1700 - 1779 Person Name: Knuth Author of "Es ist noch eine Ruh vorhanden" in Evangelisches Gesangbuch Born: October 3, 1700, Liegnitz, Silesia.
Died: September 7, 1779, Baruth (near Jüterbog), Brandenburg.
Kunth, Johann Sigismund, was born Oct. 3, 1700, at Liegnitz, Silesia, and studied theology at the Universities of Jena, Wittenberg, and Leipzig. He was in 1730 appointed pastor at Pölzig and Bröckau, near Ronneburg, by Count Henkel von Dormersmark. In 1737 he became chief pastor at Löwen, Silesia, and in 1743 pastor and superintendent at Baruth, near Jüterbog, Brandenburg. He died at Baruth, Sept. 7, 1779 (S. J. Ehrhardt's Presbyterologie Schlesiens, 1780-89, ii. p. 137, &c). The only hymn by him translated into English is
Es ist noch eine Ruh vorhanden. Eternal Life. This fine hymn (founded on Heb. iv. 9; St. Matt. xi. 28, 29 y Job. vii. 1-3; Ps. cxxvi. 5, 6, and Rev. vii. 16, 17) appears in the Einige geistreiche Lieder, Cöthen, 1733, No. 22, in 7 st. of 7 1. In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 1535.
According to Ricbter (Biog. Lexikon, 1804, p. 183) it was written by Kunth while on a journey from Wittenberg to Silesia ,i.e. c. 1725; and this agrees with the statement of Fischer (Supplement, 1886, pt. i. p. 48) that it appeared in the Neu eingerichtetes geistieiehes Gesang-Buch, Leipzig, 1730. Koch, 2nd ed., vol. iv. p. 712, says it was written in 1731 or 1732, while Kunth was journeying with his patron, Count Erdmann Heinrich von Henkel, who was on his way to take possession of some property in Silesia. On the way the carriage broke down, and this delay gave the Count occasion to murmur at the ceaseless unrest of this life. Kunth, reminding him of the believer's everlasting rest, stepped aside a moment, and then returned with this hymn. Koch adds that it comforted the dying hours of Heinrich Möwes (q.v.), being read to him by his wife in his last moments on earth.
The translations are :—
(1) "Yes, there remaineth yet a rest," by Miss Wink'worth, 1855, p. 195. (2) "There is a day of rest before thee," by Mrs. Bevan, 1858, p. 3. (3) "Yes, still for us a rest remaineth," by Miss Borthwick, contributed to H. E. Goldschmidt's German Poetry, 1869, p. 431.
[Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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