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Johann Andreas Rothe

1688 - 1758 Person Name: Johannes Andreas Rothe Hymnal Number: d244 Author of "Ich habe nun den Grund gefunden" in Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden Rothe, Johann Andreas, son of Aegidius Rother, pastor at Lissa, near Görlitz, in Silesia, was born at Lissa, May 12, 1688. He entered the University of Leipzig in 1708, as a student of Theology, graduated M.A., and was then, in 1712, licensed at Gorlitz as a general preacher. In 1718 he became tutor in the family of Herr von Schweinitz at Leube, a few miles south of Gorlitz, and while there frequently preached in neighbouring churches. During 1722 Count N. L. von Zinzendorf, happening to hear him preach at Gross-Hennersdorf, was greatly pleased with him, and when the pastorate at Berthelsdorf became vacant shortly thereafter, gave him the presentation. He entered on his duties at Berthelsdorf Aug. 30, 1722. There he took a great interest in the Moravian community at Herrnhut, which formed part of his parish. But when, in 1737, he had to report to the higher ecclesiastical authorities regarding the doctrinal views of the Moravians, Zinzendorf showed his resentment in various ways, so that Kothe was glad to accept a call to Hermsdorf, near Gorlitz. Finally, in 1739, Count von Promnitz appointed him assistant pastor at Thommendorf, near Bunzlau, where he became chief pastor in 1742, and died there July 6, 1758. (Koch, v. 240; Wetzel’s Analecta Hymnica, ii. 756, &c.) Rothe was a man of considerable gifts and of unbending integrity, a good theologian, and an earnest, fearless, and impressive preacher. His hymns, about 40 in number, though they can hardly be said to rank high as poetry, are yet often characterised by glow and tenderness of feeling, and by depth of Christian experience. They are somewhat akin to Zinzendorf s better productions, but this resemblance may arise from the alterations which Zinzendorf seems to have made in them. The be6t known of them first appeared in Zinzendorf's hymn-books, and were for a time looked upon with suspicion, because as Zinzendorf did not affix authors' names, the new hymns were at first all ascribed to himself. Those of Rothe's hymns which have passed into English are:— i. Ich habe nun den Grand gefunde. Joy in Believing. …At first the Lutherans suspected it, thinking that it was by Zinzendorf, but on discovering that it was by Rothe, soon adopted it. It is a powerful and beautiful hymn, is found in many recent German collections (e.g. the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 78), and in its English forms has found a very wide acceptance, and proved a comfort and blessing to many. It was doubtless suggested by Heb. vi. 19. Rothe's hymn under consideration ("Ich habe nun ") has been translated as:— 1. Now I have found the ground wherein. A fine but somewhat free translation of st. i., ii., iv., v., vi., x., by J. Wesley. It has also appeared in full, or abridged, under the following first lines:— (1) Now I have found the blessed ground (st. i ). Lady Huntingdon's Selections, 1780. (2) Now have I found the ground wherein (st. i.). W. F. Stevenson's Hymns for Church & Home, 1873. (3) 0 Lord I Thy everlasting grace (st. ii.). Horder's Congregational Hymns, 1884. (4) Father, Thine everlasting grace (st. ii.). J. Bickersteth's Psalms & Hymns1832. (5) 0 Love, thou bottomless abyss (st. iii.). Evangelical Union Hymnal, 1878. (6) Jesus, I know hath died for me (st. iv.). Pennsylvanian Lutheran Church Book, 1868. (7) Though waves and storms go o'er my head (st. v.). Andover Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858. 2. I now have found, for hope of heaven. In full, by Dr. H. Mills, in theEvang. Review, Gettys¬burg, Jan. 1850, and in his Horae Germanica, 1850, p. 68. 3. My soul hath now the ground attained. A good tr. of st. i., iii., v., x., by A. T. Russell, as No. 167 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. 4. My soul hath found the steadfast ground. A good tr, (omitting st. v.-ix., and with a st. iv. not by Rothe), by Mrs. Bevan, in her Songs of Eternal Life, 1858, p. 55. 5. Now I have found the firm foundation. By G. F. Krotel, as No. 251 in the OhioLutheran Hymnal, 1880, omitting st. vi.-viii. 6. Now I have found the ground to hold. By J. Sheppard, in his Foreign Sacred Lyre, 1857, p. 91. ii. Vor wahrer Herzensanderung. The Forgiveness of Sin. first pub. as No. 448 in the 3rd ed., 1731, of Zinzendorf's Sammlung as above, and in 7 stanzas of 4 lines. In the Brüder Gesang-Buch , 1778, it is No. 392. The translations are:— (1) "Thanks be to Thee, Thou slaughtered Lamb!" (st. vii.). This is No. 345 in pt. ii., 1746, of the Moravian Hymn Book, (2) "Before conversion of the heart." A tr. of st. i., iv., by B. Latrobe, as No. 255 in the Moravian Hymn Book,1789, with the above tr. of st. vii. added. In the 1801 and later eds. (1886, No. 426) the tr. of st. vii. was alone retained. iii. Wenn kleine Himmelserben. Death of a Child. Written on the death of one of his daughters. The trs. are:— (1) "When children, bless'd by Jesus." This is No. 1196 in the Supplement of 1808 to the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801 (1886, No. 1258). (2) "When summons hence by Death is given." By E. Massie, 1867, p. 105. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Christian Ludwig Scheidt

