Scripture Verse

Lord, Increase our faith. Luke 17:5

Introduction

portrait
Ludwig Helmbold (1532–1598)

Words: Lud­wig Helm­bold, 1594 (Herr Gott, er­halt uns für und für). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Mat­thi­as Loy, 1880, alt.

Music: Herr Je­su Christ, mein’s As Hym­no­dus Sa­cer (Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny: 1625) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pic­ture of Helm­bold,

portrait
Matthias Loy (1828–1915)

Lyrics

Lord, help us ever to retain
The catechism’s doctrine plain
As Luther taught the word of truth
In simple style to tender youth.

Help us Thy holy law to learn,
To mourn our sin, and from it turn
In faith to Thee and to Thy Son
And Ho­ly Spi­rit, Three in One.

Hear us, dear Fa­ther, when we pray
For needed help from day to day
That as Thy children we may live,
Whom Thou in baptism did receive.

Lord, when we fall and sin doth stain,
Absolve and lift us up again;
And thro’ the sacrament increase
Our faith till we depart in peace.