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Tobias Clausnitzer

1619 - 1684 Person Name: Tobias Klausnitser Hymnal Number: 4 Author of "Søde Jesus, vi er her " in Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika Clausnitzer, Tobias, born at Thum, near Annaberg, in Saxony, probably on Feb. 5,1619. After studying at various Universities, and finally at Leipzig (where he graduated M.A. in 1643), he was appointed, in 1644, chaplain to a Swedish regiment. In that capacity he preached the thanksgiving sermon in St. Thomas's Church, Leipzig, on "Reminiscere" Sunday, 1645 (ii. Sunday in Lent) on the accession of Christina as Queen of Sweden; as also the thanksgiving sermon at the field service held by command of General Wrangel, at Weiden, in the Upper Palatine, on January 1, 1649, after the conclusion of the Peace of Westphalia. In 1649 he was appointed first pastor at Weiden, and remained there (being also appointed later a member of the Consistory, and inspector of the district,) till his death, on May 7, 1684 (Koch, iii. 354, 355; Allg. Deutsche Biographie, iv. 297; Bode, p. 53; manuscript from Pastor Klinkhardt, Thum). Three hymns by him are known as follows:— i. Jesu dein betrübtes Leiden. [Passiontide.] First published in his Passions-Blume, Nürnberg, 1662, a volume containing 12 sermons on the Passion of our Lord. The hymn appears at p. 17, in 7 stanzas of 6 lines entitled, "Clausnitzer's Passion-Hymn which may be sung with each Meditation." This form is No. 496 in Burg's Gesang-Buch, Breslau, 1746. This hymn has passed into English through a recast, probably by Gensch von Breitenau, beginning, “Herr Jesu, deine Angst und Pein," in 6 stanzas of 7 lines. First published in the Vollständiges Gesang-Buch, Plöen, 1675, No. 41, repeated as No. 101 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen 1851. The only translation in common use is:— Lord Jesu! may Thy grief and pain, a good translation of stanzas i., iii., vi., by A. T. Russell, as No. 84 in his Psalms and Hymns, 1851. ii. Liebster Jesu wir sind bier, Dion und Dein Wort anzuhören. [Public Worship .] First published in the Altdorffisches Gesang-Buchlein, 1663, No. 20, in 3 stanzas of 6 lines, as a Sunday Hymn for use before Sermon. It appeared with Clausnitzer's name in the Nürnberg Gesang-Buch, 1676, No. 891, and has since come into universal use. In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 1062. Translated as:— 1. Gracious Jesu! in Thy name, a good and full translated by A. T. Russell, as No. 82 in the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book, 1848. Included as No. 454 in the ed.,1857, of Mercer's Church Psalm & Hymn Book. (Ox. ed. 1864, No. 56, considerably altered with stanza i. line 4, iii. lines 1-4, from Miss Winkworth, and a doxology added). 2. Gracious Jesu! we are here, a recast of his 1848 translation, made by A. T. Russell for his Psalms & Hymns, 1851, No. 19. 8. Saviour, in Thy house of prayer, a good and full translation as No. 13 in J. F. Thrupp's Psalms & Hymns, 1853, repeated in Maurice's Collection, 1861, No. 634. In Kennedy , 1863, No. 1251, altered and beginning, "Saviour, to Thy house of prayer." 4. Blessed Jesus, at Thy word, a full and good translation by Miss Wink worth in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Series, 1858, p. 68, repeated in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 12. Included in the English Presbyterian Psalms & Hymns,1867, and others; and in America in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868; Evangelical Hymnal, N. Y., 1880, and others. 5. Dear Lord, to hear Thee and Thy word, a good translation by Mrs.L. C. Smith; included as No. 50 in Dr. Stevenson's Hymns for Church & Home, 1873. Translations not in common use:— (1) “Dearest Jesu! we are here, Thee to hear," by J. C. Jacobi (1720, p. 32; 1722, p. 43; 1732, p. 72, alt.). In the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789, No. 12 (1849, No. 3), recast by C. J. Latrobe. (2) "Dearest Jesu, we are here, for to hear," as No. 432 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. (3) "Here in Thy presence we appear," by J. Swertner, as No. 10 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 9). (4) "Blessed Jesus, we are here," by Miss Manington, 1863, p, 145. (5) "Precious Jesus! here are we," in the British Herald, Nov. 1866, p. 360, repeated in Reid's Praise Book, 1872, No. 419. (6) "Dear Redeemer, we are here," by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 204. iii. Wir glauben all an einen Gott, Yater, Sohn und heilgen Geist. [Trinity Sunday.] First appeared in the Culmbach-Bayreuth Gesang-Buch, 1668, p. 132, with the initials "C.A.D." With (Clausnitzer's name it was included as No. 572 in the Nürnberg Gesang-Buch, 1676, in 3 st. of 6 1. In the Bavarian Gesang-Buch, 1854. Translated as:— 1. We all believe in One true God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, in full by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 75, and thence as No. 118 in the American Methodist Episcopal Hymnal, 1878, and the Evangelical Association Hymn Book, 1882, No. 64. 2. One true God we all confess, by E. Cronenwett, as No. 209 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

