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Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut
Author: J. J. Schütz, 1640-1690 Appears in 135 hymnals Topics: Lob- und Danklieder Scripture: Psalm 115:5
Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut
Bringt her dem Herren Lob und Ehr
Author: C. Günther, 1650-1704 Appears in 38 hymnals Topics: Lob- und Danklieder Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3
Bringt her dem Herren Lob und Ehr
Nun danket all und bringet Ehr
Author: P. Gerhardt, 1606-1676 Appears in 72 hymnals Topics: Lob- und Danklieder Lyrics: 1 Nun danket all und bringet Ehr,
ihr Menschen in der Welt,
dem, dessen Lob der Engel Heer
im Himmel stets vermeldt,
2 Ermuntert euch und singt mit Schall
Gott, unserm höchsten Gut,
der seine Wunder überall
und große Dinge thut.
3 Der uns vom Mutterleibe an
frisch und gesund erhält
und, wo kein Mensch nicht helfen kann,
sich selbst zum Helfer stellt.
4 Der, ob wir ihn gleich hoch betrübt,
doch bleibet gutes Muths,
die Straf erläßt, die Schuld vergibt
und thut uns alles Guts.
5 Er gebe uns ein fröhlich Herz,
erfrische Geist und Sinn,
und werf all Angst, Furcht, Sorg und Schmerz
ins Merres Tiefe hin.
6 Er lasse seinen Frieden ruhn
in Israelis Land,
er gebe Glück zu unserm Thun
und Heil zu allem Stand.
7 Er lasse seine Lieb und Güt
um, bei und mit uns gehn,
was aber ängstet und bemüht,
gar ferne von uns stehn.
8 So lange dieses Leben währt
sei er stets unser Heil
und bleib auch, wann wir von der Erd
abscheiden, unser Theil.
9 Er drucke, wenn das Herze bricht,
Uns unsre Augen zu
und zeig uns drauf sein Angesicht
dort in der ewgen Ruh.
Nun danket all und bringet Ehr
Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren
Author: J. Graumann, 1487-1541 Hymnal: Evang.-Lutherisches Gesangbuch #14 (1872) Topics: Lob- und Danklieder Lyrics: 1 Nun lob mein Seel, den Herren,
was in mir ist, den Namen sein.
Sein Wohlthat thut er mehren;
vergiß es nicht, o Herze mein!
Hat dir dein Sünd vergeben
und heilt dein Schwachheit groß,
errett't dein armes Leben,
nimmt dich in seinen Schooß;
Mit reichem Trost beschüttet,
verjüngt dem Adler gleich.
Der Kön'g schafft Recht, behütet
die Leidenden in Reich.
2 Er hat uns wissen lassen
sein herrlich Recht und sein Gericht,
dazu sein Güt ohn Maaßen,
es mangelt an Erbarmung nicht;
sein Zorn läßt er bald fahren,
straft nicht nach unsrer Schuld,
die Gnad thut er nicht sparen,
den Blöden ist er hold.
Sein Güt ist hoch erhaben
ob den'n, die fürchten ihn.
So fern der Oft vom Abend,
ist unsre Sünd dahin.
3 Wie sich ein Mann erbarmet
über sein junge Kinderlein,
so thut der Herr uns Armen,
so wir ihn kindlich fürchten rein,
Er kennt das arm Gemächte
und weiß, wir sind nur Staub,
gleich wie das Gras vom Rechte,
ein Blum und fallend Laub,
der Wind nur drüber wehet,
so ist es nimmer da,
also der Mensch vergehet,
sein End, das ist ihm nah.
4 Die Gottesgnad alleine
bleibt stät und fest in Ewigkeit
bei seiner lieb'n Gemeine,
die steht in seiner Furcht bereit,
die seinen Bund behalten;
er herrscht im Himmelreich.
Ihr starken Engel waltet
sein's Lobs, und dient zugleich
dem großen Herrn zu Ehren
und treibt sein heilges Wort;
mein Seel soll auch vermehren
sein Lob an allem Ort.
