Memphis Daily Appeal

[From a hymn by Johann Heerman, 1630. It was sung by the Prussian army on the morning of the battle of Leuthen, Silesia, 15th December, 1757, when it gained a victory over the Austrians, who were three times its number. King Frederick is said to have exclaimed: "What an energy there is in religion!" The words of the piece have no special appropriateness to such an occasion:

O God, thou faithful God!
Thou well-spring of all blessing!
In whom we all exist.
From whom we're all possessing!

Give me a body sound
And in it, bloodied well,
Let an unblemished soul
And a good conscience dwell.

Afford me will and strength
To do the work assigned me;
Whereato, in my true place,
Thy law may call and find me.

Let it be timely done,
With eager readiness;
And what is done in Thee
Have ever good success.

Help me to speak but that
Which I can stand maintaining,
And banish from my lips
The word that's coarse and staining;

And when the duty comes
To speak with earnest stress
Then grant the needed force
Unmixed with bitterness.

When trouble shall break in,
Let me not turn despair;
But give a steadfast heart,
And make me a Cross-bearer.

When health and comfort fall.
Send to my aid the Friend,
Who, closer than a brother,
Shall watch the sorrow's end.