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Justus Jonas

1493 - 1555 Hymnal Number: 201 Author of "Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort, Und steuer" in Vollständiges Marburger Gesang-Buch Jonas, Justus (Jobst, Jost, Jodocus), son of Jonas Koch, burgomaster of Nordhausen, in Thuringia, was born at Nordhausen, June 5, 1493. He studied at Erfurt (M.A. 1510), and Wittenberg (LL.B.); returning to Erfurt in 1517, where, in 1518, he was appointed Canon of the St. Severus Church, Professor, and, in 1519, Rector of the University. In the festal ode on his rectorate (by his friend Eoban Hesse) he was called the Just Jonas, and henceforth he adopted Jonas as his surname, and it is as Jonas that he is known. In 1521 he was appointed Probst of the Schlosskirche (All Saints) at Wittenberg, D.D., and Professor of Church Law in the University. Here he worked for twenty years as a true and devoted friend and helper of Luther and Melanchthon, and was then, from 1541 to 1546, superintendent and chief pastor at Halle. After Luther's death he passed through various troubled experiences, but became in 1553 superintendent and chief pastor at Eisfeld on the Werra, where he died Oct. 9, 1555. He added two stanzas to Luther's "Erhalt uns Heir, bei deinem Wort" (q.v.). The only original hymn by him which has passed into English is:— Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält. Ps. cxxiv. First published in Eyn Enchiridion, Erfurt, 1524, and thence in Wackernagel, iii. p. 42, in 8 stanzas. In the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 254. Translated as, "If God were not upon our side," by Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 117. [Rev. James Means, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================ Jonas, Justus, p. 605, ii. At lines 8-12 it is stated that he adopted the name of Jonas in 1519. In the Wittenberg Matriculation Album his name appears in 1511 as “Jodocus Jonas of Nordhausen." He was thus known as Jonas as early as 1511. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Wm. Appel

Person Name: Wilhelm Appel Hymnal Number: 109 Author of "Schoepfer Himmels und der Erden" in Vollständiges Marburger Gesang-Buch

David Denicke

1603 - 1680 Hymnal Number: 601 Author of "Hilf, Gott, dass ja die [unsre] Kinderzucht" in Vollständiges Marburger Gesang-Buch Denicke, David, son of B. D. Denicke, Town Judge of Zittau, Saxony, was born at Zittau, January 31, 1603. After studying philosophy and law at the Universities of Wittenberg and Jena, he was for a time tutor of law at Königsberg, and, 1624-1628, travelled in Holland, England and France. In 1629 he became tutor to the sons of Duke Georg of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and under father and sons held various important offices, such as, 1639, the direction of the foundation of Bursfeld, and in 1642 a member of the Consistory at Hannover. He died at Hannover, April 1, 1680 (Koch, iii. 237; Bode, p. 58). His hymns, which for that time were in good taste, and are simple, useful, warm, and flowing, appeared in the various Hannoverian hymnbooks, 1646-1659, which he edited along with J. Gesenius (q.v.). All appeared there without his name. Those translated are:—i. Wenn ich die heilgen zehn Gebot. Ten Commandments. Contributed to the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1652, No. 69, as a hymn on the Ten Commandments, in 22 stanza of 4 1., stanzas i.