Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

From NANAK AND THE SIKHS

E. INDIAN, C. 1469 A.D.

How shall I address Thee, O God? how shall I praise Thee? how shall I describe Thee? and how shall I know Thee? Saith Nanak, everybody speaketh of Thee, one wiser than the other.

Great is the Lord, great is His name; (it is only) what He doeth that cometh to pass.

Nanak, he who is spiritually proud shall not be honoured on his arrival in the next world.

Praisers praise God, but have not acquired a knowledge of Him, As rivers and streams fall into the sea, but know not (its extent).

Kings and emperors who possess oceans and mountains of property and wealth

Are not equal to the worm which forgetteth not God in its heart.

Make contentment thine earrings, modesty and self-respect thy wallet, meditation the ashes (to smear on thy body).

Make thy body, which is only a morsel for death, thy beggar's coat, and faith thy rule of life and thy staff.

Make association with all thine Ai Panth, and the conquest of thy heart the conquest of the world.

Hail! Hail to Him,

The primal, the pure, without beginning, the indestructible, the same in every age!

One Maya in union (with) God gave birth to three acceptable children.

1

One of them is the creator, the second the provider, the third performeth the function of destroyer.

As it pleaseth God, He directeth them by His orders.

He beholdeth them, but is not seen by them. This is very marvellous.

Hail! Hail to Him,

The primal, the pure, without beginning, the indestructible, the same in every age!

Make continence thy furnace, forbearance thy goldsmith,
Understanding thy anvil, divine knowledge thy tools,
The fear (of God) thy bellows, austerities thy fire,
Divine love thy crucible, and melt God's name therein.

In such a true mint the Word shall be coined.

This is the practice of those on whom God looketh with an eye of favor.

Nanak, the Kind One, by a glance maketh them happy.

The air is the Guru, water our father, and the great earth our mother;

Day and night are our two nurses, male and female, who set the whole world a-playing.

Merits and demerits shall be read out in the presence of the judge.

According to men's acts, some shall be near and others distant (from God).

Those who have pondered on the Name and departed after the completion of their toil,

Shall have their countenances made bright, O Nanak; how many shall be emancipated in company with them!

C. REFORMATION PERIOD

HYMN

MARTIN LUTHER, 1521

Translated by Frederick Hedge

A mighty fortress is our God
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 power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate
On earth has 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 it 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,
For lo! his doom is sure,

One little word shall fell him.
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.

HYMN

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER, 1550

My God, I love thee, not because
I hope for heaven thereby;
Nor because they who love thee not
Must burn eternally.

Thou, O my Jesus, thou didst me

Upon the cross embrace;

For me didst bear the nails and spear, And manifold disgrace;

And griefs and torments numberless;
And sweat of agony;

E'en death itself, and all for one
Who was thine enemy.

Then why, O blessed Jesu Christ!
Should I not love thee well;

Not for the sake of winning heaven,
Or of escaping hell:

Not with the hope of gaining aught;

Not seeking a reward;
But as thyself hast loved me,

Oh, ever-loving Lord!

E'en so I love thee, and will love

And in thy praise will sing;

Solely because thou art my God,
And my eternal King.

SALUTATION TO JESUS CHRIST

JOHN CALVIN, 1560

I greet thee, my Redeemer sure,

I trust in none but thee,

Thou who hast borne such toil and shame And suffering for me:

Our hearts from cares and cravings vain And foolish fears set free.

Thou art the King compassionate,
Thou reignest everywhere,
Almighty Lord, reign thou in us,
Rule all we have and are:
Enlighten us and raise to heaven,
Amid thy glories there.

Thou art the life by which we live;
Our stay and strength's in thee;
Uphold us so in face of death,

What time soe'er it be,

That we may meet it with strong heart, And may die peacefully.

The true and perfect gentleness
We find in thee alone;

Make us to know thy loveliness,

Teach us to love thee known; Grant us sweet fellowship with thee, And all who are thine own.

Our hope is in none else but thee;
Faith holds thy promise fast;
Be pleased, Lord, to strengthen us,
Whom Thou redeemed hast,
To bear all troubles patiently,
And overcome at last.

« AnteriorContinuar »