Make Her[9] Thy care especially, Whom Thou as monarch hast rais'd high This land and nation over; With rest and peace The land, Lord! bless, The throne with blessings cover. Preserve, Lord! our dear native land In Thine embrace and mighty hand; Protect us all together From error's voice, From enemies, From fire and plague deliver. All whom I love, keep every day, Let all the hosts of hell away From young and old be driven! Here, may we be In time by Thee Preserv'd, and there in heaven! ---------- [9]For obvious reasons the original has been slightly altered. The German is, Insonderheit nimm wohl in acht Den Fürsten, &c. FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST. O Jesus Christ! my fairest Light, Who in Thy soul dost love me, I ne'er can tell it, nor its height Mete, 'tis so high above me, Grant that my heart may warm to Thee, With ardent love ne'er ceasing, Thee embracing, And as Thy property, Cleave to Thee, ever gazing. Grant that an idol in me may Dwell e'en a moment never, Grant me to make Thy love, I pray, My crown and prize for ever! Cast all things out, take all away, That Thee and me would sever, So that ever By Thy love, my pow'rs may Be kindled, and cool never! How friendly, blessèd, sweet, and fair Is Thy love, Jesus ever! While this remains, distress and care Can grieve my spirit never. Then let me only think of Thee, Be seeing, hearing, feeling, Loving, telling Of Thee, and Thy great love to me Oh! be Thou more revealing! Oh! that this greatest, highest good, I might for aye be tasting! Oh! that in me this noble blood Might glow to everlasting! Help me to watch, Lord! day and night, This blessèd treasure shielding From unyielding Foes, who 'gainst us the might Of Satan's realm are wielding! My Saviour! Thou in love to me Hast down to death descended, And like a murd'rer on the tree And thief hast been suspended, Spit on, despis'd and wounded sore, The wounds which Thee have riven, May it even To me at the heart's core With love to feel be given. The blood that hath been shed by Thee Is good and precious ever, My heart is wicked desp'rately, Hard as a millstone nether. Ah! let the virtue of Thy blood My flinty heart be bending, Entrance finding; And may Thy love, life's flood Through all my veins be sending.