1 Now let us come before him,
With song and prayer adore him,
Who to our life has given
All needed strength from heaven.
2 The stream of years is flowing,
And we are onward going,
From old to new surviving
And by his mercy thriving.
3 Our God his own is shielding
And help to them is yielding.
Our work will prosper never
Unless he bless it ever.
4 To all who bow before you
And for your grace implore you,
Grant, Lord, your benediction
And patience in affliction.
5 Be with the sick and ailing,
Their Comforter unfailing;
Dispel their grief and sadness,
And give them joy and gladness!
6 Above all else, Lord, send us
Your Spirit to attend us,
Within our hearts abiding,
To heav'n our footsteps guiding.
Source: Christian Worship: a Lutheran hymnal #74
Paul Gerhardt (b. GraEenhainichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which condemned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was re… Go to person page >
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