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diff --git a/29666.txt b/29666.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ca9d53 --- /dev/null +++ b/29666.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7429 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark, by +Jens Christian Aaberg + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark + +Author: Jens Christian Aaberg + +Release Date: August 11, 2009 [EBook #29666] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HYMNS AND HYMNWRITERS OF DENMARK *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and Ken Jentsch + + + + + + + + + + Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark + + + By + J. C. AABERG + + Published by + The Committee on Publication + of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America + Des Moines, Ia. + 1945 + + Copyright 1945 + The Danish Ev. Luth. Church In America + + Printed in Lutheran Publishing House + Blair, Nebr. + + + + + Foreword + + +This book deals with a subject which is new to most English readers. For +though Danish hymnody long ago became favorably known in Northern Europe, +no adequate presentation of the subject has appeared in English. Newer +American Lutheran hymnals contain a number of Danish hymns, some of which +have gained considerable popularity, but the subject as a whole has not +been presented. + +A hymn is a child both of its author and of the time in which he lived. A +proper knowledge of the writer and the age that gave it birth will +enhance our understanding both of the hymn and of the spiritual movement +it represents. No other branches of literature furnish a more +illuminating index to the inner life of Christendom than the great lyrics +of the Church. Henry Ward Beecher said truly: "He who knows the way that +hymns flowed, knows where the blood of true piety ran, and can trace its +veins and arteries to its very heart." + +Aside from whatever value they may have in themselves, the hymns +presented on the following pages therefore should convey an impression of +the main currents within the Danish church, and the men that helped to +create them. + +The names of Kingo, Brorson and Grundtvig are known to many, but so far +no biographies of these men except of the sketchiest kind have appeared +in English. It is hoped that the fairly comprehensive presentation of +their life and work in the following pages may fill a timely need. + +In selecting the hymns care has been taken to choose those that are most +characteristic of their authors, their times and the movements out of +which they were born. While the translator has sought to produce +faithfully the metre, poetry and sentiment of the originals, he has +attempted no slavishly literal reproduction. Many of the finest Danish +hymns are frankly lyrical, a fact which greatly increases the difficulty +of translation. But while the writer is conscious that his translations +at times fail to reproduce the full beauty of the originals, he still +hopes that they may convey a fair impression of these and constitute a +not unworthy contribution to American hymnody. + +An examination of any standard American church hymnal will prove that +American church song has been greatly enriched by transplantations of +hymns from many lands and languages. If the following contribution from a +heretofore meagerly represented branch of hymnody adds even a little to +that enrichment, the writer will feel amply rewarded for the many hours +of concentrated labor he has spent upon it. + +Most of the translations are by the writer himself. When translations by +others have been used, credit has been given to them except where only +parts of a hymn have been presented. + +Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 21st, 1944. + + + + + INDEX + + + + + Chapter Page + Table of Contents 7 + I Early Danish Hymnody 9 + II Reformation Hymnody 11 + III Kingo's Childhood and Youth 21 + IV Kingo, the Hymnwriter 31 + V Kingo's Psalmbook 41 + VI Kingo's Church Hymns 44 + VII Kingo's Later Years 51 + VIII Brorson's Childhood and Youth 59 + IX Brorson, the Singer of Pietism 65 + X Brorson's Swan Song 84 + XI Grundtvig's Early Years 93 + XII The Lonely Defender of the Bible 103 + XIII The Living Word 112 + XIV Grundtvig, the Hymnwriter 121 + XV Grundtvig's Hymns 128 + XVI Grundtvig's Later Years 150 + XVII Other Danish Hymnwriters 161 + + + + + Chapter One + Early Danish Hymnody + + +Danish hymnody, like that of other Protestant countries, is largely a +child of the Reformation. The Northern peoples were from ancient times +lovers of song. Much of their early history is preserved in poetry, and +no one was more honored among them than the skjald who most skillfully +presented their thoughts and deeds in song. Nor was this love of poetry +lost with the transition from paganism to Christianity. The splendid folk +songs of the Middle Ages prove conclusively that both the love of poetry +and the skill in writing it survived into the new age. One can only +wonder what fine songs the stirring advent of Christianity might have +produced among a people so naturally gifted in poetry if the church had +encouraged rather than discouraged this native gift. + +But the Church of Rome evinced little interest in the ancient ways of the +people among whom she took root. Her priests received their training in a +foreign tongue; her services were conducted in Latin; and the native +language and literature were neglected. Except for a few lawbooks, the +seven hundred years of Catholic supremacy in Denmark did not produce a +single book in the Danish language. The ordinances of the church, +furthermore, expressly forbade congregational singing at the church +services, holding that, since it was unlawful for the laity to preach, it +was also impermissible for them to sing in the sanctuary. It is thus +likely that a Danish hymn had never been sung, except on a few special +occasions in a Danish church before the triumph of the Reformation. + +It is not likely, however, that this prohibition of hymn singing could be +effectively extended to the homes or occasional private gatherings. Hans +Thomisson, who compiled the most important of the early Danish hymnals, +thus includes five "old hymns" in his collection with the explanation +that he had done so to show "that even during the recent times of error +there were pious Christians who, by the grace of God, preserved the true +Gospel. And though these songs were not sung in the churches--which were +filled with songs in Latin that the people did not understand--they were +sung in the homes and before the doors". + +Most of these earlier hymns no doubt were songs to the Virgin Mary or +legendary hymns, two types of songs which were then very common and +popular throughout the church. Of the few real hymns in use, some were +composed with alternating lines of Danish and Latin, indicating that they +may have been sung responsively. Among these hymns we find the oldest +known Danish Christmas hymn, which, in the beautiful recast of Grundtvig, +is still one of the most favored Christmas songs in Danish. + + + Christmas with gladness sounds, + Joy abounds + When praising God, our Father, + We gather. + We were in bondage lying, + But He hath heard our prayer. + Our inmost need supplying, + He sent the Savior here. + Therefore with praises ringing, + Our hearts for joy are singing: + All Glory, praise and might + Be God's for Christmas night. + + Right in a golden year, + Came He here. + Throughout a world confounded + Resounded + The tidings fraught with gladness + For every tribe of man + That He hath borne our sadness + And brought us joy again, + That He in death descended, + Like sun when day is ended, + And rose on Easter morn + With life and joy reborn. + + He hath for every grief + Brought relief. + Each grateful heart His praises + Now raises. + With angels at the manger, + We sing the Savior's birth, + Who wrought release from danger + And peace to man on earth, + Who satisfies our yearning, + And grief to joy is turning + Till we with Him arise + And dwell in Paradise. + + +The earliest Danish texts were translations from the Latin. Of these the +fine translations of the well known hymns, "Stabat Mater Dolorosa", and +"Dies Est Laetitia in Ortu Regali", are still used, the latter especially +in Grundtvig's beautiful recast "Joy is the Guest of Earth Today". + +At a somewhat later period, but still well in advance of the Reformation, +the first original Danish hymns must have appeared. Foremost among these, +we may mention the splendid hymns, "I Will Now Hymn His Praises Who All +My Sin Hath Borne", "On Mary, Virgin Undefiled, Did God Bestow His +Favor", and the beautiful advent hymn, "O Bride of Christ, Rejoice", all +hymns that breathe a truly Evangelical spirit and testify to a remarkable +skill in the use of a language then so sorely neglected. + +Best known of all Pre-Reformation songs in Danish is "The Old Christian +Day Song"--the name under which it was printed by Hans Thomisson. Of the +three manuscript copies of this song, which are preserved in the library +of Upsala, Sweden, the oldest is commonly dated at "not later than 1450". +The song itself, however, is thought to be much older, dating probably +from the latter part of the 14th century. Its place of origin is +uncertain, with both Sweden and Denmark contending for the honor. The +fact that the text printed by Hans Thomisson is identical, except for +minor variations in dialect, with that of the oldest Swedish manuscript +proves, at least, that the same version was also current in Danish, and +that no conclusion as to its origin can now be drawn from the chance +preservation of its text in Sweden. The following translation is based on +Grundtvig's splendid revision of the song for the thousand years' +festival of the Danish church.[1] + + + With gladness we hail the blessed day + Now out of the sea ascending, + Illuming the earth upon its way + And cheer to all mortals lending. + God grant that His children everywhere + May prove that the night is ending. + + How blest was that wondrous midnight hour + When Jesus was born of Mary! + Then dawned in the East with mighty power + The day that anew shall carry + The light of God's grace to every soul + That still with the Lord would tarry. + + Should every creature in song rejoice, + And were every leaflet singing, + They could not His grace and glory voice, + Though earth with their praise were ringing, + For henceforth now shines the Light of Life, + Great joy to all mortals bringing. + + Like gold is the blush of morning bright, + When day has from death arisen. + Blest comfort too holds the peaceful night + When skies in the sunset glisten. + So sparkle the eyes of those whose hearts + In peace for God's summons listen. + + Then journey we to our fatherland, + Where summer reigns bright and vernal. + Where ready for us God's mansions stand + With thrones in their halls supernal. + So happily there with friends of light + We joy in the peace eternal. + + +In this imperishable song, Pre-Reformation hymnody reached its highest +excellence, an excellence that later hymnody seldom has surpassed. "The +Old Christian Day Song" shows, besides, that Northern hymnwriters even +"during the time of popery" had caught the true spirit of Evangelical +hymnody. Their songs were few, and they were often bandied about like +homeless waifs, but they embodied the purest Christian ideals of that day +and served in a measure to link the old church with the new. + + +---------- + +[1]Other translations: + "O day full of grace, which we behold" by C. Doving in "Hymnal for + Church and Home." + "The dawn from on high is on our shore" by S. D. Rodholm in "World of + Song". + + + + + Chapter Two + Reformation Hymnody + + +The Danish Reformation began quietly about 1520, and culminated +peacefully in the establishment of the Lutheran church as the church of +the realm in 1536. The movement was not, as in some other countries, the +work of a single outstanding reformer. It came rather as an almost +spontaneous uprising of the people under several independent leaders, +among whom men like Hans Tausen, Jorgen Sadolin, Claus Mortensen, Hans +Spandemager and others merely stand out as the most prominent. And it was +probably this very spontaneity which invested the movement with such an +irresistible force that within in a few years it was able to overthrow an +establishment that had exerted a powerful influence over the country for +more than seven centuries. + +In this accomplishment Evangelical hymnody played a prominent part. +Though the Reformation gained little momentum before 1526, the Papists +began as early as 1527, to preach against "the sacrilegious custom of +roaring Danish ballads at the church service". As no collection of hymns +had then been published, the hymns thus used must have been circulated +privately, showing the eagerness of the people to adopt the new custom. +The leaders of the Reformation were quick to recognize the new interest +and make use of it in the furtherance of their cause. The first Danish +hymnal was published at Malmoe in 1528 by Hans Mortensen. It contained ten +hymns and a splendid liturgy for the morning service. This small +collection proved so popular that it was soon enlarged by the addition of +thirty new hymns and appropriate liturgies for the various other +services, that were held on the Sabbath day. Independent collections were +almost simultaneously published by Hans Tausen, Arvid Petersen and +others. And, as these different collections all circulated throughout the +country, the result was confusing. At a meeting in Copenhagen of +Evangelical leaders from all parts of the country, it was decided to +revise the various collections and to combine them into one hymnal. This +first common hymnal for the Danish church appeared in 1531, and served as +the hymnal of the church till 1544, when it was revised and enlarged by +Hans Tausen. Tausen's hymnal was replaced in 1569 by _The Danish +Psalmbook_, compiled by Hans Thomisson, a pastor of the Church of Our +Lady at Copenhagen, and the ablest translator and hymnwriter of the +Reformation period. _Hans Thomisson's Hymnal_--as it was popularly +named--was beyond question the finest hymnal of the transition period. It +was exceptionally well printed, contained 268 hymns, set to their +appropriate tunes, and served through innumerable reprints as the hymnal +of the Danish church for more than 150 years. + +Thus the Reformation, in less than fifty years, had produced an +acceptable hymnal and had established congregational singing as an +indispensable part of the church service. The great upheaval had failed, +nevertheless, to produce a single hymnwriter of outstanding merit. The +leaders in the movement were able men, striving earnestly to satisfy a +pressing need. But they were not poets. Their work consisted of passable +translations, selections from Pre-Reformation material and a few original +hymns by Claus Mortensen, Arvid Petersen, Hans Thomisson and others. It +represented an honest effort, but failed to attain greatness. People +loved their new hymns, however, and clung to them despite their halting +metres and crude style, even when newer and much finer songs were +available. But when these at last had gained acceptance, the old hymns +gradually disappeared, and very few of them are now included in the +Danish hymnal. The Reformation produced a worthy hymnal, but none of the +great hymnwriters whose splendid work later won Danish hymnody an +honorable place in the church. + +Hans Chrestensen Sthen, the first notable hymnwriter of the Danish +church, was already on the scene, however, when Hans Thomisson's Hymnal +left the printers. He is thought to have been born at Roskilde about +1540; but neither the date nor the place of his birth is now known with +certainty. He is reported to have been orphaned at an early age, and +subsequently, to have been adopted and reared by the renowned Royal +Chamberlain, Christopher Walkendorf. After receiving an excellent +education, he became rector of a Latin school at Helsingoer, the Elsinore +of Shakespeare's _Hamlet_, and later was appointed to a pastorate in the +same city. In this latter office he was singularly successful. Lysander, +one of his biographers, says of him that he was exceptionally well +educated, known as a fine orator and noted as a successful author and +translator. His hymns prove that he was also an earnest and warm-hearted +Christian. The peoples of Helsingoer loved him dearly, and for many years, +after he had left their city, continued to "remember him with gifts of +love for his long and faithful service among them". In 1583, to the +sorrow of his congregation he had accepted a call to Malmoe, a city on the +eastern shore of the Sound. But in this new field his earnest Evangelical +preaching, provoked the resentment of a number of his most influential +parishioners, who, motivated by a wish to blacken his name and secure his +removal, instigated a suit against him for having mismanaged an +inheritance left to his children by his first wife. The children +themselves appeared in his defence, however, and expressed their complete +satisfaction with his administration of their property; and the trumped +up charge was wholly disproved. But his enemies still wanted to have him +removed and, choosing a new method of attack, forwarded a petition to the +king in which they claimed that "Master Hans Chrestensen Sthen because of +weakness and old age was incompetent to discharge his duties as a +pastor", and asked for his removal to the parishes of Tygelse and +Klagstrup. Though the king is reported to have granted the petition, +other things seem to have intervened to prevent its execution, and the +ill-used pastor appears to have remained at Malmoe until his death, the +date of which is unknown. + +Sthen's fame as a poet and hymnwriter rests mainly on two thin volumes of +poetry. _A Small Handbook, Containing Diverse Prayers and Songs Together +with Some Rules for Life, Composed in Verse_, which appeared in 1578, and +_A Small Wander Book_, published in 1591. The books contain both a number +of translations and some original poems. In some of the latter Sthen +readopts the style of the old folk songs with their free metre, native +imagery and characteristic refrain. His most successful compositions in +this style are his fine morning and evening hymns, one of which is given +below. + + + The gloomy night to morning yields, + So brightly the day is breaking; + The sun ascends over hills and fields, + And birds are with song awaking. + Lord, lend us Thy counsel and speed our days, + The light of Thy grace surround us. + + Our grateful thanks to God ascend, + Whose mercy guarded our slumber. + May ever His peace our days attend + And shield us from troubles somber. + Lord, lend us Thy counsel and speed our days, + The light of Thy grace surround us. + + Redeem us, Master, from death's strong hand, + Thy grace from sin us deliver; + Enlighten us till with Thine we stand, + And make us Thy servants ever. + Lord, lend us Thy counsel and speed our days, + The light of Thy grace surround us. + + Then shall with praise we seek repose + When day unto night hath yielded, + And safe in Thine arms our eyelids close + To rest by Thy mercy shielded. + Lord, lend us Thy counsel and speed our days, + The light of Thy grace surround us. + + +Sthen's hymns all breathe a meek and lowly spirit. They express in the +simplest words the faith, hope and fears of a humble, earnest Christian. +The following still beloved hymn thus presents a vivid picture of the +meek and prayerful spirit of its author. + + + O Lord, my heart is turning + To Thee with ceaseless yearning + And praying for Thy grace. + Thou art my sole reliance + Against my foes' defiance; + Be Thou my stay in every place. + + I offer a confession + Of my severe transgression; + In me is nothing good. + But, Lord, Thou wilt not leave me + And, like the world, deceive me; + Thou hast redeemed me with Thy blood. + + Blest Lord of Life most holy, + Thou wilt the sinner lowly + Not leave in sin and death; + Thine anger wilt not sever + The child from Thee forever + That pleads with Thee for life and breath. + + O Holy Spirit, guide me! + With wisdom true provide me; + Help me my cross to bear. + Uphold me in my calling + And, when the night is falling, + Grant me Thy heavenly home to share. + + +Most widely known of all Sthen's hymns is his beloved "Lord Jesus Christ, +My Savior Blest". In its unabbreviated form this hymn contains eight +stanzas of which the initial letters spell the words: "Hans Anno"; and it +has become known therefore as "Sthen's Name Hymn". The method of thus +affixing one's name to a song was frequently practiced by authors for the +purpose of impressing people with their erudition. The meek and anxious +spirit that pervades this hymn makes it unlikely, however, that Sthen +would have employed his undoubted skill as a poet for such a purpose. The +hymn is thought to have been written at Malmoe at the time its author +encountered his most severe trials there. And its intimate personal note +makes it likely that he thus ineradicably affixed his name to his hymn in +order to indicate its connection with his own faith and experience. +"Sthen's Name Hymn" thus should be placed among the numerous great hymns +of the church that have been born out of the sorrows and travails of +their authors' believing but anxious hearts. The translation given below +is from the abbreviated text now used in all Danish hymnals. + + + Lord Jesus Christ, + My Savior blest, + My refuge and salvation, + I trust in Thee, + Abide with me, + Thy word shall be + My shield and consolation. + + I will confide, + Whate'er betide, + In Thy compassion tender. + When grief and stress + My heart oppress, + Thou wilt redress + And constant solace render. + + When grief befalls + And woe appalls + Thy loving care enfolds me. + I have no fear + When Thou art near, + My Savior dear; + Thy saving hand upholds me. + + Lord, I will be + Alway with Thee + Wherever Thou wilt have me. + Do Thou control + My heart and soul + And make me whole; + Thy grace alone can save me. + + Yea, help us, Lord, + With one accord + To love and serve Thee solely, + That henceforth we + May dwell with Thee + Most happily + And see Thy presence holy. + + +With Sthen the fervid spirit of the Reformation period appears to have +spent itself. The following century added nothing to Danish hymnody. +Anders Chrestensen Arrebo, Bishop at Tronhjem, and an ardent lover and +advocate of a richer cultivation of the Danish language and literature, +published a versification of the Psalms of David and a few hymns in 1623. +But the Danish church never became a psalm singing church, and his hymns +have disappeared. Hans Thomisson's hymnal continued to be printed with +occasional additions of new material, most of which possessed no +permanent value. But the old hymns entered into the very heart and spirit +of the people and held their affection so firmly that even Kingo lost +much of his popularity when he attempted to revise them and remove some +of their worst poetical and linguistic defects. They were no longer +imprinted merely on the pages of a book but in the very heart and +affection of a nation. + + + + + Thomas Kingo, the Easter Poet of Denmark + + + + + Chapter Three + Kingo's Childhood and Youth + + +Thomas Kingo, the first of the great Danish hymnwriters, grew forth as a +root out of dry ground. There was nothing in the religious and secular +life of the times to foreshadow the appearance of one of the great +hymnwriters, not only of Denmark but of the world. + +The latter part of the 16th and the first half of the 17th centuries mark +a rather barren period in the religious and cultural life of Denmark. The +spiritual ferment of the Reformation had subsided into a staid and +uniform Lutheran orthodoxy. Jesper Brochman, a bishop of Sjaelland and the +most famous theologian of that age, praised king Christian IV for "the +zeal with which from the beginning of his reign he had exerted himself to +make all his subjects think and talk alike about divine things". That the +foremost leader of the church thus should recommend an effort to impose +uniformity upon the church by governmental action proves to what extent +church life had become stagnant. Nor did such secular culture as there +was present a better picture. The Reformation had uprooted much of the +cultural life that had grown up during the long period of Catholic +supremacy, but had produced no adequate substitute. Even the once +refreshing springs of the folk-sings had dried up. Writers were +laboriously endeavoring to master the newer and more artistic forms of +poetry introduced from other countries, but when the forms had been +achieved the spirit had often fled, leaving only an empty shell. Of all +that was written during these years only one song of any consequence, +"Denmark's Lovely Fields and Meadows", has survived. + +Against this bleak background the work of Kingo stands out as an amazing +achievement. Leaping all the impediments of an undeveloped language and +an equally undeveloped form, Danish poetry by one miraculous sweep +attained a perfection which later ages have scarcely surpassed. + + Thomas Kingo + +Of this accomplishment, Grundtvig wrote two hundred years later: "Kingo's +hymns represent not only the greatest miracle of the 17th century but +such an exceptional phenomenon in the realm of poetry that it is +explainable only by the fates who in their wisdom preserved the seed of +an Easter Lily for a thousand years, and then returned it across the sea +that it might flower in its original soil". Kingo's family on the +paternal side had immigrated to Denmark from that part of Scotland which +once had been settled by the poetic Northern sea rovers, and Grundtvig +thus conceives the poetic genius of Kingo to be a revival of an ancestral +gift, brought about by the return of his family to its original home and +a new infusion of pure Northern blood. The conception, like so much that +Grundtvig wrote is at least ingenious, and it is recommended by the fact +that Kingo's poetry does convey a spirit of robust realism that is far +more characteristic of the age of the Vikings than of his own. + +Thomas Kingo, the grandfather of the poet, immigrated from Crail, +Scotland, to Denmark about 1590, and settled at Helsingoer, Sjaelland, +where he worked as a tapestry weaver. He seems to have attained a +position of some prominence, and it is related that King James IV of +Scotland, during a visit to Helsingoer, lodged at his home. His son, Hans +Thomeson Kingo, who was about two years old when the family arrived in +Denmark, does not appear to have prospered as well as his father. He +learned the trade of linen and damask weaving, and established a modest +business of his own at Slangerup, a town in the northern part of Sjaelland +and close to the famous royal castle of Frederiksborg. At the age of +thirty-eight he married a young peasant girl, Karen Soerendatter, and +built a modest but eminently respectable home. In this home, Thomas +Kingo, the future hymnwriter, was born December 15, 1634. + +It was an unusually cold and unfriendly world that greeted the advent of +the coming poet. The winter of his birth was long remembered as one of +the hardest ever experienced in Denmark. The country's unsuccessful +participation in the Thirty Year's War had brought on a depression that +threatened its very existence as a nation; and a terrible pestilence +followed by new wars increased and prolonged the general misery, making +the years of Kingo's childhood and youth one of the darkest periods in +Danish history. + +But although these conditions brought sorrow and ruin to thousands, even +among the wealthy, the humble home of the Kingos somehow managed to +survive. Beneath its roof industry and frugality worked hand in hand with +piety and mutual love to brave the storms that wrecked so many and +apparently far stronger establishments. Kingo always speaks with the +greatest respect and gratitude of his "poor but honest parents". In a +poetic description of his childhood years he vividly recalls their +indulgent kindness to him. + + + I took my pilgrim staff in hand + Ere I attempted talking; + I had scarce left my swaddling-band + Before they set me walking. + They coached me onward with a smile + And suited me when tearful. + One step was farther than a mile, + For I was small and fearful. + + +But discipline was not forgotten. Parents in those days usually kept the +rod close to the apple, often too close. And Kingo's parents, despite +their kindness, made no exception to the rule. He was a lively, +headstrong boy in need of a firm hand, and the hand was not wanting. + + + As a child my daily bread + I with rod and penance had, + + +he wrote later, adding that the fruits of that chastisement are now sweet +to him. Nor do his parents ever appear to have treated him with the cold, +almost loveless austerity that so many elders frequently felt it their +duty to adopt toward their children. Their discipline was tempered by +kindness and an earnest Christian faith. Although Hans Kingo seems to +some extent to have been influenced by the strict Presbyterianism of his +Scotch forebears, he does not appear, like so many followers of that +stern faith, to have taught his children to believe in God as the strict +judge rather than as the loving Father of Jesus Christ. In his later +years the son at least gives us an attractive picture of his childhood +faith: + + + I gratefully remember + God's loving care for me + Since from my nursery chamber + I toddled fearfully. + I lived contented in His care + And trusted in His children's prayer. + + +These bright years of his happy childhood were somewhat darkened, +however, when, at the age of six, he entered the Danish and, two years +later, the Latin school of his home town. Nothing could be more unsuited +for a child of tender years than the average school of those days. The +curriculum was meager, the teaching poor and the discipline cruel. Every +day saw its whipping scenes. For a day's unexplained absence the +punishment for the smaller boys was three lashes on their bare seats and +for the larger an equal number on their bare backs. For graver offences +up to twenty lashes might be administered. On entering the Latin school +every boy had to adopt a new language. Only Latin could be spoken within +its classical confines; and woe be to the tike who so far forgot himself +as to speak a word in the native tongue anywhere upon the school +premises. The only way anyone, discovered to have perpetrated such a +crime, could escape the severest punishment was to report another culprit +guilty of the same offense. Under such conditions one cannot wonder that +Kingo complains: + + + The daily round from home to school + Was often hard and weary. + It did my youthful ardour cool + And made my childhood dreary. + + +At the age of fifteen Kingo, for reasons now unknown, was transferred +from the school of his home town to that at the neighboring city of +Hilleroed. Here, on account of his outstanding ability, he was accepted +into the home of his new rector, Albert Bartholin, a young man of +distinguished family and conspicuous personal endowments. + +Although the school at Hilleroed was larger, it probably was not much +better than that at Slangerup; but the close association of the humble +weaver's son with his distinguished rector and his refined family, no +doubt, was a distinct advantage to him. The location of Hilleroed on the +shores of the idyllic Frederiksborg Lake and close to the magnificent +castle of the same name is one of the loveliest in Denmark. The castle +had recently been rebuilt, and presented, together with its lovely +surroundings, a most entrancing spectacle. Its famous builder, Christian +IV, had just gone the way of all flesh; but the new king, Frederik, known +for his fondness for royal pomp, frequently resided at the castle +together with his court, and thus Kingo must often have enjoyed the +opportunity to see both the king and the outstanding men of his +government. + +It is not unlikely that this near view of the beauty and splendor of his +country, the finest that Denmark had to offer, served to awaken in Kingo +that ardent love for all things Danish for which he is noticed. While +still at Hilleroed he, at any rate, commenced a comprehensive study of +Danish literature, a most unusual thing for a young student to do at a +time when German was the common language of all the upper classes and +Danish was despised as the speech of traders and peasants. As neither his +school nor the general sentiment of the intellectual classes did anything +to encourage interest in native culture, some other influence must have +aroused in the young Kingo what one of his early biographers calls "his +peculiar inclination for his native tongue and Danish poetry". A few +patriotic and forward looking men, it is true, had risen above the +general indifference and sought to inspire a greater interest in the use +and cultivation of the Danish language; but this work was still very much +in its infancy, and it is not likely that the young Kingo knew much about +it. + +He graduated from Hilleroed in the spring of 1654, and enrolled at the +university of Copenhagen on May 6 of the same year. But a terrific +outbreak of the plague forced the university to close on May 30, and +Kingo returned to his home. The scourge raged for about eight months, +carrying away one third of the city's population, and it was winter +before Kingo returned to the school and enrolled in the department of +theology. The rules of the university required each student, at the +beginning of his course, to choose a preceptor, a sort of guardian who +should direct his charge in his studies and counsel him in his personal +life and conduct. For this very important position Kingo wisely chose one +of the most distinguished and respected teachers at the university, Prof. +Bartholin, a brother of his former rector. Professor Bartholin was not +only a learned man, known for his years of travel and study in foreign +parts, but he was also a man of rare personal gifts and sincere piety. In +his younger days he had spent four years at the castle of Rosenholm where +the godly and scholarly nobleman, Holger Rosenkrans, then gathered groups +of young nobles about him for study and meditation. Rosenkrans was a +close friend of John Arndt, a leader in the early Pietist movement in +Germany, to which the young Bartholin under his influence became deeply +attached. Nor had this attachment lessened with the years. And +Bartholin's influence upon Kingo was so strong that the latter, when +entering upon his own work, lost no time in showing his adherence to the +Arndt-Rosenkrans view of Christianity. + +Meanwhile he applied himself diligently to his work at the university. +Like other disciplines the study of theology at that time was affected by +a considerable portion of dry-rust. Orthodoxy ruled the cathedra. With +that as a weapon, the student must be trained to meet all the wiles of +the devil and perversions of the heretics. Its greatest Danish exponent, +Jesper Brochman, had just passed to his reward, but his monumental work, +_The System of Danish Theology_, remained after him, and continued to +serve as an authoritative textbook for many years to come. Though dry and +devoted to hairsplitting as orthodoxy no doubt was, it probably was not +quite as lifeless as later generations represent it to have been. Kingo +is often named "The Singer of Orthodoxy", yet no one can read his +soul-stirring hymns with their profound sense of sin and grace without +feeling that he, at least, possessed a deeper knowledge of Christianity +than a mere dogmatic training could give him. + +Kingo's last months at the university were disturbed by a new war with +Sweden that for a while threatened the independent existence of the +country, a threat which was averted only by the ceding of some of its +finest provinces. During these stirring events, Kingo had to prepare for +his final examinations which he passed with highest honors in the spring +of 1658. + +Thus with considerable deprivation and sacrifice, the humble weaver's son +had attained his membership in the academic world, an unusual +accomplishment for a man of his standing in those days. His good parents +had reason to be proud of their promising and well educated son who now, +after his many years of study, returned to the parental home. His stay +there was short, however, for he obtained almost immediate employment as +a private tutor, first with the family of Joergen Soerensen, the overseer +at Frederiksborg castle, and later, with the Baroness Lena Rud of Vedby +Manor, a position which to an impecunious but ambitious young man like +Kingo must have appeared especially desirable. Lena Rud belonged to what +at that time was one of the wealthiest and most influential families in +the country. Many of her relatives occupied neighboring estates, a +circumstance which enabled Kingo to become personally acquainted with a +number of them; and with one of them, the worthy Karsten Atke, he soon +formed a close and lasting friendship. He also appears to have made a +very favorable impression upon his influential patrons and, despite his +subordinate position, to have become something of a social leader, +especially among the younger members of the group. + +Meanwhile the country once again had been plunged into a desperate +struggle. The Swedish king, Gustav X, soon repented of the peace he had +made when the whole country was apparently at his mercy, and renewed the +war in the hope of affixing the Danish crown to his own. This hope +vanished in the desperate battle of Copenhagen in 1659, where the Swedish +army suffered a decisive defeat by the hand of an aroused citizenry. But +detachments of the defeated army still occupied large sections of the +country districts where they, like all armies of that day, robbed, +pillaged and murdered at will, driving thousands of people away from +their homes and forcing them to roam homeless and destitute through the +wasted countryside. Acts of robbery and violence belonged to the order of +the day. Even Kingo received a bullet through his mouth in a fight with a +Swedish dragoon, whom he boldly attempted to stop from stealing one of +his employer's horses. When the country finally emerged from the +conflict, her resources were depleted, her trade destroyed, and large +sections of her country districts laid waste, losses which it required +years for her to regain. But youth must be served. Despite the gravity +and hardships of the day, the young people from Vedby managed to have +their parties and other youthful diversions. And at these, Kingo soon +became a welcome and valued guest. His attractive personality, sprightly +humor and distinct social gifts caused his highly placed friends to +accept him with delight. + +This popularity, if he had cared to exploit it, might have carried him +far. In those days the usual road to fame and fortune for an obscure +young man was to attach himself to some wealthy patron and acquire a +position through him. With the aid of his wealthy friends Kingo could +easily enough have obtained employment as a companion to some young noble +going abroad for travel and study. It came, therefore, as a surprise to +all when he accepted a call as assistant to the Reverend Jacobsen Worm at +Kirkehelsinge, a country parish a few miles from Vedby. The position was +so far short of what a young man of Kingo's undoubted ability and +excellent connections might have obtained, that one may well ask for his +motive in accepting it. And although Kingo himself has left no direct +explanation of his action, the following verses, which he is thought to +have written about this time, may furnish a key. + + + Wherever in the world I went + Upon my work or pleasure bent, + I everywhere my Lord did find, + He so absorbed my heart and mind + That I His blessed image traced + In everything I saw or faced. + + My thoughts on heaven ever dwelt, + For earth I but aversion felt. + My heart exalted Jesus' name, + His kingdom was my constant theme; + My prayer was, by repentance true, + All carnal passions to subdue. + + +It is understandable, at least, that a young man with such sentiments +should forego the prospect of