1709 - 1761 Hymnal Number: d45 Author of "Aus gnaden soll ich selig werden, Herz glaubst" in Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden Christian Ludwig Scheidt, b. 1709, Waldenburg; d. 1761, Hanover, hofrat and librarian at Hanover

Joseph Klug

1500 - 1552 Hymnal Number: d25 Author of "All Ehr und Lob soll Gottes sein; Er ist und heisst" in Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden Born: Circa 1500, possibly at Nuremberg, Germany. Died: 1552, Wittenberg, Germany. Little is known of Klug, other than he was a publisher in Wittenberg. He was active from at least 1529 to 1552. His works include: Geistliche Lieder, edited by Martin Luther (Wittenberg, Germany: 1529) --www.hymntime.com/tch

Albert Knapp

1798 - 1864 Hymnal Number: d101 Author of "Eines Wuensch' ich mir vor allem Andern" in Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden Knapp, Albert, was born July 25, 1798, at Tübingen, where his father (1800, Oberanitmann at Alpirsbach in the Black Forest, and 1809, Oberamtmann at Rottweil) was then advocate at the Court of Appeal. In the autumn of 1814 he entered the Theological Seminary at Maulbronn, and in 1816 the Theological College at Tübingen, where he also graduated M.A. at the University. In November, 1820, he became assistant clergyman at Feuerbach, near Stuttgart; and in July, 1821, at Gaisburg, near Stuttgart. He was appointed, in Feb., 1825, diaconus (Heifer) at Sulz on the Neckar, and also pastor of the neighbouring village of Holzhausen; in June, 1831, archidiaconus at Kirchheim-unter-Teck, along with Bahnmaier (q.v.); in May, 1836, diaconus of the Hospitalkirche in Stuttgart ; and in October, 1837, archidiaconus of the Stiftskirche. He was finally appointed, in December, 1845, Stadtpfarrer at St. Leonhard's Church in Stuttgart, where, after having been for some time partially disabled by paralysis, he preached his last sermon, Feb. 13, 1863. He died at Stuttgart, June 18, 1864 (Koch, vii. 213; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie xvi. 263, &c). Knapp as a Poet possessed not merely very considerable talent, but also natural originality. He was preeminently a lyric poet; the best of his secular poems being those which celebrate the history and the scenery of his beloved Swabia. His poems are characterised by rich play of fancy, wealth of ideas and of figures, masterly word-painting, capacity of feeling, ease of expression, and sonorous and musical rhythm. Unfortunately the very flow of his imagination betrayed him, for the greatest fault of his poems is that they are at once too numerous and too long (and it must be added sometimes too rhetorical and too eager to point a moral); what was easy writing becomes hard reading. As a Hymn-writer, among the recent hymn-writers of Germany, Knapp holds a high place, perhaps we might say the highest of all. To his hymn-writing he brought his powers as a poet, and the depth of his nature as an earnest and sincere disciple of Jesus Christ. In his hymns his aim was to make known the fulness of the grace of God, and to reveal the wealth and depth of Holy Scripture, and the love of God to all mankind. Their earnestness, their experimental Christianity, their Scripturalness and their beauty of form have gained for many of them a place in all recent German hymn-books. They have somewhat unaccountably been neglected by English translators. It is certainly surprising that in the Hymns from the Land of Luther not one version from Knapp finds a place. While all the hymns of Spitta's Psalter und Harfe have passed into English, and many of them in half a dozen different versions, comparatively few of Knapp's hymns have been translated, though they rank much higher as poetry, and are more suited for Church use than those by Spitta. As a Hymnologist Knapp did good service by his Christoterpe [complete set in Berlin], an annual which he edited from 1833 to 1853, in which many of his own pieces appeared, and also many of the best poems and, hymns of Hey, Meta Heusser-Schweizer, and various others. He was also the compiler of the Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz (frequently referred to in this Dictionary as Knapp's Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz), the most elaborate German hymnbook of recent times. Of this the first edition, with 3590 hymns, appeared at Stuttgart in 1837, and a Supplement entitled Christenlieder, 1841, added 250 more. In his second edition, 1850 (3067 hymns) he omitted many of the third-rate hymns of his first edition, added many of a higher class, and gave the hymns more nearly (but by no means exactly) as the authors wrote them. The third edition, 1865 (3130 hymns, concluded by his son), was further im¬proved, and the notices of the authors of the hymns were revised and enlarged. As a comprehensive