Help me in this high endeavor, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Bind my heart to Thee for ever, Till I join the heavenly host. Living, dying, Let me make in Thee my boast. Johann Jacob Rambach, 1734. Tr. Chas. William Schaeffer, 1860. Wir danken dir, o Jesu Christ. We thank Thee, Jesus Christ, our Lord, For all the help Thou dost afford. Thou art the Lamb for sinners slain, And this is our eternal gain. Thy holy supper doth prepare For us a precious fountain where Salvation flows for ev'ry soul, To make the wounded spirit whole. This covenant Thou, Lord, didst make: "Receive my body and partake Of mine own blood which flowed for thee, That thou a ransomed soul mightst be." I eat Thy body, which for me Was made to die upon the tree, I drink Thy blood and thus receive Life for my soul, as I believe. And though I die, yet shall I live; Thy body and Thy blood will give To me eternal life above, The fruit of Thy redeeming love. Let me be numbered with the blest, Who on Thy loving bosom rest, Thy worthy guest, to sup with Thee And praise Thy name eternally. Nicolaus Selnecker, 1572. Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918. Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir. Out of the depths I cry to Thee, Lord, hear me, I implore Thee! Bend down Thy gracious ear to me, Let my prayer come before Thee! If Thou remember each misdeed, If each should have its rightful meed, Who may abide Thy presence. Our pardon is Thy gift; Thy love And grace alone avail us. Our works could ne'er our guilt remove, The strictest life must fail us. That none may boast himself of aught, But own in fear Thy grace hath wrought What in him seemeth righteous. And thus my hope is in the Lord, And not in mine own merit; I rest upon His faithful word To them of contrite spirit. That He is merciful and just,-- Here is my comfort and my trust, His help I wait with patience. And though it tarry till the night, And round till morning waken, My heart shall ne'er mistrust Thy might, Nor count itself forsaken. Do thus, O ye of Israel's seed, Ye of the Spirit born indeed, Wait for your God's appearing. Though great our sins and sore our woes, His grace much more aboundeth; His helping love no limit knows, Our utmost need it soundeth. Our kind and faithful Shepherd, He, Who shall at last set Israel free From all their sin and sorrow. Martin Luther, 1524. Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1862.