Scripture Verse

The angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them. Isaiah 63:9

Introduction

Words: Na­tha­niel L. Froth­ing­ham, 1828. This hymn was writ­ten for the or­di­na­tion of Will­iam P. Lunt in New York Ci­ty, June 19, 1828.

Music: An­gel­us Ge­org Jo­seph, Heil­ige Seel­en­lust od­er Geist­liche Hir­ten-Lied­er (Bres­lau [now Wro­cław, Po­land]: 1657) (set to the words Du mein­er Seel­en güld­ne Ziehr) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Jo­seph (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Nathaniel L. Frothingham (1793–1870)

Lyrics

O God, whose pre­sence glows in all,
Within, around us, and above;
Thy Word we bless, Thy name we call,
Whose Word is truth, whose name is love.

That truth be with the heart be­lieved
Of all who seek this sac­red place!
With pow’r pro­claimed, in peace re­ceived,
Our spir­it’s light, Thy Spir­it’s grace.

That love its ho­ly in­flu­ence pour
To keep us meek, and make us free,
And throw its bind­ing bless­ing more
Round each with all, and all with Thee!

Direct and guard the youth­ful strength
Devoted to Thy Son this day;
And give Thy Word full course at length
O’er man’s de­feats and time’s de­cay.

O send its an­gel to our side!
Send in its calm up­on the breast!
For we would know no oth­er guide,
And we can need no oth­er rest.