5 Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren
Gott Vater, Sohn, heiligem Geist¡
Der woll in uns vermehren,
was er aus Gnaden uns verheißt,
daß wir ihm fest vertrauen
gänzlich und lass'n auf ihn,
von Herzen auf ihn bauen,
das uns'r Herz, Muth und Sinn
ihm festiglich anhangen:
drauf singen wir zur Stund:
Amen, wir werd'ns erlangen,
glaub'n wir aus Herzensgrund.
Languages: German
Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren
Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut
Author: J. J. Schütz, 1640-1690 Hymnal: Evang.-Lutherisches Gesangbuch #2 (1872) Topics: Lob- und Danklieder Lyrics: 1 Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut,
dem Vater aller Güte,
dem Gott, der alle Wunder thut,
dem Gott, der mein Gemüthe
mit seinem reichen Trost erfüllt,
dem Gott, der allen Jammer stillt:
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
2 Es danken dir die Himmelsheer,
o herrscher aller Thronen,
und die auf Erden, Luft und Neer,
in deinem Schatten wohnen,
die preisen deine Schöpfersmacht,
die Alles also wohl bedacht.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
3 Was unser Gott geschaffen hat,
das will er auch erhalten,
darüber will er früh und spat
mit seiner güte walten.
In seinem ganzen Königreich
ist Alles recht und Alles gleich.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
4 Ich rief dem Herrn in meiner Noth:
Ach Gott, vernimm mein Schreien.
Da half mein Helfer mir vom Tod,
und ließ mir Trost gedeihen.
Drum dank, ach Gott, drum dank ich dir.
Ach, danket, danket Gott mit mir!
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
5 Der Herr ist noch und nimmer nicht
von seinem Volk geschieden,
er bleibet ihre Zuversicht,
ihr Segen, Heil und Frieden.
Mit Mutterhänden leitet er
die Seinen stetig hin und her.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
6 Wenn Trost und Hülf ermangeln muß,
die alle Welt erzeiget,
so kommt, so hilft der Ueberfluß,
der Schöpfer selbst und neiget
die Vateraugen denen zu,
die sonsten nirgend finden Ruh.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
7 Ich will dich all mein Lebenlang,
o Gott, von nun an ehren;
man soll, o Gott, dein'n Lobgesang
An allen Orten hören.
Mein ganzes Herz ermuntert sich,
mein Geist und Leib erfreuen sich:
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
8 Ihr, die ihr Christi Namen nennt,
geht unserm Gott die Ehre!
Ihr, die ihr Gottes Macht bekennt,
geht unserm Gott die Ehre!
Die falschen Götzen macht zu Spott;
der Herr is Gott, der Herr ist Gott.
Gebt ihm als Gott die Ehre!
9 So kommet vor sein Angesicht
mit jauchzensvollem Springen,
bezahlet die gelobte Pflicht,
Und laßt uns frölich singen:
Gott hat es Alles wohl bedacht,
auch Alles, Alles recht gemacht:
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre! Languages: German
Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut
Lob, Ehr und Preis sie unserm Gott
Hymnal: Evang.-Lutherisches Gesangbuch #9 (1872) Topics: Lob- und Danklieder Lyrics: 1 Lob, Ehr und Preis sei unserm Gott,
der uns so hoch geliebet hat,
daß er uns seinen eingen Sohn
gesandt zum Heil und Gnadenthron.
2 Lob sei dir, o Herr Jesu Christ,
daß du uns'r Bruder worden bist,
hast uns errettet durch dein Blut
von's Teufels Strick und Höllengluth.
3 Lob sei dir, o Gott heilger Geist,
der du der Herzen Tröster heißt
und zierest sie mit Glauben fein,
damit wir Gott gefällig sein.
4 Kein's Menschen Zung aussprechen kann,
was du, o Gott, an uns gethan.
Drum seufzen wir, o treuer Hort;
gieb uns, was wir dich bitten, fort!
