O God, my Father! thanks to Thee

I bring with deep humility,

That Thou Thine anger endest,

And that Thy Son,

Our Joy and Crown,

Into the world Thou sendest.

He hath appear’d, His precious blood

Hath pourèd forth in such a flood,

That all our sins it washes.

Who to Him cleaves,

He soon relieves

Of burdens, and refreshes.

I come, Lord! as the best I may,

Take me into the band, I pray,

Of those who are forgiven,

Who through this blood

Are just and good,

And shall be bless’d in heaven.

Oh! let mine eye and hand of faith

This noble pledge keep without scath,

Away from me ne’er casting;

And let this light

Lead me aright,

To the light everlasting.

The mansion of my soul prepare,

Cast out whate’er is evil there,

And build in me Thy dwelling:

Thy grace so free

Reveal to me,

My soul with Thy love filling.

All things are mine when I have Thee,

Thou void of gifts canst never be;

A thousand ways Thou knowest

On earth to keep

Thy feeble sheep;

Enough Thou aye bestowest.

Grant that I in my station here

Thee in Thy word may ever fear,

So guide what things concern me,

That found in me

True faith may be,

And may with truth adorn me.

And give me a contented mind,

For when with godliness combin’d,

Great gain thence ever floweth.

Then what of good

It pleaseth God

To give, great peace bestoweth.

The little that by God’s great grace

The righteous as his portion has,

To honour more commendeth,

Than all the gold

The world doth hold,

And with proud spirit spendeth.

The faithful, Lord, to Thee are known,

Thou art their Joy, and they Thine own,

To shame thou putt’st them never;

Comes scarcity,

Their bread from Thee

They find in all lands ever.

God loveth him who fears and cleaves

To Him, sees that no mischance grieves,

In his ways joyeth ever;

And if he slide,

God doth abide,

Doth bless him and deliver.

God’s eye is upon all who wait

And hope in Him both soon and late,

In all need to deliver,

E’en in the hour

When to devour

Death threatens them for ever.

Lord, Thou canst only gracious be,

Thou givest all to know and see

Thy goodness and Thy favour,

Who with their mouth

And heart in truth

Own Thee their only Saviour.

Make Her⁹⁹For obvious reasons the original has been slightly altered. The German is, Insonderheit nimm wohl in acht Den Fürsten, &c. Thy care especially,

Whom Thou as monarch hast rais’d high

This land and nation over;

With rest and peace

The land, Lord! bless,

The throne with blessings cover.

Preserve, Lord! our dear native land

In Thine embrace and mighty hand;

Protect us all together

From error’s voice,

From enemies,

From fire and plague deliver.

All whom I love, keep every day,

Let all the hosts of hell away

From young and old be driven!

Here, may we be

In time by Thee

Preserv’d, and there in heaven!