Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church ‎#388

388. When Simplicity We Cherish

1 When simplicity we cherish,
Then the soul is full of light;
But that light will quickly vanish,
When of Jesus we lose sight.

2 He who naught but Christ desireth,
He whom nothing else can cheer
But the joy which He inspireth,
Lending to His voice an ear;

3 Who sincerely loveth Jesus,
And upon His grace depends;
Who but willeth what Him pleases,
Simply following His commands;

4 Who to Jesus humbly cleaveth,
Pays obedience to His Word,
Yea, in closest union liveth
With our Savior, Head, and Lord.

5 Who in Jesus Christ abideth,
And, from self-dependence free,
In naught else but Him confideth
Walks in true simplicity.

6 He who is by Christ directed,
Trusting the Good Shepherd’s care,
From all harm will be protected,
And no danger needs to fear.

Text Information

• First Line: When simplicity we cherish
• Title: When Simplicity We Cherish
• Author: Augustus G. Spangenberg, 1704-1792 (1740)
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1969
• Topic: The Life in Christ: Communion with Christ
• Source: M. tr., 1746

Tune Information

• Name: BATTY
• Composer: J. Thommen (1745)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7. Trochaic
• Key: F Major
• Source: Herrnhut, c. 1735 ; J. Thommen, 1745; C. Gregor Choralbuch, 1784

Tune Information:

Ringe recht, wenn Gottes Gnade; (16, A)