1 Shun, my heart, the thought forever
As thou hast been cast away,
Rest upon God's Word and favor,
Never cease to watch and pray.
E'en though thou unrighteous art,
True and faithful is God's heart;
Hast thou death deserved forever?
God's appeased, despond thou never!
2 Thou art, as is ev'ry other,
Tainted with the bane of sin
That the serpent through our father
Adam, by the fall, brought in.
But if thou God's voice dost hear,
With a contrite heart draw near
Unto God, He will receive thee,
All thy sins He will forgive thee.
3 Thou wilt find in Him a Father
Who is patient, kind, and true,
He doth love thee as no brother
And no other friend can do.
E'en our smallest cares He knows,
He is touched by all our woes;
Well our inmost prayers He heareth,
And our saddened hearts He cheerest.
4 Hear His word "As I am living,
I the death on none would see,
But that every sinner, giving
Up his heart would turn to Me.
How my heart with rapture burns
When a prodigal returns!
My own child I love to call him,
And no evil shall befall him."
5 Never shepherd's heart so yearneth
For the sheep that go astray
As God's loving bosom burneth
For His erring child alway.
How He thirsts, and longs, and yearns
For the soul that from Him turns!
Couldst thou know His love so tender,
Thou wouldst praise unto Him render.
6 Of such wondrous love and favor
Open wide the door to me,
And Thy goodness, precious Saviour,
Let me ever taste and see.
Love me, Lord, and let me be
Ever nearer drawn to Thee;
Let Thy Spirit lead and guide me,
In Thy loving bosom hide me.
Amen.
Source: The Hymnal and Order of Service #400
Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, 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 r… Go to person page >
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