Oh Jesus Christ, How Bright and Fair

Oh

Je­sus Christ! how bright and fair

The state of ho­ly mar­riage where

Thy bless­ing rich is giv­en!

What gra­cious gifts Thou dost be­stow

What streams of bless­ing ev­er flow

Down from Thy ho­ly Heav­en

When they true stay

To Thee ev­er

leave Thee nev­er

Whose troth pligh­ted

In one life have been un­it­ed.

When man and wife are mat­ed well

In har­mo­ny to­ge­ther dwell

Are faith­ful to each oth­er

The streams of bliss flow con­stant­ly;

What bliss of an­gels is on high

From hence may we dis­cov­er;

No storm

no worm

Can de­stroy it

can e’er gnaw it

What God giv­eth

To the pair that in Him liv­eth.

He gi­veth of His grace the boon

And in its bo­som late and soon

His own be­loved He keep­eth;

His arms He dai­ly spread­eth o’er

Guards as a fa­ther by His pow­er

Us and our house

nor sleep­eth

Still we must be

Here and thi­ther roam­ing ev­er

Till He gives us

Pious homes

and thus re­lieves us.

The hus­band’s like a good­ly tree

Whose branch­es spread so fair and free;

The wife a vine that giv­eth

Much fruit

and nur­tures what it bears;

Whose fruit in­creas­eth with the years

Fruit that re­mains and liveth.

Jewel

all hail!

Husband’s trea­sure! house’s plea­sure!

Crown of hon­or!

On His throne God think­eth on her.

O wife! the Lord hath chos­en thee

That from thy womb brought forth should be

The folk His church that build­eth;

His won­drous work goes on for aye

The migh­ty word His mouth doth say

What thou be­hold­est

yield­eth;

Sons fair stand there

Daughters sit­ting

work­ing

knit­ting

Finely spin­ning

And with art time wise­ly win­ning.

Be of good cheer

it was not we

Who first this or­der did de­cree

It was a high­er Fa­ther

Who loved and lov­eth us for aye

And from whose lips when grieved each day

We friend­ly coun­sel ga­ther;

Good end He’ll send

What we’re do­ing and pur­su­ing

Or con­ceiv­ing

Wise and hap­py is­sue giv­ing.

A time will come

it can­not fail

When we ’neath tri­als sore shall quail

And tears be free­ly flow­ing;

To him who bears it pa­tient­ly

By God’s grace shall his sor­row be

Turned in­to joy o’er­flow­ing;

Toil now

wait thou

He ar­riv­eth who rest giv­eth

Who can ev­er

Banish care and soon de­liv­er.

Come hi­ther

then

my king so blessed!

In tri­als guide

in pain give rest

In an­xious times re­liev­ing!

To Thee we shall as­cribe the praise

Our hearts and voic­es we shall raise

In one loud song

thanks giv­ing

Till we with Thee

Ever dwell­ing

and ful­fill­ing

They will ev­er

Thy name cease to praise shall nev­er.