worldly honor for a chance to serve his +Master. + +Kingo was ordained in the Church of Our Lady at Copenhagen in September, +1661, and was installed in his new office a few weeks later. The seven +years that he spent in the obscure parish were, no doubt, among the most +fruitful years of Kingo's life, proving the truth of the old adage that +it is better that a man should confer honor on his position than that the +position should confer honor upon him. His fiery, forceful eloquence made +him known as an exceptionally able and earnest pastor, and his literary +work established his fame as one of the foremost Danish poets of his day. + +While still at Vedby, Kingo had written a number of poems which, widely +circulated in manuscripts, had gained him a local fame. But he now +published a number of new works that attained nation-wide recognition. +These latter works compare well with the best poetry of the period and +contain passages that still may be read with interest. The style is +vigorous, the imagery striking and at times beautiful, but the Danish +language was too little cultivated and contemporary taste too uncertain +to sustain a work of consistent excellence. Most successful of Kingo's +early poems are "Karsten Atke's Farewell to Lion County", a truly felt +and finely expressed greeting to his friends, the Atkes, on their +departure from their former home, and "Chrysillis", a lovesong, written +in a popular French style that was then very much admired in Denmark. +Both poems contain parts that are surprisingly fine, and they attained an +immense popularity. But although Kingo throughout his life continued to +write secular poetry that won him the highest praise, that part of his +work is now well nigh forgotten. It is truly interesting to compare the +faded beauty of his secular poems with the perennial freshness of his +hymns. + +It was inevitable that Kingo, with his high ambitions and undoubted +ability should desire a larger field of labor. His salary was so small +that he had to live in the home of his employer, a circumstance that for +various reasons was not always pleasant. Pastor Worm had married thrice +and had a large family of children of all ages from a babe in arms to a +son at the university. This son, Jacob Worm, was a brilliant but +irascible and excessively proud youth only a few years younger than +Kingo. From what we know about him in later years, it is likely that +Kingo's contact with him during his vacations at home must have proved +exceedingly trying. The bitter enmity that later existed between the two +men probably had its inception at this time. In 1666, Kingo, therefore, +applied for a waiting appointment to his home church at Slangerup, where +the pastor was growing old and, in the course of nature, could be +expected ere long to be called to his reward. The application was +granted, and when the pastor did die two years later, Kingo at once was +installed as his successor. + +Slangerup was only a small city, but it had a new and very beautiful +church, which still stands almost unchanged. One may still sit in the +same pews and see the same elaborately carved pulpit and altar which +graced its lofty chancel during the pastorate of the great hymnwriter. A +beautiful chandelier, which he donated and inscribed, still adorns the +arched nave. In this splendid sanctuary it must have been inspiring to +listen to the known eloquence of its most famous pastor as he preached +the gospel or, with his fine musical voice, chanted the liturgy before +the altar. The church was always well attended when Kingo conducted the +service. People soon recognized his exceptional ability and showed their +appreciation of his devoted ministry. The position of a pastor was then +much more prominent than it is now. He was the official head of numerous +enterprises, both spiritual and civic, and the social equal of the best +people in the community. With many people the custom of calling him +"Father" was then by no means an empty phrase. Parishioners sought their +pastor and accepted his counsel in numerous affairs that are now +considered to be outside of his domain. In view of Kingo's humble +antecedents, a position of such prominence might well have proved +difficult to maintain among a people that knew his former station. But of +such difficulties the record of his pastorate gives no indication. He +was, it appears, one exception to the rule that a prophet is not +respected in his own country. + +When he moved to Slangerup, Kingo was still unmarried. But about two +years later he married the widow of his former superior, Pastor Worm, +becoming at once the head of a large family consisting of the children of +his wife and those of her first husband by his previous marriage. It was +a serious responsibility to assume, both morally and financially. The +parish was quite large, but his income was considerably reduced by the +payment of a pension to the widow of the former pastor and the salary to +an assistant. With such a drain on his income and with a large family to +support, Kingo's economic circumstances must have been strained. But he +was happy with his wife and proved himself a kind and conscientious +stepfather to her children who, even after their maturity, maintained a +close relationship with him. + +Kingo's happiness proved, however, to be but a brief interlude to a +period of intense sorrows and disappointments. His wife died less than a +year after their marriage; his father, whom he loved and revered, passed +away the same year; and the conduct of his stepson, the formerly +mentioned Jacob Worm, caused him bitter trouble and humiliation. The +bright prospect of this brilliant but erratic youth had quickly faded. +After a number of failures, he had been forced to accept a position as +rector of the small and insignificant Latin school at Slangerup, thus +coming under the immediate authority of Kingo, who, as pastor, supervised +the educational institutions of the parish. Worm always seems to have +thought of Kingo as a former assistant to his father, and his position as +an inferior to a former inferior in his own home, therefore, bitterly +wounded his pride. Seeking an outlet for his bitterness, he wrote a +number of extremely abusive poems about his stepfather and circulated +them among the people of the parish. This unwarranted abuse aroused the +anger of Kingo and provoked him to answer in kind. The ensuing battle of +vituperation and name-calling brought no honor to either side. Worm's +conduct toward his superior, the man who was unselfishly caring for his +minor sisters and brothers, deserves nothing but condemnation; but it is +painful, nevertheless, to behold the great hymnwriter himself employing +the abusive language of his worthless opponent. The times were violent, +however, and Kingo possessed his share of their temper. Kingo's last act +in this drama between himself and his stepson throws a somewhat softening +light upon his conduct. Embittered by persistent failures, Worm continued +to pour out his bitterness not only upon his stepfather, but upon other +and much higher placed persons until at last he was caught and sentenced +to die on the gallows for "having written and circulated grossly +defamatory poems about the royal family". In this extremity, he appealed +to Kingo, who successfully exerted his then great influence to have the +sentence commuted to banishment for life to the Danish colony in India. + + + + + Chapter Four + Kingo, the Hymnwriter + + +Kingo's first hymns appeared shortly before Christmas, 1673, in a small +volume entitled _Spiritual Song-Choir, Part I_. The book contained +fifteen morning and evening hymns and seven paraphrases of the psalms. +Later editions were enlarged by seven "Morning and Evening Sighs" short +hymns that belong to the very best in the collection. + +In a foreword addressed to the king, Kingo states that "he has written +these hymns with the hope that they might serve to edify his fellow +Christians, advance the teaching of the Gospel and benefit the royal +household at those daily devotions which it is the duty of every +Christian home to practice". He prays, therefore, he continues, that "the +king will graciously bestow the same approval upon this work that he has +so kindly given to his previous efforts, and thereby encourage him to +continue his endeavor until the Danes shall possess a hymnody that they +have neither begged nor borrowed from other nations. For the Danish +spirit," he concludes, "is assuredly neither so weak nor so poor that it +cannot fly as high toward heaven as that of other peoples without being +borne upon strange and foreign wings". + +Commenting on the content of the book, Kingo further explains that he +expects sensitive readers will discover imperfections in his work which +he himself has failed to see, and that it would please him to have such +blemishes called to his attention so that they might be corrected in +future issues. His choice of tunes will, he fears, provoke criticism. He +has set a number of hymns to the melodies of popular songs in order that +"those, who for the sake of its tune, now gladly listen to a song of +Sodom may, if they be Christians, with the more pleasure use it with a +hymn about Zion. By examining the work of other hymnwriters possible +critics might assure themselves, however, that he had in this matter only +followed their example." But Kingo need not have apologized for his +choice of tunes, for they were on the whole fine and were received +without objection. + +It would be difficult to overstate the enthusiasm with which Kingo's +hymns were received. Within a few years they were printed in numerous +editions and translated into several foreign languages. Their +enthusiastic reception was well deserved. Viewed against the background +of literary mediocrity that characterized the period, Kingo's hymns stand +out with amazing perfection. Danish hymnody contained nothing that could +compare with them, and other countries, as far as morning and evening +hymns were concerned, were in the same position. Paul Gerhardt's fine +hymn, "Now Rests Beneath Night's Shadow", which was written twenty years +earlier, had been ridiculed into disuse; Ken's famous morning hymn dates +from twenty years later; and none of these are as fine as the best of +Kingo's. + +As might be expected, the hymns are not all of the same merit. Some of +them are exceedingly fine; others show the defects of an imperfectly +developed language and a deficient literary taste. In the matter of style +and form the author had almost nothing to guide him. It is not +surprising, therefore, that his work shows crudities which no present day +writer would commit, but that it should contain so much that is truly +beautiful, even when measured by the standards of today. + +Kingo had the true poet's ability to see things poetically. To him the +rays of the rising sun were not only shining but "laughing on the roof" +of his home. His imagery is rich and skillfully applied. Many of his +hymns abound in striking similes. Their outstanding characteristic, +however, is a distinctive, forceful realism. Kingo, when he chose to do +so, could touch the lyre with enhancing gentleness, but he preferred the +strong note and searched always for the most graphic expression, +sometimes too graphic, as when he speaks of the "frothing wrath of God" +and "the oozy slime of sin". Yet it is this trait of robust reality that +invests his hymns with a large part of their enduring merit. "When Kingo +sings of God, one feels as though He were right there with him", one of +his commentators exclaims. Nor is that realism a mere literary pose. Like +most great hymns, his best hymns are reflections of his own experiences. +Kingo never attained a state of saintly serenity. Whatever peace he found +was gained only through a continuous struggle with his own fiery and +passionate nature. Few hymns convey a more vivid impression of a +believing, struggling soul than Kingo's. + +His morning hymns are among his best. He loved light and gloried in the +birth of each new day. The sun is his favorite symbol. Its rising +signifies to him the final triumph of life over death, and the new day is +a token thereof. It sounds a joyful call to wake and resume life anew. + + + "Awake, my soul, the sun is risen, + Upon my roof its rays now laugh,--" + + +Every Christian should rejoice in the newborn day and thank God for it: + + + Break now forth in Jesus' name, + Blessed morn, in all thy splendor! + I will sweetest music render + And thy wondrous gifts proclaim. + All my spirit with rejoicing + Thanks the Lord for rest and care + And, His grace and goodness voicing, + Wings its way to Him in prayer. + + +But the commencing day also calls for consecration lest its hours be +wasted and its opportunities lost: + + + Grant me, Lord, that on this day + Now with light and grace beginning, + I shall not submit to sinning + Nor Thy word and way betray. + Blessed Jesus, hover ever + Over me, my Sun and Shield, + That I firm may stand and never + Unto sin and Satan yield. + + +And the passing hours must admonish the Christian to work while it is day +and to prepare for the evening that is coming: + + + Let each fleeting hour of grace + And the chiming bells remind me + That to earth I must not bind me + But Thy life and gifts embrace. + And when dawns my final morrow, + Let me go to Thee for aye, + Let my sin and care and sorrow + With my dust be put away. + + +Finest of all Kingo's morning hymns is the splendid "The Sun Arises Now +in Light and Glory". This hymn presents all the finest traits of Kingo's +poetry, its vivid imagery, forceful style and robust faith. The following +translation is by the Rev. P. C. Paulsen. + + + The sun arises now + In light and glory + And gilds the rugged brow + Of mountains hoary. + Rejoice, my soul, and lift + Thy voice in singing + To God from earth below, + Thy song with joy aglow + And praises ringing. + + As countless as the sand + And beyond measure, + As wide as sea and land + So is the treasure + Of grace which God each day + Anew bestoweth + And which, like pouring rain, + Into my soul again + Each morning floweth. + + Preserve my soul today + From sin and blindness; + Surround me on my way + With loving kindness. + Embue my heart, O Lord, + With joy from heaven; + I then shall ask no more + Than what Thou hast of yore + In wisdom given. + + Thou knowest best my needs, + My sighs Thou heedest, + Thy hand Thy children leads, + Thine own Thou feedest. + What should I more desire, + With Thee deciding + The course that I must take, + Than follow in the wake + Where Thou art guiding. + + +Evening naturally inspires a different sentiment than morning. The rising +sun calls for activity, the setting sun for reflection. As the sun sets, +as work ceases and the busy day merges into the quiet night the soul +begins to take account of its gains and losses, its assets and +liabilities. The dying day also conveys a sense of insecurity, of +approaching death and the need for pardon and protection. All these +sentiments, so different from the hopes and prospects of the morning, are +wonderfully portrayed in Kingo's evening hymns, as for instance: + + + Vanish now all sinful dreaming, + Let the joy from heaven streaming + Occupy my soul and mind. + Watch, my spirit, and prepare thee, + Lest the cunning foe ensnare thee + When repose hath made thee blind. + + Sleep now in God's care appeasing. + While the noise of day is ceasing, + Lean upon thy Savior's breast. + He will guard thee through the somber + Night and make thy final slumber + Quiet, peaceful, happy, blest. + + +In the last line with its crescendo of peace and happiness one almost +sees the night merge into the final rest. + +Among his evening hymns now available in English, the following, perhaps, +is the best known. + + + Softly now the day is ending, + Night o'er hill and vale descending, + I will kneel before Thee, Lord. + Unto Thee my thanks I render + That Thou didst in mercy tender + Life and peace to me accord. + + May Thy church Thy peace inherit, + Guide our leaders by Thy spirit, + Grant our country strength and peace. + To the straying, sad and dreary, + To each Christian faint or weary + Grant Thou solace and surcease. + + Keep me, Jesus, while I slumber! + From my perils without number, + Shield me, Master, in Thy might, + That, released from sin and sorrow, + I may sing this song tomorrow: + Jesus was my Sun this night. + + +The publication of these hymns firmly established Kingo's reputation as +the foremost poet of his country. Expressions of appreciation poured in +upon him from high and low. The king, to whom the hymns were dedicated, +so greatly appreciated the gift that, only three years later, he called +their otherwise obscure author to become bishop of Fyn, one of the +largest and most important dioceses of the country. + +Kingo was only forty-two years old when he assumed his new position. His +quick elevation from an obscure parish to one of the highest offices +within the church might well have strained the abilities of an older and +more experienced man. But there can be no doubt that he filled his high +position with signal ability. He was both able and earnest, both +practical and spiritual. His diocese prospered under his care and his +work as a bishop, aside from his renown as a poet, was outstanding enough +to give him an enviable reputation in his own generation. + +But since his permanent fame and importance rest upon his achievement as +a hymnwriter, his appointment as bishop probably must be counted as a +loss, both to himself and to the church. His new responsibilities and the +multifarious duties of his high office naturally left him less time for +other pursuits. He traveled, visited and preached almost continuously +throughout his large charge, and it appears like a miracle that under +these circumstances, he still found time to write hymns. But in 1684, +only two years after his consecration as bishop, he published the second +part of _Spiritual Song-Choir_. + +This book bears a dedication to the queen, Charlotte Amalia. She was +German by birth and a pious, able and distinguished woman in her own +right. Kingo praises her especially for her effort to learn and speak the +Danish language. In this respect, he declares, "Her Majesty put many to +shame who have eaten the king's bread for thirty years without learning +to speak thirty words of Danish, because they hold it to be a homespun +language, too coarse for their silky tongues". + +_Spiritual Song-Choir, Part II_ contains twenty hymns and seventeen +"sighs", thus outwardly following the arrangement of Part I. But the +content is very different. The hymns are songs of penitence, repentance +and faith. They show mastery of form, a wealth of imagery, a facility for +concentrated expression and a range of sentiment from stark despair to +the most confident trust that is, perhaps, unequalled in Danish poetry. +It is an embattled soul that speaks through these hymns, a soul that has +faced the abyss and clung heroically, but not always successfully, to the +pinnacle of faith. One feels that the man who penned the following lines +has not merely imagined the nearness of the pit but felt himself standing +on the very brink of it. + + + Mountains of transgressions press + On my evil burdened shoulders, + Guilt bestrews my path with boulders, + Sin pollutes both soul and flesh, + Law and justice are proclaiming + Judgment on my guilty head, + Hell's eternal fires are flaming, + Filling all my soul with dread. + + +Of an even darker mood is the great hymn: "Sorrow and Unhappiness", with +the searching verse: + + + Is there then no one that cares, + Is there no redress for sorrow, + Is there no relief to borrow, + Is there no response to prayers, + Is the fount of mercy closing, + Is the soul to bondage sold, + Is the Lord my plea opposing, + Is His heart to sinners cold? + + +The poet answers his questions in the following stanzas by assuring +himself that the Sun of God's grace can and will pierce even his "cloud +of despair", and that he must wait therefore in quietness and trust: + + + O my soul, be quiet then! + Jesus will redress thy sadness, + Jesus will restore thy gladness, + Jesus will thy help remain. + Jesus is thy solace ever + And thy hope in life and death; + Jesus will thee soon deliver; + Thou must cling to that blest faith. + + +The uncertainty of life and its fortunes furnished a favored theme for +many of his hymns, as for instance in the splendid-- + + + Sorrow and gladness oft journey together, + Trouble and happiness swift company keep; + Luck and misfortune change like the weather; + Sunshine and clouds quickly vary their sweep. + + +which is, poetically at least, one of his finest compositions. The poet's +own career so far had been one of continuous and rather swift +advancement. But there was, if not in his own outward fortune, then in +the fortunes of other notables of his day, enough to remind him of the +inconstancy of worldly honor and glory. Only a few months before the +publication of his hymns, Leonora Christine Ulfeldt, the once beautiful, +admired and talented daughter of Christian IV, had been released from +twenty-two years of imprisonment in a bare and almost lightless +prison-cell; Peder Griffenfeldt, a man who from humble antecedents +swiftly had risen to become the most powerful man in the kingdom, had +been stript even more swiftly of all his honors and thrown into a dismal +prison on a rocky isle by the coast of Norway; and there were other and +well known instances of swift changes in the fortunes of men in those +days when they were subject not only to the ordinary vicissitudes of +human existence but to the fickle humor of an absolute monarch. It is, +therefore, as though Kingo at the height of his own fortune would remind +himself of the quickness with which it might vanish, of the evanescense +and vanity of all worldly glory. That idea is strikingly emphasized in +the following famous hymn: + + + Vain world, fare thee well! + I purpose no more in thy bondage to dwell; + The burdens which thou hast enticed me to bear, + I cast now aside with their troubles and care. + I spurn thy allurements, which tempt and appall; + 'Tis vanity all! + + What merit and worth + Hath all that the world puts so temptingly forth! + It is naught but bubbles and tinctured glass, + Loud clamoring cymbals and shrill sounding brass. + What are their seductions which lure and enthrall; + 'Tis vanity all! + + O honor and gold, + Vain idols which many with worship behold! + False are your affluence, your pleasure and fame; + Your wages are envy, deception and shame, + Your garlands soon wither, your kingdom shall fall; + 'Tis vanity all! + + O carnal desire, + Thou tempting, consuming and treacherous fire, + That catches like tinder and scorches like flame, + Consigning the victim to sorrow and shame, + Thy honeyest potion is wormwood and gall; + 'Tis vanity all! + + Then, fare thee farewell, + Vain world, with thy tempting and glamorous spell! + Thy wiles shall no longer my spirit enslave, + Thy splendor and joy are designed for the grave + I yearn for the solace from sorrows and harm + Of Abraham's arm! + + There shall all my years + I bloom like the lily when summer appears; + There day is not ruled by the course of the sun + Nor night by the silvery light of the moon; + Lord Jesus shall shine as my sun every day + In heaven for aye. + + +This is an eloquent farewell, clothed in all the expressive wealth of +language and imagery of which Kingo was such a master. One cannot repress +the feeling, however, that it presents a challenge rather than a +farewell. A man that so passionately avows his repudiation of the world +must have felt its attraction, its power to tempt and enthrall. He fights +against it; the spirit contends with the flesh, but the fight is not +easy. And it is in part this very human trait in Kingo that endears his +song to us. What Christian does not recognize some of his own experiences +in the following characteristic song: + + + Ever trouble walks beside me,[2] + Ever God with grace provides me, + Ever have I fear and grief, + Ever Jesus brings relief. + + Ever sin my heart accuses, + Ever Jesus help induces, + Ever am I weighed with care, + Ever full of praise and prayer. + + So is joy by grief attended, + Fortune with misfortune blended; + Blessings mixed with grief and strife + Is the measure of my life. + + But, O Jesus, I am crying: + Help that faith, on Thee relying, + Over sin and grief alway + Shall prevail and gain the day. + + +Some statements in this hymn have frequently been criticized as +contradictory, for how can one be "always" full of care and "always" full +of praise and prayer? The terms cancel each other. But are not such +contradictions expressive of life itself? Few--if any--are wholly one +thing or wholly another. People are complex. Their joys struggle with +their sorrows, their most earnest faith with their doubts and fears. It +brings Kingo nearer to us to know that he shared that struggle. His songs +have appealed to millions because they are both so spiritual and so +human. How expressive of human need and Christian trust are not the +following brief lines: + + + Lord, though I may + The whole long day + Find no relief from sorrow, + Yea, should the night + Afford no light + To ease my plight-- + Thou comest on the morrow. + + +---------- + +[2]Another translation: + "Ever is a peril near me" by C. Doving in "Hymnal for Church and Home". + + + + + Chapter Five + Kingo's Psalmbook + + +After the publication of _Spiritual Song-Choir II_, Kingo stood at the +very height of his fame. His hymns were sung everywhere, and nobles and +commoners vied with each other in chanting his praises. But a much more +difficult task now awaited him--that of preparing a new hymnal. + +Hans Thomisson's hymnal had become antiquated after serving the church +for nearly one hundred and twenty-five years. It had served its purpose +well. Its hymns had been sung by high and low until they had entered into +the thoughts and conscience of all. A changing language and a fast +developing literary taste long ago had shown their need for revision; but +the people so far had opposed all attempts to change their beloved old +songs. Their defects by now had become so conspicuous, however, that even +the more conservative admitted the desirability of at least a limited +revision. And the only man for the undertaking of such a task was, of +course, Kingo. + +In March, 1683, King Christian V, therefore, commissioned Thomas Kingo to +prepare and publish a new church hymnal for the kingdom of Denmark and +Norway. The carefully prepared instructions of his commission directed +him to eliminate undesirable hymns; to revise antiquated rhymes and +expressions; to adopt at least two new hymns by himself or another for +every pericope and epistle of the church year, but under no circumstances +to make any changes in Luther's hymns that would alter their meaning. + +Kingo would undoubtedly have saved himself a great deal of disappointment +if he had conscientiously followed his instructions. But the draft of the +first half of the hymnal, which was sent to the king six years later, +showed that, intentionally or otherwise, he had ignored them almost +completely. The draft contained 267 hymns of which 137 were his own and +the remainder those of various authors, both old and new. Though Kingo +might reasonably have been criticized for adopting such a proportionally +large number of his own compositions, it was not, however, his selection +of new hymns but his treatment of the old hymns that provoked the +greatest opposition. For he had not contented himself with merely +revising the latter but in many instances had rewritten them so +completely that they were unrecognizable. And it mattered not that the +new texts were on the whole much finer than the old, for people were not +yet ready to relinquish these. The opposition grew so strong that the +king, though he had already approved the proposed hymnal, a few weeks +later revoked not only his approval but Kingo's commission. + +This summary action came as an almost stunning blow to Kingo, affecting +seriously both his pride and his finances. On the strength of the king's +approval, he had already bought a printing press, acquired large +quantities of material and printed a large edition of the book. And these +investments, which represented a large part of his private fortune, were +now apparently lost. It helped but little that the king, in order to +salve the wound he had inflicted upon one of his most distinguished +subjects, elevated him to the nobility, for the hurt was too deep to be +healed by a mere gesture. + +One cannot deny, however, that the monarch had serious reason for his +action. Not only had Kingo violated his instructions but he had planned a +book that hardly could have proved satisfactory. It would have been both +too large and too expensive for common use. He himself, on the other +hand, had reason to complain that he had not been consulted before the +work, on which he had spent so much of his time and substance, was +summarily rejected. No doubt the king had acted with unseemly haste and +lack of consideration. + +The work was now held in abeyance for a few years. But the need for a new +hymnal was too pressing to be permanently ignored. The king, therefore, +appointed Soeren Jonasson, a provost at the cathedral of Roskilde, to +undertake the work. Jonasson was known as an excellent translator of +German hymns, and the choice appeared reasonable. He worked fast and in +less than two years was able to present a draft of his work. This +contained a well balanced selection of the old hymns and about twenty new +hymns by himself and various German authors, but not a single hymn by +Kingo. The omission no doubt reflects the envy that the poet's quick rise +to fame had stirred up against him in certain influential circles. His +enemies, however, had overshot their mark. Even the king realized that it +would be impossible at this time to publish a hymnal that ignored the +work of the country's greatest hymnwriter. And so Jonasson's work +promptly shared the fate of his predecessor's. + +The troublesome problem now rested again for a few years until it was +revived by the zealous efforts of the king's chaplain, Peter Jespersen, a +close friend of the Norwegian hymnwriter, Peter Dass and himself a native +of the northern country. + +A committee was appointed to prepare and publish a new hymnal "that +should give due recognition" to the work of Kingo. Although it was not +specifically directed to do so, the committee proved its good will toward +the harshly treated poet by entering into correspondence with him and +asking him to forward the material he already possessed, and to write the +additional hymns that might be needed to complete the hymnal. With this +request Kingo gladly complied, hoping that thus after all the greater +part of his work would be put to use. In this, however, he was +disappointed. When the hymnal finally appeared it contained 297 hymns of +which only 85 were by Kingo. This represented, it is true, a great change +from Jonasson's proposal, but when it is remembered that the first half +of the work, proposed by himself, contained 136 of his own hymns, and +that he had written an additional number by the request of the committee, +it will be seen that even now less than half of his hymns found a place +in the hymnal. + +Aside from this deplorable loss, it must be conceded that the committee +had done an excellent work and that its hymnal was much better suited for +general use than Kingo's proposed hymnal would have been. The committee +also had shown its fairness toward Kingo by commissioning him to print +the hymnal and to enjoy exclusive rights of its distribution for ten +years, so that he might recoup some of the losses he had sustained by the +rejection of his own book. He repaid the favor by turning out a most +excellent piece of work; and the book, both in content and appearance +undoubtedly rated as the finest hymnal the Danish church had so far +produced. It served the church for more than a hundred years, and was +always known as "Kingo's Hymnal", for, after all, his great hymns were +what gave it permanent value. + + + + + Chapter Six + Kingo's Church Hymns + + +Kingo's church hymns naturally differ from his spiritual songs. They are +more objective in form and less fiery in spirit. Most of them follow +their themes quite closely, reproducing in many instances even the words +of their text. Kingo is too vital, however, to confine himself wholly to +an objective presentation. Usually the last stanzas of his hymns are +devoted to a brief and often striking application of their text. He +possessed to a singular degree the ability to express a thought tersely, +as for instance in the following stanza, the last of a hymn on the +baptism of the Lord: + + + Our Lord is then our brother + In whom we may confide, + The Church of God our mother, + The Holy Ghost our guide; + Our blest baptismal dower + The bands of hell has riven + And opened us God's heaven, + This is our faith each hour. + + +The hymns may be classed under four headings: Festival Hymns, Sacramental +Hymns, Historical Hymns and Hymns on the Gospels and Epistles. + +With the exception of his Easter anthem, his festival hymns cannot +compare with those of later authors. Some of his Pentecost hymns, such as +the hymns given below, are, however, still favorites. + + + The day of Pentecost draws nigh; + Come, Holy Spirit from on high, + Who with the Father and the Son + Is God eternal, three in one. + + O God triune, Thy grace impart + Into my carnal, sinful heart, + That it a temple blest may be + Prepared and set aside for Thee. + + Come, Holy Ghost, and witness bear + That I the life of Christ do share, + And that I know no other name + To save my soul from guilt and shame. + + O Counselor of truth and light, + Teach me to know my Lord aright, + That from the way of faith I may + Not even for a moment stray. + + Blest Spirit of my God and Lord, + Preserve me in Thy way and word, + Imbue me with Thy life and breath, + Console me in the hour of death. + + +Kingo frequently is referred to as "the Easter Singer of Denmark". His +claim to this title rests mainly on one song. Easter with its story of +triumphant victory appealed especially to him; and he wrote several +excellent hymns on the theme, but they are all overshadowed by the +splendid anthem presented below. + + + Like the golden sun ascending + In the darkly clouded sky + And on earth its glory spending + Until clouds and darkness fly, + So my Jesus from the grave, + From death's dark, abysmal cave, + Rose triumphant Easter morning, + Brighter than the sun returning. + + Thanks, O thanks, to Thee arisen + Lord and God Immanuel, + That the foe could not imprison + Thee within his hell-dark cell. + Thanks that Thou didst meet our foe + And his kingdom overthrow. + Jubilant my spirit raises + New Thy never ending praises. + + Sin and death and every arrow + Satan hence may point at me + Fall now broken at the narrow + Tomb that saw Thy victory; + There Thou didst them all destroy + Giving me the cup of joy + That Thou glorious resurrection + Wrought my pardon and protection. + + Thou wilt hence to life awake me + By Thy resurrection power; + Death may wound and overtake me, + Worms my flesh and bones devour, + But I face the threat of death + With the sure and joyful faith + That its fearful reign was ended + When Thy might its portal rended. + + Blessed Jesus, let the Spirit + So imbue my heart with grace + That I walk by Thy blest merit + And no more the way retrace + To the vile and miry pit + Where I lay condemned, unfit, + Till redeemed to life victorious + By Thy resurrection glorious. + + +In this rugged hymn Kingo is at his best--fiery, vital, a master of +imagery and graphic expression. + +His hymns on the sacraments faithfully reflect the doctrines of the +Lutheran Church. Here he most clearly shows his ability to present +objective truths in a devotional spirit. We meet in these a Christian who +humbly and prayerfully accepts the whole mystery of God. For centuries +these rugged songs have served to express the sentiments of millions as +they met at the baptismal font or knelt before the altar. The following +is one of the most favored baptismal hymns both in the Danish and +Norwegian churches: + + + Whoso believes and is baptized[3] + God's kingdom shall inherit, + For he is cleansed by Jesus Christ + Who, by His grace and merit, + Adopts him as His child and heir, + Grants him in heaven's bliss to share + And seals him with His Spirit. + + We ask with earnest faith of Thee, + Our Lord and blest Defender, + That Thou wilt guide us constantly + And, in Thy mercy tender, + Keep us in our baptismal grace + Until at last we take our place + With Thee 'midst heaven's splendor. + + +Kingo's communion hymns have to a large extent been superseded by later +hymns of Grundtvig and others. But some of them are still in common use. +The following characteristic hymn is frequently used before the +communion. + + + Lord Jesus Christ receive me now + As with a heart contrite I bow + Before Thine altar, blessed Lamb, + Who bore my sorrow, sin and shame. + + I am today my Saviour's guest. + Bethink, my soul, the honor blest, + That He, Thy Lord, will sup with thee + And will Himself Thy nurture be. + + He offers to thee with the bread + His body riven for thy aid, + And with the wine His precious blood, + The price of thy eternal good. + + How this can be, I cannot tell; + He did not on the mystery dwell; + No mind the secret can perceive, + It is enough that I believe. + + Rejoice, then, O my soul today + That God's appointed servant may + Now offer thee the gift so free + Through which thy Lord unites with thee. + + O Lord, I offer Thee my soul + To nourish, strengthen and make whole. + Uphold me by Thy means of grace + Until I see Thee face to face. + + +The short hymn given below is a favorite after the communion in numerous +Danish and Norwegian churches. + + + O dearest Lord, receive from me + The heartfelt thanks I offer Thee, + Who through Thy body and Thy blood + Hast wrought my soul's eternal good. + + Break forth, my soul, in joy and praise; + What wealth is mine this day of days! + My Jesus dwells within my soul; + Let every tongue His grace extol. + + +Kingo's historical hymns, that is, his hymns on the stories of the +Gospels, usually are not counted among the best. Yet there are many fine +hymns among them, such as the annunciation hymn, "There Came a Message +from the Sky"; the hymn about the wedding at Cana, "How Blessed Was that +Wedding Feast"; and the splendid hymn on the transfiguration of the Lord, +"I Lift My Eyes and Spirit Up unto the Hallowed Mountain Top Where Jesus +Once Ascended". Best known among this group of hymns is, however, his +great sequence of songs on our Lord's passion. In these inspired hymns we +meet again the Kingo that we know from his spiritual songs, fiery, +eloquent, imaginative, seeking to picture every detail and mood of the +Savior's suffering from the garden to the cross. Though it is difficult +to choose among hymns so universally fine, the one given below is, at +least, fairly representative of the group. + + + Over Kedron Jesus passes + Ready for His passion day, + While the Prince of Darkness masses + All his legions for the fray. + Wily foes with evil hearts + Bend their bows and point their darts, + Aiming at the Savior solely, + As the world forsakes Him wholly. + + David once in great affliction + Crossed the Kedron's narrow stream, + While his foes without restriction + Hatched their vile and cunning scheme. + Darker far the shadows now + Bend about the Savior's brow + As He hastens to His passion + For the sinful world's salvation. + + See Him, torn by woe appalling, + Kneeling in the garden still, + And upon His Father calling + That, if possible, He will + Take the bitter cup away. + But how meekly He doth pray! + What the Father shall Him offer, + He obediently will suffer. + + See, what agony assails Him + In that dark and fearful hour; + Every friend deserts or fails Him; + Satan strikes with all his power; + And the flowers beneath Him grow + Crimson with the purple flow + From His anguished frame distilling + As His cup of woe is filling. + + But, O flower, whose