Above:  Logo of the Moravian Church

Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Petrus Herbert (1530-1571) was a bishop of the Moravian Church and an editor of its seminal German-language hymnal, published in 1566.

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O, Exalt and Praise the Lord:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/o-exalt-and-praise-the-lord/

Now God Be With Us, For the Night is Closing:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/now-god-be-with-us-for-the-night-is-closing/

The Word of God, Which Ne’er Shall Cease:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/the-word-of-god-which-neer-shall-cease/

Faith is a Living Power from Heaven:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/faith-is-a-living-power-from-heaven/

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Above:  Icon of Christ Pantocrator

Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Original German Text (1566) by Petrus Herbert (1530-1571)

English Translation (1858) by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)

Hymn Source = Lyra Germanica:  The Christian Life (1858)

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Faith is a living power from heaven,

That grasps the promise God hath given,

A truth that cannot be o’erthrown,

Fix’d heartily on Christ alone.

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Faith finds in Christ whate’er we need

To save or strengthen us indeed,

Receives the grace He sends us down,

And makes us share His cross and crown.

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Faith in the conscience worketh peace,

And bids the mourner’s weeping cease;

By Faith the children’s place we claim,

And give all honour to One Name.

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Faith feels the Spirit’s kindling breath

In love and hope that conquer death;

Faith worketh hourly joy in God,

And trusts and believes e’en the rod.

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We thank Thee then, O God of heaven,

That Thou to us this faith hast given

In Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who is

Our only Fount and Source of bliss;

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And from His fullness grant each soul

The rightful faith’s true end and goal,

The blessedness no foes destroy,

Eternal love and light and joy.

Above:  Title Page of My Copy of the Douay-Rheims Version of the Bible

Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Original German Text (1566) by Petrus Herbert (1530-1571)

English Translation (1876) by Louis F. Kampmann (1817-1884)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (1969), Moravian Church in America

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The Word of God, which ne’er shall cease,

Proclaims free pardon, grace, and peace,

Salvation shows in Christ alone,

The perfect will of God makes known.

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This holy Word exposes sin,

Convinces us that we’re unclean,

Points out the wretched, ruined state

Of all mankind, both small and great.

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It then reveals God’s boundless grace,

Which justifies our sinful race,

And gives eternal life to all

Who will accept the gospel call.

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It gently heals the broken heart

And heavenly riches doth impart,

Unfolds redemption’s wondrous plan

Through Christ’s atoning death for man.

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O God, in Whom our trust we place,

We thank Thee for Thy word of grace;

Help us its precepts to obey

Till we shall live in endless day.

Above:  Dark Night

Image in the Public Domain

Original German Text (1566) by Petrus Herbert (1530-1571)

English Translation (1863) by Catherine Winkworth (1829-1878)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

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Now God be with us, for the night is closing,

The light and darkness are of His disposing;

And ‘neath His shadow here to rest we yield us,

For He will shield us.

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Let evil thoughts and spirits flee before us;

Till morning cometh, watch, O Master, o’er us;

In soul and body Thou from harm defend us,

Thine angels send us.

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Let holy thoughts be ours when sleep o’ertakes us;

Our earliest thoughts be Thine when morning wakes us;

All sick and mourners, we to Thee commend them,

Do Thou befriend them.

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We have no refuge, none on earth to aid us,

Save Thee, O Father, Who Thine own hast made us;

But Thy dear presence will not leave them lonely,

Who seek Thee only.

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Father, Thy Name be praised, Thy kingdom given,

Thy will be done on earth as ’tis in heaven;

Keep us in life, forgive our sins, deliver

Us now and ever.

Above:  Icon of Christ Enthroned in Heaven

Image in the Public Domain

Original German Text (1566) by Petrus Herbert (1530-1571)

English Translation (1789) by Frederick William Foster (1760-1835)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

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O, exalt and praise the Lord,

Laud His Name forevermore,

Gratefully with one accord,

With angels, Him adore;

Thank Him for the faithfulness

Wherewith He His witnesses,

Who in heaven are perfected,

Through great tribulation led.

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Since we likewise may attain

To this happiness through grace,

And, by following Jesus, gain

With the saints in heaven a place;

May we tread the narrow path,

Not unfruitful in the faith,

And unto the end endure,

Making our election sure.

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May we always have in view

The example of our Lord,

Faithfully His steps pursue,

Giving heed unto His word;

In our bodies, while we’ve breath,

May we bear about His death,

That His life may even here

In our mortal flesh appear.

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Let us call to mind, with joy,

Those who have before us gone,

Who obtained the victory

Through the blood of Christ alone;

That we all may zealously

Imitate their constancy,

Till we too the prize receive,

And with them in glory live.