10 Be near me when I am dying, Oh! show thy cross to me; And for my succor flying, Come, Lord, and set me free! These eyes new faith receiving. From Jesus shall not move, For he who dies believing, Dies safely through thy love. “Wie soll ich Dich epfangen.” An Advent Hymn by Paul Gerhardt. 1 Lord, how shall I be meeting, And how shall I embrace Thee, earth’s desire, when greeting My soul’s adorning grace! O Jesus, Jesus holding Thyself the flame in sight, Show how, thy beam beholding, I may, my Lord, delight. 2 Fresh palms thy Zion streweth, And branches ever green, And psalms my voice reneweth, To raise my joy serene. Such budding tribute paying, My heart shall hymn thy praise, Thy holy name obeying With chiefest of my lays. 3 What hast thou left ungranted, To give me glad relief? When soul and body panted In utmost depth of grief, In hour of degradation, Thy peace and pity smiled, Then thou, my soul’s salvation, Didst happy make thy child. 4 I lay in slavish mourning, Thou cam’st to set me free; I sank in shame and scorning, Thou cam’st to comfort me. Thou raised’st me to glory, Bestowing highest good, Not frail and transitory, Like wealth on earth pursued. 5 Naught, naught did send thee speeding From mansions of the skies, But love all love exceeding, Love able to comprise A world in pangs despairing, Weighed down with thousand woes That tongue would fail declaring, But love doth last inclose. 6 Grave on your heart this writing, O band of mourners poor! With pains and sorrows fighting, That throng you more and more; Dismiss the fear that sickens, For lo! beside you see Him who your heart now quickens And comforts; here is he. 7 Why should you be detained In trouble day and night, As though he must be gained By arm of human might? He comes, he comes all willing, All full of grace and love. Those woes and troubles stilling, Well known to him above. 8 Nor need ye tremble over The guilt that gives distress. No! Jesus all will cover With grace and righteousness: He comes, he comes, procuring The peace of sin forgiven, To all God’s sons securing Their part and lot in heaven. 9 Why heed ye then the crying Of crafty foemen nigh? Your Lord shall send them flying In twinkling of an eye. He comes, he comes, forever A King, and earth’s fell band Shall prove in the endeavor Too feeble to withstand. 10 He comes to judge the nations, “Wroth if they wrathful prove, With sweet illuminations To those who seek and love. Come, come, O Sun eternal, And all our souls convey To endless bliss supernal, In yonder court of day. “Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud.” A Summer Hymn by Paul Gerhardt.