CROSS AND COMFORT 528 If God Himself Be for Me Rom. 8: 31–39 7. 6. 7. 6. D. Ist Gott für mich, so trete Paul Gerhardt Tr., based on Richard Massie, 1857 Valet will ich dir geben Melckior Teschner, 1613 my sus I a a His my de Light, and make host My That Of I Sun, Je this may fy; lone; blood boast, God Je build I sus on be Him This 1 If 2 4 My 3 I Splen da rath for dor, tion, er, me, is this lieve, self my foun yea, be full nal me ed, foes, awe throne, good. most, fly. fore true, Friend loves found ter God’s e who con For That A Were not are is I be my my my pray, He lone God when er tion, ther, me sal Be The The My fend va Fa fore De dear ior me in less is from ue cy And Is My Be mer val Sav friend His on at a sight, earth; hand bove, nev out that, Christ, what er Him my I With And If pleas fa tide Mas vor es me, ter, find that be and should Head e’er all the are to His by light. worth. land. love? dark lone bring drive love safe from ness my me me The A men. stroyed owe seas what de I y or But Through be gifts storm foe What me ter sus As A And Can er ev Je guide as for to to dis 5 He canceled my offenses, Delivered me from death; He is the Lord who cleanses My soul from sin through faith. In Him I can be cheerful, Bold, and undaunted aye; In Him I am not fearful Of God’s great Judgment Day. 6 Naught, naught, can now condemn me Nor set my hope aside; Now hell no more can claim me, Its fury I deride. No sentence e’er reproves me, No ill destroys my peace; For Christ, my Savior, loves me And shields me with His grace. 7 His Spirit in me dwelleth, And o’er my mind He reigns. All sorrow He dispelleth And soothes away all pains. He crowns His work with blessing And helpeth me to cry, “My Father!” without ceasing, To Him who dwells on high. 8 And when my soul is lying Weak, trembling, and opprest, He pleads with groans and sighing That cannot be exprest; But God’s quick eye discerns them, Although they give no sound, And into language turns them E’en in the heart’s deep ground. 9 To mine His Spirit speaketh Sweet word of holy cheer, How God to him that seeketh For rest is always near And how He hath erected A city fair and new, Where what our faith expected We evermore shall view. 10 In yonder home doth flourish My heritage, my lot; Though here I die and perish, My heav’n shall fail me not. Though care my life oft saddens And causeth tears to flow, The light of Jesus gladdens And sweetens ev’ry woe. 11 Who clings with resolution To Him whom Satan hates Must look for persecution; For him the burden waits Of mockery, shame, and losses, Heaped on his blameless head; A thousand plagues and crosses Will be his daily bread. 12 From me this is not hidden, Yet I am not afraid; I leave my cares, as bidden, To whom my vows were paid. Though life and limb it cost me And ev’rything I won, Unshaken shall I trust Thee And cleave to Thee alone. 13 Though earth be rent asunder, Thou’rt mine eternally; Not fire nor sword nor thunder Shall sever me from Thee; Not hunger, thirst, nor danger, Not pain nor poverty Nor mighty princes’ anger Shall ever hinder me. 14 No angel and no gladness, No throne, no pomp, no show, No love, no hate, no sadness, No pain, no depth of woe, No scheme of man’s contrivance, However small or great, Shall draw me from Thy guidance Nor from Thee separate. 15 My heart for joy is springing And can no more be sad, ’Tis full of mirth and singing, Sees naught but sunshine glad. The Sun that cheers my spirit Is Jesus Christ, my King; That which I shall inherit Makes me rejoice and sing.