1 Ye Christians, sing a joyful lay
To God, the Holy One,
Who heaven's door flings wide today
And sends to earth His Son,
And sends to earth His Son.
2 He leaves the Father's throne on high,
Is born an infant small,
Doth in a lowly manger lie,
Is sheltered in a stall,
Is sheltered in a stall.
3 His royal pow'r He lays aside,
Becomes like mortal man,
And here below doth He abide
Who laid creation's plan,
Who laid creation's plan.
4 He is the heir of David's throne,
And yet God's only Son,
By whose unbounded grace alone
The kingdom must be won,
The kingdom must be won.
5 He serve, that He may set me free
And well supply my need;
What more could Jesus do for me?
He is my help indeed,
He is my help indeed.
6 Again He opens wide the door
To blissful Paradise;
The cherub guards the gate no more,
O let your praises rise!
Source: American Lutheran Hymnal #355
Herman, Nicolaus, is always associated with Joachimsthal in Bohemia, just over the mountains from Saxony. The town was not of importance till the mines began to be extensively worked about 1516. Whether Herman was a native of this place is not known, but he was apparently there in 1518, and was certainly in office there in 1524. For many years he held the post of Master in the Latin School, and Cantor or Organist and Choirmaster in the church. Towards the end of his life he suffered greatly from gout, and had to resign even his post as Cantor a number of years before his death. He died at Joachimsthal, May 3, 1561. (Koch, i. 390-398; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xii. 186-188, &c.)
He was a great friend and helper of J. Mathesius (q.v.)… Go to person page >
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