Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Barbara Tozier, Dave Morgan
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned
images of public domain material from the Google Print
project.)
SACRED HYMNS
FROM THE GERMAN
TRANSLATED BY
FRANCES ELIZABETH COX
"Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp."
Ps. lvii. 9.
LONDON
WILLIAM PICKERING
MDCCCXLI
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND
EDWARD, LORD BISHOP OF SALISBURY,
AND TO HIS EXCELLENCY
CHARLES CHRISTIAN BUNSEN,
ETC. ETC. ETC.
ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY OF HIS PRUSSIAN MAJESTY
TO THE HELVETIC CONFEDERATION,
(FROM WHOSE COLLECTION THESE HYMNS ARE TAKEN,)
THIS LITTLE VOLUME
IS BY PERMISSION RESPECTFULLY AND
GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED.
ADVERTISEMENT.
Germany, since the time of the Reformation, has always had its sacred
poets, whose hymns have formed a beautiful substitute for the Latin ones
of the Roman ritual. English literature, on the contrary, till of late
years, has produced scarcely any devotional pieces, with the exception of
the impressive hymn introduced into our Ordination service, and those few
subjoined to the old version of the Psalms. Bishop Ken set the example of
a more elegant style of sacred song, and latterly there has been no lack
of compositions of the kind, tinged more or less by the theological
school and religious bias of the writers.
The Hymns contained in this little volume vary in date from the
Reformation to the present day; they are taken from the large and
interesting collection of Chevalier Bunsen, and it is hoped that the
translations will be found to give not only a faithful version, but, as
far as the English language will admit, a close expression of the style
and character of the originals, the metres having been retained, in order
to keep up the resemblance as much as possible.
One chief characteristic is their great simplicity; and surely, even in
these days of refinement and laxity, there are still many 'true of
heart,' who can appreciate pious thoughts clothed in simple verse; and if
these Hymns should occasionally awaken a holy train of reflection, or
comfort an afflicted soul, or cause but a few hearts to expand with love
for their Redeemer, the pleasure which has been experienced in
translating them will be followed by heart-felt gratitude to Him, who can
so bless the humblest efforts, as to cause them, in some degree, to
advance his glory.
SACRED HYMNS
GERMAN AND ENGLISH