… Schwenkfelder Hymn “Because the body is full rested”
Since the time of Caspar Schwenckfeld, Schwenkfelders in Silesia had made use of one of the earliest Protestant hymnals – a German translation of the hymn book published by the Bohemian Brethren. Around 1700 the Schwenkfelders began to collect what they thought were the best hymns from several sources and copied them into huge manuscripts. Finally in 1762 they published their own hymnal on the Christopher Sauer press in Germantown. This hymnal contained not only their favorite Bohemian Brethren hymns, but hymns written by themselves. The leading hymn writer was Balthasar Hoffmann (1687-1775) who contributed 36 hymns to this collection of some 900 pieces.
Hymn singing was an integral part of Schwenkfelder devotions. Some hymn singing was congregational, but individual Schwenkfelders made hymn singing a significant part of their private devotions. They sang (and a few wrote) all kinds of hymns. A part of their daily hymn singing included hymns for different activities. There are, for example, several hymns to choose from for getting up in the morning. The following hymn is one of these.
Written by Balthasar Hoffmann in 1728, it is number 792 in the 1762 hymnal. It is short – just 5 verses – and sung to the tune “von Adam her so lange.” It appears in the section of “Morning Hymns.” This section is introduced with the words: “Upon getting up at dawn God is heartily thanked for His protection through the night, and at the emerging temporal light God is remembered as the true, eternal light, and He is heartily urged to continue protection and inner illumination and is prayed to for a Christian life.”
1. WEil ausgeruhet hat der Leib,
im Bette Er nicht länger bleib:
Der Vater uns woll wohnen bey,
zu singen Ihm ein Melodey: |
Because the body is full rested,
It will no longer stay in bed:
May the Father with us still stay,
As we to Him intone our song. |
2. Dir soll lobsingen unser Mund;
Dich bitten wir von Hertzengrund:
Gieb uns ein’n glücklichen Anfang,
zu allem Thun guten Ausgang. |
Our mouth is to sing Thee praises,
From the depths of our hearts we pray:
Bestow a prosperous beginning;
A pleasant end to every act. |
3. Die Finsternis nun weich dem Licht,
die Nacht den Tag verdunckel nicht,
daß was gesündigt hat die Nacht,
des Tags werd wieder rein gebracht. |
Darkness now gives way to light,
The night does not darken the day.
What ever sin occurred at night
Let it be made pure by day. |
4. Wir bitten mit Demüthigkeit:
Wend ab die Sünd und all Boßheit,
daß wir Dich, HErr! Zu aller Stund,
ewig loben mit Hertz und Mund. |
We pray with humility:
Ward off all sin and evil,
That we, Lord, every hour praise,
Thee evermore with heart and mouth. |
5. F Gütigster Vater steh uns bey!
Dein Sohn Der, Vater! Dir ist gleich,
samt dem Tröster, dem heil’gen Geist,
jetzt und in ewig Ewigkeit. |
Most gracious Father, stand by us!
Thy Son, Father, the same as Thou
And our comforter, the Holy Spirit
Now and forever and ever. |
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