Wedding Hymn

I wrote this hymn for Becky's and my wedding.  It has since then been sung on a half-dozen other occasions.  The tune is "Du Friedefuerst," which you can find here.

Lord, thou hast called both man and wife

To live as one on earth,                        

To serve each other in this life

And thereby give us birth;                                                        

The two become in flesh but one,

Man to the woman clinging.        

                                                                                                                                                                                  

May husband, as our Savior laid

His life down for His bride,                                            

And took the load that on her weighed

On Him when once He died,                              

Give to his wife his strength and life

And see her pure and spotless.

May wife as, we the church, receive

The gifts our Lord has giv’n                                        

That we no more for sin need grieve,

But look to joy in heav’n,                                              

Seek from her man a tender hand

For guidance in affliction.                   

                                                                                                                                                                          

Lord God, our Maker, hear us now,

As we on Thee rely;                                                   

This pair with every gift endow

Who for Thy grace now cry!                                        

For Thou hast giv’n the gift of heav’n

In Jesus Christ, our Savior!                         

                                                                                                                                                     

Through one man, Adam, we were dead

And walked in darkest night.                            

By one man, Jesus, we are led

Into Thy righteous light.                                                

Thy Son made flesh, makes pure and fresh

What died and was decaying.                          

                                                                                                                                                 

Lord Jesus, who hast cleansed Thy Bride,

And washed her in Thy blood,             

Grant that this man and wife confide

In Thee for every good.                                               

Lord, grant this pair Thy love to share

Till death shall part them.  Amen.