collection with a specially full representation of good modern hymns it has no rival in German. He was also one of the editors of the Württemberg Gesang-Buch of 1842. The editions which he prepared of the Hymns of Gottfried Arnold (1845) and N. L. von Zinzendorf (1845) are of interest, but he took most unwarrantable liberties with the originals; many pieces being not merely abridged but rewritten "to suit the requirements of the 19th century." Knapp's original hymns appeared principally in his Christoterpe and Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, as above; and also in his (1) Christliche Gedichte, 2 vols., Basel, 1829. (2) Neuere Gedichte, 2 yols., Basel, 1834, some¬times ranked as vols. iii., iv. of No. 1. (3) Gedichte, Neueste Folge, Stuttgart, 1843. (4) Herbstblüthen, Stuttgart, 1859. Those which have passed into English common use are:— i. Aus deiner Eltern Armen. Holy Baptism. This and No. iv. seem to have been written for the baptism of his own children. First published in his Christoterpe, 1850, p. 222, in 3 st. of 8 1., entitled "Baptismal Hymn," and repeated in his Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1850, No. 846 (1865, No. 875). The translation in common use is Thy parent's arms now yield thee. In the original metre by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 89; and thence in Kennedy, 1863. Slightly altered for metrical reasons in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 89. ii. Blick aus diesem Erdenthale (p. 150 i.). iii. Einst fahren wir vom Vaterlande (p. 326 ii.). iv. 0 Vaterherz, das Erd' und Himmel schuf. Holy Baptism. A beautiful hymn of supplication to (i.) God the Creator; (ii.) God the Redeemer; (iii.) God the Sanctifier; on behalf of the child, ending with a prayer to the Holy Trinity for guidance and blessing throughout its life. First published in his Christenlieder, 1841, No. 89, in 4 st. of 9 1., repeated in his Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1850, No. 847 (1865, No. 876). The translation in common use is :— 0 Father-Heart, Who hast created all. A good and full translation by Miss Winkworth in herLyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 87, repeated in the Schaff-Gilman Library of Religious Poetry, ed. 1883, p.437. In the hymnals it appears in the following forms, all beginning with st. i.:— 1. 0 Father, Thou Who hast created all. In Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861 and 1875, and others. 2. Father! Who hast created all. In Adams's American Church Pastorals, 1864, being the Hymns Ancient & Modern version reduced to CM. 3. Father, Who hast created all. In the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868, in 8.6.8.6.8.8. metre. 4. Father of heaven, Who hast created all. In Kennedy, 1863; the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Church Hymns, 1871; Thring's Collection, 1882; and in America in M. W. Stryker's Christian Chorals, 1885. Hymns not in English common use :— v. Abend ist es; Herr, die Stunde. Evening. Written at Sulz, June 19, 1828 (Koch, vii. 224). First published in his Christliche Gedichte, 1829, i. p. 9, in 10 st. Translated as "It is evening, and the hour, Lord," by Miss Manington, 1863, p. 130. vi. Eines wünsch ich mir vor allem Andern. Love to Christ. First published in his Christliche Gedichte, 1829, i. p. 151, in 4 st., entitled "My Wish." Lauxmann, in Koch, viii. 59, says it was written, April 23, 1823, while Knapp was at Gaisburg, for the use of a young girl at Stuttgart who was about to be confirmed. Dr. Schaff classes it as the finest and most popular church hymn of its author. Translated as "More than all, one thing my heart is craving," by T. C. Porter, April 13, 1868, for Schaff's Christ in Song, 1869, p. 625. vii. Geh hin! der Herr hat dich gerufen. Burial of a child. Written, 1844, on the death of his son Manuel. First published in his Christoterpe, 1849, p. 139, in 4 st. Translated as “Go hence! the Lord hath called thee home," by Dr. J. Guthrie, in his Sacred Lyrics, 1869, p. 112. viii. Geh zum Schlummer ohne Kummer. Burial. Written in memory of his first wife, who died April 11, 1835. First published in Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1837, No. 3432 (1865, No. 3006), in 5 st. Translated as "Softly slumber, softly slumber," by E. Massie, in the Day of Rest, 1878. ix. Geist des Lebens, heil'ge Gabe. Whitsuntide. Written at Sulz for Whitsuntide, 1828 (Koch, vii. 225). First published in his Christliche Gedichte, 1829, i. p. 86, in 13 st. Translated as "Thou Spirit, Who dost life impart," by J. Kelly, 1885, p. 63. x. Hättest du Licht und Heil. The Blessings of Salvation. In his Christliche Gedichte, 1829, i. p. 149, in 7 st. Translated as “Ob, Jesus! had'st Thou not brought near," by C. T. Astley, 1860, p. 30, xi. Heulend spielen Stürme mit den Schiffen. For those at Sea. First published in his Christliche Gedicht, 1829, ii. p. 26, in 10 st., entitled "The Walk on the Sea, Matthew xiv. 24-32." Translated as "Howling storms are sporting with the vessel," in L. Rehfuess's Church at Sea, 1868, p. 38. xii. Ihr Kinder lernt von Anfang gern. Children. Written 1839, and first published in his Christenlieder, 1841, No. 212, in 9 st., entitled "The Use of the Fourth (Fifth) Commandment." Translated as "Betimes O learn, ye children, well," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 68. xiii. Jesus, ew'ge Sonne. The Glory of Christ. In his Neuere Gedichte, 1834, ii. p. 50, in 1 st. Translated as “Jesus, everlasting Sun," by J. Kelly, 1885, p. 35. xiv. Schwellet sanft, ihr weissen Sege. For those at Sea. First published in his Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz,1837, No. 3109, in 5 st. Translated as "Gently swell, ye white sails, driven," in L. Rehfuess's Church at Sea, 1868, p. 13. xv. Sohn des Vaters, Herr der Ehren. Waiting on God. In his Christliche Gedichte, 1829, i. p. 162, in 3 st. Translated as (1) "Son of the Father! mighty Lord, An answer," by C. T. Astley, 1860, p. 1. (2) "Lord of glory, God's dear Son, Let this thing," &c, by R. Massie, 1864, p. 124. xvi. Streichet hin, ihr leisen Flügel. The Fleetness of Time. In his Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1837, No. 2903, in 3 st. Translated as "O ye winds of time! still hieing," in L. Rehfuess's Church at Sea, 1868, p. 42. xvii. Weh' mich vom sanften Mittag an. The Wait¬ing Soul. The original of this hymn is J. Newton's “Breathe from the gentle South, O Lord " (Olney Hymns, 1779, Bk. iii., No. 10). Knapp's translation is full and good, and is included in his Christoterpe, 1837, p. 294, and Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1837, No. 2251. The text tr. is that in S. Hofer's Pilgerharfe, Basel, 1863, No. 118, which begins with st. iii. altered to "O Herr, ich möchte stille sein." Mr. R. Massie was quite unconscious that he was reproducing a hymn of Newton's by a process of double translation. His versions are, (1) "O Lord, I gladly would be still," in the British Herald, June, 1865, p. 85. (2) "Lord, I would still and patient be," in the Day of Rest, 1877, vol. viii. p. 379. xviii. Wenn ich in stiller Frühe. Morning. In his Christliche Gedichte, 1829, i. p. 25, in 3 st., entitled "The Morning Star." Translated as, (1) "When in the cool, still morning," by R. Massie, in the British Herald, April, 1865, p. 56, and Reid's Praise Book, 1872. (2) "When from my sleep awaking," by R. Massie, in the Day of Res, 1877, p. 375. xix. Wie hold ist diese Stille. Sunday Morning. Written 1842. In his Gedichte, Neueste Folge, 1843, p. 3, in 7 st. In his Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1850, No 1176 (1865, No. 1217), it begins "Wie süss." Translated as O quiet, silent sweetness," in L. Rehfuess's Church at Sea, 1868, p. 27. Five additional hymns by Knapp are translated by Dr. H. Mills in his Home Germanicae, 1845 and 1856. A version by Knapp from Caesar Malan is noted under "Non, ce nest pas mourir." [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Heinrich Held

1620 - 1659 Hymnal Number: d147 Author of "Gott sei Dank durch [in] aller Welt" in Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden Held, Heinrich, was son of Valentin Held of Guhrau, Silesia. He studied at the Universities of Königsberg (c. 1637-40), Frankfurt a. Oder (1643), and Leyden. He was also in residence at Rostock in 1647. He became a licentiate of law, and settled as a lawyer in his native place, where he died about 1659, or at least before Michaelmas, 1661 (Koch, iii. 55-56; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie., xi. 680; Bode, p. 87, &c). One of the best Silesian hymnwriters, he was taught in the school of affliction, having many trials to suffer in those times of war. His only extant poetical work is his Deutscher Gedichte Vortrab, Frankfurt a. Oder, 1643. Only one hymn from that volume came into German use. Much more important are his other hymns, which are known to us through Crüger's Praxis, and other hymnbooks of the period. Mützell, 1858, includes Nos. 254-272 under his name. Two of his hymns have been translated into English:— i. Gott sei Dank durch alle Welt. Advent. Mützell, 1858, No. 263, quotes this in 9 st. of 4 1. from a defective ed. of Crüger's Praxis, c. 1659. In the ed. of 1661 it is No. 85, marked Henr. Helt. Since then it has appeared in almost all German hymnbooks (as in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 132), and takes rank as one of the finest Advent Hymns. Translated as :— 1. All the World exalt the Lord, omitting st. vi. in Select Hymns from German Psalter, Tranquebar, 1754, p. 4, and the Supplement to German Psalter, ed. 1765, p. 1. In 1789, the translations of st. i., ii., iv., vii., ix. (altered) were included as No. 34 in the Moravian Hymn Book In the ed. of 1801 it was altered to "All the world give praises due" (ed. 1886, No. 44), and this text has been repeated in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, and Willing's Book of Common Praise, 1872. 2. Be our God with thanks adored. A translation of st. i.-iv. by A. T. Russell in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. 