Johann Rist

Johann Rist
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Short Name: Johann Rist
Full Name: Rist, Johann, 1607-1667
Birth Year: 1607
Death Year: 1667

Rist, Johann, son of Kaspar Rist, pastor at Ottensen, near Hamburg, was born at Ottensen, March 8, 1607, and from his birth was dedicated to the ministry. After passing through the Johanneum at Hamburg and the Gymnasium Illustre at Bremen, he matriculated, in his 21st year, at the University of Rinteln, and there, under Josua Stegmann (q. v.), he received an impulse to hymn-writing. On leaving Rinteln he acted as tutor to the sons of a Hamburg merchant, accompanying them to the University of Rostock, where he himself studied Hebrew, Mathematics and also Medicine.

During his residence at Rostock the terrors, of the Thirty Years War almost emptied the University, and Rist himself also lay there for weeks ill of the pestilence. After his recovery he seems to have spent some time at Hamburg, and then, about Michaelmas, 1633, became tutor in the house of the lawyer (Landschreiber) Heinrich Sager, at Heide, in Holstein. There he betrothed himself to Elizabeth, sister of the Judge Franz Stapfel, whose influence seems to have had a good deal to do with Rist's appointment as pastor at Wedel. In the spring of 1635 he married and settled at Wedel (on the Elbe, a few miles below Hamburg), where, spite of various offers of preferment, he remained till his death, on Aug. 31, 1667. (Johann Rist und seine Zeit, by Dr. T. Hansen, Halle, 1872; K. Goedeke's Grundriss, vol. iii., 1887, p. 79; Koch, iii., 212; Bode, p. 135, &c. The statements of the various authorities regarding the period 1624-1635 vary greatly and irreconcilably.)

During the Thirty Years War Rist had much to endure from famine, plundering, and pestilence. Otherwise he led a patriarchal and happy life at Wedel, close to the congenial society of Hamburg, and as years went on more and more esteemed and honoured by his contemporaries. The Emperor Ferdinand III. crowned him as a poet in 1644, and in 1653 raised him to the nobility, while nearer home Duke Christian of Mecklenburg appointed him Kirchenrath and Consistorialrath. Among other literary honours he was received in 1645 as a member of the Pegnitz Order, and in 1647 as a member of the Fruitbearing Society, the great German literary union of the 17th century; while in 1660 he himself became the founder and head of the Elbe Swan Order, which however did not survive his death.
Rist was an earnest pastor and a true patriot. He of course took the side, and that with all his might, of the Protestants, but he longed as few did for the union of the scattered elements of the body politic in Germany. He was a voluminous and many-sided writer (see the full bibliographies in Hansen and Goedeke as above). His secular works are of great interest to the student of the history of the times, and his occasional poems on marriages, &c, to the genealogist and local historian. Perhaps the most interesting to the general reader are the Friede wünschende Teutschland, 1647, and the Friedejauchzende Teutschland, 1653, two plays in which there are vivid pictures of the times, especially of the condition of the lower classes during the Thirty Years War. These plays, with selections from his other secular poems and from his hymns, are included in his Dichtungen, Leipzig, 1885, edited by Goedeke and E. Goetze. Hansen gives analyses of the secular works, with a few extracts from them; and in his second part gives a full selection from the hymns, often however greatly abridged.

As a hymn-writer Rist takes high rank. He wrote some 680 hymns, intended to cover the whole ground of Theology, and to be used by all ranks and classes, and on all the occasions of life. Naturally enough they are not of equal merit, and many are poor and bombastic. Rist meant them rather for private use than for public worship, and during his lifetime they were never used in the church at Wedel. But they were eagerly caught up, set to melodies by the best musicians of the day, and speedily passed into congregational use all over Germany, while even the Roman Catholics read them with delight. Over 200 may be said to have been in common use in Germany, and a large number still hold their place. Unfortunately many are very long. But speaking of Rist's better productions, we may say that their noble and classical style, their objective Christian faith, their scriptualness, their power to console, to encourage, and to strengthen in trust upon God's Fatherly love, and their fervent love to the Saviour (especially seen in the best of his hymns for Advent, and for the Holy Communion), sufficiently justify the esteem in which they were, and are, held in Germany. The best known of Rist's hymns appeared in the following collections:—