-x. being a confession of sins against them, and stanzas xi.-xxii. a medi¬tation and prayer for God's mercy. Included in Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica, 1661, in Freylinghausen's Gesang Buch, 1714, and recently in a few collections, as Sarnighausen's Gesang Buch, 1855, No. 164, and the Ohio Gesang Buch, 1865, No. 182. It is translated as Almighty Lord of earth and heaven. By C. H. L. Schnette, as No. 206 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. Stanzas i.-iv. are literal; stanzas v.-vii. seem based on v., vii., xvi., xvii. Hymns not in English common use:— ii. Ach treuer Gott! ich ruf zu dir . [Christian Life .] 1st published in the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1652, No. 135, in 17 st. This is translated as:—(1) “My God! I call upon Thy name," by Miss Cox, 1841, p. 177. (2) "Most holy God! to thee I cry," by Lady E. Fortescue, 1843 (1847, p. 69). iii. Kommt, lasst euch den Herren lehren . [ The Beatitudes,] 1st published in the Hannover Gesang Buch , 1648, in 11 st., No. 133. It may have been suggested by J. Heermann's "Kommt ihr Christen, kommt und höret" (9 st. in his Sontags- und Fest-Evangelia, Leipzig, 1638; Mützell, 1858, No. 94), but has only 3 lines in common with it. In the Nürnberg Gesang Buch , 1676, No. 962, and many later hymnbooks, it begins : "kommt und lasst uns Jesum lehren." It is translated as "Come and hear our blessed Saviour," by J. C. Jacobi, 1722, p. 46. In his 2nd edition, 1732, p. 75, altered and beginning “Come, and hear the sacred story," and thence in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1754, pt. i., No. 469; stanzas x., xi. beginning, "Jesus, grant me to inherit," being repeated in later editions and as No. 423 in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841. iv. Was kann ich doch fiir Dank. [Praise and Thanksgiving] 1st publised in the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1648, in 8 st., No. 154. Stanza vii. is altered from “Herr Jesu, führe mich," by J. Heermann (Devoti Musica Cordis); Breslau, 1630; Mützell, 1858, No. 57. Translated as "What, thanks can I repay?" by J. C. Jacobi, 1725, p. 46 (1732, p. 147). v. Wir Menschen sein zu dem, O Gott. [Holy Scripture."] 1st published in the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1659, No. 180, in 10 stanzas. Founded on the Gospel for Sexagesima Sunday—St. Luke viii. 4, &c. Translated as:—(1) "Give us Thy Spirit, Lord, that we," a translation of stanza iii. by J. Swertner, as No. 8 in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1789 (1886, No. 9). (2) "Let the splendour of Thy word," a translation of stanza ix. by J. Swertner, as No. 15, in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1789. (1886, No. 17). [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

