God from all eternity

Representative Text

1 God, from all eternity
In Thy Son Thou didst elect me;
Therefore, Father, graciously
In my course to heaven direct me;
Send to me Thy Holy Spirit,
That His gifts I may inherit.

2 Though alive, I'm dead in sin,
To all good things lost by nature;
Holy Ghost, change me within,
Make of me a new-born creature;
For the flesh deserves damnation,
And can never gain salvation.

3 Drive away the gloomy night
Of erroneous reflection;
Quench all thoughts that are not right,
Hold my reason in subjection;
Grant that I from Thee with yearning
Wisdom may be always learning.

4 All desires and thoughts of mine,
From my youth, are only evil;
Save me by Thy power divine
From myself and from the Devil;
Give me strength in ample measure,
Both to will and do Thy pleasure.

5 A clean heart create in me,
Which in Thee, O God, believeth,
And at the iniquity
Of my sins sincerely grieveth;
And when hours of woe betide me,
In the wounds of Jesus hide me.

6 As a branchlet in the vine,
In my blessèd Lord implant me;
Ever of my Head divine
To remain a member, grant me;
Ever of my Head divine
To remain a member, grant me;
O let Him, my Lord and Savior,
Be my Life and Love forever.

7 Faith, and hope, and charity,
Graciously, O Father, give me;
Be my Guardian constantly,
That no devil e'er may grieve me,
Grant me humbleness, and gladness,
Peace, and patience, in my sadness.

8 Help me speak what's right and just,
And keep silence on occasion;
Help me pray, Lord, as I must;
Help me bear my tribulation;
Help me die, and let my spirit
Everlasting life inherit.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #343

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Translator: August Crull

August Crull was born January 27, 1845 in Rostock, Germany, where his father, Hofrat Crull, was a lawyer. He was educated at the Gymnasium in Rostock, and at Concordia College in St. Louis and Fort Wayne where he graduated in 1862. His father died soon after he began studying at the Gymnasium. His mother then married Albert Friedrich Hoppe, who later became the editor of the St. Louis edition of Luther's Works. In 1865, Crull graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He became assistant pastor at Trinity Church in Milwaukee and also served as Director of the Lutheran High School. Later he was pastor of the Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. From 1873 to 1915, he was professor of the German language and literature at Concordia… Go to person page >

Author: Caspar Neumann

Neumann, Caspar, son of Martin Neumann, city tax-collector at Breslau, was born at Breslau, Sept. 14,1648. He entered the Unversity of Jena in Sept. 1667, graduated M.A. in August 1670, and was for some time one of the University lecturers. On Nov. 30, 1673, he was ordained at the request of Duke Ernst of Gotha as travelling chaplain to his son, Prince Christian, whom he accompanied through Western Germany, Switzerland, Northern Italy, and Southern France; returning to Gotha in 1675. In 1676 he became court preacher at Altenburg, but in Dec. 1678 was appointed diaconus of the St. Mary Magdalene Church at Breslau, and pastor there in 1689. Finally, in Feb. 1697 he became pastor of St. Elizabeth's at Breslau, inspector of the churches and sch… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	God from all eternity
German Title:	Gott, du hast in deinem Sohn
Translator:	August Crull
Author:	Caspar Neumann
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain