Wie soil ich dich empfangen? P. Gerhardt. [Advent.] First published in the Crüger-Runge Gesang-Buch, 1653, No. 77, in 10 stanzaa of 8 lines, reprinted in Wackernagel's edition of Gerhardt's Geistliche Lieder, No. 3, Bachmann's edition, No. 22, and the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 21. It is founded on St. Matt. xxi. 1-9, the Gospel for the first Sunday in Advent. The allusions in stanzas vi.-ix. would suggest that it was written during the Thirty Years' War. It is one of Gerhardt's finest productions, and is probably the best German Advent hymn. Translated as:—
1. How shall I meet my Saviour. In full, by J. C. Jacobi, in his Psalmodia Germanica, 1722, p. 3 (1732, p. 3, slightly altered). Included in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754, and repeated, altered, in later editions (1886, No. 33). Varying centos under the original first line, but from the Moravian text, are found in Montgomery's Christian Psalmist, 1825, Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, Latrobe's Psalms & Hymns, 1841, and Bishop Kyle's Collection, 1860. Other forms are (see also No. 3):—
(1) We go to meet Thee, Saviour (stanza i. alt.), in Reid's Praise Book, 1872, mainly from the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801.
(2) Love caused Thine Incarnation (stanza v. alt.), in Walker's Collection, 1855, and Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, from the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801.
2. Oh, how shall I receive Thee. A good translated of stanzas i., ii., vii., viii., x., by A. T. Russell, as No. 36 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. Repeated in Kennedy, 1863, and the People's Hymnal, 1867; and abridged in J. L. Porter's Collection, 1876, Hymns & Songs of Praise, N. Y., 1874, Laudes Domini, N. Y., 1884, &c.
3. Oh! how shall I receive Thee. This is No. 5 in the edition, 1857, of Mercer's Church Psalm & Hymn Book. Stanzas i., ii., are based on Russell, and stanzas iii.-v. (representing iv.-vi.), are based on Jacobi, as altered in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801. Slightly altered in Mercer, 1859, and thence in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868; and (omitting translated of stanza iv.) in Mercer's Oxford edition, 1864.
4. Ah I Lord, how shall I meet Thee. A translated of stanzas i., ii., v., vi., viii., x., by Miss Winkworth, in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 21.
5. Say with what salutations. In full, by J. Kelly, in his P. Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs, 1867, p. 10; repeated, abridged, in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880.
Other translations are: (1) "Lord, how shall I be meeting," by Dr. J. W. Alexander, in Schaff’s Kirchenfreund, 1850, p. 176, and in his Christ in Song, 1869, p. 20, and his own Breaking Crucible, 1861, p. 11. (2) “How shall I meet Thee? How my heart," by Miss Winkmorth, 1855, p. 7. (3) "How shall I come to meet Thee," by Miss Manington, 1863, p. 65. (4) "Lord, how shall I receive Thee," by B. Massie, 1864, p. 93. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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