tender blossom + Caught that precious, purple dew + From the Saviour's riven bosom, + In a blessed hour you grew! + Eden's flowers did not bear + Fruits that could with yours compare: + By the blood your petals staining, + I am now salvation gaining. + + When I like the flower must wither, + When I wilt and fade like grass, + When the hour of death draws hither, + When I from this world shall pass, + When my heart has ceased to beat + When I face God's judgment seat, + Then His blood, which stained the garden, + Shall procure my lasting pardon. + + +Kingo's hymns on the pericopes have proved less resistant to time than +most of his other work. They are in reality brief commentaries, +presenting a practical rather than a poetical exposition and application +of their texts. But even so, the singular freshness of their thought and +style has preserved many of them until our day. The following hymn on +Matthew 8, 23-27, the stilling of the storm, furnishes a characteristic +example of this group of hymns. + + + What vessel is that passing + Across the boundless deep, + On which the billows massing + In foaming fury sweep? + She seems in sore distress + As though she soon would founder + Upon the shoals around her + And sink without redress. + + It is the storm-tossed vessel + Of God's own church on earth, + With which the world doth wrestle, + And send its fury forth, + While Jesus oft appears + As though He still were sleeping, + With His disciples weeping + And crying out in fears. + + But let the world with fury + Against the church but rave, + And spend its might to bury + Her in the roaring wave! + It only takes a word + To hush the wild commotion + And show the mighty ocean + Her Lord is still aboard. + + +Kingo is often called the singer of orthodoxy. His hymns faithfully +present the accepted doctrines of his church. No hymnwriter is more +staunchly Lutheran than he. But he was too vital to become a mere +doctrinaire. With him orthodoxy was only a means to an end, a more +vigorous Christian life. Many of his hymns present a forceful and +straightforward appeal for a real personal life with God. The following +hymn may be called an orthodox revival hymn. It was a favorite with the +great Norwegian lay preacher, Hans Nielsen Hauge. + + + The power of sin no longer + Within my heart shall reign; + Faith must grow ever stronger + And carnal lust be slain; + For when I was baptized, + The bonds of sin were severed + And I by grace delivered + To live for Jesus Christ. + + Would I accept the merit + Of my baptismal grace + And with my faith and spirit + The Savior's cross embrace, + How great would be my blame + Should I abide in evil + And not renounce the devil + In Christ my Savior's name. + + It can bestow no treasure + On me that Christ arose. + If I will not with pleasure + The power of death oppose, + And with my heart embrace + The Savior, who is risen + And has from error's prison + Redeemed me by His grace. + + Lord Jesus, help me ever + To fight "the old man" so + That he shall not deliver + Me to eternal woe, + But that I here may die + From sin and all offences + And, by the blood that cleanses, + Attain my home on high. + + +Thus, the permanent value of Kingo's hymns rests not only on their rugged +and expressive poetry but on the earnest and warm-hearted Christian +spirit that breathes through them. In the perennial freshness of this +spirit succeeding generations have experienced their kinship with the +poet and found expression for their own hope and faith. The following +ageless prayer expresses not only the spirit of the poet but that of +earnest Christians everywhere and of every age. + + + Print Thine image pure and holy[4] + On my heart, O Lord of Grace; + So that nothing high nor lowly + Thy blest likeness can efface. + Let the clear inscription be: + Jesus, crucified for me, + And the Lord of all creation, + Is my refuge and salvation. + + +---------- + +[3]Another translation: "He that believes and is baptized" by G. T. Rygh + in "Hymnal for Church and Home". + +[4]Another translation: "On my heart imprint thine image" by P. O. + Stromme in "Hymnal for Church and Home". + + + + + Chapter Seven + Kingo's Later Years + + +Kingo's work with the hymnal had brought him much disappointment and some +loss of popularity. He felt not without justification that he had been +ill treated. He did not sulk in his tent, however, but pursued his work +with unabated zeal. His diocese was large, comprising not only Fyn but a +large number of smaller islands besides. The work of making periodical +visits to all parishes within such a far-flung charge was, considering +the then available means of transportation, not only strenuous but +hazardous. Roads were bad and vessels weak and slow. Hardships and danger +beset his almost continuous voyages and journeys. A number of poems +relating the adventures of the traveler are reminiscenses of his own +experiences. + +But his work of visiting the churches constituted, of course, only a part +of his duties. He had to preach in the cathedral at Odense at least every +Wednesday in Lent and on all festival Sundays; examine the work and +conduct of all pastors within the diocese; act as an arbiter in disputes +between them and their parishioners; make sure that the financial affairs +of the church and its institutions were honestly conducted; attend to the +collection of church taxes; and superintend all schools, hospitals and +institutions of charity. The efficient accomplishment of all these tasks +might well test the strength and ability of any man. + +His manifold duties also engendered numerous occasions for friction, +especially with the civil authorities, whose rights and duties often +overlapped his own. And he did not escape the danger of such bickerings +with their resultant ill-feeling. There is nothing to indicate that he +was contentious by nature. But he was no doubt zealous in defending the +prerogatives of his office. His temper was quick and somewhat martial. +"One could very well," one of his biographers declares, "envision him as +a knight in full armor leading a troop in the charge." With the exception +of his active enemies, most of his contemporaries agree, however, that he +was commonly more than patient in his dealings with others. + +Kingo was an able administrator, and the institutions and finances of the +diocese prospered under his care. But it was as an earnest Christian and +a tireless worker for the spiritual improvement of his people that he won +their respect. He was known as an "eloquent man, mighty in the +Scriptures." One of his contemporaries said of him: "Were we not forced +after hearing him preach to say with the disciples, 'Did not our hearts +burn within us when he opened the Scriptures to us and, like a son of +thunder, published the sins of the house of Jacob, or, like Barnabas, the +son of comfort, bound up our wounds and comforted us with the comfort +with which he had himself been so richly comforted by God.'" The few +extracts of his sermons that have come down to us verify the truth of +this statement. They show us a man firmly grounded in his own faith and +zealous in impressing its truth upon others. His preaching was strictly +orthodox and yet fiery and practical. The poetical language and forceful +eloquence of his sermons remind one of the best of his spiritual songs. + +Kingo's writings and frequent travels brought him into contact with most +of the outstanding personages of his country in his day. His charming +personality, lively conversation and fine sense of humor made him a +welcome guest wherever he appeared. On the island of Taasinge, he was a +frequent and beloved guest in the stately castle of the famous, pious and +revered admiral, Niels Juul, and his equally beloved wife, Birgitte +Ulfeldt. His friendship with this worthy couple was intimate and lasting. +When admiral Juul died, Kingo wrote the beautiful epitaph that still +adorns his tomb in the Holmen church at Copenhagen. On the island of +Falster he often visited the proud and domineering ex-queen, Carolina +Amalia. He was likewise a frequent visitor at the neighboring estate of +the once beautiful and adored daughter of king Christian IV, Leonora +Ulfeldt, whom the pride and hatred of the ex-queen had consigned for +twenty-two years to a dark and lonely prison cell. Years of suffering, as +we learn from her still famous book _Memories of Misery_, had made the +princess a deeply religious woman. Imprisonment had aged her body, but +had neither dulled her brilliant mind nor hardened her heart. She spent +her remaining years in doing good, and she was a great admirer of Kingo. + +Thus duty and inclination alike brought him in contact with people of +very different stations and conditions in life. His position and high +personal endowments made him a notable figure wherever he went. But he +had his enemies and detractors as well as his friends. It was not +everyone who could see why a poor weaver's son should be raised to such a +high position. Kingo was accused of being greedy, vain, over-ambitious +and self-seeking, all of which probably contained at least a grain of +truth. We should have missed some of his greatest hymns, if he had been a +saint, and not a man of flesh and blood, of passionate feelings and +desires, a man who knew from his own experiences that without Christ he +could do nothing. + +Despite certain peculiar complications, Kingo's private life was quite +happy. Four years after the death of his first wife, he entered into +marriage with Johanne Lund, a widow many years older than he. She brought +with her a daughter from her former marriage. And Kingo thus had the +exceptional experience of being stepfather to three sets of children, the +daughter of his second wife and the children and stepchildren of his +first. To be the head of such a family must inevitably have presented +confusing problems to a man who had no children of his own. But with the +exception of his stepson, all the children appear to have loved him and +maintained their relation to him as long as he lived. + +His second wife died in 1694, when she was seventy-six and he sixty years +old. During the later years of her life she had been a helpless invalid, +demanding a great deal of patience and care of her busy husband. +Contemporaries comment on the frequent sight of the famous bishop +good-humoredly carrying his wife about like a helpless child. Less than a +year after her death, Kingo entered into a new marriage, this time with +an attractive young lady of the nobility, Birgitte Balslev, his junior by +more than thirty years. This new marriage provoked a great deal of gossip +and many predictions of disaster on account of the great disparity in +years of the contracting parties. But the predictions proved wholly +unfounded, and the marriage singularly happy. Kingo and Birgitte, a +contemporary tells us, were "inseparable as heart and soul." She was an +accomplished and highly intelligent woman, and Kingo found in her, +perhaps for the first time in his life, a woman with whom he could share +fully the rich treasure of his own heart and mind. He is credited with +the remark that he had done what all ought to do: married an elderly +woman in his young days, whom he could care for when she grew old, and a +young woman in his later years, who could comfort him in his old age. + +But Kingo did not show the effect of his years. He was still as energetic +and vigorous as ever in the prosecution of his manifold duties. For a +number of years after his marriage, he even continued his strenuous +visits to all parts of his see, now always accompanied by his wife. His +leisure hours were usually spent on a beautiful estate a few miles from +Odense, which belonged to his wife. At this favored retreat and in the +company of friends, he still could relax and become the liveliest of them +all. + +The years, however, would not be denied. At the turn of the century, he +suffered a first attack of the illness, a bladder complaint, that later +laid him in his grave. He made light of it and refused to ease his +strenuous activity. But the attack returned with increasing frequency +and, on a visit to Copenhagen in the fall of 1702, he was compelled to +take to his bed. He recovered somewhat and was able to return home. But +it was now clear to all that the days of the great bishop were numbered. +Early in the new year he became bedfast and suffered excruciatingly at +times. "But he submitted himself wholly to God's will and bore his +terrible suffering with true Christian patience," one of his biographers +tells us. To those who asked about his condition, his invariable answer +was, that all was well with him. If anyone expressed sympathy with him, +he usually smiled and said that "it could not be expected that the two +old friends, soul and body, should part from each other without pain." +When someone prayed or sang for him he followed him eagerly, expressing +his interest with his eyes, hands and whole being. + +A week before his death he called the members of his family to his bed, +shared the Holy Communion with them and thanked them and especially his +wife, for their great kindness to him during his illness. On October 13, +a Saturday, he slept throughout the day, but awoke in the evening and +exclaimed: "Lord God, tomorrow we shall hear wonderful music!" And on the +morning of October 14, 1703, just as the great bells of the cathedral of +St. Knud called people to the service, his soul departed peacefully to +join the Church above. God had heard at last the earnest prayer of his +own great hymns: + + + But, O Jesus, I am crying: + Help that faith, on Thee relying, + Over sin and sorrow may + Ever rise and win the day. + + +His body was laid to rest in a small village church a few miles outside +of Odense. There one still may see the stone of his tomb, bearing an +inscription that likens him to a sun which, although it has set, still +lights the way for all true lovers of virtue. Other monuments to his +memory have been raised at Slangerup, Odense and other places. But his +finest and most lasting memorials are his own great hymns. In these his +warm, passionate spirit still speaks to a larger audience than he ever +reached in his own day. The years have served only to emphasize the truth +of Grundtvig's beautiful epitaph to him on his monument at Odense: + + + Thomas Kingo is the psalmist + Of the Danish temple choir. + This his people will remember + Long as song their hearts inspire. + + + + + Hans Adolph Brorson, the Christmas Singer of Denmark + + + + + Chapter Eight + Brorson's Childhood and Youth + + +Hans Adolph Brorson came from Schleswig, the border province between +Denmark and Germany which for centuries has constituted a battleground +between the two countries and cost the Danes so much in blood and tears. +His family was old in the district and presented an unbroken line of +substantial farmers until his grandfather, Broder Pedersen, broke it by +studying for the ministry and becoming pastor at Randrup, a small country +parish on the west coast of the province. + +Broder Pedersen remained at Randrup till his death in 1646, and was then +succeeded by his son, Broder Brodersen, a young man only twenty-three +years old, who shortly before his installation had married Catherine +Margaret Clausen, a daughter of the manager of Trojborg manor, the estate +to which the church at Randrup belonged. Catherine Clausen bore her +husband three sons, Nicolaj Brodersen, born July 23, 1690, Broder +Brodersen, born September 12, 1692, and Hans Adolph Brodersen--or +Brorson--as his name was later written--born June 20, 1694. + +Broder Brodersen was a quiet, serious-minded man, anxious to give his +boys the best possible training for life. Although his income was small, +he managed somehow to provide private tutors for them. Both he and his +wife were earnest Christians, and the fine example of their own lives was +no doubt of greater value to their boys than the formal instruction they +received from hired teachers. Thus an early biographer of the Brorsons +writes: "Their good parents earnestly instructed their boys in all that +was good, but especially in the fear and knowledge of God. Knowing that a +good example is more productive of good than the best precept, they were +not content with merely teaching them what is good, but strove earnestly +to live so that their own daily lives might present a worthy pattern for +their sons to follow." + +Broder Brodersen was not granted the privilege of seeing his sons attain +their honored manhood. He died in 1704, when the eldest of them was +fourteen and the youngest only ten years old. Upon realizing that he must +leave them, he is said to have comforted himself with the words of Kingo: + + + If for my children I + Would weep and sorrow + And every moment cry: + Who shall tomorrow + With needful counsel, home and care provide them? + The Lord still reigns above, + He will with changeless love + Sustain and guide them. + + +Nor was the faith of the dying pastor put to shame. A year after his +death, his widow married his successor in the pastorate, Pastor Ole +Holbeck, who proved himself a most excellent stepfather to his adopted +sons. + +Reverend Holbeck personally taught the boys until Nicolaj, and a year +later, Broder and Hans Adolph were prepared to enter the Latin school at +Ribe. This old and once famous school was then in a state of decay. The +town itself had declined from a proud city, a favored residence of kings +and nobles, to an insignificant village of about fifteen hundred +inhabitants. Of its former glory only a few old buildings and, +especially, the beautiful cathedral still remained. And the Latin school +had shared the fate of the city. Its once fine buildings were decaying; +its faculty, which in former times included some of the best known +savants of the country, was poorly paid and poorly equipped; and the +number of its students had shrunk from about 1200 to less than a score. +Only the course of study remained unchanged from the Middle Ages. Latin +and religion were still the main subjects of instruction. It mattered +little if the student could neither speak nor write Danish correctly, but +he must be able to define the finest points in a Latin grammar of more +than 1200 pages. Attendance at religious services was compulsory; but the +services were cold and spiritless, offering little attraction to an +adolescent youth. + +The boys completed their course at Ribe and entered the university of +Copenhagen, Nicolaj in the fall of 1710 and the younger brothers a year +later. But the change offered them little improvement. The whole country +suffered from a severe spiritual decline. Signs of an awakening were here +and there, but not at the university where Lutheran orthodoxy still +maintained its undisputed reign of more than a hundred years, though it +had now become more dry and spiritless than ever. + +The brothers all intended to prepare for the ministry. But after two +years Nicolaj for various reasons left the University of Copenhagen to +complete his course at the University of Kiel. Broder remained at +Copenhagen, completing his course there in the spring of 1715. Hans +Adolph studied for three years more and, even then, failed to complete +his course. + + Hans Adolph Brorson + +It was a period of transition and spiritual unrest. The spiritual revival +now clearly discernible throughout the country had at last reached the +university. For the first time in many years the prevailing orthodoxy +with its settled answers to every question of faith and conduct was +meeting an effective challenge. Many turned definitely away from +religion, seeking in other fields such as history, philosophy and +especially the natural sciences for a more adequate answer to their +problems than religion appeared to offer. Others searched for a solution +of their difficulty in new approaches to the old faith. The result was a +spiritual confusion such as often precedes the dawn of a new awakening. +And Brorson appears to have been caught in it. His failure to complete +his course was by no means caused by indolence. He had, on the contrary, +broadened his studies to include a number of subjects foreign to his +course, and he had worked so hard that he had seriously impaired his +health. But he had lost his direction, and also, for the time being, all +interest in theology. + +It was, therefore, as a somewhat spiritually confused and physically +broken young man that he gave up his studies and returned to his home at +Randrup. His brothers were already well started upon their conspicuously +successful careers, while he was still drifting, confused and uncertain, +a failure, as some no doubt would call him. His good stepfather, +nevertheless, received him with the utmost kindness. If he harbored any +disappointment in him, he does not appear to have shown it. His stepson +remained with him for about a year, assisting him with whatever he could, +and had then so far recovered that he was able to accept a position as +tutor in the family of his maternal uncle, Nicolaj Clausen, at Loegum +Kloster. + +Loegum Kloster had once been a large and powerful institution and a center +of great historic events. The magnificent building of the cloister itself +had been turned into a county courthouse, at which Nicolaj Clausen served +as county president, but the splendid old church of the cloister still +remained, serving as the parish church. In these interesting surroundings +and in the quiet family circle of his uncle, Brorson made further +progress toward normal health. But his full recovery came only after a +sincere spiritual awakening in 1720. + +The strong revival movement that was sweeping the country and displacing +the old orthodoxy, was engendered by the German Pietist movement, +entering Denmark through Slesvig. The two conceptions of Christianity +differed, it has been said, only in their emphasis. Orthodoxy emphasized +doctrine and Pietism, life. Both conceptions were one-sided. If orthodoxy +had resulted in a lifeless formalism, Pietism soon lost its effectiveness +in a sentimental subjectivism. Its neglect of sound doctrine eventually +gave birth to Rationalism. But for the moment Pietism appeared to supply +what orthodoxy lacked: an urgent call to Christians to live what they +professed to believe. + +A number of the early leaders of the movement in Denmark lived in the +neighborhood of Loegum Kloster, and were personally known to Brorson. But +whether or not any of these leaders was instrumental in his awakening is +now unknown. One of his contemporaries simply states that "Brorson at +this time sought to employ his solitude in a closer walk with God in +Christ and, in so doing, received a perfect assurance of the Lord's +faithfulness to those that trust in Him." Thus whatever influence +neighboring Pietists may have contributed to the great change in his +life, the change itself seems to have been brought about through his own +Jacob-like struggle with God. And it was a complete change. If he had +formerly been troubled by many things, he henceforth evinced but one +desire to know Christ and to be known by Him. + +A first fruit of his awakening was an eager desire to enter the ministry. +He was offered a position as rector of a Latin school, but his +stepfather's death, just as he was considering the offer, caused him to +refuse the appointment and instead to apply for the pastorate at Randrup. +His application granted, he at once hastened back to the university to +finish his formerly uncompleted course and obtain his degree. Having +accomplished this in the fall of the same year, on April 6, 1722, he was +ordained to the ministry together with his brother, Broder Brorson, who +had resigned a position as rector of a Latin school to become pastor at +Mjolden, a parish adjoining Randrup. As his brother, Nicolaj Brorson, +shortly before had accepted the pastorate of another adjoining parish, +the three brothers thus enjoyed the unusual privilege of living and +working together in the same neighborhood. + +The eight years that Brorson spent at Randrup where his father and +grandfather had worked before him were probably the happiest in his life. +The parish is located in a low, treeless plain bordering the North Sea. +Its climate, except for a few months of summer, is raw and blustery. In +stormy weather the sea frequently floods its lower fields, causing severe +losses in crops, stocks and even in human life. Thus Brorson's stepfather +died from a cold caught during a flight from a flood that threatened the +parsonage. The severe climate and constant threat of the sea, however, +fosters a hardy race. From this region the Jutes together with their +neighbors, the Angles and Saxons, once set out to conquer and settle the +British Isles. And the hardihood of the old sea-rovers was not wholly +lost in their descendants when Brorson settled among them, although it +had long been directed into other and more peaceful channels. + +The parsonage in which the Brorsons lived stood on a low ridge, rising +gently above its surroundings and affording a splendid view over far +reaches of fields, meadows and the ever changing sea. The view was +especially beautiful in early summer when wild flowers carpeted the +meadows in a profusion of colors, countless birds soared and sang above +the meadows and shoals of fish played in the reed bordered streams. It +was without doubt this scene that inspired the splendid hymn "Arise, All +Things that God Hath Made." + +Brorson was happy to return to Randrup. The parish was just then the +center of all that was dearest to him in this world. His beloved mother +still lived there, his brothers were close neighbors, and he brought with +him his young wife, Catherine Clausen, whom he had married a few days +before his installation. + +Nicolaj and Broder Brorson had, like him, joined the Pietist movement, +and the three brothers, therefore, could work together in complete +harmony for the spiritual revival of their parishes. And they did not +spare themselves. Both separately and cooperatively, they labored +zealously to increase church attendance, revive family devotions, +encourage Bible reading and hymn singing, and minimize the many worldly +and doubtful amusements that, then as now, caused many Christians to +fall. They also began to hold private assemblies in the homes, a work for +which they were bitterly condemned by many and severely reprimanded by +the authorities. It could not be expected, of course, that a work so +devoted to the furtherance of a new conception of the Christian life +would be tolerated without opposition. But their work, nevertheless, was +blest with abundant fruit, both in their own parishes and throughout +neighboring districts. Churches were refilled with worshippers, family +altars rebuilt, and a new song was born in thousands of homes. People +expressed their love for the three brothers by naming them "The Rare +Three-Leafed Clover from Randrup." It is said that the revival inspired +by the Brorsons even now, more than two hundred years later, is plainly +evident in the spiritual life of the district. + +Thus the years passed fruitfully for the young pastor at Randrup. He +rejoiced in his home, his work and the warm devotion of his people. It +came, therefore, as a signal disappointment to all that he was the first +to break the happy circle by accepting a call as assistant pastor at +Christ church in Toender, a small city a few miles south of Randrup. + + + + + Chapter Nine + The Singer of Pietism + + +The city of Toender, when Brorson located there, had about two thousand +inhabitants. At one time it had belonged to the German Dukes of Gottorp, +and it was still largely German speaking. Its splendid church had three +pastors, two of whom preached in German and the third, Brorson, in +Danish. + +The parish Pastor, Johan Herman Schraeder, was an outstanding and highly +respected man. Born at Hamburg in 1684, he had in his younger days served +as a tutor for the children of King Frederick IV, Princess Charlotte +Amalia and Prince Christian, now reigning as King Christian VI. + +Pastor Schraeder was a zealous Pietist and a leader of the Pietist +movement in Toender and its neighboring territory. Like the Brorsons he +sought to encourage family devotions, Bible reading and, especially, hymn +singing. People are said to have become so interested in the latter that +they brought their hymnals with them to work so that they might sing from +them during lunch hours. He himself was a noted hymnwriter and hymn +collector, who, shortly after Brorson became his assistant, published a +German hymnal, containing no less than 1157 hymns. + +Schraeder, we are told, had been personally active in inducing Brorson to +leave his beloved Randrup and accept the call to Toender. As Brorson was +known as an ardent Pietist, Schraeder's interest in bringing him to +Toender may have originated in a natural wish to secure a congenial +co-worker, but it may also have sprung from an acquaintance with his work +as a hymnwriter. For although there is no direct evidence that any of +Brorson's hymns were written at Randrup, a number of circumstances make +it highly probable that some of them were composed there and that +Schraeder was acquainted with them. Such a mutual interest also helps to +explain why Brorson should leave his fruitful work at Randrup for an +inferior position in a new field. It is certain that the change brought +him no outward advantages, and his position as a Danish pastor in a +largely German speaking community must have presented certain unavoidable +difficulties. + +Although Brorson to our knowledge took no part in the endless contest +between German and Danish, his personal preference was, no doubt, for the +latter. It is thus significant that, although he must have been about +equally familiar with both languages, he did not write a single hymn in +German. He showed no ill will toward his German speaking compatriots, +however, and worked harmoniously with his German speaking co-workers. But +this strongly German atmosphere does constitute a peculiar setting for +one of the greatest hymnwriters of the Danish church. + +The congregation at Toender had formed the peculiar custom of singing in +German--even at the Danish service. It is self-evident, however, that +such a custom could not be satisfactory to Brorson. He was a Pietist with +the fervent longing of that movement for a real spiritual communion with +his fellow Christians. But a custom that compelled the pastor and his +congregation to speak in different tongues was, of necessity, a hindrance +to the consummation of such a desire. And now Christmas was drawing near, +that joyful season which Brorson, as his hymns prove, loved so well and +must heartily have desired to share with his hearers, a desire which this +mixture of tongues to a certain extent, made impossible. He and his +congregation had to be one in language before they could wholly be one in +spirit. + +And so, shortly before the great festival in 1732, he published a small +and unpretentious booklet entitled: _Some Christmas Hymns, Composed to +the Honor of God, the Edification of Christian Souls and, in Particular, +of My Beloved Congregation during the Approaching Joyful Christmastide, +Humbly and Hastily Written by Hans Adolph Brorson_. + +This simple appearing booklet at once places Brorson among the great +hymnwriters of the Christian church. It contains ten hymns, seven of +which are for the Christmas season. Nearly every one of them is now +counted among the classics of Danish hymnody. + +Brorson seems at once to have reached the height of his ability as a +hymnwriter. His Christmas hymns present an intensity of sentiment, a +mastery of form and a perfection of poetical skill that he rarely +attained in his later work. They are frankly lyrical. Unlike his great +English contemporary, Isaac Watts, who held that a hymn should not be a +lyrical poem and deliberately reduced the poetical quality of his work, +Brorson believed that a Christian should use "all his thought and skill +to magnify the grace of God". The opinion of an English literary critic +"that hymns cannot be considered as poetry" is disproved by Brorson's +work. Some of his hymns contain poetry of the highest merit. Their +phrasing is in parts extremely lyrical, utilizing to the fullest extent +the softness and flexibility that is supposed to be an outstanding +characteristic of the Danish tongue; their metres are most skillfully +blended and their rhymes exceedingly varied. His masterly use of what was +often considered an inconsequential appendage to poetry is +extraordinarily skillful. Thus he frequently chooses a harsh or a soft +rhyme to emphasize the predominating sentiment of his verse. + +Brorson is without doubt the most lyrical of all Danish hymnwriters. +Literary critics have rated some of his hymns with the finest lyrics in +the Danish language. Yet his poetry seldom degenerates to a mere form. +His fervid lyrical style usually serves as an admirable vehicle for the +warm religious sentiment of his song. + +In their warm spirit and fervid style Brorson's hymns in some ways +strikingly resemble the work of his great English contemporaries, the +Wesleys. Nor is this similarity a mere chance. The Wesleys, as we know, +were strongly influenced first by the Moravians and later by the German +Pietists. Besides a number of Moravian hymns, John Wesley also translated +several hymns from the hymnbook compiled by the well-known Pietist, Johan +Freylinghausen. The fervid style and varied metres of these hymns +introduced a new type of church song into the English and American +churches. But Freylinghausen's _Gesang-Buch_ also formed the basis of the +hymnal compiled by Johan Herman Schraeder from which Brorson chose most +of the originals of his translations. Thus both he and the Wesleys in a +measure drew their inspiration from the same source. The Danish poet and +his English contemporaries worked independently and mediated their +inspiration in their own way, but the resemblance of their work is +unmistakable. In poetical merit, however, the work of Brorson far excels +that of the Wesleys. But his Christmas hymns also surpass most earlier +Danish hymns and even the greater part of his own later work. + +One's first impression of the booklet that so greatly has enriched the +Christmas festival of Denmark and Norway, is likely to be disappointing. +At the time of Brorson the festival was frequently desecrated by a +ceaseless round of worldly amusements. People attended the festival +services of the church and spent the remainder of the season in a whirl +of secular and far from innocent pleasures. With his Pietistic views +Brorson naturally deplored such a misuse of the season. And his first +hymn, therefore, sounds an earnest call to cease these unseemly pleasures +and to use the festival in a Christian way. + + + Cast out all worldly pleasure + This blessed Christmastide, + And seek the boundless treasure + That Jesus doth provide. + + +But although such a warning may have been timely, then as now, it hardly +expresses the real Christmas spirit. In the next hymn, however, he at +once strikes the true festival note in one of the most triumphant +Christmas anthems in the Danish or any other language. + + + This blessed Christmastide we will, + With heart and mind rejoicing, + Employ our every thought and skill, + God's grace and honor voicing. + In Him that in the manger lay + We will with all our might today + Exult in heart and spirit, + And hail Him as our Lord and King + Till earth's remotest bounds shall ring + With praises of His merit. + + A little Child of Jesse's stem, + And Son of God in heaven, + To earth from heaven's glory came + And was for sinners given. + It so distressed His loving heart + To see the world from God depart + And in transgression languish, + That He forsook His home above + And came to earth in tender love + To bear our grief and anguish. + + Therefore we hymn His praises here + And though we are but lowly, + Our loud hosannas everywhere + Shall voice His mercy holy. + The tent of God is now with man, + And He will dwell with us again + When in His name assembling. + And we shall shout His name anew + Till hell itself must listen to + Our Christmas song with trembling. + + And though our song of joy be fraught + With strains of lamentation, + The burden of our cross shall not + Subdue our jubilation. + For when the heart is most distressed, + The harp of joy is tuned so best + Its chords of joy are ringing, + And broken hearts best comprehend + The boundless joy our Lord and Friend + This Christmas day is bringing. + + Hallelujah, our strife is o'er! + Who would henceforth with sadness + Repine and weep in sorrow sore + This blessed day of gladness. + Rejoice, rejoice, ye saints on earth, + And sing the wonders of His birth + Whose glory none can measure. + Hallelujah, the Lord is mine, + And I am now by grace divine + The heir of all His treasure! + + +Equally fine but more quietly contemplative is the next hymn in the +collection which takes us right to the focal point of Christmas worship, +the stable at Bethlehem. + + + My heart remains in wonder + Before that lowly bed + Within the stable yonder + Where Christ, my Lord, was laid. + My faith finds there its treasure, + My soul its pure delight, + Its joy beyond all measure, + The Lord of Christmas night. + + But Oh! my heart is riven + With grief and sore dismay + To see the Lord of heaven + Must rest on straw and hay, + That He whom angels offer + Their worship and acclaim + From sinful man must suffer + Such scorn, neglect and shame. + + Why should not castles royal + Before Him open stand, + And kings, as servants loyal, + Obey His least command? + Why came He not in splendor + Arrayed in robes of light + And called the world to render + Its homage to His might? + + The sparrow finds a gable + Where it may build its nest, + The oxen know a stable + For shelter, food and rest; + Must then my Lord and Savior + A homeless stranger be, + Denied the simplest favor + His lowly creatures see. + + O come, my Lord, I pray Thee, + And be my honored guest. + I will in love array Thee + A home within my breast. + It cannot be a stranger + To Thee, who made it free. + Thou shalt find there a manger + Warmed by my love to Thee. + + +Far different from this song of quiet contemplation is the searching hymn +that follows it. + + + How do we exalt the Father + That He sent His Son to earth. + Many with indifference gather + At His gift of boundless worth. + + +This is followed by another hymn of praise. + + + Lift up your voice once more + The Savior to adore. + Let all unite in spirit + And praise the grace and merit + Of Jesus Christ, the Holy, + Our joy and glory solely. + + +And then comes "The Fairest of Roses", which a distinguished critic calls +"one of the most perfect lyrics in the Danish language". This hymn is +inspired by a text from the Song of Songs "I am the rose of Sharon and +the lily of the valley". It is written as an allegory, a somewhat subdued +form of expression that in this case serves admirably to convey an +impression of restrained fire. Its style is reminiscent of the folk +songs, with the first stanza introducing the general theme of the song, +the appearance of the rose, that is, of the Savior in a lost and +indifferent world. The remainder of the verses are naturally divided into +three parts: a description of the dying world in which God causes the +rose to appear, a lament over the world's indifference to the gift which +it should have received with joy and gratitude, and a glowing declaration +of what the rose means to the poet himself. + +Many chapters have been written about the poetic excellencies of this +hymn, such as the perfect balance of its parts, the admirable treatment +of the contrast between the rose and the thorns, and the skillful choice +of rhymes to underscore the predominating sentiment of each verse. But +some of these excellencies have no doubt been lost in the translation and +can be appreciated only by a study of the original. English translations +of the hymn have been made by German-, Swedish-, and Norwegian-American +writers, indicating its wide popularity. The following is but another +attempt to produce a more adequate rendering of this beautiful song. + + + Now found is the fairest of roses, + Midst briars it sweetly reposes. + My