3. Let the earth now praise the Lord. A good translation, omitting st. vii., by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863. Repeated in full in Schaff's Christ in Song, 1869, and, abridged, in the American Pennsylvania Lutheran Ch. Book, 1868, and Baptist Service of Song, 1871. ii. Komm, o Komm, du Geist des Lebens. Whitsuntide. A fine hymn of Invocation to the Holy Spirit. Mützell, 1858, No. 267, quotes it in 9 st. of 6 1. from a defective edition of Crüger's Praxis published at Stettin c. 1664. In J. Niedling's Geistliche Wasserquelle, Frankfurt a. Oder, 1667, it is at p. 372 marked "H. Held" (not in Niedling's ed. 1663). In Luppius's Andächtig singender Christen Mund, 1692, p. 71, it is entitled "Devout Prayer and Hymn to God the Holy Ghost." Repeated in Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704, and many subsequent hymnbooks, as in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 363. It is sometimes erroneously ascribed to Joachim Neander. The translations in common use are:— 1. Holy Spirit, once again. A full and good translation by Miss Winkworth in the 2nd Ser., 1858, of her Lyra Germanica, p. 53. Included in full in the Cantate Domino, Boston, U.S.A., 1859. In Miss Wink worth's Chorale Book for England, 1863, st. ii., vi., vii. are omitted. This form of the text is repeated in W. F. Stevenson's Hymns for Church & Home, 1873, Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872, &c. In the Hymnal for St. John's, Aberdeen, 1865, it begins "Holy Spirit, in us reign." 2. Come, oh come, Thou quickening Spirit, True, &c. A translation of st. i., ii., iv., vii., ix. in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, No. 98, signed E. T. L. 3. Come, 0 come, Thou quickening Spirit, Thou for ever. A good tr., omitting st. iv.-vi. in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868, and marked as tr. by "Charles William Schaeffer, 1866." [Lutheran Pastor at Germantown.] 4. Come, 0 come, Thou quickening Spirit, God from all eternity, omitting st. iii., by E. Cronenwett, in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. Another translation is, "Come, Thou Spirit ever living," by R. Massie in the British Herald, Dec, 1865, p. 179. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ======================= Held, Heinrich , p. 507, ii. The account given in the Fischer-Tumpel Deutsche evangelische Kirchenlied des siebzehnten Jahrhun-derts , vol. i., 1904, p. 360, states that Held was born July 21, 1620, at Guhrau, in Silesia, settled as advocate at Fraustadt in Posen, became in 1657 town clerk at Altdamm, near Stettin, and died Aug. 16, 1659, at Stettin. This, if correct, explains why so many of his hymns are first traceable in Pomeranian books, and explains why his posthumous work on Prosody should have been prepared for publication in 1661 by a Stargard bookseller. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Christian Gottlob Barth

1799 - 1862 Person Name: Christian G. Barth Hymnal Number: d226 Author of "Hueter, is die Nacht verschwunden" in Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden Barth, Christian Gottlob, son of C. F. Barth, house painter in Stuttgart, was born at Stuttgart, July 31,1799. He studied at Tubingen, where he was the principal founder of the Missionary Society, and was only restrained by his mother's entreaties from offering himself as a missionary. He became, in 1821, assistant at Neckarweihingen and Dornham, and, in 1822, curate in charge of Effringen and Schönbrunn, near Nagold. In 1824 he was appointed pastor of Möttlingen, near Calw, but resigned his charge in 1838, and settled in Calw, receiving in the same year the degree of D.D. from the University.of Greifswald. He died at Calw of apoplexy, Nov. 12, 1862. At Calw he devoted himself as a writer and preacher to children, as a preacher and writer in the cause of missions to the heathen and to the Jews, and as the founder and director of the Tract Society of Calw. One of his books, the Bible History, reached its 160th edition in 1872, and had then been translated into 24 European, 18 Asiatic, 7 African, and 3 South Sea languages. He frequently attended the meetings of the Religious Tract Society of London, and was a member of the Evangelical Alliance (Koch, vii. 199-210; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, ii. 94-95). Of his hymns there have been translated into English:— i. Auf einem Berg ein Baumlein stand. [Holy Scripture]. Included in his Lieder und Gedichte fur Christenkinder, Calw, 1842, p. 83, in 4 stanzas. Previously in J. Köbner's Christl. Harfentöne, Hamburg, 1840, p. 115. The translations are:— (1) "Upon a hill there stands a tree," by Dr. H. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 25), and thence in P. Stow's Ocean Melodies, Boston, U.S., 1849. (2) "A tree grows on a mountain," by Mrs. Bevan, 1859, p. 138. (3) "A tree stood on a mountain," in Dr. H. W. Dulcken's Golden Harp, 1864, p. 22. (4) " On a hill stands a beautiful tree," in W. B. Bradbury's Fresh Laurels, N. Y., 1867, p. 15, signed "L. W." (5) " Lo, on a mount a tree doth stand," by Mrs. H. K. Spaeth, as No. 60 in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Little Children's Book, Philadelphia, 1885. ii. Erhebe dich, du Volk des Herrn. [Missions.] Written for the Basel Mission Festival, June 12, 1833, In his Christliche Gedichte, Stuttgart, 1836, p. 18, in 8 stanzas. Translated as “Ye people of the Lord, arise!" by Dr. H. Mills, 1856, p. 202. iii. Hütter, ist die Nacht verschwtinden. [Missions.] Written for the 20th anniversary, June 27,1835, of the Basel Missionary Society, and first published in the Mission Magazine for that year. In his Christliche Gedichte, Stuttgart, 1836, p. 54, in 8 stanzas. The translations are:— (1) "Ho! watchman, is the night away," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 84. (2) "Watchman! Hath the night departed," in L. Rehfuess's Church at Sea, 1868, p. 107. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Lazarus Spengler

1479 - 1534 Person Name: L. Spengler Hymnal Number: d92 Author of "Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt" in Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden Spengler, Lazarus, was the 9th of the 21 children of Georg Spengler and Agnes his wife, and was born March 13,1479, at Nürnberg, where his father was clerk of the Imperial court of Justice (Landgerichtschreiber). He entered the University of Leipzig in 1494; but on the death of his father on Dec. 27, 1496, he returned to Nürnberg, obtained a position in the town clerk's office, in 1507 became himself town clerk (Raths Syndikus), and in 1516 also Rathsherr. When Luther was passing through Nürnberg, in 1518, on his way to Augsburg, Spengler made his acquaintance. He warmly espoused the Reformation doctrines, published in 1519 his Schutzre in Luther's favour, and himself became one of the leaders in the Reformation work at Nürnberg. He was one of those condemned by name in the Bull of Excommunication launched by Pope Leo the Tenth, on June 15, 1520, against Luther and his friends. Dr. Eck sent the Bull to the Town Council of Nürnberg, and urged them to proceed against Spengler, but they ignored it, and then sent him as one of their representatives to the Diet of Worms, in April 1521. In 1525 Spengler went to Wittenberg to consult with Luther and Melanchthon as to turning the Benedictine Aegidienstift (Schottenkloster) into an Evangelical Gymnasium, and this was opened as such by Melanchthon on May 23, 1526. Spengler was also the prime mover to the Visitation of 1528, and upheld strict Lutheranism in the negotiations at the Diet of Augsburg in 1530. He died at Nürnberg, Sept. 7, 1534 (Koch, i, 308 ; Will's Nürnbergisches Gelehrten-Lexikon, iii., p. 731; Herzog's Real-Encyklopädie, xiv., 516). Spengler was a trusty friend and valued counsellor of Luther and the principal Reformers of Germany. He also interested himself in the improvement of the church services, and in 1532 was able to have an authorised Liturgy (Kirchenordnung) printed. He wrote a considerable quantity of verse, sacred and secular ; but only two hymns are ascribed to him. The one is an indifferent version of Ps. cxxvii., beginning "Vergebens ist all Müh und Kost." The other is:— Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt. Fall and Redemption. First published in the Geystliche Gesangk Buchleyn, Wittenberg, 1524, and thence in Wackernagel, iii. p. 48, in 9 stanzas of 10 lines…During the Reformation period it attained a wide popularity as a didactic and confessional hymn of the Evangelical faith. It is one of the most characteristic hymns of the time, conceived in the spirit of deep and earnest piety, eminently Scriptural, and setting forth the Reformation teachings in concise and antithetical form, but is however too much like a system of theology in rhyme. The translations are:—- 1. "By Adam's fall was so forlorne." By Bishop Coverdale, 1539, reprinted in his Remains, 1846, p. 556. 2. "When Adam fell our total Frame." By J. C. Jacobi in his Psalmodia Germanica, pt. ii., 1725, p. 17. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Sedulius

400 - 499 Person Name: Coelius Sedulius Hymnal Number: d501 Author of "Was fuerchtest du, Feind Herodes, sehr" in Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden Sedulius, Coelius. The known facts concerning this poet, as contained in his two letters to Macedonius, are, that in early life, he devoted himself to heathen literature; that comparatively late in life he was converted to Christianity; and that amongst his friends were Gallieanus and Perpetua. The place of his birth is generally believed to have been Rome; and the date when he flourished 450. For this date the evidence is, that he referred to the Commentaries of Jerome, who died 420; is praised by Cassiodorus, who d. 575, and by Gelasius, who was pope from 492 to 496. His works were collected, after his death, by Asterius, who was consul in 494. They are (1) Carmen Paschale, a poem which treats of the whole Gospel story; (2) Opus Paschale, a prose rendering of the former; (3) Elegia, a poem, of 110 lines, on the same subject as the Carmen; (4) Veteris et Novi Testamenti Collatio; and (5) the hymn, "A solis ortus cardine". Areval(1794) quotes 16 manuscripts of Sedulius's work, ranging in date from the 7th to the 16th century. The best edition of his Opera is that by Dr. J. Huemer, pulished. at Vienna in 1885. Areval's text is printed in Migne's Patrology: Series Latina vol. xix. This Sedulius must not be confounded with the Irish, or with the Scottish Sedulius, as is sometimes done. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Bartholomäus Gesius

