Lord It Belongs Not To My Care - #527

"Lord, It Belongs Not to My Care"
by Richard Baxter, 1681, cento, alt.

1. Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
And this Thy grace must give.

2. If life be long, I will be glad
That I may long obey;
If short no laborer is sad
To end his toilsome day.

3. Christ leads me through no darker rooms
Than He went through before;
He that into God's kingdom comes
Must enter by this door.

4. Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet
Thy blessed face to see;
For if Thy work on earth be sweet.
What will Thy glory be?

5. Then shall I end my sad complaints
And weary, sinful days
And join with the triumphant saints
That sing my Savior's praise.

6. My knowledge of that life is small,
The eye of faith is dim;
But 'tis enough that Christ knows all,
And I shall be with Him.

Hymn #527
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Phil. 1:21
Author: Richard Baxter, 1681, cento, alt.
Tune: "St. Bernard"
1st Published in: Tochter Zion
Town: Cologne, 1741