(1) Himlischs Lieder. This contains 50 hymns. The Erste Zehen is dated Lüneburg, 1641, the 2-6 Zehen are dated 1642 [Royal Library, Berlin]. In the later editions Rist made various alterations, and also expanded the titles of the hymns, these changes being almost all for the worse. (2) Neüer himlischer Lieder sonderbahres Buch, Lüneburg, 1651 [Wernigerode Library]. 50 hymns. (3) Sabbahtische Seelenlust, Lüneburg, 1651 [British Museum and Göttingen]. With 58 hymns on the Gospels for Sundays, &c. (4) Frommer und gottseliger Christen alltägliche Haussmusik, Lüneburg, 1654 [Brit. Mus. and Göttingen], with 70 hymns. (5) Neüe musikalische Fest-Andachten, Lüneburg, 1655 [Wernigerode]. With 52 hymns on the Sunday Gospels. (6) Neüe musikalische Katechismus Andachten, Lüneburg, 1656 [British Museum and Wernigerode]. With 50 hymns.

Seven of Rist's hymns are separately noted under their German first lines.

The others which have passed into English are:--
i. Du Lebensbrod, Herr Jesu Christ. Holy Communion. In his Haussmusik, 1654, No. 7, p. 32, in 8 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled "A devotional hymn, which may be sung when the people are about to take their place at the Holy Communion of the Lord." Founded on Ps. xxiii. Included as No. 473 in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863. Translated as:—
Lord Jesu Christ, the living bread. A good translaton of stanzas i., ii., iii., v., by A. T. Russell, as No. 159 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851.
ii. Ehr und Dank sei dir gesungen. On the Angels. In his Fest-Andachten, 1655, No. 46, p. 304, in 9 stanzas of 10 lines, entitled "Another hymn of Praise and Thanksgiving on the same Gospel [S. Matt, xviii.] for St. Michael's Day. In which the great God who created the Angels, and appointed them for our service, is from the heart adored and praised." Included in Burg's Gesang-Buch, Breslau, 1746, No. 219, and in Bunsen's Versuch, 1833, No. 233. The translations in common use are:—
1. Praise and thanks to Thee be sung. By Miss Winkworth, omitting st. iii.—vi., in her Lyra Germanica, 1st Ser., 1855, p. 205, repeated in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 85.
2. Glory, praise, to Thee be sung. A translation of st. i. as No. 1224, in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1886.
iii. Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist. Christmas. Founded on Isaiah ix. 2-7. First published in the Erstes Zehen of his Himlische Lieder, 1641, No. 1, p. 1, in 12 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled "A hymn of praise on the joyful Birth and Incarnation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Included in Crüger's Praxis, 1656, No. 87, and recently, omitting st. viii., as No. 32 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen 1851.
The translations in common use are:—
1. Be cheerful, thou my spirit faint. A translation of st. i. by J. Gambold, as No. 138 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754; repeated as st. i. of No. 437, altered to "Arise my spirit, leap with joy," and with his trs. of st. ii., iv., ix. added. In the edition of 1789, No. 46 (1886, No. 41), it begins, "Arise, my spirit, bless the day.”
2. O Jesu! welcome, gracious Name! This is a translation of st. ii., vi., xii., by A. T. Russell, as No. 55 in his Psalms & Hymns., 1851.
Another translation is "My languid spirit, upward spring." By N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 179.
iv. Gott sei gelobet, der allein. Joy in God. In his Neüer Himlischer Lieder 1651, p. 126, No. 9, in 13 stanzas of 7 lines, entitled “A joyful hymn of Thanksgiving to God, that He permits us to enjoy our daily bread in health, peace and prosperity, with a humble prayer that He would graciously preserve us in the same." Included in Olearius's Singe-Kunst, 1671, No. 322, and recently in Knapp's Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz 1850, No. 1696 (1865, No. 1766). The tr. in common use is:—
Now God be praised, and God alone . By Miss Winkworth, omitting st. iii., vi., viii., ix., in her Christian Singers, 1869, p. 192. Repeated, abridged, in Statham's Collection, Edinburgh, 1869, No. 63 (1870, No. 110).
v. Jesu, der du meine Seele. Lent. In the Erstes Zehen of his Himlische Lieder, 1641, p. 35, No. 7, in 12 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled "A heartfelt hymn of penitence to his most beloved Lord Jesus, for the forgiveness of his many and manifold sins." Founded on prayer viii. in Class in. of J. Arndt's Paradiesgärtlein, 1612. In the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 382.