Michael Altenburg

1584 - 1640 Person Name: Johann M. Altenburg Hymnal Number: 289 Author of "Verzage nicht, du [o] H'uflein klein" in Vollständiges Marburger Gesang-Buch Altenburg, Johann Michael, b. at Alach, near Erfurt, on Trinity Sunday, 1584. After completing his studies he was for some time teacher and precentor in Erfurt. In 1608 he was appointed pastor of Ilversgehofen and Marbach near Erfurt; in 1611, of Troch-telborn; and in 1621 of Gross-Sommern or Som-merda near Erfurt. In the troublous war times he was forced, in 1631, to flee to Erfurt, and there, on the news of the victory of Leipzig, Sept. 17, 1631, he composed his best known hymn. He remained in Erfurt without a charge till, in 1637, he was appointed diaconus of the Augustino Church, and, in 1638, pastor of St. Andrew's Church. He d. at Erfurt February 12, 1640 (Koch, iii. 115-117 ; Allg. Deutsche Biog., i. p. 363, and x. p. 766—the latter saying he did not go to Erfurt till 1637). He was a good musician, and seems to have been the composer of the melodies rather than of the words of some of the hymns ascribed to him. Two of his hymns have been tr. into English, viz. :—1. Aus Jakob's Staxnm ein Stern sehr klar. [Christmas.] Included as No. 3 of his Christ-liche liebliche und anddchtige newe Kirchen- und Hauss-Gestinge, pt. i., Erfurt, 1G20, in 3 st. of 5 1. According to Wetzel's A. H., vol. i., pt. v. p. 41, it was first pub. in J. Forster's Jlohen Festtags-Schreinlein, 1611. In the Unv. L. S., 1851, No. 24. It has been tr. as " From Jacob's root, a star so clear," by Miss Manington, 1864, p. 13.2. Verzage nicht du Hauflein klein. [In Trouble.] Concerning the authorship of this hymn there are three main theories—i. that it is by Gustavus Adolphus; ii. that the ideas are his and the diction that of his chaplain, Dr. Jacob Fabricius; and iii. that it is by Altenburg. In tracing out the hymn we find that:—The oldest accessible form is in two pamphlets published shortly after the death of Gustavus Adolphus, viz., the Epicedion, Leipzig, n.d. but probably in the end of 1632 [Royal Library, Berlin]: and Arnold Mengering's Blutige Siegs-Crone, Leipzig, 1633 [Town Library, Hamburg]. In the Epicedion the hymn is entitled, " Konig-licher Schwanengesang So ihre Majest. vor dem Ltltzen-schen Treffen inniglichen zu Gott gesungen "; and in the Siegs-Crone, p. 13, "Der S. Kon. Mayt. zu Schweden Lied, welches Sie vor der Schlacht gesungen." In both cases there are 3 sts. :—i. Verzage nicht, du Hiiuffiein klein. ii. Triistedich dess, dass deine Sach. iii. So wahr Gott Gott ist, und sein Wort.The next form is that in J. Clauder's Psalmodiae Novae Pars Tertia, Leipzig, 1636, No. 17, in 5 st. of 6 lines, st. i.-iii. as above, and—iv. Ach Gott gieb in des deine Gnad v. Hilff dass wir auch nach deinem Wort. No author's name is given. In the Bayreuth G. B., 1668, p. 266, st. iv., v., are marked as an addition by Dr. Samuel Zehner; and by J. C. Olearius in his Lieder-Schatz, 1705, p. 141, as written in 1638 (1633 ?), when the Croats had partially burnt Schleusiugen, where Zehner was then superintendent.The third form of importance is that given in Jcremias Weber's Leipzig G. B., 1638, p. 651, where it is entitled " A soul-rejoicing hymn of Consolation upon the watchword—God with us—used by the Evangelical army in the battle of Leipzig, 7th Sept., 1631, composed by M. Johann Altenburg, pastor at Gross Soinmern in Dtiringen," [i.e. Sommerda in Thuringia]. It is in 5 sts., of which sts. i.