1 Arise, arise, ye Christians,
The King is drawing nigh;
Arise and hail with gladness
The Ruler from on high.
Come forth and sound the peal,
To Him your praises bringing
And glad hosannas singing
With holy festive zeal.
2 Look up, desponding mourners,
The King is very near;
Away with grief and sadness,
Your helper now is here.
We find Him in His Word,
The source of our salvation;
And sweetest consolation
His presence doth afford.
3 Be faithful, all ye subjects,
Your King is just and true;
Prepare for Him a highway,
Make all things straight and new.
He hath in mind our good,
So let us bear our crosses
And suffer all our losses
In calm and fearless mood.
4 Rejoice, ye heavy-hearted,
The King appears in might;
He evermore hath loved us
And brings us pure delight.
Now let us fear no more,
No evil shall befall us,
His children God doth call us;
We may His help implore.
5 How richly Thou dost bless us,
Thyself made poor and weak!
What love beyond expression
That sinners thus can seek!
O Lord, for this shall we,
To Thee our tribute bringing
And glad hosannas singing,
Thy grateful people be.
Source: American Lutheran Hymnal #329
Rist, Johann, son of Kaspar Rist, pastor at Ottensen, near Hamburg, was born at Ottensen, March 8, 1607, and from his birth was dedicated to the ministry. After passing through the Johanneum at Hamburg and the Gymnasium Illustre at Bremen, he matriculated, in his 21st year, at the University of Rinteln, and there, under Josua Stegmann (q. v.), he received an impulse to hymn-writing. On leaving Rinteln he acted as tutor to the sons of a Hamburg merchant, accompanying them to the University of Rostock, where he himself studied Hebrew, Mathematics and also Medicine.
During his residence at Rostock the terrors, of the Thirty Years War almost emptied the University, and Rist himself also lay there for weeks ill of the pestilence. After his r… Go to person page >
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