1555 - 1613 Person Name: Barthold Gesius Hymnal Number: d133 Author of "Gen Himmel aufgefahren ist" in Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden Bartholomaeus Gesius; b. 1555, Muencheberg, near Frankfort; d. 1613 or 14, Wittenberg Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal, 1908

Paul Eber

1511 - 1569 Hymnal Number: d177 Author of "Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir und sollen billig danken dir" in Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden Eber, Paul, son of Johannes Eber, master tailor at Kitzingen, Bavaria, was born at Kitzingen, Nov. 8, 1511. He was sent in 1523 to the Gymnasium at Ansbach, but being forced by illness to return home, was on his way thrown from horseback and dragged more than a mile, remaining as a consequence deformed ever after. In 1525 he entered the St. Lorentz school at Nürnberg, under Joachim Camerarius, and in 1532 went to the University of Wittenberg, where he graduated 1536, and thereafter became tutor in the Philosophical Faculty. He was appointed Professor of Latin in 1544, then in 1557 Professor of Hebrew and Castle preacher, and in 1558 Town preacher and General Superintendent of the Electorate, receiving in 1559 the degree D.D. from the University. He died at Wittenberg, Dec. 10, 1569 (Koch, i. 271-278; Allgemeines Deutsche Biog., v. 529). At Wittenberg he was a close friend of Melanchthon, was privy to all his plans, and conducted the greater part of his correspondence. After Melanchthon's death in 1560, he became leader of his party, and had to engage in various controversies with the Crypto-Calvinists, &c.; the seeds of his fatal illness being sown on his return journey from the fruitless conference held at Altenburg with the theologians of Jena, which lasted from Oct. 20, 1568, to March 9, 1569. Eber was, next to Luther, the best poet of the Wittenberg school. His hymns, some of them written for his own children to sing to Luther's melodies, are distinguished for their child-like spirit and beautiful simplicity. Seventeen hymns have been attributed to him, four of which are certainly his, and probably two others. Of these six, five have been translated into English, one of which is noted under "Dicimus grates," and the others are:— i. Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott. For the Dying. The first hymnbook in which this simple and beautiful hymn has been found is the Low German Enchiridion, published at Hamburg, 1565, where it is in 8 stanzas of 6 lines., entitled "A prayer to Christ for a happy departure from this troublous life," and marked as "D. Paulus Eberus Filiolis suis faciebat MDLVII. Wackernagel, iv. p. 4, gives this and a second form in High German from the Psalmen, Geystliche Lieder und Gesänge, Strassburg, 1569. In his Bibliographie, 1855, p. 233, Wackernagel describes an undated broadsheet, which he would date 1550, and at p. 279 says it forms the first of Neun Schöne Geistliche Lieder, Nürnberg N.D., c. 1556. G. Döring, in his Choralkunde, Danzig, 1865, p. 434, says it appeared as "Panie Jezu ty's czlowiek i Bog" in the Polish Cantional, edited by Pastor Seklucyan, and published at Königsberg, 1559. Lauxmann, in Koch, viii, 591-594, adds that it comforted Eber himself while he lay a-dying, Dec. 10, 1569; was repeated by Hugo Grotius a few minutes before his death, Aug. 28, 1645; and was a favourite hymn of Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt (d. 1566), Christian I., Elector of Saxony (d. 1591), of the Margrave Georg Friedrieh of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (d. 1603), &c. Included as No. 820 in the Unv. L. S., 1851. The translations in common use are:— 1. Lord Jesus Christ, true Man and God, Who borest. Good and full, by Miss Winkworth in the first Ser. of her Lyra Germanica, 1855, p. 239. Of this stanzas i.-iv. appear in the Psalms & Hymns., Bedford, 1859; i., ii., viii. in the Harrow School Hymn Book, 1866 ; and i.-iii., v., viii. in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book,1868. A cento from stanza ii., line 3-6, iii., 11. 1-4, vii., 1line 3-6, beginning, "When from my sight all fades away," is No. 1181 in the American Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858. 2. Lord Jesus Christ, true Man and God, Thou Who. A translation by E. Cronenwett, in nine stanzas of L.M., based on stanzas i., ii., iv.