Jesus, unsullied and holy, + Abode among sinners most lowly. + + Since man his Creator deserted, + And wholly His image perverted, + The world like a desert was lying, + And all in transgressions were dying. + + But God, as His promises granted, + A rose in the desert hath planted, + Which now with its sweetness endoweth + The race that in sinfulness groweth. + + All people should now with sweet savor + Give praise unto God for His favor; + But many have ne'er comprehended + The rose to the world hath descended. + + Ye sinners as vile in behavior + As thorns in the crown of the Savior, + Why are ye so prideful in spirit, + Content with your self-righteous merit? + + O seek ye the places more lowly, + And weep before Jesus, the Holy, + Then come ye His likeness the nearest; + The rose in the valley grows fairest. + + My Jesus, Thou ever remainest + My wonderful rose who sustainest + My heart in the fullness of pleasure; + Thy sweetness alone I will treasure. + + The world may of all things bereave me, + Its thorns may assail and aggrieve me, + The foe may great anguish engender: + My rose I will never surrender. + + +The last Christmas hymn of the collection is printed under the heading: +"A Little Hymn for the Children", and is composed from the text "Have ye +not read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected +praise". Said to be the oldest children's hymn in Danish, it is still one +of the finest. It is written as a processional. The children come +hastening on to Bethlehem to find the new-born Lord and offer Him their +homage. One almost hears their pattering feet and happy voices as they +rush forward singing: + + + Here come Thy little ones, O Lord, + To Thee in Bethlehem adored. + Enlighten now our heart and mind + That we the way to Thee may find. + + We hasten with a song to greet + And kneel before Thee at Thy feet. + O blessed hour, O sacred night, + When Thou wert born, our soul's Delight! + + Be welcome from Thy heavenly home + Unto this vale of tears and gloom, + Where man to Thee no honor gave + But stable, manger, cross and grave. + + But Jesus, oh! how can it be + That but so few will think of Thee + And of that tender, wondrous love + Which drew Thee to us from above? + + O draw us little children near + To Thee, our Friend and Brother dear, + That each of us so heartily + In faith and love may cling to Thee. + + Let not the world lead us astray + That we our Christian faith betray, + But grant that all our longings be + Directed always unto Thee. + + Then shall the happy day once come + When we shall gather in Thy home + And join the angels' joyful throng + In praising Thee with triumph song. + + We gather now about Thee close + Like leaves around the budding rose, + O grant us, Savior, that we may + Thus cluster round Thy throne for aye. + + +His Christmas hymns were so well received that Brorson was encouraged to +continue his writing. During the following year he published no less than +five collections bearing the titles: _Some Advent Hymns_, _Some Passion +Hymns_, _Some Easter Hymns_, _Some Pentecost Hymns_, and _Hymns for the +Minor Festivals_. All of these hymns were likewise kindly received and +therefore he continued to send out new collections, publishing during the +following years a whole series of hymns on various phases of Christian +faith and life. In 1739, all these hymns were collected into one volume +and published under the title: _The Rare Clenod of Faith_. + +This now famous book contains in all 67 original and 216 translated +hymns. The arrangement of the hymns follows in the main the order of the +Lutheran catechism, covering not only every division but almost every +subdivision of the book. Brorson, it appears, must have written his hymns +after a preconceived plan, a rather unusual method for a hymnwriter to +follow. + +_The Rare Clenod of Faith_ fails as a whole to maintain the high standard +of the Christmas hymns. Although the language, as in all that Brorson +wrote, is pure and melodious, the poetic flight and fresh sentiment of +his earlier work is lacking to some extent in the latter part of the +collection. One reason for this is thought to be that Brorson, on +locating at Toender, had come into closer contact with the more extreme +views of Pietism. The imprint of that movement, at least, is more +distinct upon his later than upon his earlier work. The great +preponderance of his translated over his original hymns also affects the +spirit of the collection. He was not always fortunate in the selection of +the original material for his translations. Some of these express the +excessive Pietistic contemplation of the Savior's blood and wounds; +others are rhymed sermons rather than songs of praise. + +Despite these defects, _The Rare Clenod of Faith_, still ranks with the +great books of hymnody. It contains a wealth of hymns that will never +die. Even the less successful of its compositions present a true +Evangelical message, a message that, at times, sounds a stern call to +awake and "shake off that sinful sleep before to you is closed the open +door" and, at others, pleads softly for a closer walk with God, a deeper +understanding of His ways and a firmer trust in His grace. There are many +strings on Brorson's harp, but they all sound a note of vital faith. + +Judging Brorson's original hymns to be far superior to his translations, +some have deplored that he should have spent so much of his time in +transferring the work of others. And it is, no doubt, true that his +original hymns are as a whole superior to his translations. But many of +these are so fine that their elimination would now appear like an +irreplaceable loss to Danish hymnody. The constant love with which many +of them have been used for more than two hundred years should silence the +claim that a translated hymn must of necessity be less valuable than an +original. A considerable number of the originals of Brorson's most +favored translations have long been forgotten. + +As a translator Brorson is usually quite faithful to the originals, +following them as closely as the differences in language and mode of +expression permit. He is not slavishly bound, however, to his text. His +constant aim is to reproduce his text in a pure and idiomatic Danish. And +as his own poetic skill in most cases was superior to that of the +original writer, his translations are often greatly superior to their +originals in poetical merit. + +Although the translation of a translation of necessity presents a very +unreliable yard-stick of a man's work, the following translation of +Brorson's version of the well-known German hymn, "Ich Will Dich Lieben, +Meine Starke" may at least indicate the nature of his work as a +translator. + + + Thee will I love, my strength, my Treasure; + My heart in Thee finds peace and joy. + Thee will I love in fullest measure, + And in Thy cause my life employ. + Thee will I love and serve alone. + Lord, take me as Thine own. + + Thee will I love, my Life Eternal, + My Guide and Shepherd on Life's way. + Thou leadest me to pastures vernal, + And to the light of endless day. + Thee will I love, Whose blood was spilt + To cleanse my soul from guilt. + + Long, long wert Thou to me a stranger, + Though Thou didst love me first of all, + I strayed afar in sin and danger + And heeded not Thy loving call + Until I found that peace of heart + Thou canst alone impart. + + Lord, cast not out Thy child, returning + A wanderer, naked and forlorn. + The tempting world, I sought with yearning, + Had naught to give but grief and scorn. + In Thee alone for all its grief + My heart now finds relief. + + Thee will I love and worship ever, + My Lord, my God and Brother dear! + Must every earthly tie I sever + And naught but sorrow suffer here, + Thee will I love, my Lord divine; + O Jesus, call me Thine. + + +Equally characteristic of his work is his translation of the less-known +but appealing German hymn "Der Schmale Weg Ist Breit Genug zum Leben". + + + The narrow way is wide enough to heaven + For those who walk straight-forward and with care + And take each step with watchfulness and prayer. + When we are by the Spirit driven, + The narrow way is wide enough to heaven. + + The way of God is full of grace and beauty + For those who unto Him in faith have turned + And have His way with love and ardor learned. + When we accept His call and duty, + The way of God is full of grace and beauty. + + The yoke of God is not too hard to carry + For those who love His blessed will and way + And shall their carnal pride in meekness slay. + When we with Him in faith will tarry, + The yoke of God is not too hard to carry. + + O Jesus, help me Thy blest way to follow. + Thou knowest best my weak and fainting heart + And must not let me from Thy way depart. + I shall Thy name with praises hallow, + If Thou wilt help me Thy blest way to follow. + + +But fine as many of his translations are, Brorson's main claim to fame +must rest, of course, upon his original compositions. These are of +varying merit. His Christmas hymns were followed by a number of hymns for +the festivals of the church year. While some of these are excellent, +others are merely rhymed meditations upon the meaning of the season and +lack the freshness of his Christmas anthems. The triumphant Easter hymn +given below belongs to the finest of the group. + + + Christians, who with sorrow + On this Easter morrow + Watch the Savior's tomb, + Banish all your sadness, + On this day of gladness + Joy must vanquish gloom. + Christ this hour + With mighty power + Crushed the foe who would detain Him; + Nothing could restrain Him. + + Rise, ye feeble-hearted, + Who have pined and smarted, + Vexed by sin and dread. + He has burst the prison + And with might arisen, + Jesus, Who was dead. + And His bride + For whom He died, + He from sin and death now raises; + Hail Him then with praises. + + When our sins aggrieve us, + Jesus will receive us, + All our debt He paid. + We, who were transgressors + Are now blest possessors + Of His grace and aid. + When in death + He gave His breath + To the cruel foe He yielded + That we should be shielded. + + Earth! where are thy wonders! + Hell! where are thy thunders! + Death, where is thy sting! + Jesus rose victorious, + Reigns in heaven glorious + As our Lord and King. + Him, the Lord, + Who did accord + Us so great a joy and favor, + We will praise forever. + + +Brorson's other hymns are too numerous to permit a more than cursory +review. Beginning with the subject of creation, he wrote a number of +excellent hymns on the work and providence of God. Best known among these +is the hymn given below, which is said to have so pleased the king that +he chose its author to become bishop. The hymn is thought to have been +written while Brorson was still at Randrup. But whether this be so or +not, it is evidently inspired by the natural scenery of that locality. + + + Arise, all things that God hath made[5] + And praise His name and glory; + Great is the least His hand arrayed, + And tells a wondrous story. + + Would all the kings of earth display + Their utmost pomp and power, + They could not make a leaflet stay + And grow upon a flower. + + How could the wisdom I compass + To show the grace and wonder + Of but the smallest blade of grass + On which the mind would ponder. + + What shall I say when I admire + The verdant meadows blooming, + And listen to the joyful choir + Of birds above them zooming. + + What shall I say when I descry + Deep in the restless ocean + The myriad creatures passing by + In swift and ceaseless motion. + + What shall I say when I behold + The stars in countless numbers + Display their light and charm untold + While nature sweetly slumbers. + + What shall I say when I ascend + To Him Who made creation, + And see the angel host attend + His throne with adoration. + + What shall I say--vain are my words + And humble my opinion! + Great is Thy wisdom, Lord of lords, + Thy glory and dominion! + + Lift up your voice with one accord + Now, every tribe and nation: + Hallelujah, great is our Lord + And wondrous His creation! + + +The Pietist movement is known for its fervid glorification of the Savior, +and particularly of His blood and wounds, a glorification which at times +appears objectionable because of the too-familiar and realistic terms in +which it is expressed. Brorson did not wholly escape the excesses of the +movement in this respect, especially in his translations. In his original +hymns the excesses are less apparent. However faithful he might be to the +movement he possessed a wholesome restraint which, when he was not +following others, caused him to moderate its most inappropriate +extravagances. What can be more reverent than this beautiful tribute to +the Savior: + + + Jesus, name of wondrous grace, + Fount of mercy and salvation, + First fruit of the new creation, + Weary sinners' resting place, + Banner of the faith victorious, + Anchor of our hope and love, + Guide us in Thy footsteps glorious, + Bear us to Thy home above. + + +Or more expressive than this jubilant hymn of adoration: + + + O Thou blest Immanuel! + What exceeding joy from heaven + Hast Thou caused in me to dwell + By Thy life for sinners given. + Thou hast broke the bands at last + Which my yearning soul held fast. + + In Thine arms I find relief, + Soon Thy home I shall inherit, + Sin and sorrow, death and grief + Nevermore shall vex my spirit. + For Thy word confirms the pledge + Of my lasting heritage. + + Lord, my praise ascends to Thee + For these days of joy and sorrow; + They shall end in jubilee + On that blest eternal morrow + When the Sun of Paradise + Shall for me in splendor rise. + + Rise in joyful faith, my soul! + Banish all thy grief and sadness. + Strong the stream of life shall roll + Through my heart with constant gladness. + Jesus, Who mine anguish bore, + Be now praised for evermore. + + +Most beautiful is also his hymn to the Lamb of God, translated by Pastor +D. G. M. Bach. + + + I see Thee stand, O Lamb of God, + On Zion's mountain peak. + But Oh the way that Thou hast trod, + So long, so hard, so bleak! + What Thou didst suffer for our woe, + No man can ever know. + + +Though Brorson made a number of excellent translations of hymns to the +Spirit such as the beautiful, "Come, Rains from the Heavens, to +Strengthen and Nourish the Languishing Field," he wrote no outstanding +Pentecost hymns of his own composition. It remained for Grundtvig to +supply the Danish church with a wealth of unexcelled hymns on the Holy +Ghost. + +Aside from his Christmas hymns, Brorson's greatest contribution to +hymnody is perhaps his revival hymns, a type in which the Lutheran church +is rather poor. The special message of the Pietist movement was an +earnest call to awake, and Brorson repeated that call with an appealing +insistence and earnestness. The word of God has been sown, but where are +its fruits? + + + O Father, may Thy word prevail + Against the power of Hell! + Behold the vineyard Thou hast tilled + With thorns and thistles filled. + 'Tis true, the plants are there, + But ah, how weak and rare, + How slight the power and evidence + Of word and sacraments. + + +It is, therefore, time for all Christians to awake. + + + Awaken from your idle dreaming! + Ye lukewarm Christians, now arise. + Behold, the light from heaven streaming + Proclaims the day of mercy flies. + Throw off that sinful sleep before + To you is closed the open door. + + +Many are heedless, taking no thought of the day when all shall appear +before the judgment of God. Such people should arouse themselves and +prepare for the rendering of their account. + + + O heart, prepare to give account + Of all thy sore transgression. + To God, of grace and love the Fount, + Make thou a full confession. + What hast thou done these many years + The Lord hath thee afforded. + Nothing but sin and earthly cares + Is in God's book recorded. + + +He realizes that many continue in their sin because of ignorance, and +with these he pleads so softly: + + + If thou but knew the life that thou are leading + In sin and shame is Satan's tyranny, + Thou wouldest kneel and with the Lord be pleading + That He thy soul from bondage would set free. + Oh, how the Saviour would rejoice + If thou today should'st listen to His voice! + + +And the day of salvation is now at hand. + + + O, seek the Lord today, + Today He hath salvation. + Approach Him while He may + Still hear thy supplication. + Repent and seek His grace + While yet His call doth sound, + Yea turn to Him thy face + While still He may be found. + + +Orthodoxy had instilled a formal, but often spiritless faith. Pietism +aimed to awaken the great mass of formal believers to a new life, a +living and active faith. This is strongly expressed in the very popular +hymn below. + + + The faith that Christ embraces[6] + And purifies the hearts + The faith that boldly faces + The devil's fiery darts, + That faith is strong and must + Withstand the world's temptation + And in all tribulation, + In Christ, the Saviour, trust. + + The faith that knows no struggle + Against the power of sin, + The faith that sounds no bugle + To waken, fight and win, + That faith is dead and vain, + Its sacred name disgracing, + And impotent when facing + The devil's mighty reign. + + A Christian wears his armor + To wage the war of faith + Against the crafty charmer, + His foe in life and death. + With Jesus he must stand + Undaunted and victorious, + If he would win his glorious + Reward at God's right hand. + + It is a comfort pleasing + In our embattled life, + To feel our strength increasing + In trying days of strife. + And as our days shall be + The Lord will help accord us + And with His gifts reward us + When striving faithfully. + + O Lord, my hope most fervent, + My refuge in all woe, + I will hence be Thy servant + Through all my days below. + Let come whatever may, + I will exalt Thee ever, + And ask no other favor + Than live with Thee for aye. + + +Although Brorson knew that-- + + + The cost is greater than at first expected + To be in God's unbounded gifts perfected. + + +he holds that + + + It does not cost too hard a strife + To be a Christian, pure and heaven-minded,-- + + +But a Christian must be steadfast and persevering, as he admonishes +himself and others in the following very popular hymn. The translation is +by Pastor P. C. Paulsen. + + + Stand fast, my soul, stand fast + In Christ, thy Saviour! + Lose not the war at last + By faint behaviour. + It is of no avail + That thou hast known Him + If when thy foes assail, + Thou shalt His banner fail, + And thus disown Him. + + To brandish high thy sword, + With calm assurance, + And face the devil's horde + With brave endurance, + Is meet and well begun, + And merits praising. + But from the strife to run, + When blows thy courage stun, + Is most disgracing. + + Let Satan rave and rage + By hosts attended, + The war for Christ I wage + Until it's ended. + When leaning on His arm + With firm reliance, + I need not take alarm, + To me can come no harm + From Hell's defiance. + + When Jesus' love I see, + It me constraineth, + So that from carnal glee + My soul abstaineth. + When heaven to me is dear, + Its joys attractive, + Of hell I have no fear, + For Christ, my Lord, is near, + In battle active. + + In just a little while + The strife is ended, + And I from Satan's guile + For aye defended. + Then I, where all is well, + In heaven's glory, + Among the saints shall dwell, + And with rejoicing tell + Salvation's story. + + +Therefore children of God should rejoice. + + + Children of God, born again by His Spirit, + Never ye cease in His name to rejoice; + Jesus believing and saved by His merit, + Come we to Him with a jubilant voice. + + +But even a child of God must not expect to escape from the common trials +and perils of life. God promises assistance but not exemption to those +who love Him. In the following striking hymn, Brorson vividly pictures +both the trials and the comfort of a child of God. + + + I walk in danger everywhere,[7] + The thought must never leave me, + That Satan watches to ensnare + And with his guile deceive me. + His cunning pitfalls may + Make me an easy prey + Unless I guard myself with care; + I walk in danger everywhere. + + I walk through trials everywhere; + The world no help can offer. + The burdens I am called to bear + I must with patience suffer; + Though often I discern + No place where I may turn + When clouds surround me far and near; + Death walks beside me everywhere. + + Death walks besides me everywhere; + Its shadows oft appall me. + I know not when the hour is here + When God from earth shall call me. + A moment's failing breath, + And I am cold in death, + Faced with eternity fore'er; + Death walks besides me everywhere. + + I walk 'mongst angels everywhere; + They are my sure defenders; + The hordes of hell in vain prepare + Against such strong contenders. + All doubts and fears must flee, + With angels guarding me; + No foe can harm me in their care; + I walk 'mongst angels everywhere. + + I walk with Jesus everywhere; + His goodness never fails me. + I rest beneath His shielding care + When trouble sore assails me. + And by His footsteps led, + My path I safely tread. + Despite all ills my foes prepare: + I walk with Jesus everywhere. + + I walk to heaven everywhere, + Preparing for the morrow + When God shall hear my anxious prayer + And banish all my sorrow. + Be quiet then, my soul, + Press onward to thy goal. + All carnal pleasures thou forswear, + And walk to heaven everywhere. + + +Unlike Kingo and Grundtvig, Brorson wrote no outstanding hymns on the +sacraments. Pietism was in the main a revival movement and placed no +special emphasis on the means of grace. And although Brorson remained a +loyal son of the established church, he wrote his finest hymns on those +phases of Christianity most earnestly emphasized by the movement to which +he belonged. While this is only what could be expected, it indicates both +his strength and limitation as a hymnwriter. He was above all the sweet +singer of Pietism. + +The hymns of Brorson that appeared during his lifetime were all written +within the space of four years. In that brief period he composed a volume +of songs that rank with the finest in the Christian church, and just as +he might have been expected to produce his finest work, he discontinued +his effort. The hymns of the _Swan-Song_--which we shall discuss +later--though written for his own edification, indicate what he might +have attained if he had continued to write for publication. His reason +for thus putting aside the lyre, which for a little while he had played +so appealingly, is unknown. Some have suggested that he wrote his hymns +according to a preconceived plan, which, when completed, he felt no +inclination to enlarge; others have surmised that the new and ardent +duties, bestowed upon him about this time, deprived him of the leisure to +write. But as Brorson himself expressed no reason for his action, no one +really knows why this sweet singer of Pietism so suddenly ceased to sing. + + +---------- + +[5]Another translation with the same first line by A. M. Andersen in + "Hymnal for Church and Home". + +[6]Another translation: "The faith that God believeth" by P. C. Paulsen + in "Hymnal for Church and Home". + +[7]Another translation: "I walk in danger all the way" by D. G. Ristad in + "Hymnal for Church and Home". + + + + + Chapter Ten + Brorson's SWAN-SONG + + +The Pietist movement, new and numerically small when the Brorsons aligned +themselves with it, made such sweeping progress that within a few years +it became the most powerful movement within the Danish church. And in +1739, it ascended the throne in the persons of King Christian VI and his +consort, Queen Sophia Magdalene of Kulmbach, an event of great +significance to the fortunes of the Brorsons. + +In Denmark the king is officially the head of the church. At the time of +Brorson all church appointments belonged to him, and King Christian VI, +if he had so wanted, could thus have filled all vacancies with adherents +of the movement in which he sincerely believed. He was, however, no +fanatic. Earnestly concerned, as he no doubt was, to further the +spiritual welfare of his subjects, his only desire was to supply all +church positions at his disposal with good and able men. And as such the +Brorsons were recommended to him by his old tutor and adviser in church +affairs, John Herman Schraeder. On this recommendation, he successively +invited the brothers to preach at court. Their impression upon him was so +favorable that within a few years he appointed Nicolaj to become pastor +of Nicolaj church in Copenhagen, one of the largest churches in the +capital, Broder to become Provost of the cathedral at Ribe and, two years +later, Bishop of Aalborg, and Hans Adolph to succeed his brother at Ribe +and, four years later, to become bishop of that large and historically +famous bishopric. Thus the brothers in a few years had been elevated from +obscurity to leading positions within their church. + +Contemporaries express highly different estimates of Brorson as a bishop. +While praised by some, he is severely criticized by others as unfit both +by ability and temperament for the high office he occupied. This last +estimate now is generally held to be unjust and, to some extent at least, +inspired by jealousy of his quick rise to fame and by antagonism to his +pietistic views. A close examination of church records and his official +correspondence proves him to have been both efficient in the +administration of his office and moderate in his dealings with others. He +was by all accounts an eloquent and effective speaker. Although Ribe was +a small city, its large cathedral was usually crowded whenever it was +known that Brorson would conduct the service. People came from far away +to hear him. And his preaching at home and on his frequent visits to all +parts of his large bishopric bore fruit in a signal quickening of the +Christian life in many of the parishes under his charge. He was, we are +told, as happy as a child when he found pastors and their people working +faithfully together for the upbuilding of the kingdom. But his own zeal +caused him to look for the same earnestness in others. And he was usually +stern and, at times, implacable, in his judgment of neglect and +slothfulness, especially in the pastors. + +His private life was by all accounts exceptionally pure and simple, a +true expression of his sincere faith and earnest piety. A domestic, who +for many years served in his home has furnished us with a most +interesting account of his home life. Brorson, she testifies, was an +exceptionally kind and friendly man, always gentle and considerate in his +dealing with others except when they had provoked him by some gross +neglect or inattention to right and duty. He was generous to a fault +toward others, but very frugal, even parsimonious in his home and in his +personal habits. Only at Christmas or on other special occasion would he +urge his household to spare nothing. He was a ceaseless and industrious +worker, giving close personal attention to the multiple duties of his +important position and office. His daily life bore eloquent witness of +his sincere piety. When at home, no matter how busy, he always gathered +his whole household for daily devotions. Music constituted his sole +diversion. He enjoyed an evening spent in playing and singing with his +family and servants. If he chanced to hear a popular song with a pleasing +tune, he often adopted it to his own words, and sang it in the family +circle. Many of the hymns in his Swan-Song are said to have been composed +and sung in that way. + +His life was rich in trials and suffering. His first wife died just as he +was preparing to go to Copenhagen for his consecration as a bishop, and +the loss affected him so deeply that only the pleading of his friends +prevented him from resigning the office. He later married a most +excellent woman, Johanne Riese, but could never forget the wife of his +youth. Several of his children preceded him in death, some of them while +still in their infancy, and others in the prime of their youth. His own +health was always delicate and he passed through several severe illnesses +from which his recovery was considered miraculous. His heaviest cross +was, perhaps, the hopeless insanity of his first-born son, who throughout +his life had to be confined to a locked and barred room as a hopeless and +dangerous lunatic. A visitor in the bishop's palace, it is related, once +remarked: "You speak so often about sorrows and trials, Bishop Brorson, +but you have your ample income and live comfortably in this fine mansion, +so how can you know about these things?" Without answering, Brorson +beckoned his visitor to follow him to the graveyard where he showed him +the grave of his wife and several of his children, and into the palace +where he showed him the sad spectacle of his insane son. Then the visitor +understood that position and material comfort are no guaranty against +sorrow. + +A very sensitive man, Brorson was often deeply afflicted by his trials, +but though cast down, he was not downcast. The words of his own beloved +hymn, "Whatever I am called to bear, I must in patience suffer," no doubt +express his own attitude toward the burdens of his life. His trials +engendered in him, however, an intense yearning for release, especially +during his later years. The hymns of his _Swan-Song_ are eloquent +testimonies of his desire to depart and be at home with God. + +With the passing years his health became progressively poorer and his +weakening body less able to support the strain of his exacting office. He +would listen to no plea for relaxation, however, until his decreasing +strength clearly made it impossible for him to continue. Even then he +refused to rest and planned to publish a series of weekly sermons that he +might thus continue to speak to his people. But his strength waned so +quickly that he was able to complete only one of the sermons. + +On May 29, 1764, he begged a government official to complete a case +before him at his earliest convenience "for I am now seventy years old, +feeble, bedridden and praying for release from this unhappy world." Only +a day later, his illness took a grave turn for the worse. He sank into a +stupor that lasted until dusk when he awoke and said clearly, "My Jesus +is praying for me in heaven. I see it by faith and am anxious to go. Come +quickly, my Lord, and take me home!" He lingered until the morning of +June 3, when he passed away peacefully just as the great bells of the +cathedral announced the morning service. + +Several fine memorials have been raised to his memory, among them an +excellent statue at the entrance to the cathedral at Ribe, and a tablet +on the inside wall of the building right beside a similar remembrance of +Hans Tausen, the leader of the Danish reformation and a former bishop of +the diocese. But the finest memorial was raised to him by his son through +the publication of _Hans Adolph Brorson's Swan-Song_, a collection of +hymns and songs selected from his unpublished writings. + +The songs of the _Swan-Song_ were evidently written for the poet's own +consolation and diversion. They are of very different types and merit, +and a number of them might without loss have been left out of the +collection. A few of them stand unexcelled, however, for beauty, +sentiment and poetic excellence. There are songs of patience such as the +inimitable: + + + Her vil ties, her vil bies, + Her vil bies, o svage Sind. + Vist skal du hente, kun ved at vente, + Kun ved at vente, vor Sommer ind. + Her vil ties, her vil bies, + Her vil bies, o svage Sind. + + +which one can hardly transfer to another language without marring its +tender beauty. And there are songs of yearning such as the greatly +favored, + + + O Holy Ghost, my spirit + With yearning longs to see + Jerusalem + That precious gem, + Where I shall soon inherit + The home prepared for me. + + But O the stormy waters! + How shall I find my way + Mid hidden shoals, + Where darkness rolls, + And join thy sons and daughters + Who dwell in thee for aye. + + Lord, strengthen my assurance + Of dwelling soon with Thee, + That I may brave + The threatening wave + With firm and calm endurance; + Thyself my pilot be. + + +And there is "The Great White Host", most beloved of all Brorson's hymns, +which Dr. Ryden, a Swedish-American Hymnologist, calls the most popular +Scandinavian hymn in the English language. Several English translations +of this song are available. The translation presented below is from the +new English hymnal of the Danish Lutheran churches in America. + + + Behold the mighty, whiterobed band[8] + Like thousand snowclad mountains stand + With waving palms + And swelling psalms + Above at God's right hand. + These are the heroes brave that came + Through tribulation, war and flame + And in the flood + Of Jesus' blood + Were cleansed from sin and shame. + Now with the ransomed, heavenly Throng + They praise the Lord in every tongue, + And anthems swell + Where God doth dwell + Amidst the angels' song. + + They braved the world's contempt and might, + But see them now in glory bright + With golden crowns, + In priestly gowns + Before the throne of light. + The world oft weighed them with dismay. + And tears would flow without allay, + But there above + The Saviour's love + Has wiped their tears away. + Theirs is henceforth the Sabbath rest, + The Paschal banquet of the blest, + Where fountains play + And Christ for aye + Is host as well as guest. + + All hail to you, blest heroes, then! + A thousand fold is now your gain + That ye stood fast + Unto the last + And did your goal attain. + Ye spurned all worldly joy and fame, + And harvest now in Jesus' name + What ye have sown + With tears unknown + Mid angels' glad acclaim. + Lift up your voice, wave high your palm, + Compass the heavens with your psalm: + All glory be + Eternally + To God and to the Lamb. + + +Brorson's hymns were received with immediate favor. _The Rare Clenod of +Faith_ passed through six editions before the death of its author, and a +new church hymnal published in 1740 contained ninety of his hymns. +Pietism swept the country and adopted Brorson as its poet. But its reign +was surprisingly short. King Christian VI died in 1746, and the new king, +a luxury-loving worldling, showed little interest in religion and none at +all in Pietism. Under his influence the movement quickly waned. During +the latter part of the eighteenth century it was overpowered by a wave of +religious rationalism which engulfed the greater part of the intellectual +classes and the younger clergy. The intelligentsia adopted Voltaire and +Rousseau as their prophets and talked endlessly of the new age of +enlightenment in which religion was to be shorn of its mysteries and +people were to be delivered from the bonds of superstition. + +In such an atmosphere the old hymns and, least of all, Brorson's hymns +with their mystic contemplation of the Saviour's blood and wounds could +not survive. The leading spirits in the movement demanded a new hymnal +that expressed the spirit of the new age. The preparation of such a book +was undertaken by a committee of popular writers, many of whom openly +mocked Evangelical Christianity. Their work was published under the title +_The Evangelical Christian Hymnal_, a peculiar name for a book which, as +has been justly said, was neither Evangelical nor Christian. The +compilers had eliminated many of the finest hymns of Kingo and Brorson +and ruthlessly altered others so that they were irrecognizable. To +compensate for this loss, a great number of "poetically perfect hymns" by +newer writers--nearly all of whom have happily been forgotten--were +adopted. + +But while would-be leaders discarded or mutilated the old hymns and, with +a zeal worthy of a better cause, sought to force their new songs upon the +congregations, many of these clung tenaciously to their old hymnal and +stoutly refused to accept the new. In places the controversy even +developed into a singing contest, with the congregations singing the +numbers from the old hymnal and the deacons from the new. And these +contests were, of course, expressive of an even greater controversy than +the choice of hymns. They represented the struggle between pastors, +working for the spread of the new gospel, and congregations still +clinging to the old. With the highest authorities actively supporting the +new movement, the result of the contest was, however, a foregone +conclusion. The new enlightenment triumphed, and thousands of Evangelical +Christians became homeless in their own church. + +During the subsequent period of triumphant Rationalism, groups of +Evangelical laymen began to hold private assemblies in their own homes +and to provide for their own spiritual nourishment by reading Luther's +sermons and singing the old hymns. In these assemblies Brorson's hymns +retained their favor until a new Evangelical awakening during the middle +part of the nineteenth century produced a new appreciation of the old +hymns and restored them to their rightful place in the worship of the +church. And the songs of the Sweet Singer of Pietism have, perhaps, never +enjoyed a greater favor in his church than they do today. + + +---------- + +[8]Another translation: "Like thousand mountains brightly crowned" by S. + D. Rodholm in "World of Song". + + + + + Nicolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig + the Singer of Pentecost + + + + + Chapter Eleven + Grundtvig's Early Years + + +The latter part of the eighteenth and the earlier part of the nineteenth +century produced a number of great changes in the spiritual, intellectual +and economic life of Denmark. The strong Pietist movement at the time of +Brorson, as we have seen, lost much of its momentum with the death of +King Christian VI, and within a few years was overwhelmed by a wave of +the intellectual and religious Rationalism then engulfing a large part of +Europe. Religion, it was claimed, should be divested of its mysteries and +reason made supreme. Whatever could not justify itself before the bar of +the human intellect should be discarded as outworn conceptions of a less +enlightened age. The movement, however, comprised all shades of opinions +from pure agnosticism to an idealistic belief in God, virtue and +immortality. + +Although firmly opposed by some of the most influential Danish leaders of +that day, such as the valiant bishop of Sjaelland, Johan Edinger Balle, +Rationalism swept the country with irresistible force. Invested in the +attractive robe of human enlightenment and appealing to man's natural +intellectual vanity, the movement attracted the majority of the upper +classes and a large proportion of the clergy. Its adherents studied +Rousseau and Voltaire, talked resoundingly of human enlightenment, +organized endless numbers of clubs, and--in some instances--worked +zealously for the social and economic uplift of the depressed classes. + +In this latter endeavor many pastors assumed a commendable part. Having +lost the old Gospel, the men of the cloth became eager exponents of the +"social gospel" of that day. While we may not approve their Christmas +sermons "on improved methods of stable feeding," or their Easter sermons +"on the profitable cultivation of buckwheat," we cannot but recognize +their devoted labor for the educational and economic uplift, especially +of the hard-pressed peasants. + +Their well-meant efforts, however, bore little fruit. The great majority +of the people had sunk into a slough of spiritual apathy from which +neither the work of the Rationalists nor the stirring events of the time +could arouse them. + +The nineteenth century began threateningly for Denmark, heaping calamity +after calamity upon her. England attacked her in 1801 and 1807, robbing +her of her fine fleet and forcing her to enter the European war on the +side of Napoleon. The war wrecked her trade, bankrupted her finances and +ended with the severance of her long union with Norway in 1814. But +through it all Holger Danske slept peacefully, apparently unaware that +the very existence of the nation was threatened. + +It is against this background of spiritual and national indifference that +the towering figure of Grundtvig must be seen. For it was he, more than +any other, who