Scripture Verse

Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28

Introduction

Words: Fried­rich C. Hey­der, 1710, cen­to (Ich komm’ zu dein­em Ab­end­mah­le). Com­po­site trans­la­tion.

Music: Ich sterbe täg­lich Ems­kirch­ner Cho­ral­buch, mu­ni­ci­pal lib­ra­ry, Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny, 1756 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

I come, O Sav­ior, to Thy table,
For weak and weary is my soul;
Thou, Bread of Life, alone art able
To satisfy and make me whole:

Refrain

Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good!

Oh, grant that I in manner worthy
May now approach Thy heav’nly board
And, as I lowly bow before Thee,
Look only unto Thee, O Lord!

Refrain

Unworthy though I am, O Sav­ior,
Because I have a sinful heart,
Yet Thou Thy lamb wilt banish ne­ver,
For Thou my faithful Shepherd art:

Refrain

Oh, let me loathe all sin for­ev­er
As death and poison to my soul
That I through willful sinning ne­ver
May see Thy judg­ment take its toll!

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Thy heart is filled with fervent yearning
That sinners may sal­va­tion see
Who, Lord, to Thee in faith are turning;
So I, a sinner, come to Thee.

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Weary am I and heavy laden,
With sin my soul is sore opprest;
Receive me graciously and gladden
My heart, for I am now Thy guest.

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Thou here wilt find a heart most lowly
That humbly falls before Thy feet,
That duly weeps o’er sin, yet solely
Thy merit pleads, as it is meet.

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By faith I call Thy holy table
The testament of Thy deep love;
For, lo, thereby I now am able
To see how love Thy heart doth move.

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What higher gift can we inherit?
It is faith’s bond and solid base;
It is the strength of heart and spirit,
The covenant of hope and grace.

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This feast is manna, wealth abounding
Unto the poor, to weak ones power,
To angels joy, to hell confounding,
And life for me in death’s dark hour.

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Thy body, giv’n for me, O Sav­ior,
Thy blood which Thou for me didst shed,
These are my life and strength for­ev­er,
By them my hungry soul is fed.

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With Thee, Lord, I am now united;
I live in Thee and Thou in me.
No sorrow fills my soul, delighted
It finds its only joy in Thee.

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Who can condemn me now? For surely
The Lord is nigh, who justifies.
No hell I fear, and thus securely
With Je­sus I to Hea­ven rise.

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Though death may threaten with disaster,
It cannot rob me of my cheer;
For He who is of death the Mas­ter,
With aid and comfort e’er is near.

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My heart has now become Thy dwelling,
O blessèd, holy Trinity.
With angels I, Thy praises telling,
Shall live in joy eternally.

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