Chapter L: M. 8 l

Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,
Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness,
Come into the daylight’s splendor,
There with joy thy praises render
Unto Him whose grace unbounded
Hath this wondrous banquet founded;
High o’er all the heavens He reigneth,
Yet to dwell with thee He deigneth.

2. Hasten as a bride to meet Him
And with loving reverence greet Him;
For with words of life immortal
Now He knocketh at thy portal;
Haste to ope the gates before Him,
Saying, while thou dost adore Him,
“Suffer, Lord, that I receive Thee,
And I nevermore will leave Thee.”

3. He who costly goods desireth
To obtain much gold requireth;
But to freely give the treasure
Of Thy love is Thy good pleasure;
For on earth there is no coffer
Which as payment we might offer
For this cup, Thy blood containing,
And this manna, on us raining.

4. Ah, how hungers all my spirit
For the love I do not merit!
Oft have I, with sighs fast thronging,
Thought upon this food with longing,
In the battle well-nigh worsted,
For this cup of life have thirsted,
For the Friend, who here invites us
And to God Himself unites us.

5. Now I sink before Thee lowly,
Filled with joy most deep and holy,
As with trembling awe and wonder
On Thy mighty works I ponder,
How, by mystery surrounded,
Depths no man hath ever sounded,
None may dare to pierce unbidden,
Secrets that with Thee are hidden.

6. Nay, though reason here doth ponder,
It can never reach this wonder,
That this bread is never lessened,
Though it nourish thousands present,
And that Christ His blood is giving
With the wine we are receiving.
Oh, these mysteries, unsounded,
Are by God alone expounded!

7. Sun, who all my life doth brighten,
Light, who dost my soul enlighten,
Joy, the sweetest man e’er knoweth,
Fount, whence all my being floweth,—
At Thy feet I cry, my Maker,
Let me be a fit partaker
Of this blessed food from heaven,
For our good, Thy glory, given.

8. Lord, Thy fervent love hath driven
Thee to leave Thy throne in heaven,
For us on the cross to languish
And to die in bitter anguish,
To forego all joy and gladness
And to shed Thy blood in sadness,
Which we drink now; grant that never
We forget Thy love, dear Savior!

9. Jesus, Bread of life, I pray Thee,
Let me gladly here obey Thee,
Never to my hurt invited,
Be Thy love with love requited;
From this banquet let me measure,
Lord, how vast and deep love’s treasure.
Through the gifts Thou here dost give me
As Thy guest in heaven receive me.

J. Franck, 1649; C. Winkworth, tr.

433

7s

Lo, upon the altar lies
Bread of heaven from the skies,
Food to mortal wanderers given,
To the sons and heirs of heaven.

2. Jesus, Shepherd of the sheep!
Thou Thy flock in safety keep.
Living Bread! Thy life supply;
Strengthen us, or else we die.

3. Thou, who feedest us below,
Source of all we have or know,
Grant that with Thy saints above
We may reach Thy feast of love!

Thomas Aquinas, † 1274; E. Caswall, tr., 1848.

434

L. M.

The death of Jesus Christ, our Lord,
We celebrate with one accord;
It is our comfort in distress,
Our heart’s sweet joy and happiness.

2. He blotted out with His own blood
The judgment that against us stood;
He full atonement for us made,
And all our debt He fully paid.

3. That this is so and ever true
He gives an earnest ever new,
In this His holy Supper here
We taste His love so sweet, so near.

4. For His true body, as He said,
And His true blood, for sinners shed,
In this communion we receive;
His sacred Word we do believe.

5. A precious food this is indeed,—
It never faileth, such we need,—
A heavenly manna for our soul,
That we may safely reach our goal.

6. Then blessed is each worthy guest
Who in this promise finds His rest;
For Jesus will in love abide
With those who do in Him confide:

7. The guest that comes with true intent
To turn to God and to repent,
To live for Christ, to die to sin,
And thus a holy life begin.

8. Who does unworthy here appear,
Does not believe nor is sincere,
Salvation here he cannot find.
May we this warning bear in mind!