awakened his people from their lethargic indifference and +started them upon the road toward a happier day spiritually and +nationally. + +Nicolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig, like so many of Denmark's greatest +men, was the son of a parson. He was born September 8, 1783, at Udby, a +country parish in the south-eastern part of Sjaelland. His father, Johan +Ottesen Grundtvig, was a pastor of the old school, an upright, earnest +and staunch supporter of the Evangelical Lutheran faith. His mother, +Catherine Marie Bang, was a high-minded, finely educated woman with an +ardent love for her country, its history, traditions and culture. Her son +claimed that he had inherited his love of "song and saga" from her. + +The Grundtvigs on both sides of the family were descendants of a long +line of distinguished forebears, the most famous of whom was Archbishop +Absalon, the founder of Copenhagen and one of the most powerful figures +in 13th Century Denmark. And they still had relatives in high places. +Thus Johan Edinger Balle, the formerly mentioned bishop of Sjaelland, was +a brother-in-law of Johan Grundtvig; Cathrine Grundtvig's brother, Dr. +Johan Frederik Bang, was a well-known professor of medicine and the +stepfather of Jacob Peter Mynster; and her younger sister, Susanna +Kristine Steffens, was the mother of Henrik Steffens, a professor at the +universities of Halle and Breslau, a friend of Goethe and Schiller, and a +leader of the early Romantic movement, both in Germany and Denmark. + +Cathrine Grundtvig bore her husband five children, of whom Nicolaj was +the youngest. But even with such a large household to manage, she found +time to supervise the early schooling of her youngest son. She taught him +to read, told him the sagas of his people and gave him his first lessons +in the history and literature, both of his own and of other nations. + +It was a period of stirring events. Wars and revolutions raged in many +parts of Europe. And these events were eagerly followed and discussed in +the parsonage. Listening to his elders, Grundtvig saw, as it were, +history in its making and acquired an interest in the subject that +produced rich fruits in later years. The wholesome Christian life of his +home and the devotional spirit of the services in his father's church +also made a deep impression upon him, an impression that even the +scepticism of his youth could not eradicate. + +But his happy childhood years ended all too quickly. At the age of nine +he left his home to continue his studies under a former tutor, Pastor L. +Feld of Thyregod, a country parish in Jylland. There he spent six lonely +but quite fruitful years, receiving among other things a solid training +in the classical languages. In 1798, he completed his studies with Rev. +Feld and enrolled in the Latin school at Aarhus, the principal city of +Jylland. But the change proved most unfortunate for young Grundtvig. +Under the wise and kindly guidance of Rev. Feld he had preserved the +wholesome, eager spirit of his childhood, but the lifeless teaching, the +compulsory religious exercises and the whole spiritless atmosphere of his +new school soon changed him into an indifferent, sophisticated and +self-satisfied cynic with little interest in his studies, and none at all +in religion. + +At the completion of his course, however, this attitude did not deter him +from enrolling at the University of Copenhagen with the intention of +studying for the ministry. A university education was then considered +almost indispensable to a man of his social position, and his parents +earnestly wished him to enter the church. Nor was his attitude toward +Christianity greatly different from that of his fellow students or even +from that of many pastors already preaching the emasculated gospel of +God, Virtue, and Immortality which the Rationalists held to be the true +essence of the Christian religion. Believing the important part of the +Gospel to be its ethical precepts, Grundtvig, furthermore, prided himself +upon the correctness of his own moral conduct and his ability to control +all unworthy passions. "I was at that time," he later complained, +"nothing but an insufferably vain and narrow-minded Pharisee." + +From this spirit of superior self-sufficiency, only two things +momentarily aroused him during his university years--the English attacks +upon Copenhagen; and a series of lectures by his cousin, Henrik Steffens. + +Steffens, as a student at Jena, had met and become an enthusiastic +disciple of Schelling, the father of natural philosophy, a pantheistic +colored conception of life, opposed to the narrowly materialistic views +of most Rationalists. Lecturing at the university during the years +1802-1803, Steffens aroused a tremendous enthusiasm, both among the +students and some of the older intellectuals. "He was a fiery speaker," +Grundtvig remarks later, "and his lectures both shocked and inspired us +although I often laughed at him afterward." + +Despite his attempt to laugh away the impression of the fiery speaker, +Grundtvig, nevertheless, retained at least two lasting memories from the +lectures--the power of the spoken word, a power that even against his +will could arouse him from his cynical indifference, and the reverence +with which Steffens spoke of Christ as "the center of history." The human +race, he contended, had sunk progressively lower and lower from the fall +of man until the time of Nero, when the process had been reversed and man +had begun the slow upward climb that was still continuing. And of this +progress the speaker in glowing terms pictured Christ as the living +center. + +Grundtvig was graduated from the university in the spring of 1803. He +wished to remain in Copenhagen but could find no employment and was +forced, therefore, to return to his home. Here he remained for about a +year, after which he succeeded in obtaining a position as tutor for the +son of Lieutenant Steensen Leth of Egelykke, a large estate on the island +of Langeland. + +Except for the fact that Egelykke was far from Copenhagen, Grundtvig soon +became quite satisfied with his new position. Both the manor and its +surroundings were extremely beautiful, and his work was congenial. His +employer, a former naval officer, proved to be a rough, hard-drinking +worldling; but his hostess, Constance Leth, was a charming, well-educated +woman whose cultural interests made the manor a favored gathering place +for a group of like-minded ladies from the neighborhood. And with these +cultured women, Grundtvig soon felt himself much more at home than with +his rough-spoken employer and hard-drinking companions. + +But if Grundtvig unexpectedly was beginning to enjoy his stay at +Egelykke, this enjoyment vanished like a dream when he suddenly +discovered that he was falling passionately in love with his attractive +hostess. It availed him nothing that others as he well knew might have +accepted such a situation with complacence; to him it appeared an +unpardonable reproach both to his intelligence and his honor. Having +proudly asserted the ability of any intelligent man to master his +passions, he was both horrified and humiliated to discover that he could +not control his own. + + Nicolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig + +Grundtvig never consciously revealed his true sentiment to Constance +Leth. At the cost of an intense struggle, he managed outwardly to +maintain his code of honorable conduct. But he still felt humbled and +shaken by his inability to suppress his inner and as he saw it guilty +passion. And under this blow to his proud self-sufficiency, he felt, +perhaps for the first time in his life, the need for a power greater than +his own. "To win in this struggle," he wrote in his diary, "lies beyond +my own power. I must look for help from above or sink as the stone sinks +while the lightly floating leaves mock it and wonder why it cannot float +as they do." + +The struggle against his passion engendered a need for work. "In order to +quiet the storm within me," he writes, "I forced my mind to occupy itself +with the most difficult labor." Although he had paid small attention to +the suggestion at the time, he now remembered and began to read some of +the authors Steffens had recommended in his lectures: Goethe, Schiller, +Schelling, Fichte, Shakespeare and others. He also studied the work of +newer Danish writers, such as Prof. Jens Moeller, a writer on Northern +mythology, and Adam Oehlenschlaeger, a young man who, inspired by +Steffens, was becoming the foremost dramatic poet of Denmark. He even +renewed the study of his long neglected Bible. The motive of his +extensive reading was, no doubt, ethical rather than esthetic, a search +for that outside power of which the battle within him revealed his urgent +need. Thus he wrote: + + + My spirit opened its eyes, + Saw itself on the brink of the abyss, + Searched with trembling and fear + Everywhere for a power to save, + And found God in all things, + Found Him in the songs of the poets, + Found Him in the work of the sages, + Found Him in the myths of the North, + Found Him in the records of history, + But clearest of all it still + Found Him in the Book of Books. + + +The fate that appears to crush a man may also exalt him. And so it was +with Grundtvig. His suffering crushed the stony shell of cynical +indifference in which he had long enclosed his naturally warm and +impetuous spirit and released the great latent forces within him. In the +midst of his struggle, new ideas germinated springlike in his mind. He +read, thought and wrote, especially on the subject that was always near +to his heart, the mythology and early traditions of the Northern peoples. +And after three years of struggle, he was at last ready to break away +from Egelykke. If he had not yet conquered his passion, he had so far +mastered it that he could aspire to other things. + +Thus ended what a modern Danish writer, Skovgaard-Petersen, calls "the +finest love story in Danish history." The event had caused Grundtvig much +pain, but it left no festering wounds. His firm refusal to permit his +passion to sully himself or degrade the woman he loved had, on the +contrary, made it one of the greatest incitations to good in his whole +life. + +On his return to Copenhagen Grundtvig almost at once obtained a position +as teacher in history at Borch's Collegium for boys. His new position +satisfied him eminently by affording him a chance to work with his +favorite subject and to expand his other intellectual interests. He soon +made friends with a number of promising young intellectuals who, in turn, +introduced him to some of the outstanding intellectual and literary +lights of the country, and within a short while the list of his +acquaintances read like a Blue Book of the city's intelligentsia. + +Although Grundtvig was still quite unknown except for a few articles in a +current magazine, there was something about him, an originality of view, +an arresting way of phrasing his thoughts, a quiet sense of humor, that +commanded attention. His young friends willingly acknowledged his +leadership, and the older watched him with expectation. Nor were they +disappointed. His _Northern Mythology_ appeared in 1808, and _Episodes +from the Decay of Northern Heroism_ only a year later. And these +strikingly original and finely written works immediately established his +reputation as one of the foremost writers of Denmark. There were even +those who in their enthusiasm compared him with the revered +Oehlenschlaeger. A satirical poem, "The Masquerade Ball of Denmark," +inspired by the frivolous indifference with which many people had reacted +to the English bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807, showed his power of +burning scorn and biting satire. + +In the midst of this success and the preparation of plans for new and +more ambitious works, Grundtvig received a request from his old father to +come home and assist him with his parish work. The request was not at all +pleasing to him. His personal attitude toward Christianity was still +uncertain, and his removal from the capital would interfere with his +literary career. But as the wish of his good parents could not be +ignored, he reluctantly applied for ordination and began to prepare his +probation sermon. + +This now famous sermon was delivered before the proper officials March +17, 1810. Knowing that few besides the censors would be present to hear +him and feeling that an ordinary sermon would be out of place before such +an audience, Grundtvig prepared his sermon as an historical survey of the +present state of the church rather than as an Evangelical discourse. + +His study of history had convinced him of the mighty influence +Christianity had once exerted upon the nations, and he, therefore, posed +the question why this influence was now in decline. "Are the glad +tidings," he asked, "which through seventeen hundred years passed from +confessing lips to listening ears still not preached?" And the answer is +"no". Even the very name of Jesus is now without significance and worth +to most people of the younger generation, "for the Word of God has +departed from His house and that which is preached there is not the Word +of God, but the earth-bound speculations of men. The holy men of old +believed in the message they were called to preach, but the human spirit +has now become so proud that it feels itself capable of discovering the +truth without the light of the Gospel, and so faith has died. My +Brethren!" he exclaims, "Let us not, if we share this blindness and +contempt for the heavenly light, be false and shameless enough to +desecrate the Holy Place by appearing there as preachers of a +Christianity in which we ourselves do not believe!" + +The sermon was delivered with much force and eloquence. Grundtvig felt +himself stirred by the strength of his own argument; and a comparison of +the warm devotional spirit of a church service, as he remembered it from +his childhood, with the cold indifference of later days moved him to +sentimental tears, the first pious tears that he had shed for many years, +he said later. Even the censors were so impressed that they unanimously +awarded him the mark of excellent, a generosity they bitterly regretted a +few weeks later. For Grundtvig, contrary to his promise--as the censors +asserted but Grundtvig denied--published his sermon. And it was warmly +received by the Evangelicals as the first manna that had fallen in a +desert for many years. But the Rationalists violently condemned it and +presented the Committee on Church Affairs with an indignant protest +against its author "for having grossly insulted the Danish clergy." + +Considering the enthusiastic approval the sermon had received in various +quarters, the committee would gladly have squashed the complaint. But the +complainers, comprising many of the most influential pastors in the city, +were too powerful to be ignored. And so Grundtvig was found guilty "of +having willfully insulted the Danish clergy, both individually and as a +body," and sentenced to receive a reprimand by the dean of the +theological faculty. + +When Grundtvig on January 11, 1811, presented himself before the dean to +receive his reprimand, he looked so pale and shaken that even the worthy +official took compassion upon him and advised him privately that he must +not take his sentence too seriously. It was not, however, the stern +reprimand of the dean but an experience of far greater consequence that +so visibly blanched the cheeks of the defendant. + +The prospect of entering the active ministry caused Grundtvig to examine +seriously his own attitude toward Christianity. And although the bishop +vetoed his assignment to Udby and thus released him from the immediate +prospect of entering the pulpit, this did not stop the trend of his +thoughts. He had lost his former indifference toward religion and +discovered the historical significance of Christianity, but just what did +the Christian faith mean to him personally? + +He was still pondering this question, when in the fall of 1810, he +commenced a study of the Crusades, "the heroic age of Christianity," as +one historian called the period. The phrase appealed to him. He had +lately wandered through the mystic halls of Northern gods and heroes and +deplored the decay of their heroic spirit. He admired the heroic, and his +heart still wavered between the mighty Wodin and the meek and lowly +Christ. But the heroic age of Christianity--was it possible then that +Christianity too could rise to the heroic? + +In the course of his study he read _The Early History of Prussia_ by A. +von Kotzebue in which the author, after ridiculing "the missionary zeal +that, like a fire on the steppes, caught the kings of Poland and +Scandinavia and moved them to frantic efforts for the conversion of +neighboring peoples," proudly stated, "But while her neighbors all +accepted Christianity and the withered cross drew steadily nearer to the +green oak, Prussia remained faithful to her ancient gods." + +"The withered Cross!" The words stung Grundtvig to the quick. He hurled +the book away, sprang up and stormed about the room, vowing that he would +henceforth dedicate his life to the cause of the spurned emblem. + +A few weeks of restless exaltation followed. He read his Bible, studied +Luther's catechism and pondered the ways and means of accomplishing a +reform of his church, especially a reform inspired by pen and ink. But +his _New Year's Night_, a small book published during this period, shows +his still troublesome uncertainty, his constant wavering between the old +gods and the Christ of the Gospels, between various degrees of +Rationalism and a full acceptance of the mystery of the cross. In a +mighty hymn of praise to the suffering Savior, he wrote many years later: +"Yes, my heart believes the wonder of Thy cross, which ages ponder"--but +he had yet to pass through the depths before he could say that. Even so, +he now exultingly wrote: "On the rim of the bottomless abyss toward which +our age is blindly hastening, I will stand and confront it with a +picture, illumined by two shining lights, the Word of God, and the +testimony of history. As long as God gives me strength to lift up my +voice, I will call and admonish my people in His name." + +But from this pinnacle of proud exultation, he was suddenly hurled into +the abyss when, like a bolt of lightning, the thought struck him: But are +you yourself a Christian, have you received the forgiveness of your sin? + +"It struck me like a hammer, crashing the rock," he said later, "what the +Lord tells the ungodly: 'What hast thou to declare my statutes or that +thou shouldest take my covenant into thy mouth, seeing that thou hatest +my instruction and castest my word behind thee!'" Gone like a dream were +now all his proud fancies. Only one thought filled his whole being--to +obtain the forgiveness of his sin and the assurance of God's grace. But +so violent became his struggle that his mind at times reeled on the brink +of insanity. His young friends stood loyally by him, comforting and +guarding him as far as they could. And when it became clear that he must +be removed from the noise of the city, one of them, F. Sibbern, +volunteered to take him home. There his old parents received him with +understanding, even rejoicing that anxiety for his soul and not other +things had so disturbed his mind. + +The peace of the quiet countryside, the understanding care of his parents +and the soothing influence of their firm Evangelical faith acted as a +balm to Grundtvig's struggling spirit. He loved to enter the old church +of his childhood, to hear his father preach, or sit alone before the +altar in meditation and prayer. And there before the altar of the church +in which he had been baptized and confirmed, he at last found peace, the +true peace of God that passeth all understanding. + +After the great change in his life, Grundtvig now wished most heartily to +become his father's assistant. The elder Grundtvig had already forwarded +his resignation from the pastorate but was more than happy to apply for +its return and for the appointment of his son as his assistant. And so, +Grundtvig was ordained at Copenhagen, May 11, 1811, and installed at Udby +a few days later. He was back again in the old church of his childhood. + + + + + Chapter Twelve + The Lonely Defender of the Bible + + +Grundtvig began his work at Udby with all the zeal of a new convert. He +ministered to young and old, spent himself in work for the sick and the +poor, and preached the Gospel with a fervor that was new, not only to the +people of Udby, but to most people of that generation. If other things +had not intervened, like his father, he might have spent his life as a +successful country pastor. But his father died January 5, 1813. The +authorities refused to confirm Grundtvig in the vacant charge, and he and +his mother, shortly afterward, were compelled to leave the parsonage that +had been their home for more than forty years. His mother settled in +Prastoe, a small city a few miles from Udby, and Grundtvig returned to +Copenhagen to search for a new position, a task that this time proved +both long and painful. + +Among available positions, Grundtvig especially coveted a professorship +in history at the newly founded university of Oslo, Norway, at which +three of his friends, S. B. Hersleb, Niels Trechow and George Sverdrup, +had already obtained employment. But although these friends worked +zealously for his appointment, even after the separation of Norway from +Denmark, their efforts were fruitless. Grundtvig was not destined to +leave his native land. Nor were his attempts to secure other work +successful. In spite of the fact that he applied for almost every vacancy +in the church, even the smallest, his powerful enemies among the +Rationalists were influential enough to prevent his appointment to any of +them. + +Meanwhile he was by no means idle. Following his conversion, he felt for +a time like a man suddenly emerging from darkness into the brightness of +a new day. Old things had passed away, but the brilliance of the new +light confused him. What could he do? How many of his former interests +were reconcilable with his new views? Could he, for instance, continue +his writings? "When my eyes were opened," he writes, "I considered all +things not directly concerned with God a hindrance to the blessed +knowledge of my Lord, Jesus Christ." After a time he saw, however, that +his ability to write might be accepted as a gift from God to be used in +His service. "The poet when inspired," he says, "may proclaim a message +from above to the world below," and so, "after dedicating it to Himself, +the Lord again handed me the harp that I had placed upon His altar." + +During his brief stay at Udby, Grundtvig published three larger works: +_Episodes from the Battle between Ases and Norns_, _Saga_ and _A New +Year's Gift for 1812_.[9] The first of these was nearly completed before +his conversion, and as he now reread the manuscript, its content almost +shocked him. Was it possible that he had felt and written thus only a few +months ago! He thought of destroying the work but decided to recast it in +conformity with his present views and to express these clearly in a +preface. With the completion of this task, however, he took a long leave +from the "ice-cold giants of the North" that had so long engrossed his +attention. + +After his brief visit with the heroes of the past, Grundtvig again turned +his attention to their descendants in the present. And the contrast was +almost startling. The war still was dragging on and the country sinking +deeper and deeper into the morass of political, commercial and economic +difficulties. But the majority of the people seemed completely +indifferent to her plight. "They talked of nothing," Grundtvig says, "but +of what they had eaten, worn and amused themselves with yesterday, or +what they would eat, wear and amuse themselves with tomorrow." Was it +possible that these people could be descendants of the giants whose valor +and aggressive spirit had once challenged the greater part of Europe? + +Grundtvig was convinced that the spiritual apathy of his people resulted +from the failure of their spiritual leaders to uphold the Evangelical +faith, and that the salvation of the nation depended on a true revival of +Evangelical Christianity. For this reason he now exerted every means at +his command to induce the people and, especially, their leaders to return +to the old paths. In numerous works, both in verse and in prose, he urged +the people to renew the faith of their fathers and challenged their +leaders to take a definite stand for Biblical Christianity. He became the +lonely defender of the Bible. + +Among outstanding personalities of that day, there were especially two +that attracted widespread attention: J. P. Mynster, assistant pastor at +the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, and Adam Gottlieb Oehlenschlaeger, +the dramatic poet, then at the height of his fame. With their influence +these men, as Grundtvig saw it, might give a strong impetus to the much +needed awakening; and, he therefore, approached them personally. + +Rev. Mynster, a stepson of Grundtvig's maternal uncle, after a period of +rationalism, had experienced a quiet conversion to Evangelical faith and +won a respected name as a faithful and gifted preacher of the Gospel, a +name which he retained throughout his conspicuous career as pastor of the +Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen and, later, as Bishop of Sjaelland. He +and Grundtvig, working to the same purpose, ought to have united with +another, but they were both too individualistic in temperament and views +to join forces. Mynster was coldly logical, calm and reserved, a lover of +form and orderly progress. Grundtvig was impetuous, and volcanic, in +constant ferment, always in search of spiritual reality and wholly +indifferent to outward appearances. His own experience had led him to +believe that a return to Evangelical Christianity could be effected only +through a clean break with Rationalism, and he could not understand +Mynster's apparent attempt to temporize and bring about a gradual +transition from one to the other. There should be no compromise between +truth and falsehood. All believers in the Gospel should stand up and +proclaim it fearlessly, no matter what the consequences. + +And so Grundtvig wrote to Mynster: "Dear Rev. Mynster, I owe you an +apology for asking a question that in our days may appear inexcusable: +What is your real belief regarding the Bible and the faith of Jesus +Christ? If you humbly believe in God's Word, I shall rejoice with you +even if you differ with me in all other things. Dear Rev. Mynster--for +you are that to me--if my question appears unseemly, you must not let it +hurt you, for I have written only as my heart dictates." But Mynster did +feel offended and answered Grundtvig very coldly that his questions +implied an unwarranted and offensive doubt of his sincerity that must +make future intercourse between them difficult--if not impossible. + +Nor was Grundtvig more successful with a letter of similar purport to +Oehlenschlaeger whose later writings he found lacked the spiritual +sincerity of his earlier work. "My concern about this," he wrote, "is +increased by the thought that this lessening of spirituality must be +expressive of a change in your own spiritual outlook, your inner +relationship with God whom all spiritual workers should serve, counting +it a greater achievement to inspire their fellow men with a true +adoration of our Lord than to win the acclaim of the world." But like +Mynster the highly feted poet accepted this frank questioning of his +inner motive as an unwarranted impertinence, the stupid intrusion of an +intolerable fanatic with whom no friend of true enlightenment could have +anything to do. Grundtvig was fast finding out what it means to be +counted a fool for Christ's sake--or for what he thought was Christ's +sake. + +In the midst of these troubles Grundtvig again turned his attention to +history, his favorite subject from childhood days. His retreat from the +present to the past implied no abolition, however, of his resolve to +dedicate himself to a spiritual revival of his people. Through his +historical work he wished to show the influence of Christianity upon the +people of Europe. "That the life of every people," he writes, "is and +must be a fruit of faith should be clear to all. For who can dispute that +every human action--irrespective of how little considered it may have +been--is expressive of its doer's attitude, of his way of feeling and +thinking. But what determines a man's way of thinking except his +essential thoughts concerning the relationship between God and the world, +the visible and the invisible? Every serious thinker, therefore, must +recognize the importance of faith in the furtherance of science, the +progress of nations and the life of the state. It is a fearful delusion +that man can be immoral, an unbeliever, even an enemy of the cross of +Christ, and yet a furtherer of morality and science, a good neighbor and +a benefactor to his country." + +_A Brief Survey of the World's History_, which Grundtvig published in +1812, is thus the opposite of an objective presentation of historical +events. It is a Christian philosophy of history, an attempt to prove the +truth of the Gospel by its effect upon the nations. With the Bible before +him Grundtvig weighs and evaluates people and events upon the scale of +the revealed word. And his judgment is often relentless, stripping both +persons and events of the glorified robes in which history and traditions +invested them. In answer to countless protests against such a method of +reading history, Grundtvig contends that the Christian historian must +accept the consequences of his faith. He cannot profess the truth of +Christianity and ignore its implication in the life of the world. If the +Gospel be true, history must be measured by its relation to its truth. + +Grundtvig's history caused a sensation, especially on account of its +frank appraisal of many well-known persons. Nearly all praised its lucid +style; a few, such as George Sverdrup, spoke highly of its strikingly +original estimate and correlation of events; but the intelligentsia +condemned it as the work of an impossible fanatic. With this work, they +claimed, Grundtvig had clearly removed himself from the pale of +intelligent men. + +But while his enemies raged, Grundtvig was already busy with another +work: _A Brief Account of God's Way with the Danish and Norwegian +Peoples_. This history which, written in verse and later published under +the title of _Roskilde Rhymes_, was first read at a diocesan convention +in Roskilde Cathedral, the Westminster Abbey of Denmark. Although the +poem contained many urgent calls to the assembled pastors to awake and +return to the way of the fathers, whose bones rested within the walls of +the historic sanctuary, its reading caused no immediate resentment. Most +of the reverend listeners are reported, in fact, to have been peacefully +asleep when late in the evening Grundtvig finished the reading of his +lengthy manuscript. But a paper on "Polemics and Tolerance" which he read +at another convention two years later kept his listeners wide awake. + +"Our day has inherited two shibboleths from the eighteenth century: +enlightenment and tolerance. By the last of these words most people +understand an attitude of superior neutrality toward the opinions of +others, even when these opinions concern the highest spiritual welfare of +man. Such an attitude has for its premise that good and evil, truth and +falsehood are not separate and irreconcilable realities but only +different phases of the same question. But every Christian, thoroughly +convinced of the antagonism and irreconcilability of truth with +falsehood, must inevitably hate and reject such a supposition. If +Christianity be true, tolerance toward opinions and teachings denying its +truth is nothing but a craven betrayal of both God and man. It is +written, 'Judge and condemn no one' but not 'Judge and condemn nothing.' +For every Christian must surely both judge and condemn evil. + +"There are times when to fight for Christianity may not be an urgent +necessity; but that cannot be so in our days when every one of its divine +truths is mocked and assailed. + +"You call me a self-seeking fanatic, but if I be that, why are you +yourself silent? If I be misleading those who follow me, why are you, the +true watchmen of Zion, not exerting yourself to lead them aright? I stand +here the humblest of Danish pastors, a minister without a pulpit, a man +reviled by the world, shorn of my reputation as a writer, and held to be +devoid of all intelligence and truth. Even so I solemnly declare that the +religion now preached in our Danish church is not Christianity, is +nothing but a tissue of deception and falsehood, and that unless Danish +pastors bestir themselves and fight for the restoration of God's word and +the Christian faith there will soon be no Christian church in Denmark." + +The immediate effect of this bold challenge was a stern reprimand from +Bishop Frederik Munter, accompanied by a solemn warning that if he ever +again ventured to voice a similar judgment upon his fellow pastors, +sterner measures would at once be taken against him. Besides this, his +enemies raved, some of his few remaining friends broke with him, and H. +C. Oersted, the famous discoverer of electro-magnetism, continued an +attack upon him that for bitterness has no counterpart in Danish letters. +In the midst of this storm Grundtvig remained self-possessed, answering +his critic quite calmly and even with a touch of humor. Although +relentless in a fight for principles, he was never vindictive toward his +personal enemies. In 1815, he published a collection of poems, +_Kvaedlinger_, in which he asks, "Who knoweth of peace who never has +fought, whoso has been saved and suffered naught?" And these lines no +doubt express his personal attitude toward the battles of life. + +Being without a pulpit of his own, Grundtvig, after his return to +Copenhagen, frequently accepted invitations to preach for other pastors. +But as the opposition against him grew, these invitations decreased and, +after the Roskilde affair, only one church, the church of Frederiksberg, +was still open to him. Grundtvig felt his exclusion very keenly, but he +knew that even friendly pastors hesitated to invite him for fear of +incurring the disapproval of superiors or the displeasure of influential +parishioners. And so, at the close of a Christmas service in the +Frederiksberg church in 1815, he solemnly announced that he would not +enter a pulpit again until he had been duly appointed to do so by the +proper authorities. + +Grundtvig's withdrawal from the church, though pleasing to his active +enemies, was a great disappointment to his friends. His services had +always been well attended, and his earnest message had brought comfort to +many, especially among the distressed Evangelicals. But others, too, felt +the power of his word. Thus a man in Copenhagen, after attending one of +his services, wrote to a friend, "that he had laughed at the beginning of +the sermon and wept at its conclusion" and that "it was the only earnest +testimony he had ever heard from a pulpit." And a reporter writing to a +Copenhagen newspaper about his last service said, "Our famous Grundtvig +preached yesterday at Frederiksberg church to such a crowd of people that +the church was much too small to accommodate them. Here were people from +all walks of life, and the speaker, we are convinced, stirred them to the +bottom of their souls. Here was a Mynster's clarity, a Fallesen's +earnestness, and a Balle's appeal united with a Nordahl Brun's manliness +and admirable language." And this about a man for whom his church had no +room! + +Thus Grundtvig instead of the friendly co-operation he had hoped for +especially from the spiritual and intellectual leaders of the people +found himself virtually shut out from the circle to which he naturally +belonged, and from the church he loved, perhaps better than any man of +his generation. + +But if his hope of enlisting the leaders in a campaign to revive the +spiritual life of the common people had been disappointed, his own +determination to devote his life to that purpose remained unshaken. If he +could look for no help from the recognized leaders of his nation, he must +somehow gain a hearing from the common people themselves. His personal +contact with these, however, was rather slight. Except for his brief work +as a pastor, he had so far spent the greater part of his life in +intellectual pursuits quite removed from the interest of the common man. +And the question was then how he, a man without any special position and +influence, could reach the ears of his countrymen. + +In searching for an answer to this question, he remembered the two things +that most profoundly had influenced his own spiritual outlook, his study +of the traditions and history of his people, and his religious awakening +in 1810. Was it not possible then that a like change might be engendered +in others by presenting them with a picture of their own glorious past +or, as his friend Ingemann later expressed it, by calling forth the +generations that died to testify against the generation that lived? In +presenting such a picture he would not have to rely on his own +inventiveness but could use material already existing, foremost among +which were the famous _Sagas of Norwegian Kings_ by Snorra Sturlason, and +_Denmark's Chronicle_ by Saxo Grammaticus, the former written in +Icelandic, and the latter in Latin. + +When Grundtvig presented this plan to his remaining friends, they +received it at once with enthusiasm and began the organization of +societies both in Denmark and Norway for the purpose of sponsoring its +execution, in itself a most herculean task. + +The two books contain together about fifteen hundred large and closely +printed pages and present a circumstantial account of the early +mythological and factual history of the two nations. Even a merely +literal translation of them might well consume years of labor. But +Grundtvig's plan went much farther than mere literal translation. Wishing +to appeal to the common people, he purposed to popularize the books and +to transcribe them in a purer and more idiomatic Danish than the accepted +literary language of the day, a Danish to be based on the dialects of the +common people, the folk-songs, popular proverbs, and the old hymns. It +was a bold undertaking, comparable to the work of Luther in modelling the +language of the German Bible after the speech of the man in the street +and the mother at the cradle, or to the great effort of Norway in our +days to supplant the Danish-Norwegian tongue with a language from the +various dialects of her people. Nor can it be said that Grundtvig was +immediately successful in his attempt. His version of the sagas sounds +somewhat stilted and artificial, and it never became popular among the +common people for whom it was especially intended. Eventually, however, +he did develop his new style into a plain, forceful mode of expression +that has greatly enriched the Danish language of today. + +For seven years Grundtvig buried himself in "the giant's mount," emerging +only occasionally for the pursuit of various studies in connection with +his work or to voice his views on certain issues that particularly +interested him. He discovered a number of errors in the Icelandic version +of Beowulf and made a new Danish translation of that important work; he +engaged in a bitter literary battle with Paul Mueller, a leader among the +younger academicians, in defence of the celebrated lyric poet, Jens +Baggesen, who had aroused the wrath of the students by criticising their +revered dramatist, Oehlenschlaeger; and he fought a furious contest with +the greatly admired song and comedy writer, John L. Heiberg, in defence +of his good friend, Bernhard Severin Ingemann, whose excellent but overly +sentimental lyrics had invited the barbed wit of the humorist. But +although Grundtvig's contributions to these disputes were both able and +pointed, their main effect was to