What grace is yours, beloved church!
What favor you are given!
If any suffers, let him search
With prayer the help of heaven.
If any overflows with joy,
Let him exultant songs employ;
Let him who sins be shriven.
For God will not reject the prayers
Of those whose faith is fervent;
Nor of their soul's devoted airs
Will He be unobservant.
Those who confess their sins are healed;
All kinds of blessings come unsealed
To those with God conversant.
If any from the truth should stray,
Do you with love retrieve him.
Show him the error of his way
Before its sequels grieve him:
Thus you a soul from death may win;
Thus you may cover many a sin,
And into life receive him.
More grace than even this is yours,
O holy congregation!
Anointing with the spirit pours
Through pastor's blessed station:
By Christ's decree he wields the keys
That sick hearts may be set at ease.
Thank God for such vocation!
Can prophecy indeed be dead
When Christ through men are speaking?
For manna we have Christ instead,
Himself the bread we're breaking.
On His sufficiency we dine;
We drink His pardon under wine,
Where we His blood are taking.
What grace, beloved, is required
But that your Savior gives you?
By men He calls (not merely hired)
The Lord Himself forgives you.
You have through prayer the ear of God,
Till you the Jordan pass dryshod
And yonder He revives you.
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