The introduction to the work is a quiet, tender movement in sonata form, written for two flutes, two viol-da-gambas and figured bass, which gives out some of the themes in the middle of the cantata. The opening chorus ("God's own Time is the best, ever best of all. In Him we live, move, and have our Being, as long as He wills. And in Him we die at His good Time") is very descriptive in character, opening with a slow and solemn movement, then passing to a quick fugue, and closing with phrases of mournful beauty to suit the last sentence of the text. A tenor solo follows, set to the words, "O Lord, incline us to consider that our Days are numbered; make us apply our Hearts unto Wisdom," and accompanied by the flutes, leading into a mournful aria for the bass, which forms the second part of the tenor solo ("Set in order thine House, for thou shalt die and not live"). The choir resumes with a new theme ("It is the old Decree, Man, thou art mortal"), in which the lower voices carry a double fugue, the soprano sings alone ("Yea, come, Lord Jesus"), and the instruments have the melody of the old hymn:-- "I have cast all my care on God, E'en let Him do what seems Him good; Whether I die, or whether live, No more I'll strive. But all my will to Him will give." Of this effective movement and its successor Spitta says:-- "The design is clear. The curse of death has been changed into blessing by the coming of Christ, and that which mankind dreaded before, they now stretch out entreating hands to; the bliss of the new condition of things shines out in supernatural glory against the dark background of a dispensation that has been done away. This is the idea of the concerted vocal parts; and the fact that thousands upon thousands have agreed in the joy of this faith is shown by the chorale tune now introduced; for to the understanding listener its worldless sounds convey the whole import of the hymn which speaks so sweetly of comfort in the hour of death, sounds which must recall to every pious heart all the feelings they had stirred when, among the chances and changes of life, this hymn had been heard,--feelings of sympathy with another's grief or of balm to the heart's own anxiety." The alto voice follows with the words spoken on the cross ("Into Thy Hands my Spirit I commend"), to which the bass replies in an arioso ("Thou shalt be with Me to-day in Paradise"). The next number is a chorale ("In Joy and Peace I pass away whenever God willeth") sung by the alto, the bass continuing its solo at the same time through a portion of the chorale. The final chorus is the so-called fifth Gloria:-- "All glory, praise, and majesty To Father, Son, and Spirit be, The holy, blessed Trinity; Whose power to us Gives victory Through Jesus Christ. Amen."