In human presentation;
On him the Holy Ghost descends
In dove-like shape and fashion,
That not a doubt should ever rise
That, when we are baptized,
All the three Persons do baptize;
And they be recognized
Themselves come to dwell with us.
Christ to his scholars says: Go forth,
Give to all men acquaintance
That lost in sin lies the whole earth,
And must turn to repentance.
Believe, and be baptized, and then
Each man is blest for ever;
From that hour he’s a new-born man,
And thenceforth, dying never,
The kingdom shall inherit.
But who in this grace puts no faith
Abides in sin, life misses;
He is condemned to endless death
Deep down in hell’s abysses.
Nothing avails his righteousness,
And lost are all his merits;
Sin original holds its place—
The sin which he inherits;
And help himself he cannot.
The eye but water doth behold
As from man’s hand it floweth;
But inward faith the power untold
Of Jesus Christ’s blood knoweth:
Faith sees therein a red flood roll,
With Christ’s blood dyed and blended,
Which hurt of every kind makes whole,
Whether from Adam heired
Or by ourselves committed.
XIII. REPENTANCE
THE HUNDRED AND THIRTIETH PSALM
From trouble deep I cry to thee;
Lord God, hear thou my crying;
Thy gracious ear oh turn to me,
Open it to thy sighing.
For if thou mean’st to look upon
The wrong and evil that is done,
Who, Lord, can stand before thee?
With thee availeth nought but grace
To cover trespass mortal;
Our good deeds cannot show their face,
In best life they come short all.
Before thee no one glory can,
And so must tremble every man,
And live by thy grace only.
Hope therefore in my God will I,
On my deserts nought founding;
Upon him shall my heart rely,
All on his goodness grounding.
What his true word doth promise me
My comfort shall and refuge be;
That will I always wait for.
And if it last into the night,
And last again till morning,
Yet shall my heart hope in God’s might,
Despair and foresight scorning.
Thus Israel must keep his post,
For he was born of the Holy Ghost,
And for his God must tarry.
Although our sin be great; God’s grace
Is greater to relieve us;
His hand from helping nothing stays,
Howe’er the hurt be grievous.
The shepherd good alone is He,
Who will at last set Israel free,
From all and every trespass.
XIV. THE LORD’S SUPPER
I
A SONG OF ST. JOHN HUSS, IMPROVED BY DR. MARTIN LUTHER
Christ Jesus, our Redeemer born,
Who from us did God’s anger turn
Through his sufferings sore and main
Help he us all out of hell-pain!
That we never should forget it,
Gave he us his flesh, to eat it,
Hid in poor bread, gift divine,
And, to drink, his blood in the wine.
Who will draw near to that table,