widen the breach between him and the +already antagonistic intellectuals. + +In 1817 Grundtvig published the second part of _World Chronicles_, and a +few issues of a short-lived periodical entitled "Dannevirke" which among +other excellent contributions presented his splendid poem, "The Easter +Lily," a poetic dramatization of our Lord's resurrection, about which the +poet, Baggesen, said that "it outweighed all Oehlenschlaeger's tragedies +and that he himself had moments when he would rather have been the author +of this incomparably beautiful poem than of everything he himself had +written." + +Grundtvig began his translation of the sagas on a wave of high +enthusiasm. But as the years multiplied, the interest of his supporters +waned and he himself wearied of the task. He began, besides, to doubt his +ability to resurrect the heroic dead in such a manner that they could +revive the dropping spirit of the living. + +In a welcome to Ingemann, on his return from a tour abroad, he expresses +the hope that the poet will now devote his gifts to a reincarnation of +his country's old heroes. He himself has tried to do this. "He has made +armor, shields and swords for them of saga's steel, and borrowed horses +for them from the ancient bards, but he has no cloth fit for the coats of +such elegant knights nor feathers beautiful enough to adorn their +helmets. He can sound a challenge but has no voice for singing; he can +ring a bell but can not play the lute." In other words, he can depict the +thoughts and ideals of the old heroes but lacks the poetical ability to +recreate them as living personalities--a remarkably true estimate of his +own limitations. + +The discovery that his translation of the sagas was not accomplishing its +intended purpose, and a growing apprehension that the written word was, +perhaps, impotent to revive the spiritual life of his people, engendered +in him an increasing wish to leave "the mount of the dead" and re-enter +the world of the living. His economic circumstances also necessitated a +change. In 1818 he had married Elizabeth Blicher, the daughter of a +brother pastor, and he found it well nigh impossible to support his wife +and growing family on the meager returns from his writings and a small +pension which the government allowed him for his work with the sagas. + +Spurred by these reasons, he applied for almost every vacancy in the +church, even the smallest, and, in 1821, succeeded in obtaining an +appointment to the pastorate at Prastoe, a small city on the south-eastern +shores of Sjaelland. + +Grundtvig was well satisfied with his new charge. He was kindly received +by his congregation; the city was quite close to his beloved Udby, and +his mother still lived there. "In the loveliest surroundings my eyes have +ever seen and among a friendly people," he writes, "my strength soon +revived so that I could continue my literary work and even complete my +wearisome translation of the sagas." + +An incident is related from his work at Prastoe which throws a somewhat +revealing light upon his ability as a pastor. At his only confirmation +service there, the confirmants, we are told, wept so that he had to pause +several times in his address to them in order to let them regain their +composure. Since he was always quite objective in his preaching and +heartily disbelieved in the usual revival methods, the incident +illustrates his rare ability to profoundly stir even the less mature of +his hearers by his objective presentation of the Gospel. Even his +bitterest enemies could not deny the evident effectiveness of his +ministry in every charge he served. + +His work at Prastoe was, however, of brief duration. In 1822, less than +two years after his installation, he received and accepted a call as +assistant pastor at Our Savior's Church in Copenhagen, thus attaining his +long deferred wish for a pulpit in the capital. + + +---------- + +[9]The printed text is corrupt here. _Saga: A New Year's Gift for 1812_ + is one work. Possibly the third work referenced is _World Chronicles_, + the first part of which was published in 1812. + + + + + Chapter Thirteen + The Living Word + + +Grundtvig began his ministry in the capital with high hopes, but he was +soon disappointed. His services as usual attracted large audiences, +audiences that frequently overflowed the spacious sanctuary. But these +came from all parts of the city, an ever changing throng from which it +was quite impossible to create a real congregation. The parish itself was +so large that the mere routine duties of his office consumed much of his +time. There were mass weddings, mass baptisms, mass funerals for people +of whom he knew little and could have no assurance that he was not +"giving the holy unto dogs or casting pearls before swine." With the +prevailing decay of church-life most pastors accepted these conditions +with equanimity, but to Grundtvig they constituted an increasingly heavy +burden. + +He was still lonely. Awakened Christians were few, and his fellow pastors +were nearly all Rationalists who looked upon him as a dangerous fanatic +whom it was best to avoid. Grundtvig's opinion about them, though +different, was scarcely higher. It provoked him to observe pastors openly +repudiating doctrines and ordinances which they had sworn to defend. To +his mind such a course was both dishonorable to themselves and unjust +toward their congregations which, whether or not they approved of these +unlawful acts, had to be served by their parish pastors. The majority, it +is true, accepted the new doctrines with indifference. Rationalism then +as now promoted apathy rather than heresy. But Grundtvig observed its +blighting effect everywhere, even upon himself. + +Signs of a new awakening, nevertheless, were appearing here and there, +especially in certain rural communities. Influenced by the Haugean +movement in Norway and Grundtvig's own earlier work, scattering groups of +Evangelicals and Pietists began to evince new life and activity. Peasants +in a number of parishes in Jutland refused to accept the Evangelical +Christian hymnal and a new rationalistic colored catechism, choosing to +go to jail rather than to compromise their faith; and groups of +Evangelical laymen on the island of Fyn began to hold private assemblies +at which they nourished themselves by reading Luther's sermons and +singing Kingo's and Brorson's hymns. Most if not all of these groups +admired Grundtvig for his bold defiance of Biblical Christianity and +looked hopefully to him for encouragement. If, as his enemies charged, he +had wished to make himself the head of a party, he could easily have done +so by assuming the leadership of the private assemblies. + +But Grundtvig never compromised his views for the sake of attracting a +following, and he did not approve of private assemblies. Such groups, he +wrote, had frequently disrupted the church, bred contempt for Scripture, +and fostered a perverted form of piety. Even as a release from the +present deplorable situation, they might easily produce more harm than +good. + +Although Grundtvig could not approve of the assemblies he, nevertheless, +sympathized deeply with the distressed laity. A layman was then bound to +his parish, and Grundtvig clearly understood the difficulty of laymen who +had to accept the ministry, have their children baptized, instructed and +confirmed by pastors denying fundamental doctrines of their faith. With +his usual frankness he therefore threw caution to the winds and reminded +the pastors that it was their own failure to preach and defend the +Lutheran faith that was forcing Evangelical laymen to seek in the +assemblies what was arbitrarily withheld from them in the church. +"Whether it be good or bad, recommendable or deplorable," Grundtvig +wrote, "it is, at any rate, a fact that the spirit of the church service +has changed so greatly during the last half century that it is almost +impossible for an Evangelical Christian to derive any benefit from it, +and it is this situation that has forced earnest laymen to invent such a +substitute for the church as the private assemblies evidently are." + +For a number of years Grundtvig thought and wrote almost ceaselessly +about this problem. With conditions so perverted that the lawbreakers +were imprisoning the victims of their own lawlessness, something ought +evidently to be done about it. But what could he do? + +He tried to attack Rationalism from new angles. In a carefully written +article in "The Theological Monthly," a magazine that he published in +collaboration with the learned but crusty Dr. G. A. Rudelbach, he argued +that any inquiry concerning the nature of Christianity should distinguish +between the questions: What is true Christianity? and Is Christianity +True? The first was a historical question, and could be answered only by +an examination of the original teachings of Christianity; the second was +a question of conscience and depended on the attitude of the individual. +He was he asserted, perfectly willing to recognize the right of the +Rationalists to believe what ever they choose, but as a historian he had +to protest against the propagation of any belief under the name of +Christianity that clearly denied what Christianity originally affirmed. + +His writing, however, produced no evident result. The rationalists either +maintained a contemptuous silence or answered him by their favorite cry +of ignorance and fanaticism. The true teachings of Christianity, they +asserted, could be ascertained only by the trained theologian, able to +read the Bible in the original and trained to interpret it in the light +of current knowledge. Such men knew, it was claimed, that many of the +doctrines formerly held by the church, such as the divinity of Christ, +the atonement and the triunity of God, were not found in the Scriptures +at all or were based on misread or misinterpreted texts. + +Although these contentions were almost as old as Christianity itself, +Grundtvig still found that a clear refutation of them was practically +impossible. He could not disprove them by Scripture, for the Rationalists +would claim their interpretation of the Bible to be as trustworthy as his +own; nor could he appeal to the confessions, for his opponents openly +repudiated these as antiquated conceptions of a less enlightened age. His +only hope of giving any real guidance to the confused and distressed +laity of his church thus appeared to depend on the possibility of +discovering an expression of Christianity so authoritative that the most +learned perverter of the faith could not repudiate it and so plain that +the humblest believer could understand it. In his anxiety it even seemed +to him that the Lord had failed adequately to provide for His little ones +if He had not supplied them with such a shield against the storm of +confusing doctrines. + +"Being greatly distressed with the thought that all humble Christians +must either fall into doubt concerning their only Savior and His Gospel +or build their faith on the contradictory teachings of learned +theologians," he wrote, "I perceived clearly the pressing need of the +church for a simpler, more dependable and authoritative statement of that +word of God which shall never pass away than all the book-worms of the +world could ever produce. But while my anxiety for the distressed laity +of my church grew and I sought night and day for a clear testimony of +Jesus that would enable them to try the spirits whether they be of God, a +good angel whispered to me: 'Why seekest thou the living among the dead?' +Then the scales fell from my eyes, and I saw clearly that the word of God +which I so anxiously sought could be no other than that which at all +times, in all churches and by all Christians has been accepted as a true +expression of their faith and the covenant of their baptism, the +Apostolic Creed." + +In his search for an effective means of arming the laity against the +confusing claims of the Rationalists, Grundtvig thus came to place the +Creed above the Bible, or rather to assert that the two should stand side +by side, and that all explanations of the latter should agree with the +plain articles of the former so that every Christian personally could +weigh the truth or error of what was taught by comparing it with his +baptismal covenant. + +Grundtvig supported his "great discovery" with passages from the Bible +and the church fathers, especially Irenaeus. He advanced the theory that +Jesus had taught the Creed to His disciples during the forty days after +His resurrection in which He remained with them, "speaking of the things +pertaining to the kingdom of God"; that the Creed through the early +centuries had been regarded as too sacred to commit to writing and, +therefore had been transmitted orally; and that it constituted, together +with the words of institution of the sacraments and the Lord's prayer, in +a special sense "the living word of God" by which He builds and vivifies +His church. It should be stated, however, that Grundtvig's intention by +distinguishing between what he called "the living" and "the written +word," was not to belittle the Bible but only to define its proper place, +the place of enlightening and guiding those, who through God's living +covenant with them in their baptism already have become Christians. A +Christian, he believed, is reborn in his baptism, nourished in the +Communion and enlightened by the Word. + +A critical examination of Grundtvig's theory, about which thousands of +pages have been written, lies beyond the scope of this work. Grundtvig +himself felt that his "discovery" had given him a solid foundation for +his stand against the Rationalists. And his theory unquestionably did +enable him, in the midst of an almost hopeless religious confusion, to +reassert the essentials of Evangelical Christianity, to refute the +contentions of the Rationalists by weighing them on an acknowledged +historical basis of faith, and to reemphasize that the Christian church +is not a creation of theological speculations but of God's own work in +His word and sacraments. + +Grundtvig for some time previous to his discovery had felt exceedingly +depressed. His long struggle for the reawakening of his people to a +richer Christian and national life appeared fruitless. Most of the +intellectual and spiritual leaders of his time looked upon the very idea +of sharing the richer cultural and spiritual values of life with the +common man as a visionary conception of an unstable and erratic mind. One +ought naturally, they admitted, to be interested in improving the social +and economic conditions of the lower classes, but the higher treasures of +mind and spirit belonged in the very nature of things to the cultured few +and could not be shared with the common herd. + +In spite of these discouragements, Grundtvig somehow experienced a +wonderful rebirth of his hope in the spring of 1824, an experience to +which he gave eloquent expression in his great poem, "New Year's +Morning." He writes in the preface that he has "long enough battled with +a witch called indifference, and has discovered that the battle wherein +one is most likely to be defeated is the battle against nothing." He +therefore urges his friends to ignore the witch and join him in a +determined crusade for a reawakening of the Northern spirit to the +accomplishment of Christian deed. + +Grundtvig's hope for a season of quiet and peaceful cooperation with his +friends was, however, soon shattered. In the summer of 1825, a young +professor of theology, H. N. Clausen, published a book entitled: _The +Constitution, Doctrine and Rituals of Catholicism and Protestantism_. As +Prof. Clausen enjoyed a great popularity among his students and, as a +teacher of theology, might influence the course of the Danish church for +many years, Grundtvig was very much interested in what he had to say. He +obtained the book and read it quickly but thoughtfully, underscoring the +points with which he disagreed. And these were numerous. At the very +beginning of the book, he found the author asserting that "the Protestant +theologian, since he need recognize no restriction of his interpretations +by creeds, traditions, or ecclesiastical authorities, is as once +infinitely more free and important than his Catholic colleague. For as +the Protestant church unlike the Catholic possesses no conclusive and +authoritative system of belief either in her creeds or in Scripture, it +devolves upon her trained theologians to set forth what the true +teachings of Christianity really are. "Why, O why!" the professor +exclaims, "should eternal Wisdom have willed revelation to appear in a +form so imperfect? What other purpose, I ask you, can an all-wise +Providence have had with such a plan than to compel the children of man +to recognize that it is only through the exercise of their own, human +intelligence that the revelation of God can be comprehended!" + +As Grundtvig mused upon these assertions so expressive of all that he had +denied and fought against, he felt at once that they constituted a +challenge which he could not leave unanswered. He had shortly before +written to a friend: "Since the perverters of Christianity have become so +self-confident that they will not answer any charge against them except +when it is addressed to themselves personally and by name, one may +eventually have to employ that form of attack." And that was the form he +chose to use in his now famous book. _The Reply of the Church to Prof. H. +N. Clausen_. + +"By the publication of this book," he writes, "Prof. Clausen has put +himself forward as a leader among the enemies of the church and the +perverters of God's word in this country. A church, such as he advocates, +that has no determinable form, exists only in the brains of the +theologians, and must be construed from theological speculations on the +basis of a discredited Bible and according to the changing thoughts and +opinions of man, is plainly nothing but a fantastic dream, a comic if it +were not so tragic conception of a Christian congregation which claims to +confess the same faith, but knows not what it is, and holds that it is +instituted by God, but cannot tell for what purpose before the +theologians have found it out. + +"Against such a church, I place the historical church, that is the church +of the Gospel, instituted by Christ Himself, created by His word and +vivified by His Spirit. For I contend that the Christian church now as +always consists of that body of believers who truly accept the faith of +their baptismal covenant, Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper as the faith +and means of salvation." + +_The Reply of the Church_ caused a sensation. It was read and discussed +everywhere. But if Grundtvig had hoped to force a general discussion of +the plight of the church, he was disappointed. Prof. Clausen answered him +with a lawsuit "for malicious injury to his professional honor"; his +enemies all condemned him, and his friends were silent. If they approved +of the substance of his charges, they disapproved of their form. +Grundtvig appeared to have thrown away the last remnant of his already +tattered reputation, and only the years would reveal that in doing so he +had struck a deadlier blow against Rationalism than he had expected, that +he had, in fact, for years to come made Rationalism impossible in Denmark +as a form of Christianity. + +Meanwhile the Danish church was preparing to celebrate its thousandth +anniversary in May, 1826. Grundtvig looked forward to the event with +almost child-like anticipation, hoping that the celebration might serve +to awaken a new appreciation of the old church. To heighten the +festivities the authorities had authorized pastors to select the hymns +for the services in their own churches, and Grundtvig had written and +published a pamphlet of hymns to be used in his church. But shortly +before the festival, his bishop informed him that only hymns from the +authorized hymnal could be chosen. As no one else had composed hymns for +the occasion, Grundtvig could not doubt that this new ruling was aimed +solely at him, and this new evidence at the length to which his enemies +would go for the sake of humiliating him appeared to him like the last +straw. He had long suffered under the difficulty of serving a church +which honored the law-breaker and persecuted the law-abiding and thought +of resigning. But he had a family to support. And while he himself would +gladly bear the poverty his resignation would inevitably bring him, he +doubted his right to impose such a burden upon his family. The difficulty +was finally solved for him by his wife, who one day came into his study +and said: "Father, I know what is troubling you. You wish to resign and +hesitate to do so for our sake. But I want you to do whatever you think +is right. The Lord will provide for us." + +And so it was settled. His resignation was handed to the authorities a +few days before the festival, and it was accepted so quickly that he was +released from office before the following Sunday. When the festive Sunday +came which he had looked forward to with so much pleasure, he sat idly in +his study across from the church and watched people come for the service, +but another pastor preached the sermon, he had earnestly wished to +deliver, and other hymns than his own beloved songs served as vehicles +for the people's praise. + +Public sentiment regarding Grundtvig's resignation varied. His friends +deplored the action, holding that he should have remained in his +pastorate both for the sake of his congregation and the cause which he +had so ably championed. But his opponents rejoiced, seeing in his +resignation just another proof of an erratic mentality. For who had ever +heard of a normal person withdrawing from a secure and respectable +position without even asking for the pension to which he was entitled? + +The six years during which Grundtvig remained without a pulpit were among +the busiest and most fruitful of his life. He published his +_Sunday-Book_, a collection of sermons which many still rate among the +finest devotional books in Danish; made extended visits to England in +1829-1831, for the purpose of studying the old Anglo Saxon manuscripts +kept there, an undertaking that awakened the interest of the English +themselves in these great treasures; wrote his splendid _Northern +Mythology or Picture Language_, and _The World's History after the Best +Sources_, works in which he presents the fundamental aspects of his +historical, folk and educational views that have made his name known not +only in Scandinavia but in almost every country in the world. + +Meanwhile he again had entered the pulpit. As a compensation for the loss +of his ministry, a group of his friends shortly after his resignation +began to hold private assemblies. When Grundtvig still firmly refused to +take part in these, they decided to organize an independent congregation, +petition the government for permission to use an abandoned German +Lutheran church and call Grundtvig as their pastor. The petition was +promptly refused, though Grundtvig himself pleaded with the authorities +to permit the organization of an independent congregation as the best +means of relieving the dissatisfied members of the church and declared +that he would himself join the assemblies unless some such measure of +relief was granted. When the authorities ignored his plea, Grundtvig made +good his threat and appeared at the assemblies, drawing such a crowd that +no private home could possibly hold it, whereupon it was decided to +secure a public hall for future meetings. But when the authorities heard +this, they suddenly experienced a change of heart and offered the +troublesome preacher and his friends the use of Frederik's church for a +vesper service each Sunday. + +The eight years Grundtvig served as an independent preacher at the +Frederik's church were among the happiest in his life. He rejoiced to +know that the large, diversified audience crowding the sanctuary each +Sunday came wholly of its own free will. It also pleased the now +gray-haired pastor to see an increasing number of students become +constant attendants at his services. Even so, his position had its +drawbacks. He was permitted neither to administer the sacraments nor to +instruct the young people, and the authorities even denied him the right +to confirm his own sons. Grundtvig felt especially this refusal so keenly +that he again was thinking of resigning his pulpit when the king offered +him an appointment as pastor of Vartov, a large institution for the aged. + +Thus from 1839 until Grundtvig's death the chapel at Vartov became his +home and that of his friends and the center of the fast growing +Grundtvigian movement. People from all walks of life, from the Queen to +the common laborer, became regular attendants at the unpretentious +sanctuary, and the eyes of some old people still shine when they recall +the moving spirit of the services there, the venerable appearance and +warm monotone voice of the pastor, and, especially, the hearty, +soul-stirring singing. Many of Grundtvig's own great hymns were +introduced at Vartov. From there they spread throughout the church. And +it was to a large extent the hearty, inspiring congregational singing at +Vartov which made the Danish church a singing church. + + + + + Chapter Fourteen + The Hymnwriter + + + Splendid are the heavens high, + Beautiful the radiant sky, + Where the golden stars are shining, + And their rays, to earth inclining, + -: Beckon us to heaven above :- + + It was on a Christmas night, + Darkness veiled the starry height; + But at once the heavens hoary + Beamed with radiant light and glory, + -: Coming from a wondrous star :- + + When this star so bright and clear + Should illume the midnight drear, + Then, according to tradition, + Should a king of matchless vision + -: Unto earth from heaven descend :- + + Sages from the East afar + When they saw this wondrous star, + Went to worship and adore Him + And to lay their gifts before Him + -: Who was born that midnight hour :- + + Him they found in Bethlehem + Without crown or diadem, + They but saw a maiden lowly + With an infant pure and holy + -: Resting in her loving arms :- + + Guided by the star they found + Him whose praise the ages sound. + We have still a star to guide us + Whose unsullied rays provide us + -: With the light to find our Lord :- + + And this star so fair and bright + Which will ever lead aright, + Is God's word, divine and holy, + Guiding all His children lowly + -: Unto Christ, our Lord and King :- + + +This lovely, childlike hymn, the first to appear from Grundtvig's pen, +was written in the fall of 1810 when its author was still battling with +despair and his mind faltering on the brink of insanity. Against this +background the hymn appears like a ray of sunlight breaking through a +clouded sky. And as such it must undoubtedly have come to its author. As +an indication of Grundtvig's simple trust in God, it is noteworthy that +another of his most childlike hymns, "God's Child, Do Now Rest Thee," was +likewise composed during a similar period of distress that beset him many +years later. + +For a number of years Grundtvig's hymn of the Wise Men represented his +sole contribution to hymnody. Other interests engaged his attention and +absorbed his energy. During his years of intense work with the sagas he +only occasionally broke his "engagement" with the dead to strike the lyre +for the living. In 1815 he translated "In Death's Strong Bonds Our Savior +Lay" from Luther, and "Christ Is Risen from the Dead" from the Latin. The +three hundredth anniversary of the Reformation brought his adaptation of +Kingo's "Like the Golden Sun Ascending" and translations of Luther's "A +Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and "The Bells Ring in the Christmastide." In +1820 he published his now popular "A Babe Is Born at Bethlehem" from an +old Latin-Danish text, and 1824 saw his splendid rendering of "The Old +Day Song," "With Gladness We Hail the Blessed Day," and his original "On +Its Rock the Church of Jesus Stood Mongst Us a Thousand Years." + +These songs constitute his whole contribution to hymnody from 1810 to +1825. But the latter year brought a signal increase. In the midst of his +fierce battle with the Rationalists he published the first of his really +great hymns, a song of comfort to the daughters of Zion, sitting +disconsolately at the sickbed of their mother, the church. Her present +state may appear so hopeless that her children fear to remember her +former glory: + + + Dares the anxious heart envision + Still its morning dream, + View, despite the world's derision, + Zion's sunlit height and stream? + Wields still anyone the power + To repeat her anthems strong, + And with joyful heart embower, + Zion with triumphant song. + + +Her condition is not hopeless, however, if her children will gather about +her. + + + Zion's sons and daughters rally + Now upon her ancient wall! + Have her foemen gained the valley, + Yet her ramparts did not fall. + Were her outer walls forsaken + Still her cornerstone remains, + Firm, unconquered and unshaken, + Making futile all their gains. + + +Another of his great hymns dates from the same year. Grundtvig was in the +habit of remaining up all night when he had to speak on the following +day. The Christmas of 1825 was particularly trying to him. He had +apparently forfeited his last vestige of honor by publishing his _Reply +of the Church_; the suit started against him by Professor Clausen still +dragged its laborious way through the court; and his anxiety over the +present state of the church was greatly increased by the weight of his +personal troubles. He felt very much like the shepherds watching their +flocks at night, except that no angels appeared to help him with the +message his people would expect him to deliver in the morning. Perhaps he +was unworthy of such a favor. He rose, as was his custom, and made a +round into the bedrooms to watch his children. How innocently they slept! +If the angels could not come to him, they ought at least to visit the +children. If they heard the message, their elders might perchance catch +it through them. + +Some such thought must have passed through the mind of the lonely pastor +as he sat musing upon his sermon throughout the night, for he appeared +unusually cheerful as he ascended his pulpit Christmas morning, preached +a joyful sermon, and said, at its conclusion, that he had that night +begotten a song which he wished to read to them. That song has since +become one of the most beloved Christmas songs in the Danish language. To +give an adequate reproduction of its simple, childlike spirit in another +language is perhaps impossible, but it is hoped that the translation +given below will convey at least an impression of its cheerful welcome to +the Christmas angels. + + + Be welcome again, God's angels bright + From mansions of light and glory + To publish anew this wintry night + The wonderful Christmas story. + Ye herald to all that yearn for light + New year after winter hoary. + + With gladness we hear your sweet refrain + In praise of God's glory solely; + Ye will not this wintry night disdain + To enter our dwellings lowly. + And bring to each yearning heart again + The joy that is pure and holy. + + In humble homes as in mansions rare + With light in the windows glowing, + We harbor the babes as sweet and fair + As flowers in meadows growing. + Oh, deign with these little ones to share + The joy from your message flowing. + + Reveal the child in the manger still + With angels around Him singing + The song of God's glory, peace, good-will + That joy to all hearts is bringing, + While far over mountain, field and hill, + The bells are with gladness ringing. + + God's angels with joy to earth descend + When hymns to His praise are chanted; + His comfort and peace our Lord will lend + To all who for peace have panted; + The portals of heaven open stand; + The Kingdom to us is granted. + + +In 1826 Grundtvig, as already related, published his hymns for the +thousand years' festival of his church. But a few months later he again +buried himself in his study, putting aside the lyre, which for a little +while he had played so beautifully. Many had already noticed his hymns, +however, and continued to plead with him for more. The new Evangelical +revival, which he had largely inspired, intensified the general +dissatisfaction with the rationalistic Evangelical Christian Hymnal, and +called for hymns embodying the spirit of the new movement. And who could +better furnish these than Grundtvig? Of those who pleaded with him for +new hymns, none was more persistent than his friend, Pastor Gunni Busck. +When Grundtvig wrote to him in 1832 that his _Northern Mythology_ was +nearing completion, Busck at once answered: "Do not forget your more +important work; do not forget our old hymns! I know no one else with your +ability to brush the dust off our old songs." But Grundtvig was still too +busy with other things to comply with the wish of his most faithful and +helpful friend. + +During the ensuing years, however, a few hymns occasionally appeared from +his pen. A theological student, L. C. Hagen, secured a few adapted and +original hymns from him for a small collection of _Historical Hymns and +Rhymes for Children_, which was published in 1832. But the adaptations +were not successful. Despite the good opinion of Gunni Busck, Grundtvig +was too independent a spirit to adjust himself to the style and mode of +others. His originals were much more successful. Among these we find such +gems as "Mongst His Brothers Called the Little," "Move the Signs of Grief +and Mourning from the Garden of the Dead," and "O Land of Our King," +hymns that rank with the finest he has written. + +In 1835 Grundtvig at last wrote to Gunni Busck that he was now ready to +commence the long deferred attempt to renew the hymnody of his church. +Busck received the information joyfully and at once sent him a thousand +dollars to support him during his work. Others contributed their mite, +making Grundtvig richer financially than he had been for many years. He +rented a small home on the shores of the Sound and began to prepare +himself for the work before him by an extensive study of Christian +hymnody, both ancient and modern. + +"The old hymns sound beautiful to me out here under the sunny sky and +with the blue water of the Sound before me," he wrote to Busck. He did +not spend his days day-dreaming, however, but worked with such intensity +that only a year later he was able to invite subscriptions on the first +part of his work. The complete collection was published in 1837 under the +title: _Songs of the Danish Church_. It contains in all 401 hymns and +songs composed of originals, translations and adaptations from Greek, +Latin, German, Icelandic, Anglo-Saxon, English and Scandinavian sources. +The material is of very unequal merit, ranging from the superior to the +commonplace. As originally composed, the collection could not be used as +a hymnal. But many of the finest hymns now used in the Danish church have +been selected or adapted from it. + +Although _Songs for the Danish Church_ is now counted among the great +books in Danish, its appearance attracted little attention outside the +circle of Grundtvig's friends. It was not even reviewed in the press. The +literati, both inside and outside the church, still publicly ignored +Grundtvig. But privately a few of them expressed their opinion about the +work. Thus a Pastor P. Hjort wrote to Bishop Mynster, "Have you read +Grundtvig's _Songs of the Danish Church_? It is a typical Grundtvigian +book, wordy, ingenious, mystical, poetical and full of half digested +ideas. His language is rich and wonderfully expressive. But he is not +humble enough to write hymns." + +Meanwhile the demand for a new hymnal or at least for a supplement to the +old had become so insistent that something had to be done. J. P. Mynster +who, shortly before, had been appointed Bishop of Sjaelland, favored a +supplement and obtained an authorization from the king for the +appointment of a committee to prepare it. The only logical man to head +such a committee was, of course, Grundtvig. But Mynster's dislike of his +volcanic relative was so deep-rooted that he was incapable of giving any +recognition to him. And so in order to avoid a too obvious slight to his +country's best known hymnwriter, he assigned the work to an already +existing committee on liturgy, of which he himself was president. Thus +Grundtvig was forced to sit idly by while the work naturally belonging to +him was being executed by a man with no special ability for the task. The +supplement appeared in 1843. It contained thirty-six hymns of which six +were written by Kingo, seven by Brorson, and one by Grundtvig, the latter +being, as Grundtvig humorously remarked, set to the tune of the hymn, +"Lord, I Have Done Wrong." + +Mynster's influence was great enough to secure the supplement a wide +circulation. The collection, nevertheless, failed to satisfy the need of +the church. Dissatisfaction with it was so general that the pastors' +conference of Copenhagen appointed a committee consisting of Grundtvig, +Prof. Martensen, Mynster's own son-in-law, Rev. Pauli, his successor as +Provost of the Church of Our Lady, and two other pastors to prepare and +present a proposal for a new hymnal. It was an able committee from which +a meritorious work might reasonably be expected. + +Grundtvig was assigned to the important work of selecting and revising +the old hymns to be included in the collection. He was an inspiring but +at times difficult co-worker. Martensen recalls how Grundtvig at times +aroused the committee to enthusiasm by an impromptu talk on hymnody or a +recitation of one of the old hymns, which he loved so well. But he also +recalls how he sometimes flared up and stormed out of the committee room +in anger over some proposed change or correction of his work. When his +anger subsided, however, he always conscientiously attempted to effect +whatever changes the committee agreed on proposing. Yet excellent as much +of his own work was, he possessed no particular gift for mending the work +of others, and his corrections of one defect often resulted in another. + +The committee submitted its work to the judgment of the conference in +January 1845. The proposal included 109 hymns of which nineteen were by +Kingo, seven by Brorson, ten by Ingemann, twenty-five by Grundtvig and +the remainder by various other writers, old and new. It appeared to be a +well balanced collection, giving due recognition to such newer writers as +Boye, Ingemann, Grundtvig and others. But the conference voted to reject +it. Admitting its poetical excellence and its sound Evangelical tenor, +some of the pastors complained that it contained too many new and too few +old hymns; others held that it bore too clearly the imprint of one man, a +complaint which no doubt expressed the sentiment of Mynster and his +friends. A petition to allow such churches as should by a majority vote +indicate their wish to use the collection was likewise rejected by the +Bishop. + +Grundtvig was naturally disappointed by the rejection of a work upon +which he had spent so much time and energy. The rejection furthermore +showed him that he still could expect no consideration from the +authorities with Mynster in control. He was soon able, however, to +comfort himself with the fact that his hymns were becoming popular in +private assemblies throughout the country, and that even a number of +churches were beginning to use them at their regular services in defiance +of official edicts. The demand for granting more liberty to the laymen in +their church life, a demand Grundtvig long had advocated, was in fact +becoming so strong that the authorities at times found it advisable to +overlook minor infractions of official rulings. Noting this new policy, +Grundtvig himself ventured to introduce some of the new hymns into his +church. In the fall of 1845, he published a small collection of Christmas +hymns to be used at the impending Christmas festival. When the innovation +passed without objections, a similar collection of Easter hymns was +introduced at the Easter services, after which other collections for the +various seasons of the church year appeared