Jesus, My Highest Treasure

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Jesus, my highest treasure

Author: Salomon Liscovius; Alterer: Frederick William Foster (1789, alt.)
Tune: MUNICH (Mendelssohn)
Published in 10 hymnals

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Representative Text

1 Jesus, my highest treasure,
in Thy communion blest
I find unfailing pleasure,
true happiness and rest;
myself a willing off'ring
I give to Thee alone,
because by death and suff'ring
Thou didst for me atone.

2 O Joy, all joys excelling,
the Bread of Life Thou art,
Thou cam'st to make Thy dwelling
in my unworthy heart.
My spirit’s hungry craving
Thou canst forever still;
from deepest anguish saving,
with bliss my cup canst fill.

3 O let my eyes be lightened
by sight of Thy dear face;
my life below be brightened
by tasting of Thy grace;
without Thee, mighty Savior,
to live is nought but pain;
to have Thy love and favor
is happiness and gain.

4 Earth’s glory to inherit
is not what I desire;
to heav'n aspires my spirit,
glowing with nobler fire.
Where Christ Himself appeareth
in brightest majesty,
for me a place prepareth,
there, there I long to be.

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #326

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Author: Salomon Liscovius

Liscovius, Salomo, son of Johann Liscovius, or Lischkow, pastor at Niemitsch, near Guben, was born at Niemitsch, Oct. 25, 1640. He entered the University of Leipzig in 1660, and then went to Wittenberg, where he graduated M.A., and was crowned as a poet. Shortly thereafter he was appointed pastor at Otterwisch with Stockheim, near Lausigk, and ordained to this post April 21, 1664. He was then, on March 29, 1685, appointed second pastor of St. Wenceslaus's church, at Wurzen. He died at Wurzen, Dec. 5, 1689. (Koch, iii. 385; Rotermund's continuation of Jöcher's Gelehrten-Lexikon, iii. 1950, &c.) Liscovius was one of the best German hymn-writers of the second rank in the 17th century. That is, though his hymns are not lacking in intensity, i… Go to person page >

Alterer: Frederick William Foster

Foster, Frederick William, second son. of William Foster, was born at Bradford, Aug. 1, 1760, and educated at Fulneck, near Leeds, and at Barby in Prussian Saxony. Entering the Moravian Ministry he held several appointments until 1818, when he was consecrated a Bishop of the Moravian Church. He died at Ockbrook, near Derby, April 12, 1835. He compiled the Moravian Hymn Book of 1801, the Supplement of 1808, and the revised edition of 1826. His translations from the German, and his original hymns appeared in that collection. Two of his original hymns are in the Irish Church Hymnal, 1873; (1) "Lord, Who didst sanctify" 1808 (Holiness desired); and (2) "With thanks before the Lord appear," 1826 (Praise of the Saviour). [George Arthur… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Jesus, my highest treasure
Title:	Jesus, My Highest Treasure
Author:	Salomon Liscovius
Alterer:	Frederick William Foster (1789, alt.)
Meter:	7.6.7.6 D
Source:	Moravian tr. (1754)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Tune

MUNICH (Mendelssohn)

MUNICH has a colorful history. Traces of it run as far back as 1593 in the Dresden, Germany, Gesangbuch in conjunction with the text 'Wir Christenleut." A version from a Meiningen Gesangbuch (1693) is still used in Lutheranism for "O Gott, du frommer Gott." Felix Mendelssohn's adaptation of that tun…

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OSLO

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