Christi Blut und Gerechtigkeit. N. L. von Zinzendorf. [Redemption.] This fine hymn was written in 1739, during his return journey from St. Thomas's in the West Indies, and first published 1739, in Appendix viii. to the Herrnhut Gesang-Buch, 1735, as No. 1258, in 33 stanzas of 4 lines. In Knapp's edition of Z.'s Geistliche Lieder, 1845, p. 135, it is marked as "On St. Eustachius," which has been interpreted to mean that it was written on the island of St. Eustatius, in the Dutch West Indies, but quite as probably means that it was written on St. Eustachius's day, viz. on March 29, 1739. In the Brüder Gesang-Buch, 1778, No. 399, reduced to 20 stanzas, and thus as No. 1261 in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863. Stanza i. is taken from the hymn, "In Christi Wunden schlaf ich ein," ascribed to Paul Eber (q. v.).
Translations in common use:—
i. Jesu, Thy blood and righteousness, a spirited but rather free translation, omitting stanzas 6, 11, 13, 22, 23, 25-28, by J. Wesley, in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1740 (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. i. p. 346). Of these 24 stanzas 16 were adopted in the Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1753, No. 68, and 11 (1, 2, 6-8, 12, 13, 21-24) in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, No. 183 (ed. 1875, No. 190). In most collections it is still further abridged. The most usual cento is that given by M. Madan, in the 2nd ed., 1763, of his Psalms and Hymns, No. 175, which is of Wesley's stanzas 1, 12, 2, 13, 15, 24. This is found in Bickersteth's Christian Psalter, 1833, and has been recently given, omitting stanza xiii., in Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1876; Irish Church Hymnal, 1873; Spurgeon's Our Own Hymn Book, 1866; Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Hymn Book, 1868, and other collections. Among the various British and American hymnals which begin with Wesley's first line, the other stanzas used for making centos are taken from the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780 (6-8, 21-23).
The hymn is also found under these first lines:
1. Jesus, Thy robe of righteousness (stanza i.) in the Congregational Hymn Book, 183G ; Leeds Hymn Book, 1853; New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859; Baptist Psalms & Hymns, 1858, &c.
2. Jesus! Thy perfect righteousness (stanza i.), in Cotterill's Selection, 1810-19.
3. Jesus, Thy grace and righteousness (stanza i.), in Methodist New Connexion, 1847.
4. Lord, Thy imputed righteousness (stanza i.), in American Dutch Reformed Collection, 1847.
5. The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb (stanza vi.), in American Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858.
6. Lord, I believe Thy precious blood (stanza vii.), in Pennsylvania Lutheran Hymn Book, 1865.
7. Lord, I believe were sinners more (stanza viii.), in Evangelical Union Hymnal, 1878.
8. Jesus, be endless praise to Thee (stanza xxi.), in H. L. Hastings's Hymnal, 1880.
9. Jesus, the Lord, my righteousness (stanza i.), in The Enlarged London Hymn Book, 1879.
ii. Christ's crimson blood and righteousness, a translation of stanzas i., xiv., xv., xxx., by E. Cronenwett, as No. 260 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880.
Another translation is:—
"The Saviour's Blood and Righteousness," by C. Kinchen as No. 131 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1742, and repeated, abridged, in later eds. (1886, No. 318). [Rev. John Julian, D.D.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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