A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

1. A might-y fort-ress is our God, A rock that nev-er fail

Our help-er mid the rag- ing flood Where wrong so oft prevail

If now our an-cient foe Should seek to work our woe; His powr would sure-ly fail,

Nor would his craft avail, For earth hath found his е

4. Thy law above all earthly powers

In firm control abideth;

The future and its joy are ours,
Thro' Him who with us sideth.
In mercy, now bestow

Eternal life also;

Let truth restrain our will,

Protecting us until

As guests we round Thee gather.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

1. A mighty fortress is our God,

I.

2.

3.

4.

A bulwark never failing,
Our Helper He, amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and pow'r are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing ;
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;

Lord Sabaoth is His name,

From age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us;

We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim,—
We tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure,

One little word shall fell him!

For lo! his doom is sure,

That word above all earthly powers-
No thanks to them-abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go,

This mortal life also;

The body they may kill;

God's truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.

MARTIN LUTHER, 1527. Tr. F. W. HEDGE, 1873.

Where an-cient creed and doctrine, Re-morse-less, rule the land;

From A-fric's flood - ed riv

er, From As-ia's bound-less plain,

まま

They call us to deliver, Christ's heal-ing love ex- - plain.

A-men.

2. What though the spicy breezes

Blow softly o'er the seas,
What though each prospect pleases
While men enjoy their ease?
In vain this lavish kindness
By Nature freely strown,
If heathen in their blindness

Bow down to wood and stone.

3. Can we whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Deny to those benighted
The Christ we glorify?
No, earth's new-found salvation
With joyful voice proclaim,
Till every distant nation

Has heard the Savior's name.

4. Waft, waft, ye winds, be sender
Of words that Christ extoll
Ye waters, roll His splendor

From north to southern pole.
Yes, spread the wondrous story
O'er mountain, sea and plain,
Till He in all his glory

Return on earth to reign.

Lead, Kindly Light

4 LUX BENIGNA

JOHN B. DYKES, 1861