J. J. Rambach

1693 - 1735 Person Name: Johann Rambach Hymnal Number: 42 Author of "Jeg er frelst og dyrekjøbt" in Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika Rambach, Johann Jakob, D.D., son of Hans Jakob Rambach, cabinet maker at Halle on the Saale, was born at Halle, Feb. 24, 1693. In 1706 he left school and entered his father's workshop, but, in the autumn of 1707, he dislocated his ankle. During his illness he turned again to his schoolbooks; the desire for learning reawoke; and on his recovery, early in 1708, he entered the Latin school of the Orphanage at Halle (Glaucha). On Oct. 27, 1712, he matriculated at the University of Halle as a student of medicine, but soon turned his attention to theology. He became specially interested in the study of the Old Testament under J. H. Michaelis. In May 1715 he became one of Michaelis's assistants in preparing his edition of the Hebrew Bible, for which he wrote the commentary on Ruth, Esther, Nehemiah, &c. His health began to suffer in the spring of 1719, and he gladly accepted the invitation of Count von Heukel to stay at Polzig, near Ronneburg, where he spent several months. By August he had quite recovered, and went to pay a visit to Jena, where a number of the students asked him to lecture to them. For this purpose he settled at Jena in Oct., 1719, and lived in the house of Professor Buddeus (J. F. Budde). He graduated M.A. in March 1720. In 1723 he was appointed adjunct of the Theological Faculty at Halle, as also inspector of the Orphanage; in 1726 extraordinary professor of theology; and in 1727, after A. H. Francke's death, ordinary professor as well as preacher at the Schulkirche. Here he was very popular, both as preacher and professor, but the jealousy of his colleagues induced him to accept an offer from the Landgrave Ernst Ludwig of Hesse, who, in 1731, invited him to Giessen as superintendent and first professor of theology (before leaving Halle he graduated D.D., June 28, 1731), and in Aug., 1732, appointed him also director of the Paedagogium at Giessen. In 1734 he was, for various reasons, greatly inclined to accept the offer of the first professorship of theology in the newly-founded University of Göttingen, but eventually, at the earnest request of the Landgrave, remained in Giessen, where he died of fever, April 19, 1735 (Die Familie Rambach. By Dr. T. Hansen, Gotha, 1875: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xxvii. 196; Blätter fur Hymnologie, 1883, pp. 113, 129, 145, 163, 186; 1884, p. 20; 1885, p. 13, &c.) Rambach was a voluminous author in various departments of practical theology, e.g. his Institutiones hermeneuticae sacrae, Jena, 1724, which passed through four editions in his lifetime; hisErbauliches Handbüchlein fur Kinder, 1734 (see below), which reached an eighth edition in 1736, and a 14th in 1766; his various volumes of sermons, &c. He justly earned his popularity by the thoroughness of his researches, and the clear and concise way in which he set forth the results of his investigations. It is however as a hymnwriter that his name is likely to be best known. While not entitled to rank with the best hymn-writers of the 16th and 17th centuries, he yet takes a high place among his contemporaries, and deserves to be remembered as much as almost any of the 18th cent, hymnwriters. His style is good and dignified; his thought is profound yet clearly expressed. While his hymns are often sufficiently didactic, they are generally scriptural and churchly in tone, and are characterised by lyric force, lively imagination, and earnest, sober piety. Of hymns, in the strict sense, he wrote over 180, a large number of which passed into the German hymn-books of the 18th cent. (e.g. the Hannover Gesang-Buch, 1740, and Lüneburg Gesang-Buch, 1767, contains 52 by him), and a good many are still found in modern hymn-books. Of these Dr. J. L. Pasig gives 165 in his edition of Rambach's Geistliche Lieder, Leipzig, 1844, and the rest are printed by Hansen as above, while the first lines of the whole are given in the Blätter as above. Four are recasts (practically originals), made for the 11th edition, 1719, of Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, to replace similar hymns in the ed. of 1705. The rest principally appeared in the following works by Rambach, viz.: (1) Geistliche Poesien, Halle. 1720 [British Museum] The first part contains 72 cantatas on the Gospels for Sundays and festivals; the second part includes 20 hymns, mostly written at Polzig in 1719. (2) Poetische Fest-Gedancken. Jena and Leipzig, 1723 [Royal Library, Berlin]. Included are 15 pieces which may be called hymns. The second edition of 1727 [Brit. Mus.] has 28 new hymns; and the 3rd ed., 1729 [Gottingen Library], has 22 more. (3) Erbauliches Handbuchlein für Kinder, Giessen, 1734 [Hamburg Library]. The 3rd part contains 8 new hymns. (4) Geistreiches Haus-Gesang-Buch, Frankfurt and Leipzig, 1735 [Hamburg Library], with a preface dated April 10, 1735. This contains 112 hymns by Rambach, of which 58 are practically new, 11 of these, however, being recasts of his own earlier hymns. (5) Wander der bis zum Tode des Kreutzes erniedrigten Liebe, Giessen, 1750 [Berlin Library]. This includes 27 new hymns. Rambach's hymns …which have passed into English are:— i. Auf! Seele, schicke dich. Holy Communion. Written, by request for the eleventh edition, 1719, of Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704, as No. 229, in 16 stanzas of 6 lines in order to replace the hymn "Auf, Seele, sey gerüst." This hymn, by George Heine, was included in the Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Halle, 1697, p. 433. In the second ed., 1771, of the complete book formed by the fusion of pt. i., 1704, and its supplement of 1705 with pt. ii., 1714, of Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, both hymns are given, Heine's as No. 524, and Rambach's as No. 522, both marked as being No. 229 in pt. i., 1704. Rambach's hymn is in his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 369; the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 471, &c. In Pasig's edition of his Geistliche Lieder, 1844, p. 112, entitled "Before the reception of Holy Communion." It has been translated as:— My soul prepare to meet. Omitting st. i., 11. 4-6 ; ii., 11. 