5 Vater, gedenk der Kinder dein,
wir trauen ja auf dich allein;
gieb Leibs g'sundheit, gut Regiment:
Krieg, Sterben, Theurung von uns wend.
6 Herr Jesu Christ, du starker Held,
wehr doch dem Fürsten dieser Welt,
zerstör sein Reich und schaff uns Ruh,
auf daß dein Kirche nehme zu.
7 O Tröster werth, heiliger Geist,
der du all unsre Schwachheit weißt,
sei uns mit deiner Hülf' bereit,
daß wir Gott dienen allezeit.
8 O ewige Dreifaltigkeit,
einiger Gott von Ewigkeit,
leucht uns mit deinem Angesicht,
hilf, daß wir von dir wanken nicht. Languages: German
Lob, Ehr und Preis sie unserm Gott
Johann Jakob Schütz
1640 - 1690 Person Name: J. J. Schütz, 1640-1690 Topics: Lob- und Danklieder Author of "Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut" in Evang.-Lutherisches Gesangbuch Schütz, Johann Jakob, was born Sept. 7, 1640, at Frankfurt am Main. After studying at Tübingen (where he became a licentiate in civil and canon law), he began to practise as an advocate in Frankfurt, and in later years with the title of Rath. He seems to have been a man of considerable legal learning as well as of deep piety. He was an intimate friend of P. J. Spener; and it was, in great measure, at his suggestion, that Spener began his famous Collegia Pietatis. After Spener left Frankfurt, in 1686, Schütz came under the influence of J. W. Petersen; and carrying out Petersen's prin¬ciples to their logical conclusion, he became a Separatist, and ceased to attend the Lutheran services or to communicate. He died at Frankfurt, May 22, 1690 (Koch, iv. 220; Blätter fur Hymnologie, Feb. 1883).
Schütz is known as an author by two tractates; one being his Christliche Lebensregeln, Frankfurt, 1677; the other, that which contains his hymns, Christliches Gedenckbüchlein, zu Beforderung eines anfangenden neuen Lebens, &c, Frankfurt am Main, 1675 [Library of the Predigerministerium at Frankfurt]. This work includes 5 hymns, in a separate section, which is headed, “Hierauf folgen etliche Gesänge." These hymns are:—
i. Die Wollust dieser Welt.
ii. Was inich auf dieser Welt betrübt.
iii. So komm, geliebte Todes-Stund.
iv. Scheuet ihr, ihr matten Glieder.
v. Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut.
Of these No. v. is undoubtedly by Schütz, and the other four exhibit much the same style of thought as, and frequent parallels to, the prose portions of the work. None of these have been traced earlier than 1675; and until this has been done, it is pretty safe to ascribe them all to Schütz.
Three of these hymns have passed into English, viz.:—
i. Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut. Praise and Thanksgiving. First published in 1675, as above, No. v. It is founded on Deut. xxxii. 3; entitled, "Hymn of Thanksgiving ;" and is in 9 stanzas of 6 lines, and the refrain, "Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre”.
Koch, iv. 220, speaks of this hymn as "outweighing many hundred others; and a classical hymn, which, from its first appearance, attracted unusual attention." And Lauxmann, in Koch, viii. 334-339, relates how delighted J. J. Moser was, when, on entering church the first Sunday after his captivity at Hohentwiel, he heard this hymn, and how heartily he joined in it; how it comforted the dying G. C. Rieger, of Stuttgart, on Tuesday, in Easter Week, 1743, and many other incidents.
Translations in common use:—
1. All Glory to the Sov'reign Good. This is a full and good translation by J. OJacobi, in his Psalter Germanica, 2nd ed., 1732, p. 151, where it is entitled, "The Malabarian Hymn."
2. All glory be to God most high. A good translation by A. T. Russell, of st. i., iv., viii., for the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book, 1848, No. 59.
3. All praise and thanks to God most high. This is a good tr., omitting st. ix., by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 146.
4. Sing praise to God Who reigns above. A good tr., omitting st. ix., contributed by Miss Cox to Lyra Eucharistica, 1864, p. 33, and included in her Hymns from the German, 1864, p. 235.
