From the Epistle. [Eph.4:1-3]

6,6,8,6

Kommt Brüder lasst uns gehen

[114]Gerhard Tersteegen.1731.

trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855

Come, brethren, let us go!

The evening closeth round,

'Tis perilous to linger here

On this wild desert ground.

Come, towards eternity

Press on from strength to strength,

Nor dread your journey's toils nor length,

For good its end shall be.

We shall not rue our choice,

Though straight our path and steep,

We know that He who called us here

His word shall ever keep.

Then follow, trusting; come,

And let each set his face

Toward yonder fair and blessed place,

Intent to reach our home.

The body and the house

Deck not, but deck the heart

With all your powers; we are but guests,

Ere long we must depart.

Ease brings disease; content

Howe'er his lot may fall,

A pilgrim bears and bows to all,

For soon the time is spent.

Come, children, let us go!

Our Father is our guide;

And when the way grows steep and dark,

He journeys at our side.

Our spirits He would cheer,

The sunshine of His love

Revives and helps us as we rove,

Ah, blest our lot e'en here!

Each hasten bravely on,

Not yet our goal is near;

Look to the fiery pillar oft,

That tells the Lord is here.

Your glances onward send,

Love beckons us, nor think

That they who following chance to sink

Shall miss their journey's end.

Come, children, let us go!

We travel hand in hand;

Each in his brother finds his joy

In this wild stranger land.

As children let us be,

Nor by the way fall out,

The angels guard us round about,

And help us brotherly.

The strong be quick to raise

The weaker when they fall;

Let love and peace and patience bloom

In ready help for all.

In love yet closer bound,

Each would be least, yet still

On love's fair path most pure from ill,

Most loving, would be found.

Come, wander on with joy,

For shorter grows the way,

The hour that frees us from the flesh

Draws nearer day by day.

A little truth and love,

A little courage yet,

More free from earth, more apt to set

Your hopes on things above.

It will not last for long,

A little farther roam;

It will not last much longer now

Ere we shall reach our home;

There shall we ever rest,

There with our Father dwell,

With all the saints who served Him well,

There truly, deeply blest.

For this all things we dare, --

'Tis worth the risk I trow, --

Renouncing all that clogs our course,

Or weighs us down below.

O world, thou art too small,

We seek another higher,

Whither Christ guides us ever nigher,

Where God is all in all.

Friend of our perfect choice,

Thou joy of all that live,

Being that know'st not chance or change,

What courage dost Thou give!

All beauty, Lord, we see,

All bliss and life and love,

In Him in whom we love and move,

And we are glad in Thee!