Count well the cost

Top Text Author Translator Text Info Tune Timeline Arrangements Page Scans Instances

"Count well the cost," Christ Jesus says

Author: Alexander Mack; Translator: Ora W. Garber
Tune: EISENACH (Gesius)
Published in 3 hymnals

Piano/Organ
	The Art of Hymn Playing Volume II - Intr…

Representative Text

1 “Count well the cost,” Christ Jesus says,
“when you lay the foundation.”
Are you resolved, though all seem lost,
to risk your reputation,
your self, your wealth, for Christ the Lord,
as you now give your solemn word?

2 Into Christ’s death be buried now
through baptism’s joyous union.
No selfish claim should you allow
if you desire communion
when Christ’s redeemed together meet,
the bread of fellowship to eat.

3 Within the church’s warm embrace
the child of God is molded.
God’s Spirit lights the infant face,
and in God’s grace is folded.
With childlike steps, Christ’s plan we trace,
till we grow up in godly grace.

4 In Christian growth we are matured,
of fruitful vines a token.
That this good growth may be assured
ofttimes to us is broken
the bread of fellowship replete
when Christ’s redeemed together meet.

Source: Voices Together #577

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: Alexander Mack

Alexander Mack was born in 1679 at Schriesheim, between Mannheim and Heidelberg. He was brought up in the Reformed faith. He was not satisfied with the formalism of the Catholic, Lutheran, or Reformed churches, but also not satisfied with the Pietists, who believed religion was of the heart, and rejected the organized church. He founded the Church of the Brethren in 1708 in Schwarzenau, Wittgenstein. The church sought to adopt the teachings of the New Testament, and practiced baptism by immersion. Because of this they were also known as "Dunkers." The church grew in Schwarzenau but was scattered by persecution. The leaders decided to come to the United States and nearly the whole denomination migrated to the States starting in 1719. Mack mo… Go to person page >

Translator: Ora W. Garber

(no biographical information available about Ora W. Garber.) Go to person page >

^ top

First Line:	"Count well the cost," Christ Jesus says
Title:	Count well the cost
Author:	Alexander Mack
Translator:	Ora W. Garber
Source:	Überschlag die Kost, Geistriches Gesang-Buch vor alle liebhabende Seelen der Warheit, 1720; European Origins of the Brethren, 1958, alt.
Copyright:	Copyright 1958 by the General Brotherhood Board, Church of the Brethren.; Translation copyright ©1958 Church of the Brethren General Board

^ top

Tune

EISENACH (Gesius)

MACHS MIT MIR was first published in the collection of music Das ander Theil des andern newen Operis Geistlicher Deutscher Lieder (1605) by Bartholomäus Gesius (b. Münchenberg, near Frankfurt, Germany, c. 1555; d. Frankfurt, 1613). A prolific composer, Gesius wrote almost exclusively for the churc…

Go to tune page >

All tunes published with 'Count well the cost'^ top