John Wesley
(1703-1791)
a translation of the hymn
Stilles Lamm und Friedefürst
by Christian Friedrich Richter
(1676-1711)
Thou Lamb of God, Thou Prince of peace,
For Thee my thirsty soul doth pine,
My longing heart implores Thy grace;
O make me in Thy likeness shine!
With fraudless, even, humble mind,
Thy will in all things may I see;
In love be every wish resigned,
And hallowed my whole heart to Thee.
When pain o’er my weak flesh prevails,
With lamb-like patience arm my breast;
When grief my wounded soul assails,
In lowly meekness may I rest.1
Close by Thy side still may I keep,
Howe’er life’s various current flow,
With steadfast eye mark every step,
And follow Thee where’er Thou go.
Thou, Lord, the dreadful fight hast won,
Alone Thou hast the winepress trod;
In me Thy strengthening grace be shown,
O may I conquer through Thy blood!
So when on Zion Thou shalt stand,
And all heaven’s host adore their King,
Shall I be found at Thy right hand,
And free from pain Thy glories sing.
- In his report on Jane Cooper’s life, John Wesley relates how the first two lines of the third verse became a watchword during her suffering. See A Plain Account of Christian Perfection: Part 3. ↩