quite regularly until all +special prints were collected into one volume and used as "the hymnal of +Vartov." + +The work of preparing a new authorized hymnal was finally given to +Grundtvig's closest friend, Ingemann. This hymnal appeared in 1855, under +the title, _Roskilde Convent's Psalmbook_. This book served as the +authorized hymnal of the Danish church until 1899, when it was replaced +by _Hymnal for Church and Home_, the hymnal now used in nearly all Danish +churches both at home and abroad. It contains in all 675 hymns of which +96 are by Kingo, 107 by Brorson, 29 by Ingemann and 173 by Grundtvig, +showing that the latter at last had been recognized as the foremost +hymnwriter of the Danish church. + + + + + Chapter Fifteen + Grundtvig's Hymns + + +Grundtvig wrote most of his hymns when he was past middle age, a man of +extensive learning, proved poetical ability and mature judgment, +especially in spiritual things. Years of hard struggles and unjust +neglect had sobered and mellowed but not aged or embittered him. + +His long study of hymnology together with his exceptional poetical gift +enabled him to adopt material from all ages and branches of Christian +song, and to wield it into a homogenous hymnody for his own church. His +treatment of the material is usually very free, so free that it is often +difficult to discover any relationship between his translations and their +supposed originals. Instead of endeavoring to transfer the metre, +phrasing and sentiment of the original text, he frequently adopts only a +single thought or a general idea from its content, and expresses this in +his own language and form. + +His original hymns likewise bear the imprint of his ripe knowledge and +spiritual understanding. They are for the most part objective in content +and sentiment, depicting the great themes of Biblical history, doctrine +and life rather than the personal feeling and experiences of the +individual. A large number of his hymns are, in fact, faithful but often +striking adaptations of Bible stories and texts. For though he was +frequently accused of belittling the Book of Books, his hymns to a larger +extent than those of any other Danish hymnwriter are directly inspired by +the language of the Bible. He possessed an exceptional ability to absorb +the essential implications of a text and to present it with the terseness +and force of an adage. + +Although Grundtvig's hymns at times attain the height of pure poetry, +their poetic merit is incidental rather than sought. In the pride of his +youth he had striven, as he once complained, to win the laurel wreath, +but had found it to be an empty honor. His style is more often forceful +than lyrical. When the mood was upon him he could play the lyre with +entrancing beauty and gentleness, but he preferred the organ with all +stops out. + +His style is often rough but expressive and rich in imagery. In this he +strove to supplant time-honored similes and illustrations from Biblical +lands with native allusions and scenes. Pictures drawn from the Danish +landscape, lakes and streams, summer and winter, customs and life abound +in his songs, giving them a home-like touch that has endeared them to +millions. + +His poetry is of very unequal merit. He was a prolific writer, producing, +besides many volumes of poetry on various subjects, about three thousand +hymns and songs. Among much that is excellent in this vast production +there are also dreary stretches of rambling loquacity, hollow rhetoric +and unintelligible jumbles of words and phrases. He could be +insupportably dull and again express more in a single stanza, couplet or +phrase than many have said in a whole book. A study of his poetry is, +therefore, not unlike a journey through a vast country, alternating in +fertile valleys, barren plains and lofty heights with entrancing views +into far, dim vistas. + +This inconsistency in the work of a man so eminently gifted as Grundtvig +is explainable only by his method of writing. He was an intuitive writer +and preferred to be called a "skjald" instead of a poet. The distinction +is significant but somewhat difficult to define. As Grundtvig himself +understood the term, the "skjald", besides being a poet, must also be a +seer, a man able to envision and express what was still hidden to the +common mortal. "The skjald is," he says, "the chosen lookout of life who +must reveal from his mountain what he sees at life's deep fountain. When +gripped by his vision," he says further, the skjald is "neither quiescent +nor lifeless but, on the contrary, lifted up into an exceptional state of +sensitiveness in which he sees and feels things with peculiar vividness +and power. I know of nothing in this material world to which the skjald +may more fittingly be likened than a tuned harp with the wind playing +upon it." + +A skjald in Grundtvig's conception was thus a man endowed with the gift +of receiving direct impressions of life and things, of perceiving +especially the deeper and more fundamental truths of existence +intuitively instead of intellectually. Such perceptions, he admitted, +might lack the apparent clarity of reasoned conclusions, but would +approach nearer to the truth. For life must be understood from within, +must be spiritually discerned. It could never be comprehended by mere +intellect or catalogued by supposed science. + +He knew, however, that his work was frequently criticized for its +ambiguity and lack of consistency. But he claimed that these defects were +unavoidable consequences of his way of writing. He had to write what he +saw and could not be expected to express that clearly which he himself +saw only dimly. "I naturally desire to please my readers," he wrote to +Ingemann, "but when I write as my intuition dictates, it works well; +ideas and images come to me without effort, and I fly lightly as the +gazelle from crag to crag, whereas if I warn myself that there must be a +limit to everything and that I must restrain myself and write sensibly, I +am stopped right there. And I have thus to choose between writing as the +spirit moves me, or not writing at all." + +This statement, although it casts a revealing light both upon his genius +and its evident limitations, is no doubt extreme. However much Grundtvig +may have depended on his momentary inspiration for the poetical +development of his ideas, his fundamental views on life were +exceptionally clear and comprehensive. He knew what he believed regarding +the essential verities of existence, of God and man, of good and evil, of +life and death. And all other conceptions of his intuitive and +far-reaching spirit were consistently correlated to these basic beliefs. + +Bishop H. Martensen, the celebrated theologian, relates an illuminating +conversation between Grundtvig and the German theologian, P. K. +Marheincke, during a visit which the Bishop had arranged between the two +men. Dr. Marheincke commenced a lengthy discourse on the great opposites +in life, as for instance between thinking and being, and Grundtvig +replied, "My opposites are life and death" (Mein Gegensatz ist Leben und +Tod). + +"The professor accepted my statement somewhat dubiously," Grundtvig said +later, "and admitted that that was indeed a great contrast, but--" The +difference between the two men no doubt lay in the fact that Prof. +Marheincke, the speculative theologian, was principally interested in the +first part of the assumed contrast--thinking, whereas Grundtvig's main +concern was with the last--being, existence, life. In real life there +could be no more fundamental, no farther reaching contrast than the +continuous and irreconcilable difference between life and death. The +thought of this contrast lies at the root of all his thinking and colors +all his views. From the day of his conversion until the hour of his +death, his one consuming interest was to illuminate the contrast between +the two irreconcilable enemies and to encourage anything that would +strengthen the one and defeat the other. + +Grundtvig loved life in all its highest aspects and implications, and he +hated death under whatever form he saw it. "Life is from heaven, death is +from hell," he says in a characteristic poem. The one is representative +of all the good the Creator intended for his creatures, the other of all +the evil, frustration and destruction the great destroyer brought into +the world. There can be no reconciliation or peace between the two, the +one must inevitably destroy or be destroyed by the other. He could see +nothing but deception in the attempts of certain philosophical or +theological phrasemakers to minimize or explain away the eternal +malignity of death, man's most relentless foe. A human being could fall +no lower than to accept death as a friend. Thus in a poem: + + + Yea, hear it, ye heavens, with loathing and grief; + The sons of the Highest now look for relief + In the ways of damnation + And find consolation + In hopes of eternal death. + + +But death is not present only at the hour of our demise. It is present +everywhere; it is active in all things. It destroys nations, corrupts +society, robs the child of its innocence, wipes the bloom from the cheeks +of youth, frustrates the possibilities of manhood and makes pitiful the +white hair of the aged. For death, as all must see, is only the wage of +sin, the ripe fruit of evil. + + + I recognize now clearly; + Death is the wage of sin, + It is the fruitage merely + Of evil's growth within. + + +And its danger is so actual because it is active in every individual in +himself as well as in others: + + + When I view the true condition + Of my troubled, restless heart, + Naught but sin can I envision + Even to its inmost part. + + +Such then is his fundamental view of the condition of man, a being in the +destructive grip of a relentless foe, a creature whose greatest need is +"a hero who can break the bonds of death". And there is but one who can +do that, the Son of God. + +Grundtvig's hymns abound in terms of adoration for the Savior of Man. He +names Him the "Joy of Heaven", "The Fortune of Earth", "The Fount of +Light", "The Sovereign of Life", "The Fear of Darkness", "The Terror of +Death", and speaks of the day when all the "nations of the earth shall +offer praise in the offer bowl of His name." But he sees the Christ less +as the suffering Lamb of God than as the invincible conqueror of death +and the heroic deliverer of man. + +Like his other hymns most of his hymns to the Savior are objective rather +than subjective. They present the Christ of the Gospels, covering his +life so fully that it would be possible to compile from them an almost +complete sequence on His life, work and resurrection. The following +stately hymn may serve as an appropriate introduction to a necessarily +brief survey of the group: + + + Jesus, the name without compare; + Honored on earth and in heaven, + Wherein the Father's love and care + Are to His children now given. + Saviour of all that saved would be, + Fount of salvation full and free + Is the Lord Jesus forever. + + Jesus, the name alone on earth + For our salvation afforded. + So on His cross of precious worth + Is in His blood it recorded. + Only in that our prayers are heard, + Only in that when hearts are stirred + Doth now the Spirit us comfort. + + Jesus, the name above the sky + Wherein, when seasons are ended, + Peoples shall come to God on high, + And every knee shall be bended, + While all the saved in sweet accord + Chorus the praise of Christ, the Lord, + Savior beloved by the Father. + + +Grundtvig sang of Christmas morning "as his heaven on earth", and he +wrote some of the finest Christmas hymns in the Danish language. A number +of these have already been given. The following simple hymn from an old +Latin-Danish text is still very popular. + + + A babe is born in Bethlehem, + Bethlehem, + Rejoice, rejoice Jerusalem; + Hallelujah, hallelujah. + + A lowly virgin gave Him birth, + Gave Him birth, + Who rules the heavens and the earth; + Hallelujah, hallelujah. + + He in a simple manger lay, + Manger lay, + Whom angels praise with joy for aye; + Hallelujah, hallelujah. + + And wise men from the East did bring, + East did bring, + Gold, myrrh and incense to the King; + Hallelujah, hallelujah. + + Now all our fears have passed away, + Passed away, + The Savior blest was born today; + Hallelujah, hallelujah. + + God's blessed children we became, + We became, + And shall in heaven praise His name; + Hallelujah, hallelujah. + + There like the angels we shall be, + We shall be, + And shall the Lord in glory see; + Hallelujah, hallelujah. + + With gladsome praises we adore, + We adore, + Our Lord and Savior evermore; + Hallelujah, hallelujah. + + +His hymns on the life and work of our Lord are too numerous to be more +than indicated here. The following hymn on the text, "Blessed are the +eyes that see what ye see, and the ears that hear what ye hear", is +typical of his expository hymns. + + + Blessed were the eyes that truly + Here on earth beheld the Lord; + Happy were the ears that duly + Listened to His living word. + Which proclaimed the wondrous story + Of God's mercy, love and glory. + + Kings and prophets long with yearning + Prayed to see His day appear; + Angels with desire were burning + To behold the golden year + When God's light and grace should quicken + All that sin and death had stricken. + + He who, light and life revealing, + By His Spirit stills our want; + He, who broken hearts is healing + By His cup and at the font, + Jesus, Fount of joy incessant, + Is with light and grace now present. + + Eyes by sin and darkness blinded + May now see His glory bright; + Hearts perverse and carnal minded + May obtain His Spirit's light. + When, contrite and sorely yearning, + They in faith to Him are turning. + + Blessed are the eyes that truly + Now on earth behold the Lord; + Happy are the ears that duly + Listen to His living word! + When His words our spirits nourish + Shall the kingdom in us flourish. + + +Grundtvig reaches his greatest height in his hymns of praise to Christ, +the Redeemer. Many of his passion hymns have not been translated into +English. In the original, the following hymn undoubtedly ranks with the +greatest songs of praise to the suffering Lord. + + + Hail Thee, Savior and Atoner! + Though the world Thy name dishonor, + Moved by love my heart proposes + To adorn Thy cross with roses + And to offer praise to Thee. + + O what moved Thee so to love us, + When enthroned with God above us, + That for us Thou all wouldst offer + And in deep compassion suffer + Even death that we might live. + + Love alone Thy heart was filling + When to suffer Thou wert willing. + Rather givest Thou than takest, + Hence, O Savior, Thou forsakest + All to die in sinner's place. + + Ah, my heart in deep contrition + Now perceives its true condition, + Cold and barren like a mountain, + How could I deserve the fountain + Of Thy love, my Savior dear. + + Yet I know that from thy passion + Flows a river of salvation + Which can bid the mountain vanish, + Which can sin and coldness banish, + And restore my heart in Thee. + + Lord, with tears I pray Thee ever: + Lead into my heart that river, + Which with grace redeeming cleanses + Heart and soul of all offences, + Blotting out my guilt and shame. + + Lord, Thy life for sinners giving, + Let in Thee me find my living + So for Thee my heart is beating, + All my thoughts in Thee are meeting, + Finding there their light and joy. + + Though all earthly things I cherish + Like the flowers may fade and perish, + Thou, I know, wilt stand beside me; + And from death and judgment hide me; + Thou hast paid the wage of sin. + + Yes, my heart believes the wonder + Of Thy cross, which ages ponder! + Shield me, Lord, when foes assail me, + Be my staff when life shall fail me; + Take me to Thy Paradise. + + +Grundtvig's Easter hymns strike the triumphant note, especially such +hymns as "Christ Arose in Glory", "Easter Morrow Stills Our Sorrow", and +the very popular, + + + Move the signs of gloom and mourning[10] + From the garden of the dead. + For the wreaths of grief and yearning, + Plant bright lilies in their stead. + Carve instead of sighs of grief + Angels' wings in bold relief, + And for columns, cold and broken, + Words of hope by Jesus spoken. + + +His Easter hymns fail as a whole to reach the height of his songs for +other church festivals. In this respect, they resemble the hymnody of the +whole church, which contains remarkably few really great hymns on the +greatest events in its history. It is as though the theme were too great +to be expressed in the language of man. + +Grundtvig wrote a number of magnificent hymns on the themes of our Lord's +ascension and His return to judge the quick and the dead. Of the latter, +the hymn given below is perhaps the most favored of those now available +in English. + + + Lift up thy head, O Christendom! + Behold above the blessed home + For which thy heart is yearning. + There dwells the Lord, thy soul's delight, + Who soon with power and glory bright + Is for His bride returning. + + And when in every land and clime, + All shall behold His signs sublime, + The guilty world appalling, + Then shalt with joy thou lift thine eyes + And see Him coming in the skies, + While suns and stars are falling. + + While for His coming thou dost yearn, + Forget not why His last return + The Savior is delaying, + And ask Him not before His hour + To shake the heavens with His power, + Nor judge the lost and straying. + + O saints of God, for Sodom pray + Until your prayers no more can stay + The judgment day impending. + Then cries the Lord: "Behold, I come!" + And ye shall answer: "To Thy home + We are with joy ascending!" + + Then loud and clear the trumpet calls, + The dead awake, death's kingdom falls, + And God's elect assemble. + The Lord ascends the judgment throne, + And calls His ransomed for His own, + While hearts in gladness tremble. + + +Grundtvig is often called the Singer of Pentecost. And his hymns on the +nature and work of the Spirit do rank with his very best. He believed in +the reality of the Spirit as the living, active agent of Christ in His +church. As the church came into being by the outpouring of the Holy Ghost +on the day of Pentecost, so our Lord still builds and sanctifies it by +the Spirit, working through His words and sacraments. His numerous hymns +on the Spirit are drawn from many sources, both ancient and modern. His +treatment of the originals is so free, however, that it is difficult in +most cases to know whether his versions should be accepted as adaptations +or originals. Of mere translations there are none. The following version +of the widely known hymn, "Veni Sancte Spiritus," may serve to illustrate +his work as a transplanter of hymns. + + + Holy Spirit, come with light, + Break the dark and gloomy night + With Thy day unending. + Help us with a joyful lay + Greet the Lord's triumphant day + Now with might ascending. + + Comforter so wondrous kind, + Noble guest of heart and mind + Fix in us Thy dwelling. + Give us peace in storm and strife, + Fill each troubled heart and life + With Thy joy excelling. + + Make salvation clear to us, + Who despite our sin and dross + Would exalt the Spirit. + For without Thine aid and love + All our life and work must prove + Vain and without merit. + + Raise or bow us with Thine arm, + Break temptation's evil charm, + Clear our clouded vision. + Fill our hearts with longing new, + Cleanse us with Thy morning dew, + Tears of deep contrition. + + Blessed Fount of life and breath, + Let our hope in view of death + Blossom bright and vernal; + And above the silent tomb + Let the Easter lilies bloom, + Signs of life eternal. + + +Many of Grundtvig's original hymns evince a strong Danish coloring, a +fact which is especially evident in a number of his Pentecost hymns. +Pentecost comes in Denmark at the first breath of summer when nature, +prompted by balmy breezes, begins to unfold her latent life and beauty. +This similarity between the life of nature and the work of the Spirit is +strikingly expressed in a number of his Pentecost hymns. + +The following hymn, together with its beautiful tune, is rated as one of +the most beautiful and, lyrically, most perfect hymns in Danish. Because +of its strong Danish flavor, however, it may not make an equal appeal to +American readers. The main thought of the hymn is that, as in nature, so +also in the realm of the Spirit, summer is now at hand. The coming of the +Spirit completes God's plan of salvation and opens the door for the +unfolding of a new life. The translation is by Prof. S. D. Rodholm. + + + The sun now shines in all its splendor, + The fount of life and mercy tender; + Now bright Whitsunday lilies grow + And summer sparkles high and low; + Sweet songsters sing of harvest gold + In Jesus' name a thousand fold. + + The peaceful nightingales are filling + The quiet night with music thrilling. + Thus all that to the Lord belong + May rest in peace and wake with song, + May dream of life beyond the skies, + And with God's praise at daylight rise. + + It breathes from heaven on the flowers, + It whispers home-like in the bowers, + A balmy breeze comes to our coast + From Paradise, no longer closed, + And gently purls a brooklet sweet + Of life's clear water at our feet. + + This works the Spirit, still descending, + And tongues of fire to mortals lending, + That broken hearts may now be healed, + And life with grace and love revealed + In Him, who came from yonder land + And has returned to God's right hand. + + Awaken then all tongues to honor + Lord Jesus Christ, our blest Atoner; + Let every voice in anthems rise + To praise the Savior's sacrifice. + And thou, His Church, with one accord + Arise and glorify the Lord. + + +Of his other numerous hymns on the Spirit, the one given below is, +perhaps, one of the most characteristic. + + + Holy Ghost, our Interceder, + Blessed Comforter and Pleader + With the Lord for all we need, + Deign to hold with us communion + That with Thee in blessed union + We may in our life succeed. + + Heavenly Counsellor and Teacher, + Make us through Thy guidance richer + In the grace our Lord hath won. + Blest Partaker of God's fullness, + Make us all, despite our dullness, + Wiser e'en than Solomon. + + Helper of the helpless, harken + To our pleas when shadows darken; + Shield us from the beasts of prey. + Rouse the careless, help the weary, + Bow the prideful, cheer the dreary, + Be our guest each passing day. + + Comforter, whose comfort lightens + Every cross that scars and frightens, + Succor us from guilt and shame. + Warm our heart, inspire our vision, + Add Thy voice to our petition + As we pray in Jesus' name. + + +Believing in the Spirit, Grundtvig also believed in the kingdom of God, +not only as a promise of the future but as a reality of the present. + + + Right among us is God's kingdom + With His Spirit and His word, + With His grace and love abundant + At His font and altar-board. + + +Among his numerous hymns on the nature and work of God's kingdom, the +following is one of the most favored. + + + Founded our Lord has upon earth a realm of the Spirit + Wherein He fosters a people restored by His merit. + It shall remain + People its glory attain, + They shall the kingdom inherit. + + Forward like light of the morning its message is speeding, + Millions receive and proclaim it with gladness exceeding + For with His word + God doth His Spirit accord, + Raising all barriers impeding. + + Jesus, our Savior, with God in the highest residing, + And by the Spirit the wants of Thy people providing, + Be Thou our life, + Shield and defender in strife, + Always among us abiding. + + Then shall Thy people as Lord of the nations restore Thee, + Even by us shall a pathway be straightened before Thee + Till everywhere, + Bending in worship and prayer, + All shall as Savior adore Thee. + + +The kingdom of God is the most wonderful thing on earth. + + + Most wonderful of all things is + The kingdom Jesus founded. + Its glory, treasure, peace and bliss + No tongue has fully sounded. + + Invisible as mind and soul, + And yet of light the fountain, + It sheds its light from pole to pole + Like beacons from a mountain. + + Its secret is the word of God, + Which works what it proposes, + Which lowers mountains high and broad + And clothes the wastes with roses. + + Though foes against the kingdom rage + With hatred and derision, + God spreads its reign from age to age, + And brings it to fruition. + + Its glory rises like a morn + When waves at sunrise glitter, + Or as in June the golden corn + While birds above it twitter. + + It is the glory of the King + Who bore affliction solely + That he the crown of life might bring + To sinners poor and lowly. + + And when His advent comes to pass, + The Christian's strife is ended, + What now we see as in a glass + Shall then be comprehended. + + Then shall the kingdom bright appear + In glory true and vernal, + And usher in the golden year + Of peace and joy eternal. + + +But the kingdom of God here on earth is represented by the Christian +church, wherein Christ works by the Spirit through His word and +sacraments. Of Grundtvig's many splendid hymns of the church, the +following, in the translation of Pastor Carl Doving, has become widely +known in all branches of the Lutheran church in America. Pastor Doving's +translation is not wholly satisfactory, however, to those who know the +forceful and yet so appealing language of the original, a fate which, we +are fully aware, may also befall the following new version. + + + Built on a rock the church of God + Stands though its towers be falling; + Many have crumbled beneath the sod, + Bells still are chiming and calling, + Calling the young and old to come, + But above all the souls that roam, + Weary for rest everlasting. + + God, the most high, abides not in + Temples that hands have erected. + High above earthly strife and sin, + He hath his mansions perfected. + Yet He, whom heavens cannot contain, + Chose to abide on earth with man + Making their body His temple. + + We are God's house of living stones, + Built for the Spirit's indwelling. + He at His font and table owns + Us for His glory excelling. + Should only two confess His name, + He would yet come and dwell with them, + Granting His mercy abounding. + + Even the temples built on earth + Unto the praise of the Father, + Are like the homes of hallowed worth + Whence we as children did gather. + Glorious things in them are said, + God there with us His covenant made, + Making us heirs of His kingdom. + + There we behold the font at which + God as His children received us; + There stands the altar where His rich + Mercy from hunger relieved us. + There His blest word to us proclaim: + Jesus is now and e'er the same, + So is His way of salvation. + + Grant then, O Lord, where'er we roam, + That, when the church bells are ringing, + People in Jesus' name may come, + Praising His glory with singing. + "Ye, not the world, my face shall see; + I will abide with you," said He. + "My peace I leave with you ever." + + +As a believer in objective Christianity, Grundtvig naturally exalts the +God-given means of grace, the word and sacraments, through which the +Spirit works. In one of the epigrammatic expressions often found in his +writings, he says: + + + We are and remain, + We live and attain + In Jesus, God's living word + When His word we embrace + And live by its grace, + Then dwells He within us, our Lord. + + +This firm belief in the actual presence of Christ in His word and +sacraments lends an exceptional realism to many of his hymns on the means +of grace. Through the translation by Pastor Doving the following brief +hymn has gained wide renown in America. + + + God's word is our great heritage, + And shall be ours forever. + To spread its light from age to age, + Shall be our chief endeavor. + Through life it guards our way, + In death it is our stay. + Lord, grant, while worlds endure, + We keep its teachings pure + Throughout all generations. + + +Of his numerous hymns on baptism, the following, which an American +authority on hymnody calls the finest baptismal hymn ever written, is +perhaps the most representative. + + + O let Thy spirit with us tarry, + Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, + So that the babes we to Thee carry + May be unto Thy death baptized. + + Lord, after Thee we humbly name them, + O let them in Thy name arise! + If they should stumble, Lord, reclaim them, + That they may reach Thy paradise. + + If long their course, let them not falter. + Give to Thine aged servants rest. + If short their race, let by Thine altar + Them like the swallows find a rest. + + Upon their heart, Thy name be written, + And theirs within Thine own right hand, + That even when by trials smitten, + They in Thy covenant firm may stand. + + Thine angels sing for children sleeping, + May they still sing when death draws nigh. + Both cross and crown are in Thy keeping. + Lord, lead us all to Thee on high. + + +His communion hymns are gathered from many sources. Of his originals the +following tender hymn is perhaps the most typical. + + + Savior, whither should we go + From the truest friend we know, + From the Son of God above, + From the Fount of saving love, + Who in all this world of strife + Hath alone the word of life. + + No, I dare not turn from Thee, + Though Thy word oft chasten me, + For throughout this world, O Lord, + Death is still the cruel word. + Whoso saves the soul from death + Brings redemption, life and breath. + + "Eat my flesh and drink my blood." + Saith our Lord, so kind and good. + "Whoso takes the bread and wine, + Shall receive my life divine, + Be redeemed from all his foes + And arise as I arose." + + Hear Him then, my heart distressed, + Beating anxious in my breast. + Take Thy Savior at His word, + Meet Him at His altar-board, + Eat His body, drink His blood, + And obtain eternal good. + + +Grundtvig also produced a great number of hymns for the enrichment of +other parts of the church service. Few hymns thus strike a more +appropriate and festive note for the opening service than the short hymn +given below. + + + Come, Zion, and sing to the Father above; + Angels join with you + And thank Him for Jesus, the gifts of His love. + We sing before God in the highest. + + Strike firmly, O Psalmist, the jubilant chord; + Golden be your harp + In praise of Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord. + We sing before God in the highest. + + Then hear we with rapture the tongues as of fire, + The Spirit draws nigh, + Whose counsels with comforts our spirits inspire, + We sing before God in the highest. + + +Equally fine is his free rendering of the 84th psalm. + + + Fair beyond telling, + Lord, is Thy dwelling, + Filled with Thy peace. + Oh how I languish + And, in my anguish, + Wait for release + That I may enter Thy temple, O Lord, + With Thee communing in deepest accord. + + With Thy compassion, + Lord of Salvation, + Naught can compare. + Even the sparrow + Safe from the arrow + Rests in Thy care. + And as Thou shieldest the bird in its nest, + So let my heart in Thy temple find rest. + + Years full of splendors, + Which to offenders + Earth may afford, + Never can measure + One day of pleasure + Found with Thee, Lord, + When on the wings of Thy quickening word + Souls are uplifted and Thou art adored. + + Quicken in spirit, + Grow in Thy merit + Shall now Thy friends. + Blessings in showers + Filled with Thy powers + On them descends + Until at home in the city of gold + All shall in wonder Thy presence behold. + + +Grundtvig's hymns are for the most part church hymns, presenting the +objective rather than the subjective phase of Christian faith. He wrote +for the congregation and held that a hymn for congregational singing +should express the common faith and hope of the worshippers, rather than +the personal feelings and experiences of the individual. Because of this +his hymns are frequently criticized for their lack of personal sentiment. +The personal note is not wholly lacking in his work, however, as +witnessed by the following hymn. + + + Suffer and languish, + Tremble in anguish + Must every soul that awakes to its guilt. + Sternly from yonder, + Sinai doth thunder: + Die or achieve what no sinner fulfilled. + + Tremble with gladness, + Smile through their sadness + Shall all that rest in the arms of the Lord. + Grace beyond measure, + Comfort and treasure + Gathers the heart from His merciful word. + + Bravely to suffer, + Gladly to offer + Praises to God 'neath the weight of our cross, + This will the Spirit + Help us to merit + Granting a breath from God's heaven to us. + + +Even stronger is the personal sentiment of this appealing hymn. + + + With her cruse of alabaster, + Filled with ointment rare and sweet, + Came the woman to the Master, + Knelt contritely at His feet, + Feeling with unfeigned contrition + How unfit was her condition + To approach the Holy One. + + Like this woman, I contritely + Often must approach the Lord, + Knowing that I cannot rightly + Ask a place beside His board. + Sinful and devoid of merit, + I can only cry in spirit: + Lord, be merciful to me. + + Lord of Grace and Mercy, harken + To my plea for grace and light. + Threatening clouds and tempests darken + Now my soul with gloomy night. + Let, despite my guilt and error, + My repenting tears still mirror + Thy forgiving smile, O Lord. + + +The following hymn likewise voices the need for personal perseverance. + + + Hast to the plow thou put thy hand + Let not thy spirit waver, + Heed not the world's allurements grand, + Nor pause for Sodom's favor. + But plow thy furrow, sow the seed, + Though tares and thorns thy work impede; + For they, who sow with weeping, + With joy shall soon be reaping. + + But should at times thy courage fail-- + For all may fail and falter-- + Let not the tempting world prevail + On thee thy course to alter. + Each moment lost in faint retreat + May bring disaster and defeat. + If foes bid thee defiance, + On God be thy reliance. + + If steadfast in the race we keep, + Our course is soon completed. + And death itself is but a sleep, + Its dreaded might defeated. + But those who conquer in the strife + Obtain the victor's crown of life + And shall in constant gladness + Forget these days of sadness. + + +It is, perhaps, in his numerous hymns on Christian trust, comfort and +hope that Grundtvig reaches his highest. His contributions to this type +of hymns are too numerous to be more than indicated here. But the hymn +given below presents a fair example of the simplicity and poetic beauty +that characterize many of them. + + + God's little child, what troubles you! + Think of your Heavenly Father true. + He will uphold you by His hand, + None can His might and grace withstand. + The Lord be praised! + + Shelter and food and counsel tried + God for His children will provide. + They shall not starve, nor homeless roam, + Children may claim their Father's home. + The Lord be praised! + + Birds with a song toward heaven soar, + Neither they reap nor lay in store, + But where the hoarder dies from need, + Gathers the little bird a seed. + The Lord be praised! + + Clad are the flowers in raiment fair, + Wondrous to see on deserts bare. + Neither they spin nor weave nor sew + Yet no king could such beauty show. + The Lord be praised! + + Flowers that bloom at break of dawn + Only to die when day is gone, + How can they with the child compare + That shall the Father's glory share? + The Lord be praised! + + God's little child, do then fore'er + Cast on the Lord your every care. + Trust in His love, His grace and might + Then shall His peace your soul delight. + The Lord be praised! + + God will your every need allay + Even tomorrow as yesterday, + And when the sun for you goes down + He will your soul with glory crown. + The Lord be praised! + + +Grundtvig's friends were sometimes called the "Merry Christians." There +was nothing superficial or lighthearted, however, about the Christianity +of their leader. It had been gained through intense struggles and +maintained at the cost of worldly position and honor. But he did believe +that God is love, and that love is the root and fount of life, as he says +in the following splendid hymn. The translation is by the Reverend +Doving. + + + Love, the fount of light from heaven, + Is the root and source of life; + Therefore God's decrees are given + With His lovingkindness rife. + As our Savior blest declareth + And the Spirit witness beareth, + As we in God's service prove; + God is light and God is love. + + Love, the crown of life eternal, + Love the brightness is of light; + Therefore on His throne supernal + Jesus sits in glory bright. + He the Light and Life of heaven, + Who Himself for us hath given, + Still abides and reigns above + In His Father's boundless love. + + Love, alone the law fulfilling, + Is the bond of perfectness; + Love, who came, a victim willing, + Wrought our peace and righteousness. + Therefore love and peace in union + Ever work in sweet communion + That through love we may abide + One with Him who for us died. + + +But the fruit of God's love is peace. As Grundtvig, in the hymn above, +sings of God's love, so in the sweet hymn given below he sings of God's +peace. The translation is by Pastor Doving. + + + Peace to soothe our bitter woes + God in Christ on us bestows; + Jesus wrought our peace with God + Through His holy, precious blood; + Peace in Him for sinners found + Is the Gospel's joyful sound. + + Peace to us the church doth tell. + 'Tis her welcome and farewell. + Peace was our baptismal dower; + Peace shall bless our dying hour. + Peace be with you full and free + Now and in eternity. + + +In this peace Christians find refuge and rest. + + + The peace of God protects our hearts + Against the tempter's fiery darts. + It is as sure when evening falls + As when the golden morning calls. + + This peace our Savior wrought for us + In agony upon the cross, + And when He up to heaven soared, + His peace He left us in His word. + + His word of peace new strength imparts + Each day to faint and troubled hearts, + And in His cup and at the font + It stills our deepest need and want. + + This blessed peace our Lord will give + To all who in His Spirit live. + And even at their dying breath + Its comfort breaks the sting of death. + + When Christ for us His peace hath won + He asked for faith and faith alone. + By faith and not by merits vain, + Our hearts God's blessed peace obtain. + + Peace be with you, our Savior saith + In answer to the word of faith. + Whoso hath faith, shall find release + And dwell in God's eternal peace. + + +Grundtvig's hymns of comfort for the sick and dying rank with the finest +ever written. He hates and fears death, hoping even that Christ may +return before his own hour comes; but if He does not, he prays that the +Savior will be right with him. + + + Lord, when my final hours impend, + Come in the person of a friend + And take Thy place beside me, + And talk to me as man to man + Of where we soon shall meet again + And all Thy joy betide me. + + +For though he knows he cannot master the enemy alone, if the Savior is +there-- + + + Death is but the last pretender + We with Christ as our defender + Shall engage and put to flight. + + +And His word will dispel all fear of the struggle: + + + Like dew upon the meadow + So falls the word of life + On Christians in the shadow + Of mortal's final strife. + The first fruit of its blessing + Is balm for fears distressing, + So gone is like a breath + The bitterness of death. + + Like sun, when night is falling, + Sets stilly in the west + While birds are softly calling + Each other from their nest, + So when its brief day closes + That soul in peace reposes + Which knows that Christ the Lord + Is with it in His word. + + And as we shiver slightly + An early summer morn + When blushing heavens brightly + Announce a day new-born, + So moves the soul immortal + With calmness through death's portal + That through its final strife + Beholds the Light of Life. + + +He could therefore exclaim: + + + Christian! what a morn of splendor + Full reward for every fear, + When the ransomed host shall render + Praises to its Savior dear, + Shall in heaven's hall of glory + Tell salvation's wondrous story, + And with the angelic throng + Sing the Lamb's eternal song. + + +---------- + +[10]Another translation: "Take away the signs of mourning" by P. C. + Paulsen in "Hymnal for Church and Home". + + + + + Chapter Sixteen + Grundtvig's Later Years + + +Grundtvig's later years present a striking contrast to the years of his +earlier manhood. The lonely Defender of the Bible became a respected sage +and the acknowledged leader of a fast growing religious and folk +movement, both in Denmark and the other Scandinavian countries. His long +years of continuous struggles were followed by years of fruitful work and +an extensive growth of his religious and educational ideals until he was +generally recognized as one of the most vital spiritual leaders of +Scandinavia. + +The first break in the wall of isolation that surrounded him came with an +invitation from a group of students to "the excellent historian, N. F. S. +Grundtvig, who has never asked for a reward but only for a chance to do +good," to deliver a series of historical lectures at Borch's Collegium in +Copenhagen. These lectures--seventy-one in all--were delivered before +packed audiences during the summer and fall of 1838, and were so +enthusiastically received that the students, on the evening of the +concluding lecture, arranged a splendid banquet for the speaker, at which +one of them sang: + + + Yes, through years of lonely struggle + Did you bravely fight, + Bearing scorn without complaining + Till your hair turned white. + + +During his most lonely years Grundtvig once comforted himself with the +words of a Greek sage: "Speak to the people of yesterday, and you will be +heard by the people of tomorrow." Thus it was, no doubt, a great +satisfaction to him that the first public honor bestowed upon him should +be accorded him by his nation's youth. + +From that day his reputation and influence grew steadily. He became an +honored member of several influential societies, such as the Society for +Northern Studies, and the Scandinavian Society, an association of +academicians from all the Scandinavian countries for the purpose of +effecting a closer spiritual and cultural union between them. He also +received frequent invitations to lecture both on outstanding occasions +and before special groups. His work as a lecturer probably reached its +culmination at a public meeting on the Skamlingsbanke, a wooded hill on +the borders of Slesvig, where he spoke to thousands of profoundly stirred +listeners, and at a great meeting of Scandinavian students at Oslo, +Norway, in 1851, to which he was invited as the guest of honor and +acclaimed both by the students and the Norwegian people. When Denmark +became a constitutional kingdom in 1848, he was a member of the +constitutional assembly and was elected several times to the Riksdag. + +Meanwhile he worked ceaselessly for the development of his folk and +educational ideals. After his conversion, he felt for a time that his new +outlook was incompatible with his previous enthusiasm for the heroic life +and ideals of the old North, and that he must now devote himself solely +to the preaching of the Gospel. But the formerly mentioned decline of all +phases of Danish life during the early part of the nineteenth century and +the failure of his preaching to evoke any response from an indifferent +people caused him to suspect a closer relationship between a people's +religious and national or folk-life than he had hitherto recognized. Was +not the folk life of a people, after all, the soil in which the Word of +God must be sown, and could the Word bear fruit in a soil completely +hardened and unprepared to receive it? If it could not, was not a folk +awakening a necessary preparation for a Christian? + +Under the spur of this question he undertook the translation of the sagas +and developed his now widely recognized ideas of folk life and folk +education, which later were embodied in the Grundtvigian folk schools. +The first of these schools was opened at Roedding, Slesvig in 1844. The +war between Denmark and Germany from 1848 to 1850 delayed the +establishment of other similar schools. But in 1851, Christian Kold, the +man who more than any other realized Grundtvig's idea of a school for +life--as the folk schools were frequently called--opened his first school +at Ryslinge, Fyn. From there the movement spread rapidly not only to all +parts of Denmark but also to Norway, Finland and Sweden. The latter +country now has more schools of the Grundtvigian type than Denmark, and +Norway and Finland have about have as many.