author: Johann Jacob Rambach

Rambach, Johann Jakob, D.D., son of Hans Jakob Rambach, cabinet maker at Halle on the Saale, was born at Halle, Feb. 24, 1693. In 1706 he left school and entered his father's workshop, but, in the autumn of 1707, he dislocated his ankle. During his illness he turned again to his schoolbooks; the desire for learning reawoke; and on his recovery, early in 1708, he entered the Latin school of the Orphanage at Halle (Glaucha). On Oct. 27, 1712, he matriculated at the University of Halle as a student of medicine, but soon turned his attention to theology. He became specially interested in the study of the Old Testament under J. H. Michaelis. In May 1715 he became one of Michaelis's assistants in preparing his edition of the Hebrew Bible, for whi… Go to person page >

Translator: Chriatian I. LaTrobe

Born: February 12, 1758, Fulneck (near Leeds), Yorkshire, England. Died: May 6, 1836, Liverpool, England. La Trobe, Christian Ignatius, eldest son of Benjamin La Trobe, was born at the Moravian Settlement, Fulneck, Leeds, Yorkshire, Feb. 12, 1758, and educated in England and at the Brethren's College, Niesky, Silesia. Taking orders in the Moravian Church, he became in 1784 Secretary to their Society for the Furtherance of the Gospel, and in 1795 Secretary to the Unity of the Brethren in England. He died at Fairfield, near Liverpool, May 6, 1836. He is best known through his Selection of Sacred Music, in six volumes, which appeared in 1806-25. His hymnological contributions consist of a few translations from the German. [George Arthu… Go to person page >

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First Line:	How great the bliss to be a sheep of Jesus
German Title:	Wie herrlich ist's, ein Schäflein Christi werden
Translator:	Chriatian I. LaTrobe
Author:	Johann Jacob Rambach
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain