The tune is "Ach bleib bei uns"
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Paul preaching to the Jews in Damascus - 12th C. Mosaic |
1.
Lord God preserve your ministry
Against all sin and heresy,
Send down Your Spirit from above
To guard Your pastors with Your love.
2.
Of all the men who dare to teach,
How few there are who purely preach -
But see how poor and weak they are
Who wield Your Word and wage Your war!
3.
But You have promised them your grace
Who call on you in every place;
And You have called them here below
To heed Your call and plant and sow.
4.
Give them your law to plow the clay,
And break all self-deceit away,
Then let the broken hearts receive
The seed that makes the heart believe.
5.
And let Your pastors patient wait,
Nor think that You are coming late,
But water with Your Spirit's Word,
Until the ends of earth have heard.
6.
For in due season they shall reap,
If now they watch and do not sleep,
And keep your doctrine as their torch
To guard the treasures of your Church.
7.
For woe to him, when Christ shall come,
Who lets the thief break in our home
And rob the treasures of His Bride,
And cast His Word of truth aside!
8.
But blest is he who toils in tears
Until the Pastor reappears,
To gather to Himself His sheep
And dry the eyes of those who weep.
9.
"Well done, you good and faithful slave!
You ran the race your Savior gave;
A crown of righteousness is yours,
And open stand your mansion's doors.
10.
Then will the prophets sing with you,
Apostles with the martyrs too,
With all the saints and heavenly host,
"Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