[11] + +To extend the influence of the movement lecture societies, reading +circles, gymnastic societies, choral groups and the like were organized +in almost every parish of Denmark. Thus before Grundtvig died, he had the +satisfaction of seeing his work bear fruit in one of the most vital folk +and educational movements of Scandinavia, a movement which has made a +tremendous imprint upon all phases of life in the Northern countries and +which today is spreading to many other parts of the world. + +Grundtvig held that the life of a nation, Christian as well as national, +never rose above the real culture of its common people. To be real, a +culture had to be national, had to be based on a people's natural +characteristics and developed in accordance with native history and +traditions. The aim of all true folk-education was the awakening and +enrichment of life and not a mere mental or practical training. The +natural means for the attainment of this aim was a living presentation of +a people's own cultural heritage, their native tradition, history, +literature and folk life. But in all cases the medium of this +presentation was the living, that is the spoken word by men and women who +were themselves spiritually alive. Christianity, in his opinion, had not +come to destroy but to cleanse and vivify the folk life of a people, and, +since the latter was the soil in which the former had to grow, the +fruitfulness of both demanded a living inter-action so that national life +might become Christian and Christianity national. + +In the practical application of these educational theories, Grundtvig +took no active part. Aside from his conception of the idea and the +development of much of the material used in the folk-school, his greatest +contributions to their work are probably, his innumerable Biblical, +historical and folk songs that were and are used in the schools. + +Meanwhile he by no means neglected his religious work. Rationalism had +been defeated, a sound Evangelical movement was fast revitalizing the +church, and he could therefore concentrate his energy on a further +development of the view that had come to him during his years of +struggle. Among innumerable other works, he produced during his later +years the splendid _Enlightenment of the Church_, published 1840-1844; +_Teachings of Our Christian Childhood_, published 1855-1862; _The Seven +Stars of the Churches_, published 1854-1855; and _The Church Mirror_, a +series of lectures on the main currents of church history, published +1861-1863. + +Although Grundtvig's views, and especially his distinction between the +"living" and the "written" word, were strongly opposed by many, his +profoundly spiritual conception of the church, as the body of Christ, and +of the sacraments, as its true means of life, has greatly influenced all +branches of the Danish church. In emphasizing the true indwelling of +Christ in the creed and sacraments, he visualized the real presence of +Him in the church and underscored the vital center of congregational +worship with a realism that no theological dissertation can ever convey. +Nor did he feel that in so doing he was in any sense diverging from true +Lutheranism. The fact that Luther himself chose the creed and the words +of institution of the sacrament as a basis for his catechism, showed, he +contended, that the great Reformer also had recognized their distinction. + +Despite frequent charges to the contrary, Grundtvig had no desire to +engender a separatist movement in the church. He constantly warned his +followers against any such tendency. In a closing speech to the Meeting +of Friends in 1863, he said, "You can no more forbid the world to call +you Grundtvigians than those whom Luther called to the Lord could forbid +anyone to call them Lutherans, but do not yourself adopt that name. For +history shows that some have let themselves be called Lutherans until +they have almost lost the name of Christians. If anyone wishes to name us +after any other than Christ, we ought to tell them that we accept nothing +unto salvation except what the Christian church has taught and confessed +from generation to generation. To or from that we neither add nor +detract. We acknowledge without reservation that word of faith which Paul +says is believed to righteousness and confessed unto salvation. The +manner of teaching and believing that faith so that the Old Adam may be +put off and the new put on, we hold to be a matter of enlightenment in +which we shall be guided by Grundtvig, as we are guided by Luther, only +in so far as we are convinced that he has been guided by Scripture and +the Spirit. We also disclaim any intention of making our conception of +Scripture an article of faith which must be accepted by the church." +Grundtvig's followers would, no doubt, have profited greatly by +remembering this truly liberal view of their leader. + +Thus his years passed quietly onward, filled with fruitful labor even +unto the end. In contrast to his often stormy public career, Grundtvig's +private life was quite peaceful and commonplace, subject only to the +usual trials and sorrows of human existence. During the greater part of +his life he was extremely poor, subsisting on a small government pension, +the meager returns from his writings and occasional gifts from friends. +For his own part this did not trouble him; his wants were few and easily +satisfied. But he "liked to see shining faces around him," as he once +wrote, and he had discovered that the face of a child could often be +brightened by a small gift, which he was frequently too poor to give. +"But if we would follow the Lord in these days," he wrote to a friend, +"we must evidently be prepared to renounce all things for His sake and +cast out all these heathen worries for dross and chaff with which we as +Christians often distress ourselves." + +Grundtvig was thrice married. His first wife, Lise Grundtvig, died +January 4, 1851, after a long illness. Her husband said at her grave, "I +stand here as an old man who is taking a decided step toward my own grave +by burying the bride of my youth and the mother of my children who for +more than forty years with unfailing loyalty shared all my joys and +sorrows--and mostly latter." + +But Grundtvig did not appear to be growing old. During the following +summer he attended the great meeting of Scandinavian students at Oslo, +where he was hailed as the youngest of them all. And on October 4 of the +same year, he rejoiced his enemies and grieved many of his friends by +marrying Marie Toft, of Rennebeck's Manor, a wealthy widow and his junior +by thirty years. And despite dire predictions to the contrary, the +marriage was very happy. Marie Toft was a highly intelligent and +spiritual-minded woman who wholeheartedly shared her husband's spiritual +views and ideals; and her death in 1854 came, therefore, as an almost +overwhelming blow. In a letter to a friend a few weeks after her death, +Grundtvig writes, "It was wonderful to be loved as unselfishly as Marie +loved me. But she belonged wholly to God. He gave and He took; and +despite all objections by the world and our own selfish flesh, the +believing heart must exclaim, His name be praised. When I consider the +greatness of the treasure that the Lord gave to me by opening this loving +heart to me in my old age, I confess that it probably would have proved +beyond my strength continuously to bear such good days; for had I not +already become critical of all that were not like her, and indifferent to +all things that were not concerned with her?" + +The last remark, perhaps, refers to a complaint by his friends that he +had become so absorbed in his wife that he neglected other things. If +this had been the case, he now made amends by throwing himself into a +whirl of activity that would have taxed the strength of a much younger +man. During the following years, he wrote part of his formerly mentioned +books on the church and Christian education, delivered a large number of +lectures, resumed his seat in the Riksdag and, of course, attended to his +growing work as a pastor. As he was also very neglectful of his own +comfort in other ways, it was evident to all that such a strenuous life +must soon exhaust his strength unless someone could be constantly about +him and minister to his need. For this reason a high-minded young widow, +the Baroness Asta Tugendreich Reetz, entered into marriage with him that +she might help to conserve the strength of the man whom she considered +one of the greatest assets her country possessed. + +Grundtvig once said of his marriages that the first was an idyl, the +second a romance and the third a fairy-tale. Others said harsher things. +But Asta Grundtvig paid no attention to the scandal mongers. A very +earnest Christian woman herself, she devoted all her energy to create a +real Christian home for her husband and family. As Grundtvig had always +lived much by himself, she wished especially to make their home a ready +gathering place for all his friends and co-workers. In this she succeeded +so well that their modest dwelling was frequently crowded with visitors +from far and near, many of whom later counted their visit with Grundtvig +among the richest experiences of their life. + +Grundtvig's fiftieth anniversary as a pastor was celebrated with +impressive festivities on May 29, 1861. The celebration was attended by +representatives from all departments of government and the church as well +as by a host of people from all parts of Scandinavia; and the celebrant +was showered with gifts and honors. The king conferred upon him the title +of bishop; the former queen, Carolina Amalia, presented him with a seven +armed candlestick of gold from women in Norway, Sweden and Denmark; his +friend, Pastor P. A. Fenger, handed him a gift of three thousand dollars +from friends in Denmark and Norway to finance a popular edition of his +_Hymns and Songs for the Danish Church_; and another friend, Gunni Busck, +presented him with a plaque of gold engraved with his likeness and a line +from his hymns, a gift from the congregation of Vartov. + +Many of those who participated in this splendid jubilee felt that it +would be of great benefit to them to meet again for mutual fellowship and +discussion of pressing religious and national questions. And with the +willing cooperation of Asta Grundtvig, it was decided to invite all who +might be interested to a meeting in Copenhagen on Grundtvig's eightieth +birthday, September 8, the following year. This Meeting of Friends--as it +was named--proved so successful that it henceforth became an annual +event, attended by people from all parts of Scandinavia. Although +Grundtvig earnestly desired that these meetings should actually be what +they were designed to be, meetings of friends for mutual help and +enlightenment, his own part in them was naturally important. His powers +were still unimpaired, and his contributions were rich in wisdom and +spiritual insight. Knowing himself surrounded by friends, he often spoke +with an appealing heartiness and power that made the Meetings of Friends +unforgettable experiences to many. + +Thus the once loneliest man in Denmark found himself in his old age +honored by his nation, surrounded by friends, and besieged by visitors +and co-workers, seeking his help and advice. He was always very +approachable. In his younger days he had frequently been harsh and +self-assertive in his judgment of others; but in his latter years he +learned that kindness is always more fruitful than wrath. Sitting in his +easy chair and smoking his long pipe, he talked frankly and often wittily +with the many who came to visit him. Thus Bishop H. Martensen, the +theologian, tells us that his conversation was admirably eloquent and +interspersed with wit and humor. And a prominent Swedish author, P. +Wisselgren, writes: "Some years ago I spent one of the most delightful +evenings of my life with Bishop Grundtvig. I doubt that I have ever met a +greater poet of conversation. Each thought was an inspiration and his +heart was in every word he said." + +Grundtvig's outward appearance, especially during his later years, was +extremely charming. His strong countenance framed by long white locks and +a full beard bore the imprint of a profound spiritual intellect and a +benevolent calmness. The queen, Caroline Amalia, after her first meeting +with him wrote, "Grundtvig has a most beautiful countenance, and he +attracted me at once by his indescribably kind and benevolent appearance. +What an interesting man he is, and what a pleasure it is to listen to his +open and forthright conversation." + +And so, still active and surrounded by friends, he saw his long, fruitful +life drawing quietly toward its close. In 1871, he opened the annual +Meeting of Friends by speaking from the text: "See, I die, but the Lord +shall be with you," and said in all likelihood this meeting would be the +last at which he would be present. He lived, however, to prepare for the +next meeting, which was to be held on September 11, 1872. On September 1, +he conducted his service at Vartov as usual, preaching an exceptionally +warm and inspiring sermon. But the following morning he passed away +quietly while sitting in his easy chair and listening to his son read for +him. + +He was buried September 11, three days after his 89th birthday, in the +presence of representatives from all departments of the government, one +fourth of the Danish clergy and a vast assembly of people from all parts +of Scandinavia. + +An American writer recently named Grundtvig "The Builder of Modern +Denmark." And there are few phases of modern Danish life which he has not +influenced. His genius was so unique and his work so many-sided that with +equal justice one might call him a historian, a poet, an educator, a +religious philosopher, a hymnologist and a folk-leader. Yet there is an +underlying unity of thought and purpose in all his work which makes each +part of it merely a branch of the whole. This underlying unity is his +clear conception of the spiritual and of man as a spiritual being who can +attain his fullest development only through the widest possible +realization of the spiritual in all his divine and human relationships. +In every part of his work Grundtvig, therefore, invariably seeks to +discover the spiritual realities. The mere form of a thing, the form of +religion, of knowledge, of education, of government, of all human +institutions and endeavors have no intrinsic value, are only skeletons +and dead bones until they become imbued and vivified by the spirit. Thus +Professor Martensen, who by no means belonged to the Grundtvigian party, +writes, "But among the many things I owe to Grundtvig, I cherish above +all his conception of the spiritual as the reality besides which all +other things are nothing but shadows, and of the spirit inspired word as +the mightiest power in human life. And he gave that to me not as a theory +but as a living truth, a spiritual reality about which there could be not +even a shadow of doubt." + +Grundtvig found the spiritual in many things, in the myth of the North, +in history, literature and, in fact, in all things through which man has +to express his god-given nature. He had no patience with the Pietists who +looked upon all things not directly religious as evils with which a +Christian could have nothing to do. Yet he believed above all in the Holy +Spirit as the "Spirit of spirits," the true agent of God in the world. +The work of the Spirit was indispensable to man's salvation, and the +fruit of that work, the regenerated Christian life, the highest +expression of the spiritual. Since he believed furthermore, that the Holy +Spirit works especially in the church through the word and sacraments, +the church was to him the workshop of the Spirit. + +In his famous hymn to the church bell, his symbol for the church, he +writes "that among all noble voices none could compare with that of the +ringing bell." Despite the many fields in which he traced the imprint of +the spiritual, the church remained throughout his long life his real +spiritual home, a fact which he beautifully expresses in the hymn below. + + + Hallowed Church Bell, not for worldly centers + Wast thou made, but for the village small + Where thy voice, as home and hearth it enters, + Blends with lullabies at evenfall. + + When a child and in the country dwelling, + Christmas morning was my heaven on earth, + And thy chimes, like angel voices swelling, + Told with joy of my Redeemer's birth. + + Louder still thy joyful chimes resounded, + When on wings of early morning borne, + They proclaimed: Awake with joy unbounded, + Christ arose this blessed Easter morn. + + Sweeter even were thy tolls when blending + With the calm of summer eventide + And, as though from heaven above descending, + Bid me cast all grief and care aside. + + Hence when now the day is softly ending, + Shadows fall and birds ascend their nest, + Like the flowers my head in silence bending, + I am chanting with my soul at rest: + + When at last, O Church Bell, thou art tolling + O'er my grave while loved grieve and sigh, + Say to them, their troubled heart consoling, + He is resting with his Lord on high. + + +---------- + +[11]The printed text is corrupt, but the correction is not obvious. + Norway and Finland might have "about as many" or "about half as many". + + + + + Other Danish Hymnwriters + + + + + Chapter Seventeen + + +The Danish church has produced a large number of hymnwriters, who, except +for the greatness of Kingo, Brorson and Grundtvig, would have commanded +general recognition. The present hymnal of the church contains +contributions by about sixty Danish writers. Though the majority of these +are represented by only one or two hymns, others have made large +contributions. + +Kingo, Brorson and Grundtvig, peculiarly enough, had few imitators. A +small number of writers did attempt to imitate the great leaders, but +they formed no school and their work for the most part was so +insignificant that it soon disappeared. Thus even Kingo's great work +inspired no hymnwriter of any consequence, and the fifty years between +Kingo and Brorson added almost nothing to the hymnody of the church. +Contemporary with Brorson, however, a few writers appeared whose songs +have survived to the present day. Foremost among these is Ambrosius Stub, +a unique and sympathetic writer whose work constitutes a distinct +contribution to Danish poetry. + +Ambrosius Stub was born on the island of Fyn in 1705, the son of a +village tailor. Although extremely poor, he managed somehow to enter the +University of Copenhagen, but his poverty compelled him to leave the +school without completing his course. For a number of years, he drifted +aimlessly, earning a precarious living by teaching or bookkeeping at the +estates of various nobles, always dogged by poverty and a sense of +frustration. Although he was gifted and ambitious, his lack of a degree +and his continuous poverty prevented him from attaining the position in +life to which his ability apparently entitled him. During his later +years, he conducted a small school for boys at Ribe, a small city on the +west coast of Jutland, where he died in abject poverty in 1758, only 53 +years old. + +Stub's work remained almost unknown during his lifetime, but a small +collection of his poems, published after his death, gained him a +posthumous recognition as the greatest Danish poet of the 18th century. +Stub's style is extremely noble and expressive, devoid of the excessive +bombast and sentimentality that many writers then mistook for poetry. He +was of a cheerful disposition with a hopeful outlook upon life that only +occasionally is darkened by the hardships and disappointments of his own +existence. Even the poems of his darker moods are colored by his inborn +love of beauty and his belief in the fundamental goodness of life. Many +of his best poems are of a religious nature, and expressive of his warm +and trustful Christian faith. In view of the discouraging hardships and +disappointments of his own life, the following much favored hymn throws a +revealing light upon the spirit of its author. + + + Undismayed by any fortune + Life may have in store for me, + This, whatever be my portion, + I will always try to be. + If I but in grace abide, + Undismayed whate'er betide. + + Undismayed when others harry + Mind and soul with anxious care; + If the Lord with me will tarry, + All my troubles disappear. + If I but in grace abide, + Undismayed whate'er betide. + + Undismayed when others sighing, + Quail before the evil day, + On God's grace I am relying; + Nothing can me then dismay. + If I but in grace abide, + Undismayed whate'er betide. + + Undismayed when others fearing, + See the hour of death draw nigh. + With the victor's crown appearing, + Why should I repine and sigh. + If I but in grace abide, + Undismayed whate'er betide. + + Dearest Lord, if I may treasure + Thy abundant grace each day, + I shall cherish Thy good pleasure, + Be my portion what it may. + If I but in grace abide, + Undismayed whate'er betide. + + +The age of Rationalism discarded most of the old hymns but produced no +worthwhile hymns of its own. The most highly praised hymnwriter of the +period, Birgitte Boye, the wife of a forester, wrote a great number of +hymns of which no less than 150 were included in a new hymnal published +in 1870, by the renowned statesman, Ove Hoegh Guldberg. Although +excessively praised by the highest authorities of the period, Birgitte +Boye's hymns contain nothing of permanent value, and have now happily +been forgotten. + +The Evangelical revival about the middle of the 19th century restored the +old hymns to their former favor, and produced besides, a number of new +hymnwriters of real merit. Among these, Casper J. Boye is, perhaps, the +most prominent. Born of Danish parents at Kongsberg, Norway, in 1791, +Boye entered the University of Copenhagen in 1820 where he first took up +the study of law and then, of theology. After graduating from this +department, he became a teacher at a Latin school and some years later, a +pastor of the large Garrison Church in Copenhagen, where he remained +until his death in 1851. Boye was a gifted writer, both on secular and +religious themes. His numerous hymns appeared in six small volumes +entitled: _Spiritual Songs_. They are marked by a flowing but at times +excessively literary style and a quiet spiritual fervor. The following +still is a favorite opening hymn. + + + Day is breaking, night is ended, + And the day of rest ascended + Upon church and countryside. + Like the day in brightness growing, + Grace from God is richer flowing; + Heaven's portals open wide. + + O what joy this day is bringing, + When the chiming bells are ringing, + Calling man to prayer and praise! + All the angel host rejoices + And with gladsome, mellow voices + Thanks the Lord for light and grace. + + Sin and death with fear and sorrow + And the burden of tomorrow + Shall not weigh my heart with care. + Unto all in tribulation + Doth the Lord of our salvation + On this day His peace declare. + + Be it hushed in solemn stillness, + Must I weep in grief or illness, + Or confess my guilt and shame, + It is blessed to be weeping + When the hungry heart is reaping + Grace and peace in Jesus' name. + + O Thou Fount of grace unbounded, + Who our wisdom hath confounded, + Whom but faith can comprehend! + In Thy love my soul reposes; + Heaven's portal never closes + Till before Thy throne we stand. + + +Herman Andreas Timm, a younger contemporary of Boye, also wrote a large +number of excellent hymns. He was born at Copenhagen in 1800, and was for +many years pastor of the church on Amager, a suburb of the capital city. +He died in 1866. His hymns appeared in a small volume of poems, published +in 1834, under the title: _Spiritual Songs_. They are characterized by an +easy literary style and an urgent spiritual appeal. The following very +popular hymn is perhaps the best-known of those now available in English. + + + Dost thou know the living fountain + Whence the stream of grace doth flow? + Dry the streams from snowcapped mountain, + Yet this stream shall fuller grow. + From the very heart of God + Flows its currents deep and broad, + Unto every land and nation, + Bringing mercy and salvation. + + Come unto the living waters! + Cried the prophets, do not shrink! + God invites His sons and daughters: + He that thirsteth come and drink. + With this water God imparts + Health and strength to sin-sick hearts. + Why are ye then hesitating + While the Lord with grace is waiting. + + With us is the day appointed, + God has kept His gracious word. + He has come, the Lord's annointed; + Men have seen the promised Lord. + Saints of God from every race + Found in Him the fount of grace, + And, with joy that never ceases, + Said: The Fount of Life is Jesus. + + Hasten then! Let all assemble + At this fountain pure and strong. + Come, ye souls that fear and tremble, + Come, ye old, and come ye young. + Now the hour of grace is here, + Draw then to its fountain near. + Soon, ah soon! the day is over. + Quickly night the world may cover. + + +Another contemporary of these writers, and perhaps the most prominent of +the group, was Theodore Vilhelm Oldenburg. Oldenburg was born at +Copenhagen in 1805, son of the Royal Chamberlain, Frederik Oldenburg. His +mother died while he was still a boy, but his excellent father managed to +give him a most careful training and a splendid education. He graduated +"cum laude" from the University of Copenhagen in 1822, obtained the +degree of Master of Arts during the following year, entered the +department of theology and graduated from there three years later, also +"cum laude." In 1830 he accepted a call to become pastor of the parish of +Otterup and Sorterup on the island of Fyn. Here he won high praise for +his conspicuously able and faithful work. Together with the gifted Bishop +P. C. Kirkegaard, he was editor for a number of years of the influential +periodical "Nordisk Tidsskrift for Kristelig Teologi," and also of the +outstanding foreign mission paper, "Dansk Missionsblad." Through these +papers he exerted a powerful and always beneficent influence upon the +churches of both Denmark and Norway. His outstanding and richly blest +service was cut short by death in 1842 when he was only 37 years old. He +was carried to the grave to the strains of his own appealing hymn: +"Thine, O Jesus, Thine Forever." + +Oldenburg's quite numerous hymns were printed from time to time in +various periodicals. They express in a noble and highly lyrical style the +firm faith and warm religious fervor of his own consecrated life. + +The hymn given below was written for a foreign mission convention shortly +before his death. + + + Deep and precious, + Strong and gracious + Is the word of God above, + Gently calling + Sinners falling, + To the Savior's arm of love. + Unto all the word is given: + Jesus is the way to heaven. + + Blessed Savior, + Wondrous favor + Hast Thou shown our fallen race! + Times may alter, + Worlds may falter, + Nothing moves Thy word of grace. + With Thy word Thy grace abideth, + And for all our needs provideth. + + By Thy merit, + Through the Spirit + Draw all sinners, Lord, to Thee. + Sin and error, + Death and terror + By Thy word shall vanquished be. + Guide us all through life's straight portal, + Bear us into life immortal. + + +Besides Grundtvig the foremost hymnwriter of this period was his close +friend, Bernhard Severin Ingemann, one of Denmark's most popular and +beloved writers. He was born in 1789 in a parsonage on the island of +Falster. His father died in 1800 when the son was only 11 years old, and +his mother left the parsonage to settle in Slagelse, an old city on the +island of Sjaelland. Having graduated from the Latin school there in 1806, +Ingemann entered the University of Copenhagen in the fall of the same +year. During the English attack on Copenhagen in 1807, he enrolled in the +student's volunteer corps and fought honorably in defense of the city. +After graduating from the University, he was granted free board and room +at Walkendorf's Collegium, an institution for the aid of indigent but +promising young students. Here he devoted most of his time to literary +pursuits and, during the following three years, he published a large +number of works which won him a favorable name as a gifted lyrical poet +of a highly idealistic type. As an encouragement to further efforts, the +government granted him a two year stipend for travel and study in foreign +parts. He visited Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy, and became +acquainted with many famous literary leaders of that day, especially in +Germany. On his return from abroad in 1822 he was appointed a lector at +the famous school at Soroe on the island of Sjaelland. In this charming old +city with its splendid cathedral and idyllic surroundings he spent the +remainder of his life in the peace and quiet that agreed so well with his +own mild and seraphic nature. He died in 1862. + +Inspired by Oehlenschlaeger and strongly encouraged by Grundtvig, +Ingemann in 1824 began the issuance of his famous historical novels, +based upon episodes from the romantic period of Danish history during the +13th and 14th centuries. To some extent the novels are modeled upon the +similar works of Walter Scott but are written in a livelier style and +more idealistic spirit than their English prototype. In later years their +historical veracity has been gravely questioned. Enjoying an immense +popularity both in Denmark and in Norway, these highly idealized pictures +of the past did much to arouse that national spirit which especially +Grundtvig had labored long to awaken. After completing his historical +novels, Ingemann again resumed his lyrical and fictional writings, +producing a large number of poems, fairy-tales and novels that further +increased his already immense popularity. + + Bernhard Severin Ingemann + +Despite the great popularity of Ingemann's secular writings, it is, +nevertheless, his hymns and spiritual songs which will preserve his name +the longest. His first collection of hymns, a small volume of morning and +evening songs, appeared in 1822. This collection was followed in 1825 by +a volume of church hymns, which was enlarged and reprinted in 1843. The +favorable reception of these hymns caused Ingemann to be selected to +prepare the new church hymnal, published in 1855, a task which he +accomplished to the general satisfaction of all. + +Ingemann's hymns faithfully reflect his own serene and idealistic nature. +Their outstanding merits are a limpid, lyrical style and an implicit +trust in the essential goodness of life and its Author. Of Kingo's +realistic conception of evil or Grundtvig's mighty vision of existence as +a heroic battle between life and death, he has little understanding. The +world of his songs is as peaceful and idyllic as the quiet countryside +around his beloved Soroe. If at times he tries to take the deeper note, +his voice falters and becomes artificial. But though his hymns on such +themes as sin and redemption are largely a failure, he has written +imperishable hymns of idealistic faith and childlike trust in the +goodness and love of God. + +The extreme lyrical quality and highly involved and irregular metre of +many of Ingemann's hymns make them extremely difficult to translate, and +their English translations fail on the whole to do justice. The +translation given below is perhaps one of the best. It is the work of the +Rev. P. C. Paulsen. + + + As wide as the skies is Thy mercy, O God; + Thy faithfulness shieldeth creation. + Thy bounteous hand from the mountains abroad + Is stretched over country and nation. + + Like heaven's embrace is Thy mercy, O Lord; + In judgment profound Thou appearest. + Thou savest our souls through Thy life-giving word, + The cries of Thy children Thou hearest. + + How precious Thy goodness, O Father above, + Where children of men are abiding. + Thou spreadest through darkness the wings of Thy love; + We under their pinions are hiding. + + For languishing souls Thou preparest a rest; + The quivering dove Thou protectest; + Thou givest us being, eternal and blest, + In mercy our life Thou perfectest. + + +The following hymn is also quite popular. + + + The sun is rising in the east, + It gilds the heavens wide, + And scatters light on mountain crest, + On shore and countryside. + + It rises from the valley bright, + Where Paradise once lay, + And bringeth life, and joy and light + To all upon its way. + + It greets us from the land afar + Where man with grace was crowned, + And from that wondrous Morning Star, + Which Eastern sages found. + + The starry host bow down before + The sun that passes them; + It seems so like that star of yore + Which shone on Bethlehem. + + Thou Sun of Suns, from heaven come, + In Thee our praises rise + For every message from Thy home + And from Thy Paradise. + + +The most beloved of all Ingemann's hymns is his splendid "Pilgrim Song." + + + Dejlig er Jorden, + Praegtig er Guds Himmel, + Skoen er Sjaelenes Pilgrimsgang. + Gennem de fagre + Riger paa Jorden + Gaa vi til Paradis med Sang. + + +This hymn is written to the tune of "Beautiful Savior" which Ingemann, in +common with many others, accepted as a marching tune from the period of +the crusades. Although this historic origin has now been disproved, the +tune united with Ingemann's text undoubtedly will remain the most beloved +pilgrim song among the Danish and Norwegian peoples. Though fully aware +of the impossibility of translating this tenderly beautiful song so that +it is acceptable to those who know the original, the author presents the +following translation in the hope that it may interest those who cannot +read the original. + + + Fair is creation,[12] + Fairer God's heaven, + Blest is the marching pilgrim throng. + Onward through lovely + Regions of beauty + Go we to Paradise with song. + + Ages are coming, + Ages are passing + Nations arise and disappear. + Never the joyful + Message from heaven + Wanes through the soul's brief sojourn here. + + Angels proclaimed it + Once to the shepherds, + Henceforth from soul to soul it passed: + Unto all people + Peace and rejoicing, + Us is a Savior born at last. + + +Of other hymns by Ingemann, which are now available in English, we may +mention "Jesus, My Savior, My Shepherd Blest," "The Country Lies in Deep +Repose" and "I Live and I Know the Span of My Years." + + +---------- + +[12]Another translation: "Beauty around us" by S. D. Rodholm in "A World + of Song." + +The last half of the 19th century also brought forth a number of Danish +hymnwriters of considerable merit, such as Chr. Richardt, Pastor J. P. M. +Paulli, Pastor Olfert Ricard and Pastor J. Schjorring. The latter is +especially known by one song which has been translated into many +languages and with which it seems appropriate to close this survey of +Danish hymnody. + + + Love from God our Lord, + Has forever poured + Like a fountain pure and clear. + In its quiet source, + In its silent course + Doth the precious pearl appear. + + Love from God our Lord, + Comes with sweet accord, + Like a pure and lovely bride. + Dwell within my heart, + Peace from God impart, + Heaven doth with Thee abide. + + Love from God our Lord, + Has to man restored + Life and peace from heaven above. + Who in love remains, + Peace from God obtains; + God Himself is ever love. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark, by +Jens Christian Aaberg + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HYMNS AND HYMNWRITERS OF DENMARK *** + +***** This file should be named 29666.txt or 29666.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/6/6/29666/ + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and Ken Jentsch + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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