Angelus, Johann--1624-1677--whose real name was Scheffler, native of
Breslau, physician in ordinary to the Emperor Ferdinand the Third. In the
year 1653 he resigned this post, went over to the Romish Church, and
became a priest, having previously, by a singular fancy, assumed the name
of Angelus.
Arndt, Ernst Moritz--born in Pomerania; in 1806 professor of philosophy
at Greifswald, in 1816 professor of history at Bonn. From having been a
writer of popular songs, he became a writer of sacred ones. The hymn
'Geht nun hin und grabt mein Grab,' here selected, must be reckoned one
of the greatest gems of sacred poetry of the century.
Brunswick, Anton Ulrich, Duke of--1633-1714--pupil of the learned
Schottelius; a learned prince, who was a popular writer of his time.
Bürde, Samuel Gottlieb--1763-?--native of Breslau, royal secretary to the
board of finances at that place.
Dach, Simon--1605-1659--a Prussian, born at Memel, professor of poetry at
Königsberg.
Denicke, David--1603-1680--a Saxon, native of Zittau, a member of the
Consistory at Hanover.
Edeling, Christian Ludwig, a Saxon, native of Löbegün, in Saalkreis,
tutor to Count Zinzendorf, afterwards a clergyman at Schwanebeck, near
Halberstadt, where he died in 1742.
Fouqué, Friedrich Freiherr, de la Motte, born, in 1777, at
Neubrandenberg. He is still living at Berlin, the worthy and
distinguished descendant of the brave, intellectual, and pious general of
Frederick the Great; he has given a beautiful and lasting memorial of his
poetical spirit, and his Christian mind, in the hymn 'Was du vor tausend
Jahren.'
Freylinghausen, Johann Anastasius--1670-1739--born at Gandersheim, in
Wolfenbüttel; a clergyman, and director of the Orphan Asylum at Halle.
Gellert, Christian Fürchtegott--1715-1769--a Saxon, native of Haynichen,
in Erzgebirge, and son of the minister of that place. He studied
theology, in distressed circumstances, at Leipzig, but his bad health did
not allow him to preach. He lived at Leipzig, and gave lectures (first as
a master of arts and afterwards as extraordinary professor) on eloquence
and moral philosophy, and gained as universally the reputation of an
author and a pattern of pure taste, as he did love and esteem as a man
and a Christian, by his integrity of conduct, and his unaffected piety
and humility. Composing hymns was his favourite employment, in which,
together with prayer, he spent the happiest hours of his life of
suffering. All his hymns speak the simple Christian poet of the people,
and many of them have lasting classic merit. His death, as was his life,
was worthy of a Christian. When, in his last illness, his friends told
him, in answer to his question, that the struggle between life and death
might probably last an hour, he lifted up his hands with a cheerful
countenance, exclaimed, "Now, God be praised, only an hour!" turned on
his side, his eyes gleaming with joy, and gently breathed his last.
Gerhard, Paul--1606-1676--native of Gräfenhaynichen, in the circle of the
Electorate; a zealous preacher of the gospel, and a devout Christian.
That personality of expression which stamps his hymns, represents most
completely the character of the German people; profound and cheerful,
firm and full of repose; for which reason his hymns are the most popular.
If the Church had to select only one psalmist, it must be Paul Gerhard,
whose hymns are so numerous, that they would almost alone form a
hymn-book.
Heermann, Johann--1585-1647--a native of Silesia, born at Rauden, the son
of a furrier, early destined for the Church by his pious mother. He was
minister at Koban, in Fürstenthum Glogau, but his bad health obliged him
to resign his appointment, and he spent the last thirteen years of his
life at Lissa. Being much tried during the horrors of the thirty years'
war, in which he several times almost miraculously escaped being
murdered, his mind became more spiritually enlightened through his bodily
sufferings, in the midst of which he wrote the greater number of his
hymns, which are a true picture of his pious, humble, and prayerful soul.
He dedicated them 'Seinen lieben Kindern' (to his dear children).
Hermann, Nicolaus, called the pious old 'Cantor'[2] of Joachimsthal (in
Voigtland), a devout writer of hymns. He was the intimate friend of the
pious minister of Joachimsthal, Matthesius, whose sermons often inspired
him with a hymn on the same text. He died in 1561, at a very advanced
age.
[2]Cantor is, in some parts of Germany, a title given to the village
schoolmaster, who, as parish clerk, leads the singing in church.
Lange, Ernst--1650-1727--of Dantzic, member of the town-council of that
place. His hymns appeared in 1701.
Lavater, Johann Caspar--1741-1801--minister in his native town, Zuric,
who, with many infirmities and peculiarities, was an active and sincere
Christian, and a talented orator, writer, and sacred poet. He died, after
having performed the most blessed actions, and having been tried with
many afflictions, which he bore with piety and constancy, in consequence
of a fatal shot, which a French soldier maliciously aimed at him, after
the storming of Zuric in 1799, as he was consoling and administering to
the wants of the sufferers, in the streets. His hymns are numerous, and
have been repeatedly printed.
Liebich, Ehrenfried--1713-1780--born at Liegnitzischen, minister at
Jauerschen, who wrote two hundred and thirty-six hymns. They are very
beautiful, and resemble those of Schmolck, but have not his peculiar
vigour.
Löwe, Johann Friedrich--1729-1771--native of Clausthal, on the Harz; a
poet and a learned jurist, who lived at Hamburg; his hymns, which
resemble those of Gellert, were published in 1770.