4-6; vii., xiv., as No. 570 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1849, No. 966). In the edition of 1886, No. 979 begins with st. iv., "How should I, slaughtered Lamb"; and No. 1012 with st. xi., "Lord, of Thy wondrous love." ii. Mein Jesu, der du vor dem Scheiden. Holy Communion. Appeared in Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 11th ed., 1719, as No. 238, in 9 st. of 6 1. It was written to replace the hymn "Mein Jesn, hier sind deine Brüder" (Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Halle, 1697, p. 363), in the first edition of Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch. It is in his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 365; the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 1601; and in Pasig, 1844, p. 110, entitled, "On the treasures of Grace in Holy Communion." The translations are:— 1. Lord Jesus, Who before Thy passion. Omitting st. ix., this is No. 1181 in the Supplement of 1808 to the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801 (1886, No. 963). 2. 0 Lord, Who on that last sad eve. A good translation omitting st. ix., by Miss Cox, contributed to Lyra Eucharistica, 1863, p. 15, and repeated in her Hymns from the German, 1864, p. 75. Included, omitting st. iii., in G. S. Jellicoe's Collection, 1867. iii. 0 Lehrer, dem kein Andrer gleich. Christ our Prophet. In his Haus Gesang-Buch1735, No. 107, in 8 st. of 6 1., entitled, "On the prophetical office of Jesus Christ." Repeated in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 118, and in Pasig, 1844, p. 51. Translated as:— Surely none like Thee can teach. By Miss Fry, in 102 lines, in her Hymns of the Reformation,1845, p. 126. A recast in 3 st. of 8 1., beginning, "Saviour, none like Thee can teach," was included in J. Whittemore's Supplement to all Hymn Books, 1860, No. 263, and repeated in the Methodist New Congregational Hymn Book, 1863, No. 62. iv. Wie herrlich ists ein Schäflein Christi werden. Joy in Believing. In his Poetiche Fest-Gedancken, 2nd ed. 1727, p. 131, in 6 st. of 6 l., entitled, "The Blessedness of the Sheep of Christ. John x. 28, ‘I give my sheep eternal life.'" In his Haus Gesang-Buch 1735, No. 325; the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 645; and Pasig, 1844, p. 139. Translated as:— How great the bliss to be a sheep of Jesus. A translation of st. i., ii., v., by C. J. Latrobe, as No. 293, in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 385). Hymns not in English common use:— v. Allwissender, vollkommner Geist. The Omniscient One. In his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 12, in 6 stanzas; the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863; and in Pasig, p. 8. Translated as, "Thou Spirit, perfect and allwise." By Dr. H. Mills, 1856, p. 11. vi. Frommes Lamm, von was für Hunden. Passiontide. In his Poetische Fest-Gedancken, 2nd ed., 1727, p. 49, in 8 st. In his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 151, it begins, "Frommes Lamm, durch dessen Wunden." Also in Pasig, p. 67. Translated as, "Great Thy sorrows, injur'd Jesus." By Dr. H. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 297). vii. Gesetz und Evangelium, Law and Gospel. In his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 356, in 10 st.; the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863; and Pasig, p. 105. Translated as, "The holy law and gospel, both." By Dr. II. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 27.) viii. Herr, du hast nach dem Fall. Before Work. In his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 565, in 4 st.; and Pasig, p. 150. In the Berlin Gesang-Buch, 1765, No. 206, it is altered (probably by J. S. Diterich), and begins "Du hast uns, Heir die Pflicht." This is translated as, “Lord, Thou hast bid us labour, bid us toil." By Miss Warner, 1858, p. 230. ix. Hier bin ich Herr, du rufest mir. Christian Work. In his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 269, in 6 st.; the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, No. 306; and Pasig, p. 119. The translations are (1) "Here am I, Lord, Thou callest me, Thou drawest me." By Miss Warner, 1858, p. 209. (2) "Here am I, Lord, Thou callest me, Thou drawest and." By Mrs. Findlater, in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 4th series, 1862. x. Höchste Vollkommenheit, reineste Sonne. God's Majesty . Written for the 11th ed., 1719, of Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, No. 170 (in 20 st.), to replace an anonymous hymn in the first edition, 1704, which began "Höchste Vollkommenheit, alles in Einem." In his Haus Gesang-Buch 1735, No. 8, Rambach reduced it to 12 st., and rewrote it to an easier metre, so as to begin "Höchstes Wesen, reinste Sonne." Both forms are in Pasig, pp. 3-6. Translated as "If Heav'ns and Earths there were innumerable," a tr. of st. iii., viii., xi., xv., xvii., xix., xx., as No. 672, in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. xi. O grosser Geist, dess Wesen Alles füllet. The Omnipresent One. In his Geistliche Poesien, 1720, p. 330, in 9 st.; his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 13; the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, No. 44 ; and Pasig, p. 7. Translated as, “Eternal God, Thy dwelling-place." By Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 73. xii. 0 grosser Geist! O Ursprung aller Dinge. God's Holiness. In his Geistliche Poesien, 1729, p. 327, in 9 st.; his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 19; and Pasig, p. 15. Translated as, "O mighty Spirit! Source whence all things sprung." By Miss Winkworth, 1858, p. 153. xiii. Verklärte Majestät, anbetungs-würdigst Wesen. God's Majesty. Founded on 1 Tim. vi. 15, 16. In his Geistliche Poesien, 1720, p. 303, in 11 st.; his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 7; and Pasig, p. 2. The form translation is "Anbetungswürdger Gott," a recast (probablv by J. S. Diterich), which is No. l in the Berlin Gesang-Buch 1765, and No. 5 in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863. Translated as, "Dread Majesty above." By Dr. H. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 8). xiv. Wirf, blöder Sinn, den Kummer hin. Christmas. In his Haus Gesang-Buch, 1735, No. 129, in 6 st. (founded on Rom. viii. 31, 32). In Pasig, p. 6, and the Unverfälschter Liedersegen 1851, No. 60. Translated as, "Throw, soul, I say, thy fears away." By Miss Manington, 1864, p. 28. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907

