Dr. Martin Luther's Deutsche Geistliche Lieder. Martin Luther

MELODY, Wittenberg, 1535. Harmony by M. PRAETORIUS, 1610.

      1. Dear Christians, one and all rejoice,

      With exultation springing,

      And with united heart and voice

      And holy rapture singing,

      Proclaim the wonders God hath done,

      How his right arm the victory won;

      Right dearly it hath cost him.

      2. Fast bound in Satan's chains I lay,

      Death brooded darkly o'er me;

      Sin was my torment night and day,

      Therein my mother bore me.

      Deeper and deeper still I fell,

      Life was become a living hell,

      So firmly sin possessed me.

      3. My good works could avail me naught,

      For they with sin were stained;

      Free-will against God's judgment fought,

      And dead to good remained.

      Grief drove me to despair, and I

      Had nothing left me but to die,

      To hell I fast was sinking.

      4. God saw, in his eternal grace,

      My sorrow out of measure;

      He thought upon his tenderness-

      To save was his good pleasure.

      He turn'd to me a Father's heart-

      Not small the cost – to heal my smart

      He have his best and dearest.

      5. He spake to his beloved Son:

      'Tis time to take compassion;

      Then go, bright jewel of my crown,

      And bring to man salvation;

      From sin and sorrow set him free,

      Slay bitter death for him, that he