Rist, Johann Von

Rist, Johann Von a German hymn-writer, was born March 8, 1607, at Pinneburg, Holstein, and died August 31, 1667. He is the author of about six hundred and fifty- eight religious hymns and poems. Some are, indeed, of little value; but very many of them are really good, and some belong to the first rank. They were even read with delight among Roman Catholics, and an empress once lamented "that it were a great pity if the writer of such hymns should be sent to hell." Rist was very much honored, and attained the highest titles in Church and State open to a clergyman, and the emperor honored him in 1654 with the crown of poet-laureate and a patent of nobility. Quite a number of Rist's hymns have been translated into English, as "Auf, auf, ihr Reichsgenossen" ( Lyra Germ. 2L23): — "Wach' auf, wach' auf, du sich're Welt" (ibid. 1:4): — "Wie wohl hast du gelabet" (ibid. 2:144): — "Folget mir. ruft uns das Leben" (ibid. 1:188): — "Werde munter mein Gemuthe" (ibid. 2:112): — "Ehr' und Dank sei dir gesungen" (ibid. 1:205): — "O Traurigkeit, O Herzeleid" (Christian Singers, page 191): — "Werde Licht, du Volk der Heiden" (ibid. page 30): — "Gott sei gelobet, der alleine" (ibid. page 192): — "O Ewigkeit du Donnerwort" (Jacobi, Psalmodia Germ. 1:97). (B.P.)