Field Stone Cottage Blog

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Sunday's Hymn: O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee

O Lord, how shall I meet thee,
How welcome thee aright?
Thy people long to greet thee,
My hope, my heart's delight!
O, kindle, Lord, most holy,
Thy lamp within my breast
To do in spirit lowly
All that may please thee best.

Love caused thine incarnation,
Love brought thee down to me;
Thy thirst for my salvation
Procured my liberty.
O love beyond all telling,
That led thee to embrace,
In love all love excelling,
Our lost and fallen race!

Rejoice, then, ye sad-hearted,
Who sit in deepest gloom,
Who mourn o'er joys departed
And tremble at your doom.
Despair not, he is near you,
Yea, standing at the door,
Who best can help and cheer you
And bids you weep no more.

Sin's debt, that fearful burden,
Let not your soul distress;
Your guilt the Lord will pardon
And cover by his grace.
He comes, for men procuring
The peace of sin forgiv'n,
For all God's sons securing
Their heritage in heav'n.

Paul Gerhardt, 1653
Tune: St. Theodulph, Melchior Teschner, 1615

2 comments:

Willow said...

Reading these words reminds me of our sermon this morning from I Thess. 1, the testimony of the Thessalonians' conversion and service to our Lord. This hymn is another new one for me.

ellen b. said...

Oh love beyond all telling...
Have a lovely week Dorothy...