Luther, Doctor Martin--1483-1546--the great instrument of God, father and
master of the art of hymn-writing, and of German poetry. 'Ach Gott, vom
Himmel sieh darein,' here selected, is a free paraphrase of the 12th
Psalm, a call of the Church, founded on God's word, for aid and
protection against those who despised and corrupted it, written in 1523.
Müller, Michael--1673-1704--native of Blankenberg, who lived at
Wirtemburg.
Neander, Joachim--1610-1680--latterly minister of his native town,
Bremen, previous to which he was a professor at Düsseldorf, where his
love for the Lord Jesus, and his preaching vital Christianity raised
persecution against him. He is the first writer of hymns of any
importance of the reformed Church, and may be called the psalmist of the
New Covenant, as his sacred songs are entitled, 'Bundeslieder' (Songs of
the Covenant). Like David and Luther, he was great in the composition of
tunes as well as words.
Neumann, Gottfried--1740-1815--a friend of "the community of Brethren,"
who was living in 1778, at Meerholz.
Neuss, Heinrich Georg--1664-1716--native of Elbingerode,
superintendent[3] at Wernigerode. He published one hundred and
thirty-four hymns in his 'Hebopfer,' (heave-offering).
[3]That is, in the Lutheran Church, one who has the ecclesiastical
direction of a certain district.
Olearius, Johann--whose real name was Oelschläger--1611-1684--of Halle,
chaplain to the king and superintendent-general at Weissenfels, a learned
theologian. His numerous hymns stamp him as the Gellert of his time. With
true scriptural singleness of heart, an ardent Christian mind, and great
abilities, he endeavoured to restore the sublime simplicity of the
church-hymns, and to put fresh vigour into their style. This gave him, as
it did Gellert eighty-six years later, a great influence over the
hymn-books, in which many of his writings were soon adopted.
Oswald, Heinrich Siegmund--who published in 1793, "Gedichte und Lieder
fürs Herz," which shew a beautiful Christian mind; he was still living in
Breslau, as king's privy counsellor, in 1827. From the "Schwanen-lieder,"
(swan's songs) of this venerable old man, is taken "Wem in Leidenstagen."
Rist, Johann--1607-1667--of the province of Holstein, born at Ottensen,
near Altona, member of the ecclesiastical council and minister at Wedel;
one of the most celebrated and influential poets of his time. He was, in
the pulpit, as well as in sacred poetry, a zealous preacher of
Christianity, and was consequently attacked by the zealots of his time,
because he did not preach enough upon matters in dispute, and against
erroneous doctrine. To this he replied, that, "In his parish there were
scarcely two persons who held erroneous doctrine, but there were many who
led sinful lives." He had great trials in his youth, and in his later
years he suffered from pillage, pestilence, and all the horrors of war.
"The blessed cross," he says, "has produced from me many hymns." Though a
great number of his hymns were adopted by many churches even during his
life-time, he would never suffer them to be sung in his own church, with
the exception of a Christmas hymn, which, on one occasion, he allowed the
children of the school to practise, and to begin to sing on that
festival, "wenn das Volk aus der Kirche zu gehen beginnt," as the people
were beginning to go out of church.
Ritter, Jacob--1627-1669--a native of Magdeburg, and a secretary at
Halle.
Sacer, Gottfried Wilhelm--1635-1699--a native of Naumburg, who was at his
death an advocate and privy-counsellor at Wolfenbüttel, distinguished in
his official duties by a strict conscientiousness, and the most unbounded
benevolence. He wrote the greater number of his hymns whilst a student at
the university of Greifswald. Only a part of them appeared during his
life-time: they were collected and published in 1714, and immediately
procured him the reputation of a distinguished poet.
Schenk, Theodor--born at Alsfeld, died in 1727 whilst minister of the
town of Giessen.
Schiebeler, Daniel--1741-1771--an advocate and a poet, who resided in his
native city, Hamburg.
Schmolck, Benjamin--1672-1737--a Silesian, born at Brauchitschdorf,
minister at Schweidnitz; a man of great piety, and very influential in
his day. Most of his hymns (and they were above a thousand in number) are
distinguished by a truly poetical and peculiar genius. Their
characteristic is a simplicity and sincerity, which emulates that of Paul
Gerhard, but without his sublimity.
Schröder, Johann Heinrich--native of Calenberg; in 1696 he was minister
at Magdeburg.
Stark, Johann Friedrich--1680-1756--born at Hildesheim, a member of the
Consistory at Frankfort. His hymns are very numerous; he was likewise a
very popular writer of religious tracts.
Tersteegen, Gerhard--1697-1769--born at Mörs; he resided at Mülheim an
der Ruhr, as a ribbon-maker; a gentle heaven-inspired soul, whose hymns
are the reflection of a heavenly, happy life, his mind being full of a
childlike simplicity.
Wegleiter, Christoph--1659-1709--born at Nuremburg, professor of Theology
at Altorf.
Wülffer, Daniel--1617-1685--born at Nuremburg, a professor and minister
in that city. The hymn "O Ewigkeit, O Ewigkeit," is a serious and pious
consideration of, and apostrophe to, Eternity, which in the last verse
replies to man. The first seven verses, as far as the words "O lange
Freud, O langes Leid," Wülffer found in an old hymn-book, perhaps the
Catholic hymn-book of Cologne; he improved them, and added the spirited
conclusion.
Zinzendorf und Pottendorf, Nicolaus Ludwig, Count of--1708-1760--the
great founder of "the Community of Brethren," who was born a sacred poet.
Zwick, Johann--of Kostnitz, who died about 1542; he was first a jurist,
and afterwards a theologian and minister in his native city; a pious and
learned man.