346

SACRED CANTATA.-"A STRONGHOLD SURE."

No. I

A stronghold sure our GOD remains,
A shield and hope unfailing;

In need His help our freedom gains,
O'er all we fear prevailing.

Our old malignant foe would fain work us woe;
With craft and great might he doth against us fight;
On earth is not one like him.

No. 2

Our utmost might is all in vain,
We straight had been rejected,
But for us fights the Perfect Man,
By GOD Himself elected.
Ask then, "Who is He?"
He must JESUS be,

The GOD by hosts ador'd,

Our great Incarnate LORD,
Who all His foes shall conquer.

(Sung at the same time as the above.)

All men born of GOD our Father,
At the last will JESUS gather.
He that JESUS' soldier is,

Serving Him and not another,

Still from strength to strength shall rise.

No. 3

Consider, then, child of GOD, all the wondrous love that JESUS in His precious death vouchsafes to shew thee, whereby to fight and conquer Satan's host, this evil world, and every sin. He calls on thee. Then give no place within thee to Satan, nor to aught of his. Nor let thine heart, where God Himself would make His dwelling, lie waste and empty. Repent thee of thy guilt with tears, that CHRIST Himself with thee be close united.

No. 4

Within my heart of hearts, LORD JESUS, make Thy dwelling, The love of sin drive out, within me now Thyself in light revealing.

Away, base fear and doubt, away!

No. 5

If all the world with fiends were fill'd,
A host that would devour us,
To fear our hearts need never yield,
For they could not o'erpower us.
The prince of this world

From his throne is hurl'd;
Why should we then fear,
Though grim he may appear?
A single word confounds him.

No. 6

Then close beside thy Saviour's blood-besprinkled banner, my soul, remain, and trust thou that thy Leader will not fail, but make His triumph thine, and open thee a way to glory. With joy, then, march to war! If thou the word of GOD wilt hear and truly follow, thou shalt the foe repel, and overthrow him. Thy Saviour is thy Hope, thy Saviour is thy Strength.

No. 7

How blessed, then, are they who still on GOD are calling; More blessed is the heart that Him doth make its own; Unconquered it remains, with foes before it falling,

And shall at last be crown'd, when Death is overthrown.

No. 8

That word shall still in strength abide,

Yet they no thanks shall merit,

For He is ever at our side,

Both by His gifts and Spirit.
And should they take our life,
Wealth, name, child, and wife :
Though these were all gone,
Yet will they nought have won,
GOD'S Kingdom ours remaineth.

J. S. BACH.

347

SACRED CANTATA.-" BIDE WITH US."

No. I

Bide with us, for eve is drawing onward, and the day is now declining.

No. 2

Thou Whose praises never end,

Son of GOD, vouchsafe to hear us;
While before Thy Throne we bend,
Let Thy favour still be near us,
Grant, O grant us needful light,
Through the coming hours of night.
No. 3

O bide with us, Thou Saviour dear,
Forsake us not when eve is near;
Thy sacred Word, clear guiding light,
O grant it ne'er be quench'd in night.
In this our last and weakest hour,
Inspire us, LORD, with steadfast power,
That undefiled Thy faith we keep,

Until in death secure we sleep.
No. 4

Behold, around us, on every side, is darkness still increasing; and if we ask whence comes this darkness, hence it comes. 'Tis that, from the least to the greatest, scarce one in righteousness before his GOD is walking, and in the works the Saviour loves, abounding; and thus, instead of light there is but darkness.

No. 5

LORD, to us Thyself be shewing,

That no more we in ways of sin be going;

May the light of Thy Word on men be shining,
All to trust in Thee inclining.

No. 6

LORD JESUS CHRIST, Thy power display,
Thou, LORD, Whom other lords obey,
Thy servants with Thy grace defend,
That so their thanks may never end.

J. S. BACH.

REVELATION vii.

348

12. Blessing, glory, and wisdom, and thanks, power, and might, be unto the LORD our GOD for evermore. Amen. Hallelujah.

*PSALM cxlviii.

Him in the height.

1. O praise the LORD of heaven, praise

12. O praise the Name of the LORD, His Name is excellent, His praise above heaven and earth.

(Sung at the same time as the above.)

O Father, Thine be praise

From all in earth and heaven,

TO JESUS, Son of GOD,

Let endless praise be given.

Thy praise, O Holy Ghost,

Be sounded more and more ;
Th' Eternal Three in One
We worship and adore.*

PSALM lxvi. 1. O be joyful in GOD, all ye lands, make His praise to be glorious, sing praises unto the honour of His Name.

xcvi. 6. Glory and worship are before Him, power and honour are in His sanctuary.

What tongue can tell Thy greatness, LORD,
That art in all the world adored,

The world by Thee created?

Through all this temple praise abounds,
Unceasing praise to Thee resounds,
By every voice repeated.

Amen, Amen.

So is Holy, Holy, Holy, ever ringing
Where the angel choir are singing.

J. S. BACH.

-* Sometimes sung as a separate Anthem.

349

Christians, be joyful, and praise your Salvation,
Sing, for to-day your Redeemer is born;
Cease to be fearful, forget lamentation,

Haste with thanksgiving to greet this glad morn!
Come, let us worship, and fall down before Him,
Let us with praises united adore Him.

(From the "Christmas Oratorio," No. 1.) J. S. BACH.

350

ST. LUKE ii. 1. Now it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.

3. And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.

4. And there also went up Joseph from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (for he was of the house and family of David),

5. To enrol himself, with Mary his betrothed wife, being great with child.

6. And when they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.

See now the Bridegroom, full of grace,
The Hero of King David's race,

To save and heal the earth,

Doth stoop to mortal birth.

See now the Star of Jacob shining,
Its beams delight our eyes,
Up, Zion, and forget thy sad repining,
For high thy bliss doth rise.

Prepare thyself, Zion, with tender affection,

The purest, the fairest, this day to receive,

Thou must meet Him with a heart with love

o'erflowing,

Haste, then, with ardour the Bridegroom to welcome.