The hymn appeared first in Hiller’s Geistliches Liederkästlein, Part II, 1767, with the following note by the author:
An unconverted person is much too proud to say these words sincerely from the heart; but the converted person confesses them freely before God and man.
For comments on the author, Philipp Friedrich Hiller, see [Hymn 524]. The hymn is credited, erroneously, to Gerhard Tersteegen, in the Hymnary.
A number of Hiller’s hymns have been translated but this one apparently had never before been put into English. Our translation, consisting of stanzas 1, 2, 4, and 5, was made especially for the Hymnary by Sister Frieda Kaufman who was for many years associated with the Bethel Deaconess Hospital, Newton, Kansas. Sister Frieda was born near Basel, Switzerland; came with her parents to Halstead, Kansas; and attended Bethel College. After graduating from a nursing course in Cincinnati, Ohio, she received her deaconess garb and has since been known as “Sister Frieda.” From 1908 to 1943 she served as sister-in-charge of the hospital and during much of that time served also as its superintendent. She had much to do with the planning of the Home for the Aged which is operated in connection with the hospital. To these two institutions she devoted her rare gifts and set for them a high standard of Christian service. Sister Frieda had unusual literary and artistic endowments and translated several German hymns into English.
MUSIC. ERBARMUNG is a popular Swiss melody which appeared anonymously in the Gesangbuch mit Noten. It was composed by Johann Gottfried Schicht, 1753-1823, who was born in Zittau. Schicht composed 3 oratorios, church and chamber music, and edited Bach’s motets. He became cantor of the Thomasschule in Leipzig in 1810.
563. Strive aright when God doth call thee
Johann J. Winckler, 1670-1722
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-78
1.
Ringe recht, wenn Gottes Gnade