Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs Part 16

When heart and mind deluded, death To take for life, seduc'd thee!

And had the Lord thy work and deed Along the path allow'd proceed That thou thyself had'st taken, Lost wert thou and forsaken.

He who to us love endless feels, When self-involv'd, then frees us, Ev'n self-inflicted wounds He heals, Guides when astray He sees us.

Paternal kindness, tender love, To these His heart doth ever move, This love poor sinners beareth, For whom as sons He careth.

Ah! silence doth He often keep, But still the while He blesses, E'en though we tears of anguish weep, Though grief the heart depresses, Although our eager eyes we strain, And seek for light, but seek in vain, And seek deliv'rance ever From woe, but find it never.

But G.o.d our Lord still onward straight His path pursueth ever, And brings us to heav'n's peaceful gate, Where storms a.s.sail us never.

What dark was and mysterious here In all G.o.d's ways, shall be then clear, His wisdom we'll discover When our life-work is over.

Then peace, be still, my troubled breast!

And let no grief distress thee, G.o.d ever plans for thee the best, His heart is set to bless thee.

Thy cause the Saviour ne'er can leave, In this a.s.suredly believe, Tow'rd us He ever yearneth, His ardent love aye burneth.

With grace and truth His loving heart For evermore is glowing, And keenly feeleth He the smart, When from our eyes are flowing Hot tears, caus'd by vain sorrow's load, As if in wrath and hate our G.o.d Could ever helpless leave us, Would never comfort give us!

The evil thought, ah! put away, No more may it deceive thee, Although what happ'neth, seldom may Increase of pleasure give thee.

But that will happen certainly Which G.o.d thy Father doth decree; From what He wills to send thee, No mortal can defend thee.

Then to thy Father's arms of love In confidence betake thee, Pray on till His compa.s.sion move, His special care He make thee!

Then by His Spirit will He guide, Through unknown paths still at thy side, From all thy woe and striving At last deliv'rance giving.

CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT.

O my soul, why dost thou grieve, Why dost mourn so bitterly, That more freely G.o.d doth give Gifts to others than to thee?

In thy G.o.d delight thy heart, He's the good enduring part.

Of the human race have none In this world to be a right, All, yea each created one, But a guest is for a night.

G.o.d in His house Lord is still, Gifts divideth as He will.

Know, thou art not therefore here, That thou should'st possess the earth; Look thou up to heav'n so clear, There's thy gold of priceless worth, There is honour, there is joy, Without envy or alloy!

Great the folly his who grieves For a little vanity, When G.o.d to him freely gives Treasures of eternity.

Is the handredweight thy gain?

Thou canst then despise the grain.

All thy fair possessions see, That are valued by thy heart, None of them can go with thee When from earth thou must depart.

Thou must leave them here below, When death's door thou pa.s.sest through.

The soul's nourishment, G.o.d's grace, And the Saviour's precious blood, Ne'er through time in worth decrease, But remain for ever good.

Earthly goods must pa.s.s away, Soul-goods never can decay.

Still art thou so blind, alas!

Thinking--but all erringly, Eyes hast thou, but in the gla.s.s Of the word thou dost not see.

Child of man! fix there thine eyes, For it is a peerless prize.

Count thy fingers every one, And thine other members o'er, They are precious, they're thine own, Lov'd by thee than treasure more, Gold could never from thee buy E'en the least, though men should try.

Search and ask thine inmost heart, 'Twill instruct thee what of good Daily falleth to thy part, By G.o.d's bounteous hand bestow'd; Than the sand upon the sh.o.r.e More, and yet desir'st thou more!

Did thy Heav'nly Father see That it would be for thy good, What desires so eagerly Thy misguided flesh and blood, He would ne'er thee joyless leave, But would of His bounty give.

G.o.d to thee is full of love, Faithful and sincere is He, When thou wishest aught, He'd prove Of what kind thy wish may be: If 'tis good, He will bestow, If 'tis ill, He'll answer--no.

Meanwhile doth His Spirit give Manna to thy fainting heart, Food by which the angels live, Grace to deck thee doth impart, For His portion chooseth thee, Thou shalt share salvation free.

Look then to thy G.o.d above, Sad and troubled countenance!

Cease to sigh, faith's virtue prove, By thy clear and joyous glance!

While thy sky is overcast By affliction, hold it fast!

And as Heav'n's adopted son, Thy rebellious will restrain; Touch thy harp, let 'fore G.o.d's throne Grateful songs resound again.

More at all times doth G.o.d give Than thou'rt worthy to receive.

Live thou ever in G.o.d's fear, As thou journeyest to heav'n, Take whate'er befalls thee here As a gift in wisdom giv'n.

Are they evil days, thou'lt see G.o.d and Heav'n endure for thee.

UNDER THE VEXATIONS OF THE WICKED PROSPEROUS WORLD.

Ah! lovely innocence, how evil art thou deem'd, How lightly oft thy work by all the world's esteem'd!

Thou servest G.o.d, thy Lord, and to His word thou cleavest; For this, from men thou nought but scorn and hate receivest.

Right on thy road thou go'st, flee'st from the crooked way; Another steppeth in and bears the prize away, Increaseth his small store, his chests and barns he filleth; Thou'rt poor with all thy house, scarce earn'st what hunger stilleth.

The wicked one thou chid'st, who walks not righteously, Another practiseth a sweet hypocrisy That love and praise secures, and him on high upraises, While in the lurch the world thee leaves, and much abases.

Thou say'st that virtue is the Christian's fairest crown, But reputation doth the world lay stress upon; He who will this secure, it saith, must ever labour To suit the times, and live and act just like his neighbour.

Thou boast'st thyself in G.o.d, thy tongue doth aye commend The blessing G.o.d doth as His children's portion send: "If this be then the case," the world says, "come and show it, The happy fortune thou hast had, we'd see and know it."

Stand firm, thou pious heart, stand firm, thy faith retain!

'Mid disappointment sore thy G.o.d will true remain, Commit thy ways to Him, let Him protect and guide thee, Thou'lt triumph at the last o'er evils that betide thee.

Dost fail to please thy kind?--It is a sad disgrace!

Enough, if on thee smile thy heav'nly Father's face.

The worst that man can do is to betray and leave thee; But G.o.d is righteous, and His judgment can't deceive thee.

Doth He say, "Thou art Mine, thy way doth please Me well?"

Then be thy heart consol'd, let joy thy bosom swell, Cast to the wind the lies by wicked men indited, Be still, and thou shalt see, by G.o.d shall all be righted.

Pride, arrogance, and pomp are ne'er enduring found, Like brightest gla.s.s they fall, and break upon the ground; So when the luck of men has mounted up to heaven, It soon comes crashing down, and on the earth lies riven.

And all ill-gotten wealth, when right our estimate, Is on the heart and mind a dead oppressive weight That burdens evermore, with pain the conscience wringeth, Its quiet rest disturbs, and into trouble bringeth.

And what have many more than of the poor the sweat?

What do they eat and drink, and what gain do they get?