The translations in common use are:—-
1. Thou hast cancell'd my transgression. A translation of st. vi., viii., as No. 1022, in the Supplement of 1808 to the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801 (1886, No. 107).
2. Jesu! Who in sorrow dying. A free translation of st. i., iii. lines 1-4, v. 11. 5-8, xii., by A. T. Russell, as No. 78 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851.
vi. 0 Jesu, meine Wonne. Holy Communion. This beautiful hymn appears in Rist's Hauss-musik, 1654, No. 9, p. 42, in 14 stanzas of 4 lines, entitled "The heartfelt Thanksgiving of a pious Christian when he has partaken of the Holy Communion." In the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 285.
The translation in common use is:—
0 Sun of my salvation. A good tr. of st. i., iii., v., vi., by A. T. Russell, as No, 160 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851.
Another translation is:—
“0 Christ, my joy, my soul's delight." By Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 65.
vii. Werde licht, du Stadt der Heiden. Epiphany. In his Fest-Andachten , 1655, p. 82, No. 13, in 15 stanzas of 6 lines, entitled "Another festival hymn of the day of the Manifestation of Christ, in which the glorious, godlike, and eternal Light, which has graciously arisen on us poor heathen in thick darkness, is devotedly contemplated." In the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 82. Translated as:—
1. All ye Gentile lands awake. A good tr. of st. i.-iv., vi., vii., xiv. xv., by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 1st Ser., 1855, p. 30. Repeated, abridged, in Schaffs Christ in Song, 1869 aud 1870, and in Flett's Collection, Paisley, 1871.
2. Rise, O Salem, rise and shine. A good translation of stanzas i., iii., vii., xiv., xv., based on her Lyra Germanica version but altered in metre, by Miss Winkworth, in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 38. Repeated in J. L. Porter's Collection, 1876, and the Pennsylvania Lutheran Ch. Book, 1868.
viii. Wie wohl hast du gelabet. Holy Communion. In his Neüer Himlischer Lieder, 1651, p. 78, in 9 stanzas of 12 lines, entitled "A hymn of heartfelt Praise and Thanksgiving after the reception of the Holy Communion." In the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 291. The translation in common use is:—
O Living Bread from Heaven. A good tr., omitting st. iv., by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 103; repeated in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 94, omitting the trsanslations of iii., v., vi. Her translations of st. i.-iii., ix. were included, slightly altered, in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Ch. Book, 1868. The following have also been tr. into English:—
ix. Heut ist das rechte Jubelfest. Whitsuntide. In his Fest-Andachten, 1655, p. 216, No. 33, in 12 stanzas, founded on the Gospel for Whitsunday (St. John xiv.). In Olearius's Singe-Kunst, 1671, No. 704, and Porst's Gesang-Buch, ed. 1855, No. 173. The text translation is that in Bunsen's Allgemeine Gesang-Buch, 1846, No. 114, where it begins with st. v., "Heut hat der grosse Himmeleherr." Translated as "This day sent forth His heralds bold." By Miss Cox, in the Churchman's Shilling Magazine, June 1867.
x. Ich will den Herren loben. Praise and Thanksgiving. Founded on Ps. xxxiv. In his Neüer Himlischer Lieder, 1651, p. 132 (No. 10 in pt. ii.), in 12 st. of 8 1. This form is in Burg's Gesang-Buch, Breslau, 174G, No. 1201. In his Haussmusik, 1654, p. 348, No. 64, Rist rewrote it to 6 stanzas of 12 lines, and of this form st. iv.-vi., beginning "Man lobt dich in der Stille, ed. 1863, No. 1018. The translation from this last text is "To Thee all praise ascendeth." In the British Herald, May 1866, p. 265, repeated in Reid's Praise Book, 1872. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)


