Johann Gottfried Hermann

Herrmann, Johann Gottfried, D.D., son of Gottfried Herrmann, pastor at Altjessnitz, near Bitterfeld, Saxony, was born at Altjessnitz, Oct. 12, 1707. After studying at the University of Leipzig (M.A. in 1731), he was appointed in 1731 diaconus at Ranis, near Neustadt on the Orla; in 1734 diaconus at Pegau, near Leipzig; in 1738 superintendent at Plauen; and in 1746 chief Court preacher at Dresden, and oberconsistorialrath. He died at Dresden, July 30, 1791 (Koch, v. 503-505). The only hymn by him translated into English appeared in the Privilegirte neue und vollständige Voigtländische Gesang Buch, Plauen, 1742, which he edited while Superintendent at Plauen. It is:
Gent hin, ihr glaubigen Gedanken. The Love of God. A fine hymn, founded on Eph. i. 3-12, on Faith produced and nourished by the everlasting love of God. 1st pub. 1742 as above (ed. 1751, No. 843), in 14 stanzas of 6 lines, entitled "On the Everlasting Love of God." Included as No. 413 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen 1851. The only translation in common use is:—
On wings of faith, ye thoughts, fly hence. A good tr., omitting stanza viii., by Miss Winkworth, in the 1st Ser. of her Lyra Germanica, 1855, p. 121. Her translation of lines 1-4 of stanzas v., xii., x., xi. beginning "Ah! happy hours! whene'er upsprings," with a 5th stanza not from Herrmann, added to complete the hymn, were included as No. 646 in the American Sabbath Hymn Book 1858. Another arrangement, consisting of lines 1-4 of stanzas ii.-iv., vii., xiii., appeared as No. 233 in the Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858, and is repeated in several American collections. It begins:—"Ere earth's foundations yet were laid." [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology