Scripture Verse

Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14

Introduction

portrait
Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676)

Words: Paul Ger­hardt, 1656 (Ist Gott für mich, so trete). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­the­rine Wink­worth, 1855.

Music: Green­wood (Sweet­ser) Jo­seph E. Sweet­ser, A Col­lect­ion of Church Mu­sic (New York: John Wi­ley, 1849), num­ber 161 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)

Lyrics

Since Je­sus is my friend,
And I to Him be­long,
It mat­ters not what foes in­tend,
However fierce and strong.

He whis­pers in my breast
Sweet words of ho­ly cheer;
How they who seek in God their rest
Shall ev­er find Him near.

My heart for glad­ness springs;
It can­not more be sad;
For ve­ry joy it laughs and sings,
Sees naught but sun­shine glad.

The Sun that lights mine eyes
Is Christ, the Lord I love;
I sing for joy of that which lies
Stored up for me above.