-iii. are the same as the 1633, and are marked as by Altenburg. St. iv., v., beginning— iv. Drilmb sey getrost du kleines Heer v. Amen, das hilff Ilerr Jesu Christ, are marked as " Additamentum Ignoti." This is the form in C. U. as in the Berlin G. L. S., ed. 1863, No. 1242.In favour of Altenburg there is the explicit declaration of the Leipzig G. B., 1638, followed by most subsequent writers. The idea that the hymn was by Gustavus Adolphus seems to have no other foundation than that in many of the old hymn-books it was called Gustavus Adolphus's Battle Hymn. The theory that the ideas were communicated by the King to his chaplain, Dr. Fabricius, after the battle of Leipzig, and by Fabricius versified, is maintained by Mohnike in his Hymnologische Forschungen, 1832, pt. ii. pp. 55-98, but rests on very slender evidence. In Koch, viii. 138-141, there is the following striking word-picture:—If, then, we must deny to the hymn Albert Knapp's characterisation of it as " a little feather from the eagle wing of Gustavus Adolphus," so much the more its original title as his "Swan Song" remains true. It was on the morning of the 6 Nov., 1632, that the Catholic army under Wallenstein and the Evangelical under Gustavus Adolphus stood over against each other at Lutzen ready to strike. As the morning dawned Gustavus Adolphus summoned his Court preacher Fabricius, and commanded him, as also the army chaplains of all the other regiments, to hold a service of prayer. During this service the whole host sung the pious king's battle hymn—" Verzage nicht, du Hauflein klein."He himself was on his knees and prayed fervently. Meantime a thick mist had descended, which hid the fatal field so that nothing could be distinguished. When the host had now been set in battle array he gave them as watchword for the fight the saying, "God with us," mounted his horse, drew his sword, and rode along the lines of the army to encourage the soldiers for the battle. First, however, he commanded the tunes Ein feste Burg and Es wollt tins Gott genadig sein to be played by the kettledrums and trumpets, and the soldiers joined as with one voice. The mist now began to disappear, and the sun shone through. Then, after a short prayer, he cried out: " Now will we set to, please God," and immediately after, very loud, " Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, help me today to fight for the honour of Thy Holy Name." Then he attacked the enemy at full speed, defended only by a leathern gorget. " God is my harness," he had said to the servant who wished to put on his armour. The conflict was hot and bloody. About 11 o'clock in the forenoon the fatal bullet struck him, and he sank, dying, from his horse, with the words, “My God, my God!" Till twilight came on the fight raged, and was doubtful. But at length the Evangelical host obtained the victory, as it had prophetically sung at dawn."This hymn has ever been a favourite in Germany, was sung in the house of P. J. Spener every Sunday afternoon, and of late years has been greatly used at meetings of the Gustavus Adolphus Union—an association for the help of Protestant Churches in Roman Catholic countries. In translations it has passed into many English and American collections. Translations in C. U.:— Fear not, 0 little flock, the foe. A good tr. from the text of 1638, omitting st. iv., by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Ger., 1855, p. 17. Included, in England in Kennedy, 1863, Snepp's S. of G. and G., 1871, Free Church H. Bk., 1882, and others; and in America in the Sabbath H. Book., 1858, Pennsylvania Luth. Ch. Bk., 1868, Hys. of the Church, 1869, Bapt. H. Bk., 1871, H. and Songs of Praise, 1874, and many others. Be not dismay'd, thou little flock. A good tr. of st. i.-iii. of the 1638 text in Mrs. Charles's V. of Christian Life in Song, 1858, p. 248. She tr. from the Swedish, which, in the Swensha Psalm Boken, Carlstadt, N.D. (1866), is given as No. 378, "Forfaras ej, du lilla hop !" and marked Gustaf II. Adolf. Her version is No. 204 in Wilson's Service of Praise, 1865. Thou little flock, be not afraid. A tr. of st. i.-iii. from the 1638 text, by M. Loy, in the Ohio Luth. Hymnal, 1880, No. 197. Other trs. are all from the text of 1638.(1.) " Be not dishearten'd, little flock," by Dr. II. Mills, 1856, p. 121. (2.) " Despond not, little band, although," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 41. (3.) "Be not dismay'd, thou little flock, Nor," by E. Massie, 1866, p. 143. (4.) " 0 little flock, be not afraid," in J. D. Burns's Memoir and Remains, 1869. p. 226. –John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Johann Agricola

