"Upon the Cross Extended"
by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
1. Upon the cross extended,
See, world, thy Lord suspended,
Thy Savior yields His breath.
The Prince of Life from heaven
Himself hath freely given
To shame and blows and bitter death.
2. Come hither now and ponder,
'Twill fill thy soul with wonder,
Blood streams from every pore.
Through grief whose depth none knoweth,
From His great heart there floweth
Sigh after sigh of anguish o'er.
3. Who is it that hath bruised Thee?
Who hath so sore abused Thee
And caused Thee all Thy woe?
While we must make confession
Of sin and dire transgression,
Thou deeds of evil dost not know.
4. I caused Thy grief and sighing
By evils multiplying
As countless as the sands.
I caused the woes unnumbered
With which Thy soul is cumbered,
Thy sorrows raised by wicked hands.
5. 'Tis I who should be smitten
My doom should here be written:
Bound hand and foot in hell.
The fetters and the scourging,
The floods around Thee surging,
'Tis I who have deserved them well.
6. The load Thou takest on Thee,
That pressed so sorely on me,
t crushed me to the ground.
The cross for me enduring,
The crown for me securing,
My healing in Thy wounds is found.
7. A crown of thorns Thou wearest,
My shame and scorn Thou bearest,
That I might ransomed be.
My Bondsman, ever willing,
My place with patience filling,
From sin and guilt hast made me free.
8. Thy cords of love, my Savior,
Bind me to Thee forever,
I am no longer mine.
To Thee I gladly tender
All that my life can render
And all I have to Thee resign.
9. Thy cross I'll place before me,
Its saving power be o'er me,
Wherever I may be;
Thine innocence revealing,
Thy love and mercy sealing,
The pledge of truth and constancy.
10. How God at our transgression
To anger gives expression,
How loud His thunder rolls,
How fearfully He smiteth,
How sorely He requiteth,-
All this Thy sufferings teach my soul.
11. When evil men revile me,
With wicked tongues defile me,
I'll curb my vengeful heart.
The unjust wrong I'll suffer,
Unto my neighbor offer
Forgiveness for each bitter smart.
12. Thy groaning and thy sighing,
Thy bitter tears and dying,
With which Thou wast opprest,-
They shall, when life is ending,
Be guiding and attending
My way to Thine eternal rest.
The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #171
Text: Heb. 9:28
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Translated by: John Kelly, 1867, alt.
Titled: O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben
Composer: Heinrich Friese, 1703
Tune: O Welt, sieh hier
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| Paul Gerhardt, was born on March 12, 1607, and died May 27, 1676. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gerhardt |
http://www.stempublishing.com/hymns/biographies/gerhardt.html
Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
Notes from "Popular Hymns and Their Writers" by Norman Mable:
This famous hymnist has been called the Wesley of the Fatherland; not for the number of hymns that he wrote but for their quality. Of Gerhardt's one hundred and twenty-three hymns, all show the mark of real genius, and nearly forty are still in common use. A celebrated preacher, Paulus Gerhardt was born in 1607 and lived through the Thirty Years War. His was mostly a sad life and he did not obtain a settled position until about 44 years of age, when he became minister of the country parish of Mittenwalde, near Berlin. Six years later, he was called to St. Nicholas Church in the capital, and remained there for nine happy years, enjoying universal love and esteem. Attempts had been made to unite the Lutheran and Reformed churches, and in 1664 an edict was issued by the Grand Elector of Brandenburg, virtually prohibiting mutual insults or offensive language between the churches. A strict Lutheran, Gerhardt refused to abide by this ruling, and in consequence was removed from his church in 1666. Driven from home, he and his broken-hearted wife with their children, for two years became wandering exiles.
One evening when staying at a wayside inn, Gerhardt went out, and under the starry sky pondered deeply over his misfortunes. Full of faith and hope, he put his thoughts into poetry and so was born the hymn we know as "Commit Whatever Grieves Thee". Hurrying back to the inn, he quickly wrote out the verses and at their evening devotions, read them to the family. Buoyed up and cheered by the inspiring poem, they retired to rest. But scarcely had they done so, than a thunderous knocking at the door roused them all. It was a mounted messenger from Duke Christian of Meresberg riding post haste to deliver a sealed packet to Mr. Gerhardt. It was an invitation from the Duke who offered him "Church, people, home and livelihood, and liberty to preach the Gospel as his heart may prompt him". The church was at Lubben in the Spreewald, where Gerhardt became archdeacon, and ministered until his death in 1676...
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"Commit Whatever Grieves Thee" by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
1. Commit whatever grieves thee
Into the gracious hands
Of Him who never leaves thee,
Who heaven and earth commands.
Who points the clouds their courses,
Whom winds and waves obey,
He will direct thy footsteps
And find for thee a way.
2. On Him place thy reliance
If thou wouldst be secure;
His work thou must consider
If thine is to endure.
By anxious sighs and grieving
And self-tormenting care
God is not moved to giving;
All must be gained by prayer.
3. Thy truth and grace, O Father,
Most surely see and know
Both what is good and evil
For mortal man below.
According to Thy counsel
Thou wilt Thy work pursue;
And what Thy wisdom chooseth
Thy might will always do.
4. Thy hand is never shortened,
All things must serve Thy might;
Thine every act is blessing,
Thy path is purest light.
Thy work no man can hinder,
Thy purpose none can stay,
Since Thou to bless Thy children
Wilt always find a way.
5. Though all the powers of evil
The will of God oppose,
His purpose will not falter,
His pleasure onward goes.
Whate'er God's will resolveth,
Whatever He intends.
Will always be accomplished
True to His aims and ends.
6. Then hope, my feeble spirit,
And be thou undismayed;
God helps in every trial
And makes thee unafraid.
Await His time with patience,
Then shall thine eyes behold
The sun of joy and gladness
His brightest beams unfold.
7. Arise, my soul, and banish
Thy anguish and thy care.
Away with thoughts that sadden
And heart and mind ensnare!
Thou art not lord and master
Of thine own destiny;
Enthroned in highest heaven,
God rules in equity.
8. Leave all to His direction;
In wisdom He doth reign,
And in a way most wondrous
His course He will maintain.
Soon He, His promise keeping,
With wonder-working skill,
Shall put away the sorrows
That now thy spirit fill.
9. A while His consolation
He may to thee deny,
And seem as though in trial
He far from thee would fly;
A while distress and anguish
May compass thee around,
Nor to thy supplication
An answering voice be found.
10. But if thou perseverest,
Thou shalt deliverance find.
Behold, all unexpected
He will thy soul unbind
And from the heavy burden
Thy heart will soon set free;
And thou wilt see the blessing
He had in mind for thee.
11. O faithful child of heaven,
How blessed shalt thou be!
With songs of glad thanksgiving
A crown awaiteth thee.
Into thy hand thy Maker
Will give the victor's palm.
And thou to thy Deliverer
Shalt sing a joyous psalm.
12. Give, Lord, this consummation
To all our heart's distress;
Our hands, our feet, e'er strengthen,
In death our spirits bless.
Thy truth and Thy protection
Grant evermore, we pray,
And in celestial glory
Shall end our destined way.
Hymn #520
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 37: 5
Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1656
Translated by: composite
Titled: Befiehl du deine Wege
Composer: Hans L. Hassler, 1601
Tune: Herzlich tut mich