Martin Behm

1557 - 1622 Hymnal Number: 619 Author of "Herre Jesus Krist, mit Levnets Lys" in Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika Behm, Martin, son of Hans Behm [Bohme, Boehm, Behemb, Behem, Boheim, Bohemus or Bohemius], town-overseer of Lauban in Silesia, was born at Lauban, Sept. 16, 1557. During a protracted famine, 1574, Dr. Paul Fabricius, royal physician at Vienna, a distant kinsman, took him to Vienna, where he acted as a private tutor for two years, and then went to Strassburg, where, from Johann Sturm, Rector of the newly founded University, he received much kindness. Returning home at his mother's request after his father's death, May, 1580, he was, at Easter, 1581, appointed assistant in the Town School, and on Sept. 20, ordained diaconus of the Holy Trinity Church. After his senior had been promoted to Breslau the Town Council kept the post nominally vacant for two years, and then, in June, 1586, appointed Behm chief pastor. For 36 years ho held this post, renowned as a preacher, as a faithful pastor in times of trouble (famine 1590, pestilence 1613, war 1619), and as a prolific author. After preaching on the tenth Sunday after Trinity, 1621, he was seized with illness, and after he had lain for twenty-four weeks on a sick bed, there was ministered to him, on Feb. 5, 1622, the abundant entrance of which he sings in his hymn, "O Jesu Christ, meins Lebenslichtr” (Koch, ii. 227-234; Allg. Deutsche Biographie,ii. 282). He was one of the best hymn-writers of his time. His hymns are true and deep in feeling, dwelling specially on the Passion of Our Lord. They speedily passed into the hymn-books, and long held their place therein. Of about 480 hymns which he composed, the most important appeared in his:— (1) Centuria precationum rhythmicarum, Wittenberg, 1606 (2nd ed., 1611). (2) Centuria secunda precationum rhythmicarum, Wittenberg, 1608 (2nd ed., 1611). (3) Centuria precationum rhythmicarum, "Wittenberg, 1615 (complete edition of the Three Centuries, Jena and Breslau, 1658). A selection of 79 Hymns, ed., with an introduction, by W. Noldeke, appeared at Halle in 1857. Four of his hymns have been translated into English, three being in English common use:— i. O Heilige Dreifaltigkeit. [Morning.] First published in his Kriegesman, Leipzig, 1593, in 7 st. of unequal length, repeated in 1608, as above, in 8 stanzas of 4 lines. Both forms are in Wackernagel, v. p. 197; and the second in Noldeke, 1857, p. 53; and, omitting stanzas vi.-viii., as No. 1126 in the Berlin G. L. S., ed. 1863. In 1593 it was entitled " The ancient Sancta Trinitas et adoranda (Jnitas in German;" but it is rather a versification of the Prayer for Wednesday evening in J. Habermann's Gebet Buck (Wittenberg, 1567). The translations in common use, both of the second form, are:— 1. O Thou most Holy Trinity. A very good translation of stanzas i., iii.-v., by A. T. Russell, as No. 2 in his Ps. and Hys., 1851, and thence in Kennedy, 1863, and Dr. Thomas's Augustine H. Bk., 1866. 2. O holy, blessed Trinity, Divine. A good translation of stanzas i.-v. by Dr. C. H. L. Schuette, as No. 295 in the Ohio Luth. Hymnal, 1880. 3. O holy, holy, holy Three, by H. J. Bucholl, 1842, p. 21. ii. O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht. [For the Dying.] His finest hymn. First pub.lished in a collection entitled Christliche Gebet, 1610, and then in his Zehen Sterbegebet, appended to his Centuria secunda, 1611 (see above), in 14 stanzas of 4 1., entitled " Prayer fora happy journey home, founded upon the sufferings of Christ." Thence in Wackernagel, v. p. 235, Noldeke, 1857, p. 79, and the Unv. L. S., 1851, No. 835. The translations in common use are:— 1. Lord Jesus Christ, my Life, my Light. A very good translation by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Ger., 2nd Series, 1858, p. 213, st. v., x. being omitted and viii., ix. combined as one stanza. In her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 190, she omitted her stanzas v., vi., and united her stanzas iv., vii. as iv. This translation is included more or less abridged in Wilson's Service of Praise, 1865, and in America in the Baptist Hymn Book, Phil, 1871, the Methodist Episcopal Hymnal, 1878/and the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, &c. 2. Lord Jesus Christ, my soul's desire. A good and full translation by Dr. John Ker in the Juv. Miss. Mag. of the U. P. Church, May, 1858, p. 25. Stanzas i., iii, v., vii. form No. 49 in the Ibrox Hymnal, 1871. Other translations are:— (l) "Lord Jesu, fountain of my life." by J. C. Jacobi, 1725, p. 52 (1732, p. 195), and repeated in the Moravian hymn books combined in 1826 with J. Cennick's "Though I'm in body full of pain." (2) "Jesu, my light and sure defence," as No. 54 in the Moravian Hymn Book 1742. (3) “O Jesu, life-light of my way," by Miss Warner, 1858 (ed. 1861, p. 176). iii. O Konig aller Ehren. [Epiphany.] Founded on St. Matthew ii., and first published 1606 as above, in 6 stanzas of 8 lines. Thence in Wackernagel, v. p. 210, Noldeke, 1857, p. 31, and the Unv. Leidersegen, 1851, No. 79. The translations in common use are:— 1. O King of Glory, David's Son. A double C. M. version of stanzas i., ii., v., vi. by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Series, 1858, p. 20, and thence in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, No. 33. Her 2nd translation:— 2. O Jesu, King of Glory, No. 37 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, is the above version rewritten to the original metre. In the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, No. 54, with translation of st. iii., iv. added. iv. Das wait Gott Vater und Gott Sohn. [Morning Prayer.] First published 1608 as above, in 11 st., and thence in Wackernagel, v. p. 215, in Noldeke, 1857, p. 51. Translated as "O God Almighty, Father, Son," by H. J. Buckoll, 1842, p. 15. -John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky

1690 - 1774 Person Name: Karl Bogatzky Hymnal Number: 710 Author of "O, Frelser, som er Lys og Livet" in Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika Bogatzky, Carl Heinrich von. He was born Sept. 7,1690, on his father's estate of Jankowe, near Militsch, in Silesia. His father, J. A. v. Bogatzky, was descended from a noble Hungarian family, and entering the Austrian service attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Bogatzky's early education was picked up at various places as family arrangements permitted. He was for some time page at the Ducal Court of Weissenfels. From Weissenfels his father removed him to 13realau, to prepare for entering the army. During a long illness at Breslau he became convinced that God had other work for him to do. Receiving an offer of assistance from Count Heinrich xxiv., of Reuss-Kostriz, towards the expenses of an University course, he entered Urn University of Jena in 1713; but removed at Easter, 1715, to the University of Halle, still as a student of law. Before Christinas ho received notice that his mother had died in Silesia, and that he must return. During the week that elapsed before setting out, while attending divine service, he received what he regarded as his first true views of Justification by Faith. Disowned by his father for objecting to enter the army, he returned from Silesia to Halle and enrolled himself, at Easter, 1716, as a student of theology. At Halle he began for his own edification his best known work, The Golden Treasury, 1st published at Breslau in 1718. During 1718 his health failed, and his voice became so seriously affected that he was unable to take any parochial charge. From thenceforth he devoted himself to religious authorship, and speaking in private gatherings. He left Silesia in 1740, and for five years resided at Saalfeld, where he wrote many works, including that on True Conversion, 1741. In 1746 he removed to Halle, where G. A. Francke gave him a free room in the orphanage. The rest of his life was spent mainly in that town. The most important of his publications at this time was his Meditations and Prayers on the New Testament, 7 vols., 1755-61. He died at Halle, June 15, 1774. (Koch, iv. 468-478; Allg. Deutsche Biog., iii. 37- 39; Autobiography tr. by Samuel Jackson, Lond., 1856—the second dating his death, possibly through a misprint, as at Glaucha, near Halle, 1754).Bogatzky seems to have begun hymn-writing about 1718, and in all composed 411 hymns, some of which appeared in part, in his devotional works, 3 in the Cothnische Lieder, 1733-36, 6 in the Wernigerode Gesang-Buch, 1735, and in a collected form at Halle, 1750, as Die Uebungder Gottseligkeit in allerley Geistlichen Liedern, with 302 hymns (2nd ed. Halle, 1755, with 396; 3rd ed.. 1771, with 411, reprinted unaltered at Berlin, 1844). With this the Dowager Queen of Denmark was so much pleased that, as the 1st ed. was in very small type, she offered to contribute to an ed. in larger type, and when that was issued in 1750 (with 376 hymns), bought 300 copies, all of which she distributed.His hymns have little poetic fire or glow of imagination; but in his better productions there is stimulating zeal, warmth of religious feeling, and simplicity of religious faith, linking him rather with the earlier Halle School, than with the spiritual sensuousness of some of his fellow contributors to the Cothnische Lieder. (1) The hymns by him in English common use are: i. Wach auf du Geist der crsten Zeugen. [Missions.] 1st pub. 1750, as above, No. 133, of 14 stanzas of 6 lines, entitled, "For faithful labourers in the Harvest of the Lord, for the blessed spread of the Word to all the world." Included in the Berlin G. L. S., ed. 1863, No. 1383. Translated as:— Awake, Thou Spirit, Who of old. A good translation of st. i.-iii., v.-viii. by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 1st series, 1855, p. 41, and thence, omitting st. ii., altered in metre, and beginning, "Awake, Thou Spirit, Who didst fire," as No. 290 in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868. In Miss Winkworth's Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 87, it is altered in metre to "Wake, Spirit, Who in times now olden," st: vii. being omitted, and this form is No. 190 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. Another translation is "O spirit of the early martyrs, wake," in the British Herald, Oct. 1865, p. 151. Not in common use: ii. Ich bin erlost durch xneines Mittler's Blut. [Passiontide.] 1750, as above, No. 330, in 10 stanzas of 9 lines, entitled, "The believer's consolation in death." J. C. Wagner in his Neues Hildburghausisches Gesang-Buch, 1807 (1808, No. 231), included a greatly altered form beginning, "Ich bin erlost! Es floss des Mittler's Blut." The text translation is that in Knapp's Ev. L. S., 1837, No. 503, based on st. i., iii., v.-vii. of the original. The only translation in common use is:— I am redeem'd! the purchase of that blood, from Knapp, by Dr. H. Mills in his Horae Germanica, 1845 (1856, p. 64); repeated, omitting stanza ii., as No. 125 in Stryker's Christian Chorals, 1885.(2) Hymns not in English common use:— iii. Du Hiiter Israel. [Morning.] 1750, as above, No. 7, in 15 stanzas translated as "Guardian of Israel, Thou," by H. J. Buckoll, 1842, p. 53. iv. Einer bliebt Konig, wenn allea erlieget. [Christ as King.] 1st in the large type ed., 1750, No. 367, in 10 stanzas translated as "One reigneth still, though all else may be failing," by Miss Burlingham, in the British Herald, Dec. 1865, p. 185, and repeated, as No. 394, in Reid's Praise Book, 1872. v. Heut ist dein Tag vorhanden. [Sunday Morning.] 1750, as above, No. 106, in 5 stanzas translated as "This is Thy day so glorious," by H. J. Buckoll, 1842, p. 8. vi. Hirt und Euter deiner Schaafe. [Spiritual Watchfulness] 1750, as above, No. 279, in 16 stanzas translated as "Great Shepherd of the sheep, No longer," in S. Jackson's translation of Bogatzky's Life, 1856, p. 187. vii. Jehovah, hoher Gott von Hacht und Starke. [The Almighty God.] At Schreibersdorf in the Riesengebirge in 1720, standing on an eminence, he viewed the distant mountains which at first he thought were clouds, and deeply impressed by the majesty, glory, and omnipotence of God, he wrote this hymn after returning to the house (Life, 1856, p. 51). Included, as No. 558, in the Sammluvg Geist- und lieblicher Lieder, Leipzig and Gorlitz, 1725, and repeated, 1750, as above, No. 263, in 12 stanzas as "Jehovah, God of boundless strength and might," by Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 274. viii. 0 stilles Lamm, du hast fur mich gelitten. [Cross and Consolation.] 1750, as above, No. 305, in 7 stanzas translated as "O silent Lamb! for me Thou hast endured," by Mrs. Findlater, in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1858 (p. 64, 1884, p. 122). -John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Hans Adolf Brorson