1494 - 1566 Person Name: Johannes Agricola Hymnal Number: 73 Author of "Froehlich wollen wir Halleluja singen" in Vollständiges Marburger Gesang-Buch Agricola, Johann or Johannes (latinized from Schneider, (Schnitter) or Sartor, also called Magister Islebius), born April 20, 1492, at Eisleben, where his father was a tailor. During his University course at Wittenberg, Luther took a great interest in him, entertained him at his own table, took him with him to Leipzig for the disputation, in 1519, with Dr. Eck, and in 1525 procured for him the position of Rector of St. Andrew's School at Eisleben, and preacher at St. Nicholas's Church there. He remained in Eisleben till 1536, working hand in hand with Luther; but after his removal to Wittenberg, in 1536, as one of the lecturers in the University, he developed Antinomian views, and, in 1537, published a series of theses which Luther answered in six disputations, 1538-40. On his appointment as Court Preacher at Berlin, in 1540, he formally renounced these opinions, and professed adherence to Wittenberg orthodoxy. But after his subsequent appointment as General Superintendent of the Mark, he gradually not only sought the esteem of the great, but, in order to gain the favour of the Emperor, joined with two representatives of the Romish Church in drawing up a Formula of Union (The Interim) which was presented to the Imperial Diet, held at Augsburg, and adopted by the Diet on May 15, 1548. By this action he disgusted the Lutherans, and procured for himself only discredit. He died at Berlin, Sept. 22, 1566. He was one of the best preachers of his time, and compiled one of the earliest collections of German Proverbs, first published at Zwickau, 1529 [the British Museum copy was printed at Hagenau, 1529] ( Koch, i. 278-281. Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, i. 146-48). Four hymns by him appeared in the early Lutheran hymnbooks, two of which were retained by Luther in Babst's Gesangbuch, Leipzig, 1545. 1. Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ. [ Supplication.] Wackernagel, iii. pp. 54-55, gives two forms of this, in 5 stanzas of 9 lines, the first from Geistliche Lieder, Erfurt, 1531, the second from an undated broadsheet before 1530, entitled, "A new hymn of supplication for Faith, Love, and Hope, and for a Holy Life; composed by John of Eisleben, preacher to John Duke of Saxony." Fischer, i. 345, refers to the Nürnberg broadsheet, c. 1526, quoted in Wackernagel's Bibliographie, 1855, p. 89, and adds that in his opinion the disfavour into which Agricola fell after the outbreak of the Antinomian controversy caused the suppression of his name in the hymn-books. After appearing in Klug's Geistliche Lieder, 1529, the hymn was included in almost all subsequent hymn-books, and so recently as No. 379 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851. It is sometimes erroneously ascribed to Paulus Speratus, an assumption originating with the Riga Gesang-buch of 1664. It was a favourite hymn of Valerius Herberger, of P. J. Spener (who requested it to be sung at his deathbed), and of many others. Translations in common use:— 1. Lord Jesu Christ, I cry to Thee. A good translation, omitting stanza iv., by A. T. Russell, as No. 200 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. 2. Lord, hear the voice of my complaint. A full and very good translation as No. 116 by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863. Other translations are:— (1) “I call on the, Lorde Jesu Christ," by Bp. Coverdale, 1539 ( Remains, 1846, p. 560), repeated, slightly altered, in the Gude and Godly Ballates (ed. 1568, folio 34), ed. 1868, p. 57. (2) "I cry to Thee, my dearest Lord," by J. C. Jacobi, 1122, p. 68; in his edition, 1732, p. 114, altered to "To Thee, 0 Lord, I send my cries," and thence as No. 310 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book 1754; omitted in 1789 and 1801; in the Supplement of 1808, stanzas i., iv. were included as No. 1082, and repeated in later editions altered to "To Thee I send my fervent cries." (3) "I cry to Thee, 0 Christ our Lord!" by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 205. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Johannes Matthaeus Meyfart