9. O Jesus Christ, our Brother dear,
Unto Thy cross we now draw near;
Thy sacred wounds indeed make whole
A wounded and afflicted soul.

10. Help us sincerely to believe
That we Thy mercy do receive
And in Thy grace do find our rest.
Amen. He who believes is blest.

H. Spegel, 1686; J. O. Wallin, 1814.

435

7, 6, 8 l

O living Bread from heaven,
How hast Thou fed Thy guest!
The gifts Thou now hast given
Have filled my heart with rest.
O wondrous Food of blessing!
O Cup that heals our woes!
My heart, this gift possessing,
In thankful song o’erflows.

2. My Lord, Thou here hast led me
Within Thy holiest place
And there Thyself hast fed me
With treasures of Thy grace;
And Thou hast freely given
What earth could never buy,
The Bread of life from heaven,
That now I shall not die.

3. Thou givest all I wanted.
The food can death destroy,
And Thou hast freely granted
The cup of endless joy.
Ah, Lord, I do not merit
The favor Thou hast shown,
And all my soul and spirit
Bow down before Thy throne.

4. Lord, grant me that, thus strengthened
With heavenly food, while here
My course on earth is lengthened,
I serve with holy fear;
And when Thou call’st my spirit
To leave this world below,
I enter, through Thy merit,
Where joys unmingled flow.

J. Rist, 1651, a.; C. Winkworth, tr., 1858.

436

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7

Lord Jesus, Thou art truly good;
Thou spread’st for our salvation
Thy body and Thy blood as food
And giv’st us invitation;
As weary souls, with sin opprest,
We come to Thee for needed rest,
For counsel and forgiveness.

2. Although Thou didst ascend to heaven,
Where angels bow before Thee,
And now to mortals ’tis not given
By sight here to adore Thee,
Until begins Thy Judgment grand,
When we before Thy throne shall stand
And cheerfully behold Thee;

3. Yet art Thou ever with us, Lord,
And with Thy congregation
And not confined—so says Thy Word—
To any habitation.
Firm as a rock Thy Word still stands,
Unshaken by the en’mies’ hands
Though they be e’er so cunning.

4. Thou say’st: “This is My body; eat
And orally receive Me.
This is My blood; drink all of it
And henceforth never leave Me.”
What Thou hast spoken true must be;
Thou art almighty, and with Thee
Impossible is nothing.

5. Although my reason cannot see
How in so many places
Thy body at one time may be,
Yet faith Thy Word embraces.
How it can be I leave to Thee;
Thy Word alone sufficeth me,
For Thou wilt that we trust it.

6. Lord, I believe in simple trust,
Strength in my weakness give me,
For I am naught but sinful dust,
Nor of Thy Word bereave me!
Thy Baptism, Supper, and Thy Word
My consolation are, O Lord,
For they contain my treasure.

7. Grant that we worthily receive
Thy Supper, Lord, our Savior,
That for our sins we truly grieve
And prove by our behavior
That we obtained Thy saving grace
And trust in it throughout our days;
Then will our life be godly.

8. For Thy consoling Supper, Lord,
Be praised throughout all ages!
Preserve it, for with one accord
The world against it rages.
Grant that Thy body and Thy blood
May be my comfort and sweet food
In my last moments. Amen.

S. Kinner, 1638; E. Cronenwett, tr., 1880.

437

L. M.

An awful mystery is here
To challenge faith and waken fear;
The Savior comes as food divine,
Concealed in earthly bread and wine.

2. This world is loveless—but above,
What wondrous boundlessness of love!
The King of Glory stoops to me
My spirit’s Life and Strength to be.

3. In consecrated wine and bread
No eye perceives the mystery dread;
But Jesus’ words are strong and clear:
“My body and My blood are here.”

4. How dull are all the powers of sense,
Employed on proofs of love immense!
The richest food remains unseen,
And highest gifts appear how mean!

5. But here we have no boon on earth,
And faith alone discerns its worth;
The Word, not sense, must be our guide
And faith assure, since sight’s denied.

6. Lord, show us still that Thou art good
And grant us evermore this food;
Give faith to ev’ry wav’ring soul
And make each wounded spirit whole.