1694 - 1764 Person Name: Brorson Hymnal Number: 17 Translator of "Jesus, du min Lust i Live" in Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika

Johan Olof Wallin

1779 - 1839 Person Name: Johan Wallin Hymnal Number: 147 Author of "Lovsynger Herrens Miskundhed!" in Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika Johan Olaf Wallin was born at Stora Tuna, in 1779, and early displayed his poetical powers. In 1805, and again in 1809, he gained the chief prize for poetry at Upsala. In the latter year he became pastor at Solna; here his ability as a preacher was so striking that he was transferred to Stockholm, in 1815, as "pastor primarius," a title for which we have no exact equivalent. In 1818 he was made Dean of Westeras, and set about the task of editing a revised hymn-book for the whole of Sweden. This task he completed in 1819, and published it as, Den Swenska Psalmboken, af Konungen gillad och stadfästad (The Swedish hymn-book, approved and confirmed by the King). To it he contributed some 150 hymns of his own, besides translations and recastings; and the book remains now in the form in which he brought it out. It is highly prized by the Swedes, and is in use everywhere. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, p. 1000 (1907)

August Hermann Francke

1663 - 1727 Person Name: Aug. Francke Hymnal Number: 675 Author of "Et Trin jeg atter har idag" in Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika Francke, August Hermann, son of Johann Francke, a lawyer in Lubeck, was born at Lubeck, March 22, 1663. He studied at the Universities of Erfurt, Kiel, and Leipzig, graduated M.A. at Leipzig, 1685, and thereafter lectured on Biblical subjects at Leipzig for some time. About Michaelmas, 1687, he went to Lüneburg to work under the pious superintendent C. H. Sandhagen; and there while composing his first sermon (on St. John xx. 31) he underwent that change which made him call Lüneburg his spiritual birthplace. After spending the greater part of 1688 at Hamburg, he stayed two months with P. J. Spener at Dresden, and then returned about Lent, 1689, to Leipzig, where he resumed his Biblical lectures until the old orthodox party procured an edict forbidding them in the beginning of 1690. On March 10, 1690, he received a call to become diaconus of the Augustine Church at Erfurt, and there, by his stirring exhortations to renewal of heart, living faith and holy life, he drew many, even Roman Catholics, around him, but by a combination of the old orthodox Lutherans with the Romanists he was expelled from Erfurt, Sept. 27, 1691. After a lengthened visit to P. J. Spener, then Probst of St Nicholas's Church, Berlin, he was appointed by the Elector of Brandenburg, Dec. 22, 1691, as professor of Greek and the Oriental languages, and in 1698 ordinary professor of Theology in the University of Halle; being also appointed in 1691 preacher at St. George's Church in Glaucha (suburb of Halle), a post which he exchanged in 1715 for the pastorate of St. Ulrich's, Halle. After his left side was paralysed in Nov. 1726, he patiently endured much suffering till his death on June 8, 1727, at Halle ( Koch , iv. 305-322; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, vii. 219-231). Francke was the spiritual son of P. J. Spener, and became one of the leaders in the " Pietistic" movement which so powerfully influenced Germany, 1680-1750, raised the tone of the community after the depression of the Thirty Years' War, revived the educational system, began systematic provision for the poor, and refined and purified domestic life. Francke was the spiritual leader and teacher, and under him and the band of professors that gathered to Halle, Halle became the headquarters of Pietism. During his time Halle sent out some 6000 graduates in theology, men imbued with his spirit, good exegetes, and devoted pastors, who spread their doctrines all over Germany, and in the early decades of the 18th cent, occupied a majority of the pulpits. The extensive buildings at Halle, which now bear the title of the "Francke Institutions," are a monument of his simple faith and philanthropic zeal. He began at Easter, 1695, by opening a room in his house for instructing the poor children of Glaucha, with a capital of about thirteen shillings. About Whitsuntide, 1695, were the beginnings of the Paedagogium, 1697 of the Latin School, 1698 of the bookselling and apothecary businesses, 1705 of the mission to the East Indies, 1710 of the Bible Society. On a place formerly occupied by beer and dancing gardens, the foundation stone of the great Orphanage was laid July 13, 1698, in a spirit of humble faith in God and fervent prayer, trusting to Him for the means to pay for the work as it progressed; and week by week as they were needed the supplies came in from far and near. In this work, as in regard to his sermons and lectures, Francke had great opposition to meet, but the Commission of Enquiry which his enemies procured resulted in a cabinet order of 1702, which is the Charter of his Institutions. In 1727 there were 134 orphans in the