Texts by Johann Rist (128)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Ack, hjertans veJ. Rist, d. 1567 (Author)Swedish2
All ye Gentile lands awake!Johann von Rist (Author)English8
Alzarse ya, el reino estáJohann Rist (Author)Spanish2
Är jag allen en främling här på jorden!Rist, d. före 1567 (Author)Swedish2
Arise, arise, ye Christians, The King is drawing nighJohann von Rist (Author)English2
Arise, my soul, sing joyfullyJohann von Rist (Author)English2
Arise, my spirit, bless the dayJohann Rist, 1607-67 (Author)4
Arise, sons of the kingdomJohann von Rist (Author)English11
Arise, the kingdom is at handJohn Rist (Author)English26
Auf, auf, ihr ReichsgenossenJohann von Rist (Author)German50
Author of the whole creationRev. Johann Rist, 1607-1667 (Author)7
Awake, sons of the kingdom, The King is drawing nightJohann von Rist (Author)English5
Awake, thou careless world, awake!Rist (Author)English6
Barmherziger, liebreicher GottJohann Rist (Author)German1
Break forth, O beauteous heavenly lightJohann Rist (Author)English54
Cheer up, faint heart, sing songs, rejoiceJohann Rist (Author)2
Christ doth lead, no longer standRist (Author)2
Dit Navn, o Jesu, lokker migJohan Rist (Author)Norwegian4
Dit Navn, o Jesus, vinker migJohann Rist (Author)Norwegian2
Du Lebensbrot, Herr Jesu ChristJoh. Rist (Author)German38
Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu ChristJohann Rist (Author)German19
Du lifvets bröd, o Jesu Krist!Johann Rist (Author)Swedish2
Du livsens Brød, Immanuel!J. Rist (Translator)Norwegian5
Ehr' und Dank sei dir gesungenJohann von Rist (Author)German3
Einst kommst du prächtig wiederJohann von Rist (Author)German3
Endlich muss das Rund der ErdenJoh. Rist (Author)German3
Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher GeistJohann von Rist (Author)German24
Eternity, most awful wordJohann Rist, 1607-1667 (Author)English3
Eternity, O thunderous wordJohann Rist, 1607-1667 (Author)English2
Eternity, terrific wordJohann von Rist (Author)English7
Eternity, tremendous wordJohann von Rist (Author)English5
Father, merciful and holyJohann Rist (Author)English6
Folget mir, ruft uns das LebenJohann von Rist (Author)German14
Follow me, in me ye liveRist (Author)English5
Freu dich, ängstliches GewissenJohann von Rist (Author)German21
Frohlocket jetzt mit HändenJohann Rist (Author)German2
Gif, o Jesu! fröjd och lyckaJohann Rist (Author)Swedish3
Glory, praise, to thee be givenJohann von Rist (Author)3
Gott, der Du selber bist das LichtJohann von Rist (Author)German9
Gud Lad os bære megen FrugtJohan Rist (Author)Norwegian4
Hast du denn, Jesu, dein AngesichtJohann von Rist (Author)German12
Help, Lord Jesus, let Thy blessingJohann von Rist (Author)English3
Help us, O Lord, behold we enterJohann von Rist (Author)English22
Herr Jesu Christ, mein Trost und LichtJohann Rist (Author)German8
Heut' ist das rechte JubelfestJohann von Rist (Author)German14
Hilf, Herr Jesu, lass gelingen, hilf, das neue Jahr geht anJohann von Rist (Author)German72
Ich will den Herren loben, Sein herrlich Lob soll immerdarJohann von Rist (Author)German2
Ihr wunderschönen GeisterJohann von Rist (Author)German17
Jesu, der du meine Seele hast durch deinen bittern TodJohann von Rist (Author)German41
Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben, Meiner Seelen bräutigamJohann von Rist (Author)German24
Jesu, grant us thy assistanceJohann von Rist (Author)2
Jesus, Livets rige KildeJohann von Rist (Author)Norwegian4
Jesu, meiner Seelen RuhJoh. Rist (Author (attributed to))German1
Jesu! who in sorrow dyingJ. Rist (Author)English3
Jesus, du mit Liv i LivetJohann Rist (Author)Norwegian2
Jesus som min Sjæl saa troligJohann Rist (Author)Norwegian2
Jezisi, kteryzs mou dusiJohann von Rist (Author)2
Lass endlich bei des Lammes TischJohann Rist (Author)German7
Lasset uns den Herren preisen, o ihr ChristenJohann von Rist (Author)German8
Lasst uns mit Ernst betrachtenJohann von Rist (Author)German7
Liebster Jesu, sei gegrüßetJohann Rist (Author)German3
Lo he on whom all power is laidJohann von Rist (Author)3
Lord Jesus Christ, Thou living BreadJohann von Rist (Author)English7