5. To God a joyful anthem raise. A good tr. of st. i., ii., iv., v., viii., by J. M. Sloan, as No. 314, in J. H. Wilson's Service of Praise, 1865.
The following are also translated into English:—
ii. So komm, geliebte Todes-Stund. For the Dying. First published in 1675, as above, No. iii., in 11 st. of 8 1., entitled, "The thoughts on Death of a Royal Princess, after the usual interpretation of Job xix. 25." This Princess was Sophie Elisabethe. daughter of Duke Philipp Ludwig, of Holstein-Sonderburg (b. at Homburg vor der Hohe, May 4, 1653; married, in 1676. to Duke Moritz, of Sachse-Zeitz; d. at Schleusingen, Aug. 19, 1684), who had been a regular attender at Spener's conferences at Frankfurt, and thus associated with Schütz. This hymn has often been ascribed to her; and she had already chosen Job xix. 25, as the text of her funeral sermon. But it is more probable that both hymns were written by Schütz for her use, or in her honour. The trs. are :—(1) "Come, happy hour of death, and close." By Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 56. (2) "O come, delightful hour of death." By Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 106.
iii. Was mich auf dieser Welt betriibt. Earthly Vanities. This hymn, on Renunciation of the World, first appeared in 1675, as above, No. ii., in 4 st. of 10 1., and entitled "From the World to God." It has sometimes been erroneously ascribed to Michael Franck. It is tr. as "The woes that weigh my body down." By Miss Manington, 1863, p. 32. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Johann Jakob Schütz
Martin Rinkart
1586 - 1649 Person Name: M. Rinckart, 1586-1649 Topics: Lob- und Danklieder Author of "Nun danket alle Gott" in Evang.-Lutherisches Gesangbuch Rinkart, Martin, son of Georg Rinkart or Rinckart, cooper at Eilenburg on the Mulde, Saxony, was born at Eilenburg, April 23, 1586.* After passing through the Latin school at Eilenburg, he became, in Nov., 1601, a foundation scholar and chorister of the St. Thomas's School at Leipzig. This scholarship also allowed him to proceed to the University of Leipzig, where he matriculated for the summer session of 1602, as a student of Theology; and after the completion of his course he remained for some time in Leipzig (he did not take his M.A. till 1616). In March 1610 he offered himself as a candidate for the post of diaconus at Eilenburg, and was presented by the Town Council, but the Superintendent refused to sanction this arrangement, nominally on the ground that Rinkart was a better musician than theologian, but really because he was unwilling to have a colleague who was a native of Eilenburg, and who appeared to have a will of his own. Rinkart, not wishing to contest the matter, applied for a vacant mastership in the gymnasium at Eisleben, and entered on his duties there in the beginning of June, 1610, as sixth master, and also cantor of the St. Nicholas Church. After holding this appointment for a few months, he became diaconus of St. Anne's Church, in the Neustadt of Eisleben, and began his work there May 28, 1611; and then became pastor at Erdeborn and Lyttichendorf (Lütjendorf), near Eisleben, entering on his duties there on Dec. 5, 1613. Finally he was invited by the Town Council of Eilenburg to become archidiaconus there, and in Nov. 1617 came into residence at Eilenburg. He died at Eilenburg, Dec. 8, 1649. A memorial tablet to his memory, affixed to the house where he lived, was unveiled at Eilenburg on Easter Monday, April 26, 1886. (Martin Rinkart’s Geistliche Lieder, ed., with a biographical introduction, and an extensive bibliography, by Heinrich Rembe and Johannes Linke, D.D., Gotha, F. A. Perthes, 1886; K. Goedeke's Grundris, vol. iii., 1887, pp. 169, 211, &c.)