orphanage; and besides these 2207 scholars in the various training schools, of whom some 360, as well as 225 poor students, received daily rations; while in 1863 the value of the buildings was about £45,000., and nearly 3500 scholars received instruction. Distinguished as a professor, as a philanthropist, as a pastor, and as a preacher of gospel simplicity and soul-stirring earnestness, Francke was not prolific as a hymnwriter. Only three hymns are known by him, two of which are:— i. Gottlob em Schritt zur Ewigkeit. New Year, first published in his Schrifftmässige Anweisung recht und Gott wolgefällig zu beten, Halle, 1695, p. 534, in 12 st. of 7 l., as a "Morning and Evening" hymn, entitled "The Voice of the Bride (‘When shall I come and appear before God?’), which she raises as often as she completes a step of her mortal life; and may be used by an upright and believing soul instead of the [usual] morning and evening hymn, as also at other times." Reprinted in the Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Halle, 1697, p. 294, Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704, &c, and is No. 623 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen 1851. According to Koch, viii. 176-179, it was written immediately after his expulsion from Erfurt, Sept 27, 1691, while on his way to his mother's house at Gotha, and "in the experience of the overflowing consolation of the Holy Spirit." In the spirit of his favourite motto, "Quocunque die ante aeternitatem uno stamus pede," and based on 2 Cor. v. 6 and Rev. xxii. 17-20, it is modelled on a hymn by J. V. Andreä, 1636. "Gottlob ein Schritt zur Ewigkeit Ist abermals vorbei." Koch adds that in his lifetime Francke found cases where this hymn had been blessed, that two days before his death he caused the hymn to be read to him, and said, "My faithful Jesus, I have given myself to Thee, soul and body that is sure;" and that on the day on which he died, June 8, 1727, this hymn was one of those sung at the choir meeting at Herrnhut. The translations in common use are :— 1. Thank God, that towards eternity, a full and good translation by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd series, 1858, p. 9. In 1860, 1 l. 1-4 of st. i., iv., vi., viii., greatly altered, and beginning, "Bless God, that towards eternity," were included as No. 74 in the American Episcopal Hymns for Church and Home. 2. Oh wouldst Thou in Thy glory come, a translation of st. iv., vii.-xi., founded by Miss Winkworth on her 1858 version, and given as No. 173 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863. Other translations are: (1) "Another step is made with God," in the Supplement to German Psalmody, ed. 1765, p. 50. Previously in Select Hymns from German Psalmody, Tranquebar, 1754, p. 79. (2) "Thank God! towards Eternity," by J. Gambold, as No. 626 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymnbook, 1754 (1886, No. 1232). (3) "Thank God! another stage of time," by Dr. H. Mills, 1856, p. 227. ii. Was von aussen und von innen. Cross and Consolation. A fine hymn of trust in God, founded on Ps. lxii. 5-8. Written in memory of Eleonore, neé Kubitz, wife of J. H. Michaelis, professor at Halle, and appended to the funeral sermon preached by Francke on Ps. lxii. 2, in St. George's Church, Glaucha, Nov. 1, 1711. Included as No. 500 in Freylinghausen's Neues geistreiches Gesang-Buch, 1714, in 9 st. of 8 l., and recently as No. 2250 in Knapp's Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1837 (1865, No. 1997). Lauxmann, in Koch, viii. 508-512, speaks of this lady as one who suffered severe afflictions, but "what from without or from within pressed on her soul she bore in quiet waiting on the help of the Lord, of Whom she could at last gratefully say 'He hath done all things well.'" Lauxmann adds, "This hymn is also a beautiful clear mirror of Francke's own thought and conversation, heart and life experiences." In his Segensvolle Fussstapfen, 1709, he was able already to relate thirty instances in which the Lord had enabled him to receive, exactly at the time when he needed it, pecuniary help in answer to his prayers during the building and conducting of the great Orphanage at Halle. Of this hymn (which should be read with the history of his great work at Halle) the only translation in common use is:— What within me and without, a good and full translation by Miss Winkworth in the first edition of her Lyra Germanica, 1855, p. 126 (st. iii. being added in the 2nd ed., 1856), and thence as No. 139 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863. With the altered first line, "Lord, Thou art my Rock of strength," three centos are in American common use:— 1. St. ii., iv., vii., ix. in Boardman's Selections, Philadelphia, 1861. 2. St. ii., vii., ix. in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Chorale Book, 1868, Dutch Reformed Hymns of the Church, 1869, and Bichards's Collection, 1881. 3. St. ii., iv., ix. in Robinson's Songs for the Sanctuary, 1865, and the Hymns & Songs of Praise, N. Y., 1874. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

