G.o.d of creation, Be my salvation!
Calm all my terrors, Blot out my errors, Grant that Thy pardon I fully may share; Withal attend me, Rule, guide, and defend me In mercy tender, Because I surrender Soul, will, and all to Thy fatherly care.
Whilst Thou art giving What for a living Seems very needful, Oh, make Thou me heedful Of this great truth and commendable thought: G.o.d, like a tower, Transcends all in power; Good beyond telling, In beauty excelling, He doth suffice me, all else counts for naught.
If grief and sadness Temper my gladness If for the morrow Thou send me sorrow Do as Thou wilt, for my trust is in Thee.
Thou surely knowest That what Thou bestowest, E"en though distressing, Must bring me a blessing; Thou wilt not deal too severely with me.
Ills that still grieve me Soon are to leave me; Though waves may tower And winds gain power, After the storm the fair sun shows its face.
Joys e"er increasing, And peace never ceasing, These I shall treasure And share in full measure When in His mansions G.o.d grants me a place.
Paul Gerhardt, 1666.
Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.
Prayer for Sat.u.r.day Evening.
Praise be unto Thee, Thou great and unchangeable G.o.d! Praise be unto Thy goodness and mercy! Praise be unto Thy eternal wisdom and truth, that Thou hast preserved me during the day now past from all danger and harm.
I pray Thee, graciously perfect Thy goodness which Thou hast begun in me, and suffer me to rest this night under Thy protecting shield, and cover me with Thy wings. Suffer me to put my trust under the shadow of Thy hands, that I fear no evil. Keep me, O G.o.d, as the apple of the eye. Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings. Lord, Thou art the portion of mine inheritance; my salvation is in Thy hands. Grant unto me, according to Thy goodness, that neither fear nor trembling come over me, and no terrors of the night overwhelm me. Be merciful unto me, for in Thee do I put my trust, and under the shadow of Thy wings do I find my refuge. I seek the Lord in the time of need; my hand is outstretched in the night without ceasing; for my soul has none other comfort; and I know of none other helper in heaven or earth but Thee alone. At midnight when I awaken, I meditate upon Thy name, so altogether lovely, upon Thy goodness and fidelity, vouchsafed unto me, and I praise Thee because of Thy righteous judgments. When I am troubled I remember G.o.d, when my spirit is overwhelmed I speak of my Savior. For He redeemeth my life from destruction and saveth me from the snares of death. Lord G.o.d, my Savior, by day and by night do I cry unto Thee, pardon all my transgressions, which during this day and the week now past I have committed against Thee. O Lord, deliver my soul for Thy mercy"s sake. Thou art gracious and just, and our G.o.d is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple. I was brought low, and He helped me. Therefore will I rejoice and praise Thee, and sing aloud upon my bed. For the days of my life will appear as noonday, and darkness as the morning"s light, and I will rejoice that Thou, O G.o.d, art my hope and my rest in life and death. I lay me down, and none will terrify me. Thus do I commend my body and soul into Thy hands, Thou Faithful G.o.d. Thou hast redeemed me through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Werde munter, mein Gemuete.
Soul of mine, to G.o.d awaking, And ye senses, ev"ry one, Come, your quiet haunts forsaking, Tell what G.o.d to me has done.
How He this entire day Has been with me on my way, To my many wants attending And from ills protection lending.
Praise and thanks to Thee I render, Father Thou of mercies great.
Thou hast been my strong Defender, And Thy love does not abate.
Thou hast shielded me from woe, Lent me strength and quenched the foe, So that I, such help beholding, Rest secure in Thine enfolding.
If from Thee I have departed, I return again to Thee, Knowing Thou art tender-hearted, Since Thy Son has died for me.
I can not deny the guilt, But for me His blood was spilt, And Thy grace, all sin exceeding, Lends forgiveness at His pleading.
O Thou Light, with brightness filling Ev"ry true and pious soul, Into me Thy grace instilling, Make my troubled spirit whole.
Deign this night to stay with me, And let me abide in Thee, That, while darkness may enthrall me, Yet no evil may befall me.
Grant that I in peace may slumber, Finding sweet and quiet rest.
Let no cares my soul enc.u.mber, Keep it by Thy presence blest.
Mind and body, child and wife, All my goods and all my life, Friends and foes (again befriended) Be this night to Thee commended.
Let no terrors overtake me, Shield me well from base attack.
Let no grievous pain awake me, War and pestilence keep back.
Ward off fire, water, death, All that threatens life and breath.
Spare me violence, extortion And, withal, a sinner"s portion.
O immortal G.o.d, endue me With the gifts for which I ask.
Jesus, lest some ill pursue me, Prosper me in ev"ry task.
Holy Spirit, comfort, friend, On whose counsel I depend, Listen to my earnest pleading, Amen. Thou my prayer art heeding.
Johann Rist, 1642.
H. Brueckner, 1918.
A Daily Prayer.
To be spoken mornings or evenings.
Dear G.o.d and Lord! I live, yet know not how long. I die, yet know not when. Thou, O Heavenly Father, knowest. Lo, dear Lord, is this hour, this day (this night) the last of my life: Thy will be done! Thou alone knowest best. As Thou wilt I am willing through the true faith in Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, to live or die. But, O G.o.d, do Thou grant me this pet.i.tion, that I may not suddenly pa.s.s away in my sins, and be lost.
Vouchsafe unto me true knowledge, repentance and sorrow over my pa.s.sed transgressions. Set them before my sight in this life, that they may not at the last day be set before me, and I be put to shame before angels and men. Grant me sufficient time and opportunity for repentance, so that from all my heart I may know and acknowledge my transgressions, and from Thy saving word obtain forgiveness and comfort for the same. O Merciful Father, forsake me not, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. My heart and my heart"s trust, O Thou Searcher of hearts, is ever known to Thee.
Keep me in such trust to the life eternal. May I die, when Thou wilt, only grant me a peaceful and blessed End. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Thou highest good, I pray Thee, through Thy precious blood, Grant, that my final end be good. Amen.
At the Beginning of the Week"s Work.
Rule Thou, O G.o.d the Father, who hast made us, and like all other creatures ordained us not to indolence but to work, and bless each one in his calling. Thou who rulest the universe also rule our own dear government and graciously vouchsafe to it Thy wisdom and strength.
Rule Thou, O G.o.d the Son, who hast redeemed and ransomed us from sin.
Take from us the burden of sin committed during the week now past, and graciously grant us Thy peace. Thou the Supreme Bishop and Archshepherd of our souls, help all servants of Thy word in this and all Thy congregations on earth to labor and bring forth much fruit unto eternal life.
Rule Thou, O G.o.d the Holy Ghost, who hast sanctified us and born us again in Holy Baptism. Create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us, that we carry no evils of the past into the new week, but put away all purpose and inclination of the old Adam still in us. Govern Thou our hearts with power; and if this week mark for any of us the end of life, help Thou in the last bitter hour. Fill the heart with that grace which is better than life. Teach the hands to battle and vanquish the last enemy, and grant for Christ"s sake, the rest and triumph of the sabbath everlasting.
Thou, the Triune and Immortal G.o.d, be and abide with us and Thy Church forever. Unto Thee be glory, laud, and honor, world without end. Amen.
At the Table
Grace Before Meat.
The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O G.o.d, and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Amen.
O Lord G.o.d, Heavenly Father, bless us and these Thy gifts, which we receive from Thy loving kindness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.