A Ship Comes Sailing Onwards

Es komt ein schif geladen

Translation by Catherine Winkworth, Christian Singers of Germany, 1869

A ship comes sailing onwards
With a precious freight on board;
It bears the only Son of God,
It bears the Eternal Word.

A precious freight it brings us,
Glides gently on, yet fast;
Its sails are filled with Holy Love,
The Spirit is its mast.

And now it casteth anchor,
The ship hath touched the land;
God's Word hath taken flesh, the Son
Among us men doth stand.

At Bethlehem, in the manger,
He lies, a babe of days;
For us He gives Himself to death,
O give Him thanks and praise.

Whoe'er would hope in gladness
To kiss this Holy Child,
Must suffer many a pain and woe
Patient like Him and mild;

Must die with Him to evil
And rise to righteousness,
That so with Christ he too may share
Eternal life and bliss.

 

 

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