M. Loy, 1880.

438

L. M.

Invited, Lord, by boundless grace,
I stood a guest before Thy face;
As host Thou spread’st no common food;
Here is Thy body and Thy blood!

2. How holy is this Sacrament,
Where pardon, peace, and life are spent!
This bread and cup my lips have pressed;
Thou blessedst, and my soul is blessed.

3. Now lettest Thou Thy guest depart
With full assurance in his heart;
For such communion, Lord, with Thee
May a new life my offering be!

4. When Thou shalt in Thy glory come
To gather all Thy people home,
Then let me, as Thy heavenly guest,
In anthems praise Thee with the blest!

E. Cronenwett, c. 1880.

439

L. M.

’Twas on that dark, that doleful night,
When powers of earth and hell arose
Against the Son of God’s delight,
And friends betrayed Him to His foes.

2. Before the mournful scene began,
He took the bread and blessed and brake;
What love through all His actions ran!
What wondrous words of grace He spake!

3. “This is My body, broke for sin;
Receive and eat the living food”;
Then took the cup and blessed the wine:
“’Tis the new covenant in My blood.”

4. “Do this,” He said, “till time shall end,
In memory of your dying Friend.
Meet at My table and record
The love of your departed Lord.”

5. Jesus, Thy feast we celebrate;
We show Thy death, we sing Thy name,
Till Thou return and we shall eat
The marriage supper of the Lamb.

Isaac Watts, 1709, a.

440

L. M.

At Thy command, our dearest Lord,
Here we attend Thy dying feast;
Thy blood, like wine, adorns the board,
And Thine own flesh feeds every guest.

2. Our faith adores Thy bleeding love
And trusts for life in One that died;
We hope for heavenly crowns above
From a Redeemer crucified.

3. Let the vain world pronounce it shame
And fling their scandals on the cause;
We come to boast our Savior’s name
And make our triumphs in His cross.

4. With joy we tell the scoffing age,
He that was dead has left His tomb;
He lives above their utmost rage,
And we are waiting till He come.

Isaac Watts, 1707.

441

8, 8, 7, 8

Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior,
Turned away God’s wrath forever;
Suffering pains no tongue can tell,
He saved us from the pains of hell.

2. To remind us that, to save us,
He hath died, His flesh He gave us
With this bread, a quick’ning food,
And with this wine His precious blood.

3. Whoso to this board repaireth
Take good heed how he prepareth;
Death instead of life shall he
Receive who comes unworthily.

4. Thou shalt hold with faith unshaken
That this food is to be taken
By the sick who are distressed,
By those whose heart is sin-oppressed.

5. Christ says: “Come, ye heavy-laden,
I your weary hearts will gladden;
They that are yet strong and well,
Despise the best physician’s skill.

6. “Couldst thou earn thine own salvation,
Useless were My death and Passion;
This feast is not spread for thee
If thine own helper thou wilt be.”

7. If thou this believest truly
And confession makest duly,
Thou a welcome guest art here,
This heavenly food thy soul shall cheer.

8. But the fruits must not be missing,
Love thy neighbor without ceasing;
That true love let him receive
Which here to thee thy God doth give.

John Huss, † 1415; Martin Luther, 1524.

HOME, MARRIAGE, CHILDREN.

442

7, 6, 7, 6

The voice that breathed o’er Eden,
That earliest wedding-day,
The primal marriage blessing,—
It hath not passed away.

2. Still in the pure espousal
Of Christian man and maid,
The Holy Three are with us,
The threefold grace is said.

3. Be present, loving Father,
To give away this bride,
As Eve Thou gav’st to Adam
Out of his own pierced side.

4. Be present, Son of Mary,
To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal bands.

5. Be present, Holiest Spirit,
To bless them as they kneel,
As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom,
The heavenly spouse dost seal.

6. O spread Thy pure wings o’er them,
Let no ill power find place,
When onward to Thine altar
Their hallowed path they trace,

7. To cast their crowns before Thee
In perfect sacrifice,
Till to the home of gladness
With Christ’s own Bride they rise.

J. Keble, 1857, a.

443