Scripture Verse

Power from on high. Luke 24:49

Introduction

portrait
Catherine Winkworth
1827–1878

Words: Pe­trus Her­bert, in the Bo­he­mi­an Breth­ren’s Kirch­en­ge­seng, 1566 (Der Glaub’ ist ein le­ben­d’ge Kraft). The Ger­man text comes from the larg­er hymn, O Chris­ten­mensch, merk wie sichs halt, start­ing at stan­za 3. Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­the­rine Wink­worth, Ly­ra Ger­man­i­ca, se­cond series, 1858.

Music: Con­fi­dence (Moore) Will­iam Moore (1811–1880) (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Faith is a living power from Heav­en
That grasps the promise God hath given,
A trust that cannot be o’erthrown,
Fixed heartily on Christ alone.

Faith finds in Christ whate’er we need
To save or strengthen us indeed,
Receives the grace He sends us down,
And makes us share His cross and crown.

Faith in the conscience worketh peace,
And bids the mourner’s weeping cease;
By faith the children’s place we claim,
And give all honor to one name.

Faith feels the Spirit’s kindling breath
In love and hope that conquer death;
Faith worketh hourly joy in God,
And trusts and blesses e’en the rod.

We thank Thee then, O God of Heav­en,
That Thou to us this faith hast given
In Jesus Christ Thy Son, who is
Our only fount and source of bliss.

And from His fullness grant each soul
The rightful faith’s true end and goal,
The blessedness no foes destroy,
Eternal love and light and joy.