For Temporal and Eternal Welfare

O God, my Father! thanks to Thee
I bring with deep humility,
That Thou Thine anger endest,
And that Thy Son,
Our Joy and Crown,
Into the world Thou sendest.

He hath appear’d, His precious blood
Hath pourèd forth in such a flood,
That all our sins it washes.
Who to Him cleaves,
He soon relieves
Of burdens, and refreshes.

I come, Lord! as the best I may,
Take me into the band, I pray,
Of those who are forgiven,
Who through this blood
Are just and good,
And shall be bless’d in heaven.

Oh! let mine eye and hand of faith
This noble pledge keep without scath,
Away from me ne’er casting;
And let this light
Lead me aright,
To the light everlasting.

The mansion of my soul prepare,
Cast out whate’er is evil there,
And build in me Thy dwelling:
Thy grace so free
Reveal to me,
My soul with Thy love filling.

All things are mine when I have Thee,
Thou void of gifts canst never be;
A thousand ways Thou knowest
On earth to keep
Thy feeble sheep;
Enough Thou aye bestowest.

Grant that I in my station here
Thee in Thy word may ever fear,
So guide what things concern me,
That found in me
True faith may be,
And may with truth adorn me.

And give me a contented mind,
For when with godliness combin’d,
Great gain thence ever floweth.
Then what of good
It pleaseth God
To give, great peace bestoweth.

The little that by God’s great grace
The righteous as his portion has,
To honour more commendeth,
Than all the gold
The world doth hold,
And with proud spirit spendeth.

The faithful, Lord, to Thee are known,
Thou art their Joy, and they Thine own,
To shame thou putt’st them never;
Comes scarcity,
Their bread from Thee
They find in all lands ever.

God loveth him who fears and cleaves
To Him, sees that no mischance grieves,
In his ways joyeth ever;
And if he slide,
God doth abide,
Doth bless him and deliver.

God’s eye is upon all who wait
And hope in Him both soon and late,
In all need to deliver,
E’en in the hour
When to devour
Death threatens them for ever.

Lord, Thou canst only gracious be,
Thou givest all to know and see
Thy goodness and Thy favour,
Who with their mouth
And heart in truth
Own Thee their only Saviour.

Make Her Thy care especially,
Whom Thou as monarch hast rais’d high
This land and nation over;
With rest and peace
The land, Lord! bless,
The throne with blessings cover.

Preserve, Lord! our dear native land
In Thine embrace and mighty hand;
Protect us all together
From error’s voice,
From enemies,
From fire and plague deliver.

All whom I love, keep every day,
Let all the hosts of hell away
From young and old be driven!
Here, may we be
In time by Thee
Preserv’d, and there in heaven!

Paul Gerhardt’s Spiritual Songs, 1867