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119

Monday in Whitsun-Week.

Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!

From the Lesson. [Num. 11:29]

8,6,8,6,8,8,8,6

Zeuch ein zu deinen Thoren

Paul Gerhardt. During the 30 Years' War.

trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855

Come to Thy temple here on earth,

Be Thou my spirit's guest,

Who givest us of mortal birth

A second birth more blest;

Spirit beloved, Thou mighty Lord,

Who with the Father and the Son

Reignest upon an equal throne,

Art equally adored!

Oh enter, let me feel and know

Thy mighty power within,

That can alone our help bestow,

And rescue us from sin.

Oh cleanse my soul and make it white,

That I with heart unstained and true,

May daily render service due,

And honour Thee aright.

I was a wild unfruitful vine

Which Thou shouldst prune and train;

Death pierced through all this life of min,

But Thou my foe hast slain.

Thy holy baptism is his grave,

He perishes beneath the flood

Of His most precious death and blood,

Who died our life to save.

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Thou art the Spirit who dost teach

To pray aright, for all

Our prayers are heard if Thou beseech,

Thy songs have sweetest fall.

They soar on tireless wings to heaven,

They fail not from before God's throne,

Till all His goodness we have known

By whom all help is given.

Thou art the Spirit of all joy,

Sadness Thou lovest not;

Thy comfort beaming from on high,

Lights up the darkest lot.

Ah yes, how many a time of old

Thy voice hath rapt my soul away,

To yon bright halls of endless day,

And oped the gates of gold!

Thou art the Spirit of all love,

The Friend of all kindly life,

Thou wouldst not that our hearts should prove

The pangs of wrath and strife.

Thou hatest hatred's withering reign,

In souls that discord maketh dark

Dost Thou rekindle love's bright spark,

And make them one again.

On Thee is all this world upstaid,

And in Thy hands doth rest;

And Thou canst wayward hearts persuade

To turn as seems Thee best:

Oh therefore give Thy love and peace,

That they may join in strongest bands

Long parted foes, and through our lands

These sad divisions cease.

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Thou art the true, the only Source

Whence concord comes to men;

Oh that Thy power might have free course

And bring us peace again!

Oh hear, and stem this mighty flood

That o'er us death and sorrow spreads;

Alas! each day afresh it sheds

Like water human blood.

And let our nation learn to know

What, and how deep, our sin;

Nay, let God's judgments come, if so

A fire be lit within

The hearts that loved themselves to please;

In bitter shame now let them burn,

And loving Thee, repentant spurn

Their selfish worldly ease.

Grace for the contrite heart abounds,

Joy to the sad is given;

To serve God's truth will heal our wounds,

And bring us help from heaven;

Lord, for Thine honour's sake, make known

Thy power, convert the wicked now,

And teach the hard to weep, for Thou

Canst soften steel and stone!

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Arise and make an end of all

Our heartache, and our pain;

Thy wandering flock at last recall

And grant them joy again;

To peace and wealth the land restore,

Wasted with fire or plague or sword;

Come to Thy ruined churches, Lord,

And bid them bloom once more!

The rulers of our land defend,

Our sovereign's throne uphold;

That he and we may prosper, send

True wisdom to the old;

With piety the young men bless,

And through the nation shed abroad

True virtue and the fear of God,

A nation's happiness.

Fill every heart with holy zeal

To keep the faith unstained;

Let house and land Thy blessing feel,

Whence all true wealth is gained.

Him who resists Thy inward powers,

The Evil Spirit, make Thou flee;

Whate'er delights Thy heart, would he

Fain root from out of ours.

Give strong and cheerful hearts to stand

Undaunted in the wars

That Satan's fierce and mighty band

Is waging with Thy cause.

Help us to fight as warriors brave,

That we may conquer in the field,

And not one Christian man may yield

His soul to sin a slave.

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Order according to Thy mind

Our life from day to day,

And when this life must be resigned,

And death has seized his prey,

When all our days have fleeted by,

Help us to die with fearless spirit,

And let us after death inherit

Eternal life on high.

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