12. Of such wondrous love and favor Open wide the door to me; Everywhere and aye, my Savior, Tasted be Thy grace by me. Love me, Lord, and let me be Nearer ever drawn to Thee That I may embrace and love Thee, Nevermore to anger move Thee. Paul Gerhardt, 1653; J. Kelly, tr. 507 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7 Whatever God ordains is good! His righteous will abideth; I will be still whate’er He doth And follow where He guideth. He is my God; Though dark my road, He knoweth how to shield me, Wherefore to Him I yield me. 2. Whatever God ordains is good! He never will deceive me; He leads me by the proper path, I know He will not leave me, And take content What He hath sent; His hand that sends my sadness Will turn my tears to gladness. 3. Whatever God ordains is good! His loving thought attends me; No poisoned draught the cup can be That my Physician sends me, But medicine; God true has been. Of doubt, then, I’ll divest me And on His goodness rest me. 4. Whatever God ordains is good! My Life, my Light, can never Intend me harm; then, to His care I give myself forever In weal or woe; For well I know Some day I shall see clearly That God did love me dearly. 5. Whatever God ordains is good! Though now this cup in drinking May bitter to my taste appear I take it all unshrinking; For to my heart God will impart A timely balm of healing And end each painful feeling. 6. Whatever God ordains is good! Here shall my stand be taken; Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, Yet am I not forsaken; My Father’s care Is round me there, His arms embrace and shield me; Then to my God I yield me. Samuel Rodigast, 1675; C. Winkworth, 1863, a. 508 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7 In God, my faithful God, I trust when dark my road; Though many woes o’ertake me, Yet He will not forsake me; His love it is doth send them And, when ’tis best, will end them. 2. My sins assail me sore, But I despair no more. I build on Christ, who loves me; From this Rock nothing moves me. To Him I all surrender, To Him, my soul’s Defender. 3. If death my portion be, Then death is gain to me, And Christ my Life forever, From whom death cannot sever; Come when it may, He’ll shield me, To Him I wholly yield me. 4. O Jesus Christ, my Lord, So meek in deed and word, Thou once didst die to save us, Because Thou fain wouldst have us After this life of sadness The heirs of heavenly gladness.