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Why halt thus, O deluded heart

Author: Lehr; Catherine Winkworth Appears in 2 hymnals

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Why halt thus, O deluded heart

Author: Catherine Winkworth; Lehr Hymnal: Lyra Germanica #60 (1861) Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8.2 Lyrics: Why halt thus, O deluded heart, Why waver longer in thy choice? Is it so hard to choose the part Offered by Heaven's entreating voice? Oh look with clearer eyes again, Nor strive to enter in, in vain. Press on! Remember, 'tis not Caesar's throne, Nor earthly honour, wealth or might Whereby God's favour shall be show To him who conquers in the fight; Himself and an eternity Of bliss and rest he offers thee. Press on! God crowneth no divided heart; To Him oh hallow all thy life! Who loveth Jesus but in part, he works himself much pain and strife, And gains what he deserveth well, Here conflict, and hereafter hell. Press on! Who wrestling long, with many a cry Can bid farewell at last to all, Yet ever loves the Lord most High, Loves Him alone whate'er befall, Is counted worthy of the crown, And on a kingly throne set down. Press on! Then break the rotten bonds away That hinder you your race to run, That make you linger oft and stay; Oh be your course afresh begun! Let no false rest your soul deceive, Up! 'tis a Heaven ye must receive! Press on! Omnipotence is on your side, And Wisdom watches o'er your heads, And God Himself will be your guide So ye but follow where He leads; How many guided by His hand, Have reached ere now their father-land! Press on! Nor let the body dull the soul, Its weakness, fears, and sloth despise; Man toils and roams from pole to pole To gain some earthly fleeting prize, The Highest Good he little cares To win, or striving soon despairs. Press on! Oh help each other, hasten on, Behold the goal is nigh at hand; The battle-field shall soon be won, Your King shall soon before you stand! To calmest rest He leads you now, And sets His crown upon your brow. Press on! Languages: English

Why halt thus, O deluded heart

Author: Lehr; Catherine Winkworth Hymnal: Lyra Germanica #S1-60 (1881) Languages: English

People

Authors, composers, editors, etc.

Catherine Winkworth

1827 - 1878 Translator of "Why halt thus, O deluded heart" 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 in many modern hymnals. Her work was published in two series of Lyra Germanica (1855, 1858) and in The Chorale Book for England (1863), which included the appropriate German tune with each text as provided by Sterndale Bennett and Otto Goldschmidt. Winkworth also translated biographies of German Christians who promoted ministries to the poor and sick and compiled a handbook of biographies of German hymn authors, Christian Singers of Germany (1869). Bert Polman ======================== Winkworth, Catherine, daughter of Henry Winkworth, of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, was born in London, Sep. 13, 1829. Most of her early life was spent in the neighbourhood of Manchester. Subsequently she removed with the family to Clifton, near Bristol. She died suddenly of heart disease, at Monnetier, in Savoy, in July, 1878. Miss Winkworth published:— Translations from the German of the Life of Pastor Fliedner, the Founder of the Sisterhood of Protestant Deaconesses at Kaiserworth, 1861; and of the Life of Amelia Sieveking, 1863. Her sympathy with practical efforts for the benefit of women, and with a pure devotional life, as seen in these translations, received from her the most practical illustration possible in the deep and active interest which she took in educational work in connection with the Clifton Association for the Higher Education of Women, and kindred societies there and elsewhere. Our interest, however, is mainly centred in her hymnological work as embodied in her:— (1) Lyra Germanica, 1st Ser., 1855. (2) Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858. (3) The Chorale Book for England (containing translations from the German, together with music), 1863; and (4) her charming biographical work, the Christian Singers of Germany, 1869. In a sympathetic article on Miss Winkworth in the Inquirer of July 20, 1878, Dr. Martineau says:— "The translations contained in these volumes are invariably faithful, and for the most part both terse and delicate; and an admirable art is applied to the management of complex and difficult versification. They have not quite the fire of John Wesley's versions of Moravian hymns, or the wonderful fusion and reproduction of thought which may be found in Coleridge. But if less flowing they are more conscientious than either, and attain a result as poetical as severe exactitude admits, being only a little short of ‘native music'" Dr. Percival, then Principal of Clifton College, also wrote concerning her (in the Bristol Times and Mirror), in July, 1878:— "She was a person of remarkable intellectual and social gifts, and very unusual attainments; but what specially distinguished her was her combination of rare ability and great knowledge with a certain tender and sympathetic refinement which constitutes the special charm of the true womanly character." Dr. Martineau (as above) says her religious life afforded "a happy example of the piety which the Church of England discipline may implant.....The fast hold she retained of her discipleship of Christ was no example of ‘feminine simplicity,' carrying on the childish mind into maturer years, but the clear allegiance of a firm mind, familiar with the pretensions of non-Christian schools, well able to test them, and undiverted by them from her first love." Miss Winkworth, although not the earliest of modern translators from the German into English, is certainly the foremost in rank and popularity. Her translations are the most widely used of any from that language, and have had more to do with the modern revival of the English use of German hymns than the versions of any other writer. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ============================ See also in: Hymn Writers of the Church

