Lord, Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant

For The Presentation, February 2.
The Canticle of Simeon

Words: Anonymous

Music: Number 5, ”The Cantica Sacra”

Meter: 8s 7s

Source: “Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal.” Eighth Edition. (Columbus, Ohio: The Lutheran Book Concern, 1891), #441, p. 394. Also occurs in the 16th Edition of this Hymnal, 1896.

See also Nunc Dimittis - John Cennick

1. Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant
     From this life depart in peace!
Praise be Thine, and blessings fervent,
     For the wearied soul's release.

2. He who saw Thy great salvation,
     With the eye of faith and love,
In this earthly habitation,
     Walketh now by sight above!

3. Cares and crosses are all over,
     Sin and sorrow overcome;
And the soul, by Christ her Lover,
     Hath at last been taken home.

4. While life's paths we still are pressing,
     Grant us, Father, steadfast faith,
And, for Christ's sake, grant the blessing
     Of a peaceful, Christian death.

Note:

There have been numerous publications of “The Cantica Sacra” beginning as early at 1588, and including the Magdeburg of 1613, Richard Deering's edition of 1662, and an edition in 1674. A modern edition was edited by Pastor J. J. Fast of Canton, Ohio, that contained Lutheran Choral tunes. It was very favorably reviewed in a copy of “The Lutheran Witness,” 1931. I have not been able to locate a copy of any of the mentioned editions.

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