O Lord, how many miseries

I. O Lord, how many Miseries
Assault and discompose my Peace;
The Path that leads to SION'S Gate
Is full of Thorns, and very streight.

II. How hard it is for Flesh and Blood
To seek the everlasting Good;
I know not where to turn my Face,
But, Christ! to thy redeeming Grace.

III. My Heart has never been dismay'd,
Whene'er to thee it look'd for Aid;
No Mortal yet was ever lost,
Who put in CHRIST alone his Trust.

IV. That thou art God, as well as Man,
Lord, thy redeeming Pow'r makes plain;
No greater Wonder has been heard,
Than this, that God in Flesh appear'd.

V. He sav'd us by his Death and Tomb,
From Sin, and from the Wrath to come:
My Jesu, Lord and God alone!
What Name is sweeter than thy own?

VI. No Grief can ever be so sore,
But thy Salvation cheers us more;
No Pain so raging but thy Name
Can still asswage and heal the same.

Vii. Nay, though my Flesh and Heart shou'd fail,
Thy Presence, Lord! will yet prevail;
Enjoying thee, and thy free Love,
I share the Bliss of Saints Above.

VIII. Thine would I be in Soul and Mind,
And leave Sin, Death, and Hell behind;
Nor can I better fix my Trust,
Than in the God of whom I boast.

IX. Thou never cast forsake thy Child,
That by thy Grace is reconcil'd;
Thou art the Shepherd of my soul,
That ever keeps me sound and whole.

Par the Second:

X. Thou art my Comfort and Renown,
My Treasure and eternal Crown;
No Tongue can tell, no Voice can sing
What Joy the Name of Christ doth bring.

XI. He that has Faith and Charity,
Can by Experience join with me;
I'd make this bold Assertion good,
And dare to seal it with my Blood.

XII. Were there no Joy in God for me,
'Twere better I should never be;
For he that has not CHRIST within,
Is dead in Trespasses and Sin.

XIII. My Soul's fond Bridegroom and Delight;
Thou Pearl, above all others bright,
In thee I justly more rejoice,
Than in the World's most glitt'ring Toys.

XIV. As often as I think on thee,
My Heart for Joy doth leap in me;
When e'er I fix in thee my Hope,
I find a Comfort bears me up.

XV. When in my Pain I pray and sing,
My Heart is quite another Thing;
Thy Spirit witnesses, that this
Is but the Fore-taste of thy Bliss.

XVI. Therefore while Life remains with me,
I'll bear the Cross and follow thee:
To Thee direct this Heart of mine;
Let it to Nothing else incline,

XVII. And aid me by thy mighty Grace,
With Joy to run my Christian Race;
Help me to conquer Flesh and Blood,
And make my Christian Warfare good.

XVIII. Preserve my Faith from Error free,
That I may live and die in Thee;
My Saviour, grant me my Desire,
Let me be Thine when I expire.

Source: Psalmodia Germanica: or, The German Psalmody: translated from the high Dutch together with their proper tunes and thorough bass (2nd ed., corr. and enl.) #125

• MIDI file from Psalmodia Germanica: or, The German Psalmody: translated from the high Dutch together with their proper tunes and thorough bass (2nd ed., corr. and enl.) #125