Courage, my sorely-tempted heart!

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Courage, my sorely tempted heart

Author: Justus Henning Böhmer (1704); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Tune: GREGOR'S 54TH METRE
Published in 7 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

Courage, my sorely-tempted heart!
Break through thy woes, forget their smart;
Come forth and on thy Bridegroom gaze,
The Lamb of God, the Fount of grace;
Here is thy place!

His arms are open, thither flee!
There rest and peace are waiting thee,
The deathless crown of righteousness,
The entrance to eternal bliss;
He gives thee this!

Then combat well, of nought afraid,
For thus His follower thou art made,
Each battle teaches thee to fight,
Each foe to be a braver knight,
Arm'd with His might.

If storms of fierce temptation rise,
Unmoved I'll face the frowning skies;
If but the heart is true indeed,
Christ will be with me in my need,--
His own could bleed.

I flee away to Thy dear Cross,
For hope is there for every loss,
Healing for every wound and woe,
There all the strength of love I know,
And feel its glow.

Before the Holy One I fall,
The Eternal Sacrifice for all;
His death has freed us from our load,
Peace on the anguish'd soul bestow'd,
Brought us to God.

How then thould I go mourning on?
I look to Thee,--my fears are gone,
With Thee is rest that cannot cease,
For Thou hast wrought us full release,
And made our peace.

Thy word hath still its glorious powers,
The noblest cbivalry is ours;
O Thou, for whom to die is gain,
Bring Thee here my all, oh deign
T'accept and reign!

Source: Chorale Book for England, The #126

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Author: Justus Henning Böhmer

Bohmer, Just Henning, s. of Valentin Bohmer, advocate of Hannover, b. at Hannover, Jan. 29, 1674. After studying Law at the Universities at Jena, Rinteln, and Halle, he graduated at Halle in 1698, and began to lecture in 1699. In 1701 he was appointed Professor extraordinary, in 1702 Doctor, and and in 1711 ordinary Professor of Law, at Halle. He subsequently received many honour?, being appointed in 1731 Director of the University of Halle, in 1743 Chaucellor of the Duciiy of Magdeburg, &c, and was reckoned a very high authority especially in ecclesiastical law. While lecturing to his students, Aug. 8, 1749, he suddenly became ill, and after a stroke of palsy, d. Aug. 23, 1749. (Koch, iv. 373-375; Allg. Deutsche Biog. f iii. 79-81, the lat… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

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 i… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Courage, my sorely tempted heart
Title:	Courage, my sorely-tempted heart!
German Title:	Brich durch, mein angefochtnes Herz
Author:	Justus Henning Böhmer (1704)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

i. Brick durch, mein angefochtnes Herz. [Passiontide.] 1st pub. 1704, as above, No. 646, in 14 stanzas of 5 lines, repeated as No. 218 in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder ed. 1863. Translated as:—
Courage, my sorely tempted heart! A good translation by Miss Winkworth of stanzas i.-iii., vi., ix., xii.-xiv. in the 2nd Series of her Lyra Germanica 1858, p. 143, repeated as No. 126 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863. In Schaff’s Christ in Song, ed. 1879, p. 356.

-John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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