The greater part of Rinkart's professional life was passed amid the horrors of the Thirty Years War. Eilenburg being a walled town became a refuge for fugitives from all around, and being so overcrowded, not unnaturally suffered from pestilence and famine. During the great pestilence of 1637 the Superintendent went away for change of air, and could not be persuaded to return; and on Aug. 7 Rinkart had to officiate at the funerals of two of the town clergy and two who had had to leave their livings in the country. Rinkart thus for some time was the only clergyman in the place, and often read the service over some 40 to 50 persons a day, and in all over about 4,480. At last the refugees had to be buried in trenches without service, and during the whole epidemic some 8,000 persons died, including Rinkart's first wife, who died May 8, 1637. The next year he had an epidemic of marriages to encounter, and himself fell a victim on June 24. Immediately thereafter came a most severe famine, during which Rinkart's resources were strained to the uttermost to help his people. Twice also he saved Eilenburg from the Swedes, once in the beginning of 1637, and again in 1639 (see p. 319, i.). Unfortunately the services he rendered to the place seemed to have made those in authority the more ungrateful, and in his latter years he was much harassed by them in financial and other matters, and by the time that the long-looked-for peace came (Oct. 24, 1648) he was a worn-out and prematurely aged man.
Rinkart was a voluminous writer and a good musician, but a considerable number of his books seem to have perished, and others survive only in single copies. He early began to write poetry, and was crowned as a poet apparently in 1614. Among other things he wrote a cycle of seven so-called "Comedies," or rather dramas, on the Reformation Period, suggested by the centenary of the Reformation in 1617. Three of these were printed respectively in 1613, 1618, and 1625, and two of them were acted in public. Rinkart's hymns appeared principally in the following works:—
(1) Jesu Hertz-Büchlein. This was completed in 1630, and first published at Leipzig in 1636. No copy is now known. The second edition, published at Leipzig, 1663, is in the Royal Library at Hannover. (2) Der Meissnische Thränen Saat, Leipzig, 1637. In the Royal Library at Berlin. (3) xlv. Epithalami Salomoneo—Sulamitici cantica canticorum . . . Leibliche Geistliche und Uimmlische Braut Messe, Leipzig, 1642. In Wolfenbüttel Library. (4) Catechismus-wolthaten, und Catechismus-Lieder, Leipzig, 1645. In the Berlin Library.
Dr. Linke, 1886, as above, gives a list of the first lines of all the hymns in the works of Rinkart which have come under his notice, and prints a selection from them, including 66 in all. The best of them are characterised by a true patriotism, a childlike devotion to God, and a firm confidence in God's mercy, and His promised help and grace. A few passed into the German hymn-books. Those which have been translated into English are:—
1. Alleluja, Lob, Preis und Ehr. This hymn… seems to be based on two hymns, beginning with the same first line, and both found in Rinkart's Braut Messe, 1642. Dr. Linke does not print the full text. (See Blätter für Hymnologie, 1886, p. 91.)
ii. Nun danket alle Gott. Thanksgiving. The oldest text now accessible is in J. Crüger's Praxis, 1648, No. 183, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines; also in the Crüger-Runge Gesang-Buch, 1653, No. 187. It is also in Rinkart's Jesu Hertz-Büchlein, 1663, where the text slightly varies, and is entitled "Grace" ("Tisch-Gebetlein," i.e. a short prayer at table). There does not seem any good reason for supposing that it did not appear in the first ed., 1636, of the Hertz-Büchlein, and in any case it has no connection with the Peace of Westphalia. (A good specimen of the way in which stories of hymns are manufactured is in the Sunday at Home, Aug., 1888, p. 539, where a full and particular account is given of its legendary origin in Nov. 1648.) It is founded on Ecclesiasticus 1. 22-24; and st. i., ii. are indeed little more than a paraphrase of these verses, st. iii. being a version of the Gloria Patri. The fact that the regimental chaplains, when holding the special service of thanksgiving for the conclusion of the peace, were commanded to preach from this passage, may have suggested the theory that Rinkart's hymn was written for the same occasion. It gradually came into general use, successfully survived the period of Rationalism, and is now to be found in every German hymnbook, e.g. in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 1022. It may be called the German Te Deum, and as such is used at all national festivals or special occasions of thanksgiving. It was recently used at the festal celebration of the completion of Cologne Cathedral, on Aug. 14, 1880, at the laying of the foundation stone of the new Reichstags building in Berlin, by the Emperor William, June 9, 1884, &c.
