Found in both the Supplement to German Psalmody, 1765, p. 4, and Select Hymns from German Psalmody, Tranquebar, 1754, p. 7.
- Now let each humble creature
Adore the God of nature,
For his kind preservation
And daily new creation. - We stretch our life and wander
From year to year, and yonder
We live, keep on improving,
Till date and year’s removing. - Thro’ pains, thro’ wants and errors,
Thro’ dismal wars and terrors,
Thro’ crosses, strifes and hurry,
That seem the world to worry. - As in tempestuous weathers
The kind and carefull mothers,
With nature’s swift affection
Run to their babes protection. - No less our heav’nly lover
Is present with his cover,
When stormy winds are blowing,
To save his children going. - Great guardian of our being,
In vain is our foreseeing,
With all our best care-taking,
Except thine eyes be waking. - Blest be thy gracious favour,
Each morn renews its favour;
Blest be the hands asswaging
All heart-akes ne’er so raging. - Hear, father, our petition,
Relieve our weak condition
Be still the source of gladness
In all our grief and sadness. - Grant all thy true sojourners
And heavy laden mourners,
That own thy visitations,
An heart endo’d with patience. - Remove our sad disorders,
And make in all our borders
Thy peace and truth together
To meet and kiss each other. - Lord grant thy benedictions
To all good thoughts and actions,
To youth, and age declining,
Thy gracious sun be shining. - Be thou the orphan’s father;
The straying draw together;
Relieve the poor and scanty,
To all in want give plenty. - Heal all, the sick and wounded;
The souls that are surrounded
With fearful thoughts and terrors,
Lord, rescue from their errors. - But chiefly grant thy Spirit,
Thro’ Christ’s all saving merit,
To fill us with such graces
As lead to thine embraces. - All this, we pray, be giving,
O life of all that’s living!
To us and all that favor
Thy New Year’s gift and favor.