Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness

Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,

Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness;

Come into the daylight's splendor,

There with joy thy praises render

Unto Christ Whose grace unbounded

Hath this wondrous banquet founded.

Higher o'er all the heav'ns He reigneth,

Yet to dwell with thee He deigneth.

Hasten as a bride to meet Him

And with loving reverence greet Him;

For with words of life immortal

Now He knocketh at thy portal.

Haste to ope the gates before Him,

Saying, while thou dost adore Him,

Suffer, Lord, that I receive Thee,

And I nevermore will leave Thee.

He who craves a precious treasure

Neither cost nor pain will measure;

But the priceless gifts of heaven

God to us hath freely given.

Though the wealth of earth were offered,

Naught would buy the gifts here offered:

Christ's true body, for thee riven,

And His blood, for thee once given.

Ah, how hungers all my spirit

For the love I do not merit!

Oft have I, with sighs fast thronging,

Thought upon this food with longing,

In the battle well nigh worsted,

For this cup of life have thirsted,

For the Friend Who here invites us

And to God Himself unites us.

In my heart I find ascending

Holy awe, with rapture blending,

As this mystery I ponder,

Filling all my soul with wonder,

Bearing witness at this hour

Of the greatness of God's power;

Far beyond all human telling

Is the power within Him dwelling.

Human reason, though it ponder,

Cannot fathom this great wonder

That Christ's body e'er remaineth

Though it countless souls sustaineth

And that He His blood is giving

With the wine we are receiving.

These great mysteries unsounded

Are by God alone expounded.

Sun, who all my life dost brighten,

Light, who dost my soul enlighten;

Joy the best that any knoweth;

Fount, whence all my being floweth;

At Thy feet I cry, my Maker,

Let me be a fit partaker

Of this blessèd food from heaven,

For our good, Thy glory, given.

Lord, by love and mercy driven

Thou hast left Thy throne in heaven

On the cross for me to languish

And to die in bitter anguish,

To forego all joy and gladness

And to shed Thy blood in sadness.

By this blood redeemed and living,

Lord, I praise Thee with thanksgiving.

Jesus, Bread of Life, I pray Thee,

Let me gladly here obey Thee.

By Thy love I am invited,

Be Thy love with love requited;

From this supper let me measure,

Lord, how vast and deep love's treasure.

Through the gifts Thou here dost give me

As Thy guest in heaven receive me.