The fine melody (set to the hymn in Hymns Ancient & Modern and most recent English collections) appears in the Praxis, 1648 (Crüger's Kirchenmelodien, 1649, No. 94), and in the Crüger-Runge Gesang-Buch, 1653, is marked with Crüger's initials. It has been described as adapted from a melody by Lucas Marenzo (choirmaster at Rome, who died 1598), or as adapted from a motet by Rinkart; but to prove either statement, very little evidence is forthcoming.
The translations of the hymn into English are:—
1. Let all men praise the Lord. This is a tr. of st. i., iii., by Alfred Novello, as part of his version of the word-book to Mendelssohn's Lobgesang, or Hymn of Praise, 1843, p. 89. This form has passed into a number of hymnals, including the New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859; Dale's English Hymn Book 1874, and others. In the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, a tr. of st. ii. is added, of which 11. 1—4 are from Miss Winkworth's translation.
2. Now praise the Lord on high. In full as No. 53 in the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book, 1848. This appears to be the version which Kübler, in his Historical Notes to the Lyra Germanica, 1865, p. 247, says was made by Baron C. K. J. von Bunsen, for the opening of the German Hospital at Dalston, on Oct. 15, 1845.
3. Now let us all to God. In full, by A. T. Russell, as No. 201, in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851.
4. 0 let us praise the Lord, From hearts by true love guided. This is No. 240 in the Winchester Church Hymn Book, 1857, and seems to be intended as a paraphrase of the German.
5. Now thank we all our God. A full and very good translation by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Serv. 1858, p. 145, repeated in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 11, and her Christian Singers, 1869, p. 181. It has been included in many recent English and American hymnals, e. g. Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861; People's Hymnal, 1867; Congregational Hymnal, 1887, &c, and in America in the Episcopal Hymnal, 1871; Presbyterian Hymnal, 1874, and many others, generally in full and unaltered.
6. Now all give thanks to God. In full as No. 264 in the Anglican Hymn Book, 1868 (1871, No. 307), marked as a versification by R. C. Singleton. Repeated in J. L. Porter's Collection, 1876.
7. Now all men thank ye God. In full by T. E. Brown, as No. 37 in the Clifton College Hymn Book, 1872.
Other translations are:—
(l) "Now let us praise the Lord." In full by J. C. Jacobi, 1722, p. 85 (1732, p. 144), repeated, altered, in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754 to 1886. (2) "Now all, to God give thanks." By Dr. H. Mills, in the Evangelical Review, Gettysburg, 1851, p. 293, and his Horae Germanica, 1856, p. 14. (3) "Lift heart, and hands, and voice." By Miss Cox, 1864, p. 239. (4) “Now all give thanks to God." By J. D. Burns, 1869, p. 252. (5) “All hearts and tongues and hands." By N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 212.
iii. So fahr ich hin mit Freuden. For the Dying. In his Meissnische Thränen-Saat, 1637, No. 24, p. 19, in 5 st.anzas of 8 lines, entitled "Even the same, and her soul-rejoicing Farewell Hymn. On May 8." St. i. is,
"So fahr ich hin mit Frewden
Aus diesem Jammerthal,
Aus Angst, Gefahr und Leiden
In Himmels-Frewden Saal,
Da wir und alle Frommen
Durch Gottes Wundermacht
Zusaminen wiederkominen:
In des zu guter Nacht."
The title refers to the preceding hymn, which is in 19 stanzas, the initials of the stanzas forming the acrostic Christina Rinckardi. Dr. Linke abridges it and misprints the title, which is:—
"Die Teutsche Jobs-Schwester (Christina M. Rinckart's Hertzgetrewe Ehe- und Creutz-genossin) und ihr Tagliches und behägliches Trost Lied. Aus ihrem längst erwählten und am 10. [not 30] Tage des Trosthühlen Meyen dieses 1637. Jahres zum letzten Ehrengedächtniss abgehandelten Leich-Text: des 77. Psalms."
