4. Thou lay’st Him, Love, upon the cross, With nails and spear Him bruising; Thou slay’st Him as a lamb, His loss From soul and body oozing; From body ’tis the crimson flood Of precious sacrificial blood; From soul, the strength of anguish. My gain it is; sweet Lamb to Thee What can I give, whose love to me For me doth make Thee languish? 5. Lord, all my life I’ll cleave to Thee, Thy love fore’er beholding, Thee ever, as Thou ever me, With loving arms enfolding. Yea, Thou shalt be my Beacon-light To guide me safe through death’s dark night And cheer my heart in sorrow. Henceforth myself and all that’s mine To Thee, my Savior, I consign, From whom all things I borrow. 6. From morn till eve my theme shall be Thy mercy’s wondrous measure; To sacrifice myself to Thee, My foremost aim and pleasure. My stream of life shall flow for Thee, Its steadfast current ceaselessly In praise to Thee outpouring; And all that Thou hast done for me I’ll treasure in my memory, Thy gracious love adoring. 7. Enlarge, shrine of my heart, and swell, To thee shall now be given A treasure that doth far excel The worth of earth and heaven. Away with the Arabian gold, With treasures of an earthly mold! I’ve found a better jewel. My priceless treasure, Lord, my God, Is Thy most holy, precious blood, Which flowed from wounds so cruel. 8. This treasure ever I’ll employ, This every aid shall yield me; In sorrow it shall be my joy, In conflict it shall shield me; In joy, the music of my feast, And when all else has lost its zest, This manna still shall feed me; In thirst my drink; in want my food; My company in solitude, To comfort and to lead me. 9. Death’s poison cannot harm me now, Thy blood new life bestoweth; My Shadow from the heat art Thou, When noonday’s sunlight gloweth. When I’m by inward grief opprest, On Thee my weary soul shall rest, As sick men on their pillows. Thou art my Anchor, when by woe My bark is driven to and fro On trouble’s restless billows. 10. And when Thy glory I shall see And taste Thy kingdom’s pleasure, Thy blood my royal robe shall be And joy beyond all measure; It then shall be my glorious crown, Thus I’ll appear before the throne Of God and need not hide me; And shall, by Him to Thee betrothed, By Thee in bridal garments clothed, Stand as a bride beside Thee. Paul Gerhardt, 1653. 192 7, 6, 8 l