192. Wake, Witness-Spirit! O Inspire

1. Wake, witness-spirit! O inspire thou
Our hearts, thou burning ardor of first love;
That on each one the tongues of fire, now
Descending, may flame up to heaven above,
That by their glowing warmth the may anon
Fuse all the true believers into one!

2. Is then love’s flame no longer glowing?
Nay, love shall in us too be kept alive
And strong, the seed of God’s own sowing,
That fruits shall bear that will abide and thrive;
Love brings to us the heav’nly air so pure,
Gives us in good things joy, makes vict’ry sure.

3. Good Shepherd, Thou wouldst have us ever
Be busy at Thy work with earnest zeal;
May love in us diminish never,
But us in Thy disciples’ union seal!
May love give courage, lest we be afraid,
And teach dependence only on Thine aid!

4. Thy Cross, O may it ever teach us
Our hearts to hallow as Thy temple here,
That endless fire may never reach us
And strike the soul with suffering severe.
Let loud and strong Thy Shepherd’s call then ring,
Within our hearts forever echoing.

5. The heav’nly gates are open for us,
Secure within Thy covenant are we;
With holiness Thou wilt adore us,
If we here honor Thee and trust in Thee;
And though this earth and heaven pass away,
We in Thy covenant of peace shall stay.

6. For life or death, - the call has sounded; -
The coward is afraid, despairs, and fails;
He who is by Christ’s pow’r surrounded,
As by a buckler, he, yes he, prevails.
Then up, ye brethren! Forward joyfully, -
For ours shall be the crown of victory!