From this it is clear that both hymns are in memory of his wife, that she died on May 8, 1637, and that her funeral sermon was preached by her husband on May 10, 1637. The form translation into English is the greatly altered, or rather practically new text. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
* His own statement was that he “was born Anno 1586, Jubilate Sunday, on St. George's day, which was the 23rd of April, between 6 and 7 a.m." In 1586 however Jubilate S. (3rd Sunday after Easter) fell on April 24, while St. George's day is April 23. The entry in the Registers at Eilenburg says that he was baptised "Monday after Jubilate, the 25th of April," which is quite correct.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Martin Rinkart
Martin Luther
1483 - 1546 Person Name: Luther, 1483-1546 Topics: Lob- und Danklieder Author of "Herr Gott, dich loben wir" in Evang.-Lutherisches Gesangbuch Luther, Martin, born at Eisleben, Nov. 10, 1483; entered the University of Erfurt, 1501 (B.A. 1502, M.A.. 1503); became an Augustinian monk, 1505; ordained priest, 1507; appointed Professor at the University of Wittenberg, 1508, and in 1512 D.D.; published his 95 Theses, 1517; and burnt the Papal Bull which had condemned them, 1520; attended the Diet of Worms, 1521; translated the Bible into German, 1521-34; and died at Eisleben, Feb. 18, 1546. The details of his life and of his work as a reformer are accessible to English readers in a great variety of forms. Luther had a huge influence on German hymnody.
i. Hymn Books.
1. Ellich cristlich lider Lobgesang un Psalm. Wittenberg, 1524. [Hamburg Library.] This contains 8 German hymns, of which 4 are by Luther.
2. Eyn Enchiridion oder Handbuchlein. Erfurt, 1524 [Goslar Library], with 25 German hymns, of which 18 are by Luther.
3. Geystliche Gesangk Buchleyn. Wittenberg, 1524 [Munich Library], with 32 German hymns, of which 24 are by Luther.
4. Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert. Wittenberg. J. Klug, 1529. No copy of this book is now known, but there was one in 1788 in the possession of G. E. Waldau, pastor at Nürnberg, and from his description it is evident that the first part of the Rostock Gesang-Buch, 1531, is a reprint of it. The Rostock Gesang-Buch, 1531, was reprinted by C. M. Wiechmann-Kadow at Schwerin in 1858. The 1529 evidently contained 50 German hymns, of which 29 (including the Litany) were by Luther.
5. Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert. Erfurt. A. Rauscher, 1531 [Helmstädt, now Wolfenbüttel Library], a reprint of No. 4.
6. Geistliche Lieder. Wittenberg. J. Klug, 1535 [Munich Library. Titlepage lost], with 52 German hymns, of which 29 are by Luther.
7. Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert. Leipzig. V. Schumann, 1539 [Wernigerode Library], with 68 German hymns, of which 29 are by Luther.
8. Geistliche Lieder. Wittenberg. J. Klug, 1543 [Hamburg Library], with 61 German hymns, of which 35 are by Luther.
9. Geystliche Lieder. Leipzig. V. Babst, 1545 [Gottingen Library]. This contains Luther's finally revised text, but adds no new hymns by himself. In pt. i. are 61 German hymns, in pt. ii. 40, of which 35 in all are by Luther.
