Thou, Fount of blessing, we adore!

Representative Text

Thou, Fount of blessing, we adore!
Lo! we unlock our lips once more
Before Thy deep of holiness,
Oh deign to hear us now and bless.

The Lord, the Maker, with us dwell,
In soul and body shield us well,
And guard us with His sleepless might
From every ill by day and night!

The Lord, the Saviour, Light Divine,
Now cause His face on us to shine,
That seeing Him, with perfect faith
We sruft His love for life and death!

The Lord, the Comforter, be near,
Imprint His image deeply here,
From bonds of sin and dread release,
And give us His unchanging peace!

O Triune God! Thou vast abyss!
Thou ever-flowing Fount of bliss,
Flow through us, heart and soul and will
With endless praise and blessing fill!



Source: Chorale Book for England, The #16

Author: Gerhard Tersteegen

Tersteegen, Gerhard, a pious and useful mystic of the eighteenth century, was born at Mörs, Germany, November 25, 1697. He was carefully educated in his childhood, and then apprenticed (1715) to his older brother, a shopkeeper. He was religiously inclined from his youth, and upon coming of age he secured a humble cottage near Mühlheim, where he led a life of seclusion and self-denial for many years. At about thirty years of age he began to exhort and preach in private and public gatherings. His influence became very great, such was his reputation for piety and his success in talking, preaching, and writing concerning spiritual religion. He wrote one hundred and eleven hymns, most of which appeared in his Spiritual Flower Garden (1731). He… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Thou, Fount of blessing, we adore!
German Title: Brunn alles Heils, dich ehren wir
Author: Gerhard Tersteegen (1731)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English

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Chorale Book for England, The #16

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Lyra Germanica #S2-32

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