"Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness"

                  By Johann Franck, 1618-1677

                                 Text From:

                      THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. Soul, adorn thyself with gladness,

        Leave behind all gloom and sadness;

        Come into the daylight's splendor,

        There with joy thy praises render

        Unto Him whose grace unbounded

        Hath this woundrous supper 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 craves a precious treasure

        Neither cost nor pain will measure;

        But the priceless gifts of heaven

        God to us hath freely given.

        Though the wealth of earth were proffered,

        Naught would buy the fits here offered:

        Christ's true body, for thee riven,

        And His blood, for thee once given.



        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. In my heart I find ascending

        Holy awe, with rapture blending,

        As this mystery I ponder,

        Filling all my soul with wonder,

        Bearing witness at this hour

        Of the greatness of Thy power;

        Far beyond all human telling

        Is the power within Him dwelling.



        6. Human reason, though it ponder,

        Cannot fathom this great wonder

        That Christ's body e'er remaineth

        Though it countless souls sustaineth,

        And that He His blood is giving

        With the wine we are receiving.

        These great mysteries unsounded

        Are by God alone expounded.



        7. Jesus, Sun of Life, my Splendor,

        Jesus, Thou my Friend most tender,

        Jesus, Joy of my desiring,

        Fount of life, my soul inspiring, --

        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, by love and mercy driven

        Thou hast left Thy throne in heaven

        On the cross for us to languish

        And to die in bitter anguish,

        To forego all joy and gladness

        And to shed Thy blood in sadness.

        By this blood, redeemed and living,

        Lord, I praise Thee with thanksgiving.



        9. Jesus, Bread of Life, I pray Thee,

        Let me gladly here obey Thee.

        By Thy love I am invited,

        Be Thy love with love requited;

        From this Supper let me measure,

        Lord, how vast and deep love's treasure.

        Though the gifts Thou here dost give me

        As Thy guest in heaven receive me.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #305 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Rev. 19: 8

        Author: Johann Franck, 1649

        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1858, alt.

        Titled: "Schmuecke dich, o liebe Seele"

        Composer: Johann Crueger, 1649

        Tune: "Schmuecke dich"