Christ My Song - 1493
What affects my heart? - Before the Holy Communion
(Carl Johann Philipp Spitta/Richard Massie/
Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
Before the Holy Communion.
1. What affects my heart?
is it joy or smart?
that I come a trembling guest
to this high and holy feast,
musing on thy death,
sad, yet full of faith? PDF - Midi
2. When I look within,
I see so much sin,
such a host of past offences,
weaknesses and negligences,
that the keenest smart
cuts me to the heart.
3. If the sinless here
only can appear,
robed in spotless innocence,
I must weep and flee from hence,
and for ever stay
from this feast away.
4. But I look to thee,
and it comforts me,
that the sinner yet thou lovest,
and his guilt and sin removest,
rich in love and grace
unto all our race.
5. Yes, with grace divine
doth this banquet shine;
to assure me of thy pardon,
and remove my heavy burden,
giv'st thou – precious good!
thine own flesh and blood.
6. This thou dost for me,
and I think of thee
with the sorrow of repentance;
yet rejoicing that the sentence,
which was due to me,
has been borne by thee.
7. Yes; this day my heart
fill with joy and smart:
for my sin let me feel sadness,
for thy grace and mercy, gladness; –
both become the guest
at this holy feast.
Richard Massie, Lyra Domestica II, 1864, 60-61.
3,4 there too short: "weep and" added.
Translated from the German Was bewegt mein Herz - Vor dem heiligen Abendmahle of Carl Johann Philipp Spitta.