Leopold Franz Friedrich Lehr

1709 - 1744 Author of "Why halt thus, O deluded heart" Lehr, Leopold Franz Friedrich, son of Johann Jakob Lehr, Hofrath at Cronenburg (Cronberg, Kronberg), near Frankfurt-am-Main, was born at Cronenburg, Sept. 3, 1709, and entered the University of Jena in 1729, In 1730 he went to Halle to study under J. J. Rambach and G. A. Francke; and here he also acted as tutor to the children of J. A. Freylinghausen, and conducted devotional meetings at the Orphanage. In July 1731 he became a tutor at Cöthen (Köthen) to the princesses of Anhalt-Cöthen, and held this post till 1740, when he was appointed diaconus of the Lutheran church at Cöthen. While on a visit to his father-in-law at Magdeburg he was seized with fever, and died there, Jan. 26, 1744. (Koch, vi. 446, &c.) Lehr's hymns are full of love to Christ and of the wonders of the redeeming grace of God. They are allied to those of Allendorf (q.v.), and were also mostly contributed to the Cöthnische Lieder (p. 50, ii.). of which he was joint editor. In 1757 they were edited along with his other poetical works as his Himlisches Vergnügen in Gott und Christo, Halle, 1757. [Wernigerode Library] by Samuel Helmich, then court preacher at Glückstadt, Holstein, who had married Lehr's widow. Those which have passed into English are:— i. Mein Heiland nimmt die Sünder an. Lent, or The Friend of Sinners. Written in 1731 or 1732 as a companion to the hymn "Jesus nimmt die Sünder an" [see Neumeister]. First published in the Einige geistreiche Lieder, Cöthen, 1733, No. 9, in 11 stanzas of 10 lines, entitled "Luke xv. 2. This Jesus receiveth sinners and eateth with them." Included in J. J. Rambach's Haus Gesang-Buch 1735, No. 264, the Berlin Geistlicher Lieder Schatz, ed. 1863, No. 114, &c. The translations are:— (1) "My Saviour sinners doth receive, Whom with sin's." This is No. 217 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789. In the ed. of 1886, No. 258 begins with st. viii., "Come, all that heavy laden are." (2.) "My Saviour sinners doth receive, Whom under burden," by Dr. John Ker in the United Presbyterian Juvenile Missionary Magazine, May, 1858. ii. So hab' ich nun den Pels erreichet. The Rock of Ages. 1733 as above, No. 4, in 6 stanzas of 10 lines, entitled " Is. xxvi. 4. The Lord is a rock for ever " (so Luther's version). In Rambach's Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 303, and the Berlin Geistlicher Lieder Schatz. ed. 1863. The translations are:— (1) "I now have found the Rock of Ages," by Dr. H. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 84). (2) "I have at last attained the Rock," by Mitt Warner, 1869, p. 34. iii. Was hinket ihr, betrogne Seelen. Confirmation. An exhortation to true and whole-hearted earnestness, founded on 1 Kings xviii. 21. 1733 as above, No. 1, in 12 stanzas of 6 lines, and the refrain "Hindurch." In J. J. Rambach's Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 338, and the Unverfälschter Liedersegen 1851, No. 345. Translated as:— “Why haltest thus, deluded heart," by Miss Winkworth, 1855, p. 142 (1856, p. 143, beginning "Why halt thus, O deluded heart"). [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)