1590 - 1642 Person Name: Johann Matthaeus Meyfart Hymnal Number: 276 Author of "O grosser Gott von Macht" in Vollständiges Marburger Gesang-Buch Meyfart, Johann Matthäus, was born Nov. 9, 1590 at Jena, during a visit which his mother (wife of Pastor Meyfart of Wablwinkel, near Waltershausen, Gotha) was paying to her father. He studied at the Universities of Jena (M.A. 1611; D.D. 1624) and Wittenberg, and was thereafter for some time adjunct of the philosophical faculty at Jena. In 1616, he was appointed professor in the Gymnasium at Coburg and in 1623 director; and during his residence at Coburg was a great moral power. When his colleagues in the Gymnasium made a complaint to the government regarding a dissertation (De disciplina ecclesiastica) which he published in 1633, he accepted the offer of the professorship of theology in the revived University of Erfurt. He entered on his work at Erfurt, July, 1633, was rector of the University in 1634, and in 1636 became also pastor of the Prediger Kirche. He died at Erfurt, Jan. 26, 1642 (Koch iii. 117; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie xxi. 646, &c.). Meyfart's devotional works (Tuba poenitentiae prophetica, 1625; Tuba Novissima, 1626; Höllisches Sodoma, 1629; Himmlisches Jerusalem, 1630; Jüngste Gericht, 1632) passed through various editions, and produced a great impression by their vivid picturing and their earnest calls to repentance and amendment of life. His well-meant efforts, by books and otherwise, towards raising the tone of student life in Germany, and his exposition of the excesses and defects in both academical and churchly life at that period, brought him much ill will and opposition, and did not produce useful fruit till much later. His hymns were few in number, and appeared mostly in his devotional books. Only one of Meyfart's hymns has passed into English, viz. :— Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt. The New Jerusalem. This splendid hymn appeared in his Tuba Novissima, Coburg, 1626 [Ducal Library, Gotha], a volume containing four sermons preached at Coburg on the Four Last Things, viz. Death, Last Judgment, Eternal Life, and Eternal Punishment. It forms the conclusion of the third sermon (on St. Matt. xvii. 1-9) which is entitled "On the joy and glory which all the Elect are to expect in the Life everlasting." This conclusion is reprinted verbatim et literatim (i.e. with the introductory and closing sentences, and the connecting sentences between st. i., ii., iii. and iv.) in the Blätter für Hymnologie, 1883, pp. 120-124. The text of the hymn, in 8 st. of 8 1., is given unaltered, according to the marginal directions of the original (save st. vii. 1. 6, where the original is "Man spielt"), as No. 1537 in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder ed. 1863. Of it Lauxmann, in Koch viii. 669, says:— "The hymn is a precious gem in our Treasury of Song, in which one clearly sees that from it the whole heart of the poet shines out on us. Meyfart had his face turned wholly to the Future, to the Last Things; and with a richly fanciful mysticism full of deep and strong faith, he united a flaming zeal for the House of the Lord, and against the abuses of his times." He adds that the hymn was a great favourite with Charles Gützlaff, the apostle of China (died at Hong Kong, Aug. 9, 1851), whose last words were "Would God I were in thee" (st. i. 1. 3) ; and of Julius Schnorr of Carolsfeld, the well-known painter, whose last work was the illustrating of this hymn, and at whose funeral in 1872 it was sung. The popularity of the hymn was greatly aided by the magnificent melody, generally ascribed to Melchior Franck [born at Zittau, 1580 ; c. 1604, capellmeister at Coburg; died at Coburg, June 1,1639], but not yet traced earlier than to the Erfurt Gesang-Buch, 1663. Translations in common use:— 1. Jerusalem, thou city built on high. A good tranlation of st. i.-iv., vii., as No. 112 in the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book, 1848. 2. Jerusalem, thou city built on high. A good translation of st. i., iv., vi., vii., by A. T. Russell, as No. 261 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. St. i., 11. 1, 2, 4 are from the 1848 translation. The form in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, No. 288, is i. 11. 1-4, ii. as 1848; i. 11. 5-8, vii. as 1851. 3. Jerusalem, thou city fair and high. A good and full translation by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 220; repeated in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 193, set to the melody of 1663. Included in full in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, and, abridged, in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868, and the Uppingham and Sherborne School Hymn Book, 1874. 4. Jerusalem! high tow’r thy glorious walls. A good and full translation, by Bishop W. R. Whittingham, in the American Episcopal Hymns for Church and Home, 1860, No. 414; and the American Episcopal Hymnal, 1871. St. i., iv., viii. are in M. W. Stryker's Christian Chorals, 1885. Translations not in common use:— (l) "Jerusalem, thou city of the skies." In the United PresbyterianJuvenile Mission Magazine, Dec. 1857. (2) "Jerusalem! thou glorious city-height." By Mrs. Sevan, 1858, p. 19, repeated in L. Rehfuess's Church at Sea, 1868. (3) “Jerusalem, thou high-built, fair abode." In the Christian Examiner (Boston, U. S.), Sept. 1860, p. 254. (4) "Jerusalem, thou city rear'd on high. By Miss Manington, 1863, p. 94. (5) "Jerusalem! thou city towering high." By Miss Cox, in her Hymns from the German, 1864, p. 101, and in Lyra Mystica, 1865, p. 365. (6) "Jerusalem! thou city builded high." By Miss Burlingham, in the British Herald, April, 1866, p. 249, and Reid's Praise Book, 1872. (7) "Jerusalem! high tow'r thy glorious walls." A full and spirited translation by J. H. Hopkins, in his Carols, Hymns and Songs, 1882, p. 182, dated 1862. St. i., 11. 1-2, are taken from Bishop Whittingham's version. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Sebald Heyden

