A Baptism Hymn; written for my niece, Eve Idella Preus, after her baptism, Reminiscere 2018
For audio, listen to the tune on this page called König
1. O Christ, my God, receive my praises
For all Your mercies shown to me!
Hear now the heart that humbly raises
Thanksgiving for the good I see,
That You in water with Your Word
Have moved my heart to call You Lord.
2. When I was helpless in my nature,
Not fearing God or trusting Him,
You made of me a newborn creature
By cleansing me of all my sin,
And sent Your Spirit to my soul
To free me from the Foe’s control.
3. Now I am standing on the devil,
His head crushed down beneath my feet,
Since You, my Brother, battled evil,
And made that lying snake retreat,
When in Your weakness all God’s pow’r
Bore all my sin in darkest hour.
4. And I am buried with You, Savior,
Into Your death that conquered death,
And I will live with You forever
When ends this earthly life of faith;
Until that day I shall rejoice
When You draw near me with Your voice.
5. All that is in me of sin’s weakness
Was once imputed, Lord, to You,
When You in flesh embracing meekness
Did all my flesh could never do;
Now all You are clothes me in light,
And fits me for faith’s noble fight.
6. All that in this sad world has chained me
Is Yours to cast into the sea;
The pardon that Your blood has gained me
From Pharaoh’s bondage sets me free,
And his hard heart of unbelief
Is drowned to give my heart relief.
7. Now I will live each day renouncing
All that would snatch me from Your hand;
My Joshua leads me, Canaan trouncing,
Into His Israel’s Promised Land,
He will not pity any sin
Until I see no sin within.
8. So I will sing, again rejoicing
In this blest bath that cleanses me,
With all the Church our praises voicing
To Christ, to whom all glory be
With Father and the Spirit One
Until eternal ages run.
