1 Forsake us not--O Lord be near
Thy Church, when low'ring clouds appear;
That heav'nly light, Thy Word divine;
Continue in our midst to shine.
2 While sin and death around we see,
O grant that we may constant be;
And pure retain, till life is spent,
Thy precious Word and Sacrament.
3 Dear Savior! help, Thy church uphold;
For we are sluggish, thoughtless, cold;
Indue Thy Word with power and grace,
And spread its truth in ev'ry place.
4 Yes! leave us but Thy Word, we pray;
The fatal wiles of Satan stay;
Oh smile upon Thy church: give grace;
And courage, patience, love, and peace.
5 O God! how sin's dread works abound;
Thoughout the earth no rest is found;
And wide has falsehood's spirit spread,
And error boldly rears its head.
6 And ever is there something new
Devised to change Thy doctrines true;
Lord Jesus! as thou still dost reign,
Those vain, presumptuous minds restrain.
7 And as the cause and glory, Lord,
Are Thine, not ours, do Thou afford
Us help and strength and constancy,
And keep us ever try to Thee.
8 Thy word shall fortify us hence,
It is Thy Church's sure defense;
O let us in its power confide,
That we may seek no other guide.
9 Here on Thy Word in faith we lean,
There Thou shalt be forever see;
And when our journey, endeth here,
Receive us, Lord, in glory there.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran hymnal: with music #181
Selnecker, Nicolaus, D.D., son of Georg Selnecker (Selneccer, Schellenecker, who was protonotarius to the Nürnberg magistracy, but lived at Hersbruck near Nürnberg) was born at Hersbruck Dec. 5, 1532. In 1536 he was removed to Nürnberg, and became during his school time, when only twelve years old, organist at the chapel in the Kaiserburg there. He went to the university of Wittenberg in 1550 (where he became a favourite pupil of Melanchthon), graduated M.A. on July 31, 1554, and subsequently lectured as a privat-docent, sometimes to 200 students. In the end of 1557 he was appointed second court preacher at Dresden, and tutor to the heir apparent Prince Alexander, having also to supervise the education of the choirboys of the royal chape… Go to person page >
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