"Now I have Found the Firm Foundation"
                         by Johann A. Rothe, 1688-1758
                                  Text From:
                              THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
                 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. Now I have found the firm foundation
        Which holds mine anchor ever sure;
        'Twas laid before the world's creation
        In Christ my Savior's wounds secure;
        Foundation which unmoved shall stay
        When heaven and earth will pass away.

        2. It is that mercy never ending,
        Which human wisdom far transcends,
        Of Him who, loving arms extending,
        To wretched sinners condescends;
        Whose heart with pity still doth break
        Whether we seek Him or forsake.

        3. Our ruin God hath not intended,
        For our salvation He hath yearned;
        For this His Son to earth descended
        And then to heaven again returned;
        For this so patient evermore
        He knocketh at our heart's closed door.

        4. O depth of love, to me revealing
        The sea where my sins disappear!
        In Christ my wounds find perfect healing,
        There is no condemnation here;
        For Jesus' blood through earth and skies
        Forever "Mercy! Mercy!" cries.

        5. I never will forget this crying;
        In faith I'll trust it all my days,
        And when o'er all my sins I'm sighing,
        Into the Father's heart I'll gaze;
        For there is always to be found
        Free mercy without end and bound.

        6. Though I be robbed of every pleasure
        That makes my soul and body glad
        And be deprived of earthly treasure
        And be forsaken, lone, and sad,
        Though my desire for help seem vain,
        His mercy shall with me remain.

        7. Though earthly trials should oppress me
        And cares from day to day increase;
        Though earth's vain things should sore distress me
        And rob me of my Savior's peace;
        Though I be brought down to the dust,
        Still in His mercy I will trust.

        8. When all my deeds I am reviewing,
        The deeds that I admire the most,
        I find in all my thought and doing
        That there is naught whereof to boast,
        Yet this sweet comfort shall abide--
        In mercy I can still confide.

        9. Let mercy cause me to be willing
        To bear my lot and not to fret.
        While He my restless heart is stilling,
        May I His mercy not forget!
        Come weal, come woe, my heart to test,
        His mercy is my only rest.

        10. I'll stand upon this firm foundation
        As long as I on earth remain;
        This shall engage my meditation
        While I the breath of life retain;
        And then, when face to face with Thee,
        I'll sing of mercy, great and free.

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        Notes:
        Hymn #385 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: 1 Cor. 3:11
        Author: Johann A. Rothe, 1727
        Translated by: compostie
        Titled: "Ich habe nun den Grund gefunden"
        Composer: Johann B. Koenig, 1738
        Tune: "O dass ich tausend"
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
          by Marilyn F. Gardner 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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