St. Barnabas' Day. We preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: who in time past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. We preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: who in time past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

From the Lesson. [Acts 14:15]

7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7

Sollt ich meinem Gott nicht singen

[130]Paul Gerhardt.1659.

trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855

Shall I not sing praise to Thee,

Shall I not give thanks, O Lord?

Since for us in all I see

How Thou keepest watch and ward;

How the truest tenderest love

Ever fills Thy heart, my God,

Helping, cheering, on their road,

All who in Thy service move.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

As the eagle o'er her nest

Spreads her sheltering wings abroad,

So from all that would molest,

Doth Thine arm defend me, Lord;

From my youth up e'en till now

Of the being Thou didst give,

And the earthly life I live,

Faithful Guardian still wert Thou.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

Nay, He kept not back His Son,

But hath given Him for our good,

And our safety He hath won

By the shedding of His blood.

O Thou fathomless abyss!

My weak powers but strive in vain,

Knowledge of Thy depths to gain,

Man knows not such love as this.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

And His Spirit, blessed Guide,

In His holy Word doth teach,

How on earth we may abide,

So that heaven at last we reach;

Every longing heart doth fill

With the pure light of faith,

That can break the bonds of death,

And control the powers of ill.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

Truly hath He cared indeed

For my soul's health, and no less

If my body suffer need,

Will He help in my distress.

When my strength and courage fail,

When my powers can do no more,

Doth my God such strength outpour,

That I rise up and prevail.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

All the hosts of heaven and earth,

Hath He placed at my command,

Nowhere is there lack or dearth,

But I find in sea and land

All things ordered for my wants,

Living things in fields and woods,

On the heights or in the floods,

And the earth brings forth her plants.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

When I sleep my Guardian wakes,

And revives my wearied mind;

Every morning on me breaks

With some mark of love most kind;

Had my God not stood my Friend,

Had His countenance not been

Here my guide, I had not seen

Many a trial reach its end.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

Often hath my crafty Foe

Threatened to bring down on me

Many a sore and heavy woe,

From which yet my life is free;

For the angel whom God sends,

Wards off every threatened hurt,

Every evil doth avert

That mine Enemy intends.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

As a father ne'er withdraws

From a child his all of love,

Though it often break his laws,

Though it careless, wilful, prove:

Even so my loving Lord

Doth my faults with pity see,

With His rod He chastens me,

Not avenging with His sword.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

When His strokes upon me light,

Bitterly I feel their smart,

Yet are they, if seen aright,

Tokens that my Father's heart

Yearns to bring me back again

Through these crosses to His fold,

From the world that fain would hold

Soul and body in its chain.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

All my life I still have found,

And I will forget it never,

Every sorrow hath its bound,

And no cross endures for ever.

After all the winter's snows

Comes sweet summer back again,

Patient souls ne'er wait in vain,

Joy is given for all their woes.

All things else have but their day,

God's love only lasts for aye.

Since then neither change nor end

In Thy love can e'er have place,

Father! I beseech Thee send

Unto me Thy loving grace.

Help Thy feeble child, and give

Strength to serve Thee day and night,

Loving Thee with all my might,

While on earth I yet must live;

So shall I when Time is o'er,

Praise and love Thee evermore.