Christ My Song - 1491
Let me build on this secure foundation - Strong in faith,
rich in love (Carl Johann Philipp Spitta/Richard Massie/
Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
Strong in faith, rich in love.
1. Let me build on this secure foundation,
Lord, my rock, my safety, and my shield,
which thy holy word for my salvation
hath in this accepted time revealed:
Jesus Christ his glory hath forsaken,
and our flesh and human nature taken,
to redeem us by his death from death;
he hath died, that we might be forgiven,
he hath died, that we may live in heaven,
there by sight, and here meantime by faith. PDF - Midi
2. Plant in me a faith secure and stable
in the work which thou, O God, hast planned,
that no sneers nor my own doubts be able
to destroy the faith wherein I stand.
Give me Peter's sorrow and contrition,
let me witness also his confession,
"Thou art Christ, to whom then shall I go?"
Like St. Paul's, let this be my endeavour,
that the life I live I may live ever
through the faith of him who loved me so.
3. Kindle by the Spirit's inspiration
that undying love within my heart,
which, though crowned herself with thy salvation,
yet prefers a servant's humble part,
lowly, meek, and gentle in behaviour,
rich in faith, rejoicing in her Saviour,
calm and patient under every ill;
suffers, hopes, believes all things, and blesses
God alike in joy and in distresses,
ready both to bear and do his will.
4. And so let me, loving and confiding,
walk conducted by thy faithful hand,
or beneath thy sheltering wings abiding
shun the foes which I can not withstand;
nor, when conquering, let me boast, but rather,
clinging like a child unto its father,
smile securely in thy firm embrace;
let me on thy faithful word relying
clasp thee with the arms of faith, till dying
I at length behold thee face to face.
Richard Massie, Lyra Domestica I, 1863, 79-80.
Translated from the German Lass mich fest stehn auf dem einen Grunde - Fest im Glauben, reich an Liebe of Carl Johann Philipp Spitta.