1499 - 1561 Hymnal Number: 46 Author of "O Mensch, bewein' dein' Suende gross" in Vollständiges Marburger Gesang-Buch

Michael Franck

1609 - 1667 Hymnal Number: 404 Author of "Ach, wie nichtig, ach wie fluechtig" in Vollständiges Marburger Gesang-Buch Franck, Michael, son of Sebastian Franck, merchant at Schleusingen, was born at Schleusingen, March 16, 1609. At the Gymnasium of his native town he made good progress, but at his father's death it was found possible only to give his brothers Sebastian and Peter a university education. Michael was accordingly apprenticed to a baker, and in 1628 became a master baker at Schleusingen. Reduced to poverty by the sufferings of war, he fled in 1640 to Coburg, was there kindly received by one of the master bakers, and in 1644, somewhat unexpectedly, was appointed master of the lower classes in the town school. He died at Coburg Sept. 24, 1667 (Koch, iii. 435-441; Allg. Deutsche Biog. , vii. 259-260). He was a friend of Dach and Neumark; was in 1659 crowned by Rist as a poet, and afterwards received into his order of Elbe Swans. In his times of trial he found consolation in hymn writing. While many of his pieces are crude in form and expression, some are yet popular in style, and are full of faith. The best of his hymns probably is:— Ach wie flüchtig! ach wie nichtig. For the Dying. Appeared as the third of three hymns by Franck, published with music in four parts at Coburg, 1652, entitled Die Eitelkeit, Falschheit und Unbeständigkeit der Welt [Wernigerode], in 13 stanzas. In his Geistliches Harpffen-Spiel, Coburg, 1657 [Gotha], No. 24 with the motto “Der Mensch und all sein Thun must mit der Zeit hergehn; Wer Gott und Gottesfurcht recht liebt, wird ewig stehn." Repeated in Crüger's Praxis, 1661, No. 530, and many subsequent collections, as in the Unverfälscher Liedersegen, 1851, No. 803. It is a powerful picture of the vanity and nothingness of this world and all its treasures. The only translation in common use is:— “0 how cheating, 0 how fleeting”, Is, &c. In full by Sir J. Bowring in his Hymns, 1825, No. 35. The translations of stanzas i., iii., iv., xiii. were included in Curtis's Union Collection, 1827, and of stanzas i.-iv., xiii. in the Plymouth Collection, 1855. Another translation is: "Ah how fleeting, ah how cheating,” by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 153. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

M. J. Sieber

Hymnal Number: 469 Author of "Welt packe dich, ich sehne mich nur" in Vollständiges Marburger Gesang-Buch

Cyriacus Schneegass

1546 - 1597 Hymnal Number: 288 Author of "Gib Fried, o frommer treuer Gott" in Vollständiges Marburger Gesang-Buch Sehneegass, Cyriacus, was born Oct. 5, 1546, at Buffleben, near Gotha. He studied and graduated M.A. at the University of Jena. In 1573 he became pastor of the St. Blasius church at Friedrichroda, near Gotha. He was also adjunct to the Superindendent of Weimar, and in this capacity signed the Formula of Concord in 1579. He died at Friedrichroda, Oct. 23, 1597 (Koch, ii. 252, &c). Schneegass was a diligent pastor, a man mighty in the Scriptures, and firm and rejoicing in his faith. He was also an excellent musician and fostered the love of music among his people. His hymns reflect his character, and are good and simple, setting forth in clear and intelligible style the leading ideas of the festivals of the Christian year, &c.; and his Psalm versions are also of considerable merit. They appeared principally in his (l) xv. Psalmi graduum, &c, Erfurt, 1595 [Gotha Library], This contains the Psalms of Degrees (120-134) also Ps. 82 and 85, and three hymns. (2) Weihenacht und New Jahrs-Gesäng, Erfurt, 1595. Koch speaks of this as containing 9 hymns. The present writer has been unable to trace a copy of the book. (3) Geistliche Lieder und Psalmen. Für Einfeltigefrome Herzen zugerichtet, Erfurt, 1597 [Berlin Library]. This is the complete edition of his psalms and hymns, containing 72 in all. Of his hymns those which have passed into English are:— i. Das neugeborne Kindelein. Christmas. Probably first published in No. 2 above. Included in 1597 as above, No. 1, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines, entitled "A beautiful little Christmas hymn on the dear little Jesus." Repeated in Wackernagel, v. p. 138, and as No. 65 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen1851. The translations in common use are:— 1. The holy Son, the new-born Child, A good and full tr. by A. T. Russell, as No. 60 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. 2. The new-born Child this early morn. In full as No. 46 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal 1880. Another tr. is (3) "The new-born Babe, whom Mary bore," as No. 439 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book , 1754. ii. Herr Gott Vater, wir preisen dich. New Year. Probably first published in No. 2 above. Included in 1597 as above, No. 7, in 4 stanzas of 7 lines, entitled "A New Year's Hymn." Repeated in Wackernagel, v. p. 139, in the Pfalz Gesang-Buch 1859, No. 129, and the Ohio Gesang-Buch, 1870, No. 54. The translation in common use is:— O Lord our Father, thanks to Thee. In full, by A. Crull, in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)