-viii., as No. 434, in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal 1880. Other translations are, (1) "0 God, support me, death is near," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 103. (2) "Lord Jesus Christ, true Man and God, who hast”, by E. Massie, 1867, p. 10. ii. Wenn wir in höchsten Nöthen sein. In Trouble. Founded on a hymn by Joachim Camerarius, his former master at Nürnberg [b. at Bamberg, April 12, 1500, d. as Professor of Greek and Latin at Leipzig, April 17, 1574], which in Wackernagel, i. p. 324, runs thus:— "In tenebris nostrae et densa caligine mentis, Cum nihil est toto pectore consilii, Turbati erigimus, Deus, ad Te lumina cordis Nostra, tuamque fides solius erat opem. Tu rege consiliis actus, Pater optime, nostros, Nostrum opus ut laudi serviat omne Tuae." These lines comforted Melanchthon in 1546; and Lauxmann, in Koch, viii. 161-165, thinks probably Eber also. He relates that on Ascension Day, 1547, after the battle of Mühlberg, the Wittenbergers having received a message from the captive Elector to deliver their city to the Emperor Charles V. assembled for prayer in church; and quotes a portion of the prayer by Bugenhagen which greatly resembles Eber's hymn. But that the hymn was written then we have no proof, and the earliest source quoted by Wackernagel, iv. p. 6, is the Naw Betbüchlein, Dresden 1566, in 7 stanza of 4 line., though in his Bibliographie, 1855, p. 312, he describes a broadsheet printed at Nürnberg, N.D., c. 1560. In M. Moller's Meditationes sanctorum Patrum, Görlitz, 1584, it is entitled "A beautiful prayer of the venerable Dr. Paul Eber, which he composed on the beautiful words of King Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. xx. 12." Included as No. 583 in the Unv. L. S., 1851. A "Cry from the depths," though not in despair but in trustful confidence in God, it is one of the finest and most widely used hymns of the Reformation period. Lauxmann relates how the singing of this hymn and the prayers of Martin Rinkart (q.v.), Archidiaconus of Eulenburg near Leipzig, prevailed to move the heart of the Swedish Lieutenant-Colonel, who on Feb. 21, 1635, had demanded from the inhabitants a ransom of £4500, but eventually accepted 2000 florins; says that in commemoration of a similar deliverance from the Swedish army in 1642 the hymn was long sung at the end of the Sunday afternoon service at Pegau, near Leipzig, and adds other incidents regarding its use. The only translation in common use is :— When in the hour of utmost need. A full and very good translation by Miss Winkworth in the 2nd Ser. of her Lyra Germanica, 1858, p. 180, and thence as No. 141 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863. Included in full in the American Presbyterian Hymnal 1874, and the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. In full, though slightly altered, as No. 233, in Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861, but omitted in the revised edition, 1875. In the Hymnary, 1871, Psalmist, 1878, J. L. Porter's Collection, 1876, Thring's Collection, 1882, and the Evangelical Hymna, N. Y., 1880, st. v. is omitted. Other translations are, (1) "When we are under great distress," by J. C. Jacobi, 1720, p. 19 (1722, p. 119; 1732, p. 184, altered, and thence as No. 140 in p. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754). (2) "When neither help nor counsel's nigh," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 89. (3) "When all our way is hedged around," by N. L. Frothingham, 1870. His hymns not in English common use are:— iii. Helft mir Gottes Güte preisen. [New Year.] Written on the name Helena, borne both by his wife and his daughter, the initial letters of each stanza composing it. Wackernagel, iv. p. 6, quotes it from Eichorn's Geistliche Lieder, Frankfurt a. Oder, c. 1580, in 6 st. of 8 l., entitled, "A Thanksgiving and Prayer for the New Year, in remembrance of God's goodness, for the Children." Older but less correct forms are noted by Mützell, p. 486, as in the Copenhagen GesangBuch,1511, and the Stettin, 1576. Included as No. 68 in the Unv. L. S., 1851. It is translation as, "Ye Christians in this nation," by J. C. Jacobi, 1722, p. 11 (1732, p. 10, altered and beginning, "Come, let us all, with Fervour.") iv. In Christi Wunden schlaf ich ein. [For the Dying.] Appears in Jeremias Weber's Gesang-Buch, Leipzig, 1638, p. 797, marked as "Another" (the hymn immediately preceding is ascribed to Eber), in 3 st. of 4 1. In the Berlin Geistlicher Lieder Schatz, ed. 1863, No. 1468, the text is slightly varied, and arranged in 2 st. of 6 1. It was first ascribed to Eber in the Nürnberg Gesang-Buch, 1676. Lauxmann, in Koch, viii. 595-601, says of it, "That the hymn is much older than the date of its appearance [i.e. than 1638] seems obvious; that it breathes the childlike spirit of Eber is certain. More than this we cannot say." St. i., 11. 3-6, "Ja Christi Blut und Gerechtigkeit," has been adopted by many pious Germans, young and old, as a prayer in life and death, and Lauxmann relates many interesting incidents regarding its use by A. G. Spangenberg, by Wilhelm Hey, and others. These four lines were adopted by N. L. von Zinzendorf, as the first stanza of his well-known hymn, "Christi Blut und Gerechtigkeit" (q. v.). It is translation as, "I fall asleep in Jesus' arms," by Miss Winkworth, i860, p. 121. [Rev .James Mearns] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)