Well for him who all things losing

Representative Text

1 Well for him who all things losing,
Even himself doth count as naught,
Still the one thing needful choosing,
That with all true bliss is fraught!

2 Well for him who all forsaking,
Walketh not in shadows vain,
But the path of peace is taking
Through this vale of tears and pain!

3 O that we our hearts might sever
From earth's tempting vanities,
Fixing them on Him for ever,
In whom all our fulness lies!

4 O that ne'er our eyes might wander
From our God: so might we cease
Ever o'er our sins to ponder,
And our conscience be at peace!

5 Thou Abyss of love and goodness,
Draw us by Thy Cross to Thee,
That our senses, soul and spirit,
Ever one with Christ may be!

Source: Church Book: for the use of Evangelical Lutheran congregations #451

Author: Gottfried Arnold

Arnold, Gottfried, son of Gottfried Arnold, sixth master of the Town School of Annaberg in the Saxon Harz, born at Annaberg Sept. 5, 1666. His life was varied and eventful, and although much of it had little to do with hymnody from an English point of view, yet his position in German Hymnology is such as to necessitate an extended notice, which, through pressure of space, must be (typographically) compressed. After passing through the Town School and the Gymnasium at Gera, he matriculated in 1685 at the University of Wittenberg—where he found the strictest Lutheran orthodoxy in doctrine combined with the loosest of living. Preserved by his enthusiasm for study from the grosser vices of his fellows, turning to contemplate the lives of t… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Well for him who all things losing
German Title: O der alles hält' verloren
Author: Gottfried Arnold
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1855)
Meter: 9.8.9.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

RATHBUN

This story is associated with the writing of RATHBUN: One Sunday in 1849 Ithamar Conkey (b. Shutesbury, MA, 1815; d. Elizabeth, NJ, 1867) walked out of the morning service at Central Baptist Church, Norwich, Connecticut, where he was choir director and organist, frustrated because only one soprano f…

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ZION (Hastings)


ST. ANDREW (Macfarren)


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 22 of 22)
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Chorale Book for England, The #132

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Christian Science Hymnal #a115

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Christian Science Hymnal #aa115

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Christian Science Hymnal #115a

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Christian Science Hymnal #115b

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Christian Science Hymnal #115c

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Christian Science Hymnal #115

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Church Book #451

Hymn Service No.3 #d96

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #492

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #492

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Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church #455

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Hymns for the use of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, by the Authority of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania #481

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Lyra Germanica #134

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Lyra Germanica #57

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Lyra Germanica #S1-57

The Advent Christian Hymnal #d969

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Christian Science Hymnal (Rev. and enl.) #380

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Christian Science Hymnal #115

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Church Book #451

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Song-Hymnal of Praise and Joy #274

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