Man lobt dich in der Stille, du großer hocherhab'ner Gott!Johann von Rist (Author)German31
Mein Gott, dir will ich singenJohann von Rist (Author)German2
Mein Gott, ich lob' und preise dichJoh. Rist (Author)German5
Mein Gott, sei hochgepreisetJoh. Rist (Author)German3
Mein Heiland sitzet drobenJohann Rist (Author)German1
Now, courage take, my trembling soulJohann Rest (Author)English2
Nu velan, vær frisk tilmodeJohann Rist (Author)Norwegian2
Nun gibt mein Jesus gute NachtJohann Rist (Author)German19
Nun ist die Mahlzeit auch vollbrachtJohann von Rist (Author)German5
O boundless griefJohann von Rist (Author)English3
O darkest woe! Ye tears forth flowJohann Rist, 1607-67 (Author (st. 2-7))English31
O darkest woe! Tears overflowJohann Rist (Author (sts. 2-7))English2
O deepest grief, which the reliefJohann von Rist (Author)2
O deepest grief, which the relief Of mankind hath procuredJohann von Rist (Author)2
O du majestätisch WesenRist (?) (Author)German1
O duse ma, rozpomen seJohann von Rist (Author)2
O evighet, din längd mig fast försträckerJ. Rist, d. 1667 (Author)Swedish2
O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort!J. Rist (Author)German65
O Hjertens VeJoh. Rist (Author)Norwegian6
O hvad er det en HerrestandJohann Rist (Author)Norwegian2
O Jesu, meine Wonne, Du meiner Seelen SonneJohann Rist (Author)German34
O Jesu, welcome, gracious guest [name]J. Rist (Author)English3
O Jesus Christ, thou bread of lifeJohann von Rist (Author)5
O Living Bread from heaven, How hast thou fed thy guestJohann Rist, 1607-67 (Author)English31
O, ry Jesosy, ny AnaranaoJ. Rist (Author)Malagasy2
O sorrow deep!Johann Rist, 1607-1667 (Author (st. 4))English6
O tezkosti, O zalostiJohann von Rist (Author)2
O Traurigkeit, o HerzeleidJohann von Rist (Author)German42
O Traurigkeit, zu Trost und FreudJohann von Rist (Author)German2
O Vater aller GnadenJohann von Rist (Author)German2
O welch ein unschätzbares Gut, Herr, ist ein rein GewissenJ. Rist, geb. 1670 (Author)German1
O welch ein unvergleichlich GutJohann von Rist (Author)German8
O żalości! O gorzkościks. Johann Rist (Author (sts. 2-6))Polish2
Ocknij się, o duszo mojaks. Johann Rist (Author)Polish2
Povstantez, o krest'aneJohann von Rist (Author)2
Powstańcie, chrześcijanieJohann Rist (Author)Polish2
Praise and thanks to Thee be sungJohann von Rist (Author)English5
Praise the Lord with hearts and voices, Christian people over the earthJohann Rist, 1607-67 (Author)English3
Probudiz se duch muoj ve mneJohann von Rist (Author)2
Rise, children of the kingdomJohann von Rist (Author)English3
Rise, O Salem, rise and shine!Rist (Author)English11
Rouse thyself, my soul, and gatherJohann von Rist (Author)English3
Savior, meet it is indeedJohann von Rist (Author)English2
Sink not yet, my soul, to slumberRist (Author)English12
Slaar sammen alle hænderJohann Rist (Author)Norwegian5
Slovo hromu jsi, vecnostiJohann von Rist (Author)2
Soul of mine, to God awakingJohann von Rist (Author)2
Thou hast cancelled my transgressionJohann von Rist (Author)4
To Thee all praise ascendethJohann von Rist (Author)English5
Vær nu glad og vel til Mode Johann Rist (Author)Norwegian4
Var nu redo, själ och tungaJ. Rist, d. 1567 (Author)Swedish2
Vorder lys I hedninglandeJohan Rist (Author)Norwegian5
Wach auf, o Mensch, vom SündenschlafJohann Rist (Author)German2
Wach auf, wach auf, du sich're WeltJohann von Rist (Author)5
Werde Licht, du Stadt der HeidenJohann von Rist (Author)German9
Werde Licht, du Volk der HeidenJohann von Rist (Author)German15
Werde munter, mein GemüteJohann von Rist (Author)German75
Wie bist Du doch so fromm und gut, Herr GottJohann von Rist (Author)German4
Wie tröstlich hat dein treuer MundJohann von Rist (Author)German12
Wir wohl hast du gelabet, o liebater JesuJohann von Rist (Author)German10
Wieczności jakież gromy śleszks. Johann Rist (Author)Polish2
With all my heart I praise you, LordJohann Rist, 1607-1667 (Author)English2
Wo ist doch eine Not der WeltJohann Rist (Author)German8
Yield not yet, my soul, to slumberJohann von Rist (Author)2
Zdaliz, o Jezu, svuoj oblicejJohann von Rist (Author)2
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