For these books Luther wrote three prefaces, first published respectively in Nos. 3, 4, 9. A fourth is found in his Christliche Geseng, Lateinisch und Deudsch, zum Begrebnis, Wittenberg, J. Klug, 1542. These four prefaces are reprinted in Wackernagel’s Bibliographie, 1855, pp. 543-583, and in the various editions of Luther's Hymns. Among modern editions of Luther's Geistliche Lieder may be mentioned the following:—
Carl von Winterfeld, 1840; Dr. C. E. P. Wackernagel, 1848; Q. C. H. Stip, 1854; Wilhelm Schircks, 1854; Dr. Danneil, 1883; Dr. Karl Gerok, 1883; Dr. A. F. W. Fischer, 1883; A. Frommel, 1883; Karl Goedeke, 1883, &c. In The Hymns of Martin Luther. Set to their original melodies. With an English version. New York, 1883, ed. by Dr. Leonard Woolsey Bacon and Nathan H. Allen, there are the four prefaces, and English versions of all Luther's hymns, principally taken more or less altered, from the versions by A. T. Russell, R. Massie and Miss Winkworth [repub. in London, 1884]. Complete translations of Luther's hymns have been published by Dr. John Anderson, 1846 (2nd ed. 1847), Dr. John Hunt, 1853, Richard Massie, 1854, and Dr. G. Macdonald in the Sunday Magazine, 1867, and his Exotics, 1876. The other versions are given in detail in the notes on the individual hymns.
ii. Classified List of Luther's Hymns. Of Luther's hymns no classification can be quite perfect, e.g. No. 3 (see below) takes hardly anything from the Latin, and No. 18 hardly anything from the Psalm. No. 29 is partly based on earlier hymns (see p. 225, i.). No. 30 is partly based on St. Mark i. 9-11, and xvi., 15, 16 (see p. 226, ii.). No. 35 is partly based on St. Luke ii. 10-16. The following arrangement, however, will answer all practical purposes.
A. Translations from the Latin.
i. From Latin Hymns:
1. Christum wir sollen loben schon. A solis ortus cardine
2. Der du bist drei in Einigkeit. O Lux beata Trinitas.
3. Jesus Christus unser Heiland, Der von. Jesus Christus nostra salus
4. Komm Gott Schopfer, heiliger Geist. Veni Creator Spiritus, Mentes.
5. Nun komm der Beidenheiland. Veni Redemptor gentium
6. Was flirchst du Feind Herodes sehr. A solis ortus cardine
ii. From Latin Antiphons, &c.:
7. Herr Gott dich loben wir. Te Deum laudamus.
8. Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich. Dapacem, Domine
9. Wir glauben all an einen Gott.
iii. Partly from the Latin, the translated stanzas being adopted from Pre-Reformation Versions:
10. Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott.
11. Mitten wir im Leben sind. Media vita in morte sumus.
B. Hymns revised and enlarged from Pre-Reformation popular hymns.
12. Gelobet seist du Jesus Christ.
13. Gott der Vater wohn uns bei.
14. Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet.
15. Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist.
C. Psalm versions.
16. Ach Gott vom Himmel, sieh darein.
17. Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir.
18. Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott.
19. Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl.
20. Es wollt uns Gott genädig sein.
21. War Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit.
22. Wohl dem, der in Gotten Furcht steht.
D. Paraphrases of other portions of Holy Scripture.
23. Diess sind die heilgen zehn Gebot.
24. Jesaia dem Propheten das geschah.
25. Mensch willt du leben seliglich.
26. Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin.
27. Sie ist mir lieb die werthe Magd.
28. Vater unser im Himmelreich.
E. Hymns mainly Original.
29. Christ lag in Todesbanden.
30. Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam.
31. Ein neues Lied wir heben an.
32. Erhalt uns Herr bei deinem Wort.
33. Jesus Christus unser Heiland, Der den,
34. Nun freut euch lieben Christengemein.
35. Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her.
36. Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schaar.
In addition to these —
37. Fur alien Freuden auf Erden.
38. Kyrie eleison.
In the Blätter fur Hymnologie, 1883, Dr. Daniel arranges Luther's hymns according to what he thinks their adaptation to modern German common use as follows:—
i. Hymns which ought to be included in every good Evangelical hymn-book: Nos. 7-18, 20, 22, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38.
ii. Hymns the reception of which into a hymn-book might be contested: Nos. 2, 3, 4, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 33.
iii. Hymns not suited for a hymn-book: Nos. 1, 5, 6, 27, 31, 37.
[Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Martin Luther
