Wie soll ich dich empfangen.--(Goed. 25.)

[Advent.]

First published in Crü.--Runge, 1653, no. 77, in 10 stanzas of 8 lines; thence in Wackernagel: no. 3; Bachmann: no. 22; Unv. L. S.: 1851, no. 21. Cf. Koch IV, 119 ff.

The hymn is founded on St. Matthew XXI, 1-9, the Gospel for the first Sunday in Advent. It is one of Gerhardt's finest productions, and is probably the best German Advent hymn. It is inferable from stanzas VI-IX that the poem was written during the Thirty Years' War. The entire first stanza has been set to music by Bach in the Weihnachtsoratorium, Part I.

English Versions:

1. How shall I meet my Savior.

A translation in full, by J. C. Jacobi, in his Psalmodia Germanica, 722, p. 3 (1732, slightly altered). Included in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754, and also in later editions with alterations. Varying centos of this version are found in Montgomery's Christian Psalmist, 1825; Dr. Pagenstecher's Collections, 1864; and Bishop Ryle's Collection, 1860. Other forms are:

(a.) "We go to meet Thee, Savior" (stanza I altered), in Reid's Praise Book, 1872, mainly from the Moravian H. Bk., 1801.

(b.) "Love caused Thine Incarnation" (stanza V altered), in Walker's Collection, 1855, and Snepp's Songs of G. and G., 1872, from the Moravian H. Bk., 1801.

2. Oh, how shall I receive Thee.

A good translation of stanzas I, II, VII, VIII, X, by A. T. Russell in his Ps. and Hys., 1851, no. 36. Repeated in Kennedy, 1863, and the People's H., 1867; and abridged in J. L. Porter's Collection, 1876; H. and Songs of Praise, N. Y., 1874; Laudes Domini, N. Y., 1884, etc.

3. Oh! how shall I receive Thee.

In the 1857 ed. of Mercer's C. P. and H. Bk. Stanzas 1, 2, are based on A. T. Russell's version and stanzas 3, 4, 5 (Gerhardt's IV, V, VI), are based on Jacobi, as altered in the Moravian H. Bk., 1801. Altered forms have appeared in other hymnals.

4. Ah! Lord, how shall I meet thee.

A translation of stanzas I, II, V, VI, VIII, X, by Miss Winkworth, in her C. B. for England, 1863, no. 21.

5. Say with what salutations.

In full by J. Kelly, 1867, p. 10; repeated, abridged, in the Ohio Luth. Hyl., 1880.

6. Lord, how shall I be meeting.

J. W. Alexander, in Schaff's Kirchenfreund, 1850, p. 176, and his Christ in Song, 1869, p. 20, and his own Breaking Crucible, 1861, p. 11.

7. How shall I meet Thee? How my heart.

Miss Winkworth, 1855, p. 7.

8. How shall I come to meet Thee.

Miss Manington, 1863, p. 65.

9. Lord, how shall I receive Thee.

R. Massie, 1864, p. 93.