"Lo, God to Heaven Ascendeth"
                   by Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer, 1635-1699
               Translated by Frances Elizabeth Cox, 1812-1897
                               Text From:
                  THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
          (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.161



        1. Lo, God to heaven ascendeth!
        Throughout its regions vast
        With shouts triumphant blendeth
        The trumpet's thrilling blast:
        Sing praise to Christ the Lord;
        Sing praise with exultation,
        King of each heathen nation,
        The God of hosts adored!

        2. With joy is heaven resounding
        Christ's glad return to see;
        Behold the saints surrounding
        The Lord who set them free.
        Bright myriads, thronging, come;
        The cherub band rejoices,
        And loud seraphic voices
        All welcome Jesus home.

        3. From cross to throne ascending,
        We follow Christ on high
        And know the pathway wending
        To mansions in the sky.
        Our Lord is gone before;
        Yet here He will not leave us,
        But soon in heaven receive us
        And open wide the door.

        4. Our place He is preparing;
        To heaven we, too, shall rise,
        With Him His glory sharing,
        Be where our Treasure lies.
        Bestir thyself, my soul!
        Where Jesus Christ has entered,
        There let thy hope be centered;
        Press onward toward the goal.

        5. Let all our thoughts be winging
        To where Thou didst ascend,
        And let our hearts be singing:
        "We seek Thee, Christ, our Friend,
        Thee, God's exalted Son,
        Our Life, and Way to heaven,
        To whom all power is given,
        Our Joy and Hope and Crown."

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        Notes:
        Hymn #214 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Ps. 47:5-7
        Author: Gottfried W. Sacer, 1661, cento
        Translated by: Frances E. Cox, 1841, alt.
        Titled: "Gott faehret auf gen Himmel"
        Tune: "Aus meines Herzens Grunde"
        1st Published in: _Neu Catechismus-Gesangbuechlein_
        Town: Hamburg, 1598
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
             by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may
         freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any
        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
                  Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.
                                       
                          E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu

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