That they may be one, even as We are One.
John 17:22
Words: Nikolaus L. von Zinzendorf, Die Letzten Reden Unsers Herrn und Heylandes Jesu Christi vor Seinem Creutzes-Tode (Frankfurt & Leipzig, Germany: 1725). Translated from German to English as Flock of Jesus, Be United
(by John Miller & Frederick W. Foster, Moravian Hymn Book, 1789); and as Grant, Lord, That with Thy Direction (1808 Supplement to the Moravian Hymn Book). These translations were rewritten into their present form, and the first stanza added, in the 1886 edition of the Moravian Hymn Book.
Music: Cassell Christen-Schatz (Basel, Switzerland: 1745) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Miller or Foster (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Christian hearts, in love united,
Seek alone in Jesus rest;
Has He not your love excited?
Then let love inspire each breast;
Members on our head depending
Lights reflecting Him, our sun,
Brethren His commands attending,
We in Him, our Lord, are one.
Come, then, come, O flock of Jesus,
Covenant with Him anew;
Unto Him who conquered for us,
Pledge we love and service true;
And should our love’s union holy
Firmly linked no more remain,
Wait ye at His footstool lowly,
Till He draw it close again.
Grant, Lord, that with Thy direction,
Love each other,
we comply,
Aiming with unfeigned affection
Thy love to exemplify;
Let our mutual love be glowing,
Thus will all men plainly see,
That we, as on one stem growing,
Living branches are in Thee.
O that such may be our union,
As Thine with the Father is,
And not one of our communion
E’er forsake the path of bliss;
May our light ’fore men with brightness,
From Thy light reflected, shine;
Thus the world will bear us witness,
That we, Lord, are truly Thine.