1 O Jesus Christ, thou Bread of Life,
To sinners freely given
Who of their evil ways repent,
Cast out all earthly leaven,
And graciously my heart prepare
The Holy Supper now to share,
With Thee in blest communion.
2 Deign to Thine altar, blessed Lord,
By Thine own hand to lead me,
There to renew Thy covenant,
And with Thy gifts to feed me;
O give me, in Thy flesh and blood,
To taste and see that Thou are good;
My soul refresh and quicken.
3 O give me strength to walk with Thee,
And grace Thy steps to follow,
Thus to fulfill the last of God,
To Him my service hallow.
Bless now Thy sacramental guest,
Take Thine abode within my breast,
And nevermore forsake me.
4 Cleanse me of all iniquity,
Renew my heart within me;
My soul so fully occupy
That evil shall not win me.
As Thou didst suffer on the cross,
So teach Thy child to suffer loss,
Through faith in Thee, my Saviour.
5 Thy grace, O God, I merit less
Than strips of Thy chastising;
In all my sins and dire distress
I yet were agonizing,
Save for the willing sacrifice
Of Christ, who bought us with a price,
And earned our full salvation.
6 Sore stricken, unto Thee I come,
For grace and succor pleading,
Mine eyes are blind; to Thee I turn
For light and gentle leading.
Whene'er I stumble, raise me up;
When faint and famished, from Thy cup,
Lord, tender me Thy healing!
7 Come, Saviour dear, with me abide,
Thy love in me upwelling;
O Holy Spirit, be my Guide,
And make my heart Thy dwelling.
In all my griefs my comfort be,
Grant me that unity with Thee
Which life nor death can sever.
8 Before Thy sacred table, Lord,
My prayers grow faint and falter;
Now make me worthy to partake
The bounties of Thine altar.
If one with Thee Thou make me there.
I know that also I shall share
With Thee the joy of heaven.
Amen.
Source: The Hymnal and Order of Service #249
Rist, Johann, son of Kaspar Rist, pastor at Ottensen, near Hamburg, was born at Ottensen, March 8, 1607, and from his birth was dedicated to the ministry. After passing through the Johanneum at Hamburg and the Gymnasium Illustre at Bremen, he matriculated, in his 21st year, at the University of Rinteln, and there, under Josua Stegmann (q. v.), he received an impulse to hymn-writing. On leaving Rinteln he acted as tutor to the sons of a Hamburg merchant, accompanying them to the University of Rostock, where he himself studied Hebrew, Mathematics and also Medicine.
During his residence at Rostock the terrors, of the Thirty Years War almost emptied the University, and Rist himself also lay there for weeks ill of the pestilence. After his r… Go to person page >
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files