Laurentius Laurenti

1660 - 1722 Hymnal Number: 182 Author of "O Syndere, betænker" in Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika Laurenti, Laurentius, son of Herr Lorenz, or Laurenti, a burgess of Husum, in Schleswig, was born at Husum, June 8, 1660. He entered the University of Rostock in 1681, and after a year and a half spent there, went to Kiel to study music. In 1684 he was appointed cantor and director of the music at the cathedral church at Bremen. He died at Bremen, May 29, 1722 (Koch, iv. 281; Rotermund's continuation of Jöcher's Gelehrten-Lexicon, iii. 1405, &c). Laurenti was one of the best hymn-writers of the Pietistic school. His hymns are founded on the Gospels for Sundays and Festivals, and they draw out the bearing on the Christian life of the leading thoughts therein contained. They are of noble simplicity; are Scriptural, fervent, and often of genuine poetical worth. In Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704 and 1714, no less than 34 are included, and many of these, with others by him, are still in extensive German use. They appeared in his:— Evangelia Melodica, das ist: Geistliche Lieder,und Lobgesange, nach den Sinn der ordentlichen Sonn-und Festages Evangelien, &c. Bremen, 1700 [Royal Library, Berlin], with 148 hymns on the Gospels, and two others. Of his hymns those which have passed into English are:—— i. Du wesentliches Wort. Christmas. Founded on St. John i. 1-12. In his Evangelia Melodica, 1700, p. 30, in 8 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled, "For the Third Day of Christmas." Included in Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704, No. 20; and, recently, as No. 83, in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, 1863. The translations in common use are:— 1. 0 Thou essential Word, Who from. A good translation, omitting st. iii., v., by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, first Ser., 1855, p. 15 (2nd edition, 1856, considerably altered); and repeated, abridged, in Flett's Collection, Paisley, 1871. Varying centos, beginning with st. i., 1. 5, altered to "O Saviour of our race," are found in America, as in Boardman's Selections, Philadelphia, 1861; the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868; and the Dutch Ref. Hymns of the Church, 1869. 2. 0 Thou essential Word, Who wast. By Miss Winkworth, in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 54. This is her 1856 version (as above) rewritten to the original metre. Repeated, in full, in Dr. Thomas's Augustine Hymn Book, 1866, and the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880; and, abridged, in the English Presbyterian Psalms & Hymns, 1867, and Laudes Domini, N. Y., 1884. ii. Ermuntert euch, ihr Frommen. Second Advent. This is his finest hymn. In his Evangelia Melodica, 1700, p. 353, in 10 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled, "For the 27th Sunday after Trinity." It is founded on St. Matt. xxv. 1-13; and unites the imagery of the parable of the Ten Virgins with that of Rev. xx., xxi. Included, as No. 578, in Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704; and, recently, as No. 1519, in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863. The translation in common use is:— Rejoice, all ye believers. By Mrs. Findlater, in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1st Ser., 1854, p. 61 (1884, p. 62), a good translation of st. i.-iii., vii., viii., x. In full, but altered to the original metre, in Schaff’s Christ in Song, 1869 and 1870. This version is found in a large number of English and American hymnals, under the following forms:— (1) Rejoice, all ye believers (st. i.). Varying centos are found in Mercer, 1864, Hymnal Companion, 1876, &c.; and in America in Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872, Evangelical Hymnal, N. Y., 1880, and others. (2)

Nicolaus Selneccer

1530 - 1592 Person Name: Nicolai Selnecker Hymnal Number: 47 Author of "Lad mig nu din forblive" in Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika Selnecker, Nicolaus, D.D., son of Georg Selnecker (Selneccer, Schellenecker, who was protonotarius to the Nürnberg magistracy, but lived at Hersbruck near Nürnberg) was born at Hersbruck Dec. 5, 1532. In 1536 he was removed to Nürnberg, and became during his school time, when only twelve years old, organist at the chapel in the Kaiserburg there. He went to the university of Wittenberg in 1550 (where he became a favourite pupil of Melanchthon), graduated M.A. on July 31, 1554, and subsequently lectured as a privat-docent, sometimes to 200 students. In the end of 1557 he was appointed second court preacher at Dresden, and tutor to the heir apparent Prince Alexander, having also to supervise the education of the choirboys of the royal chapel. He was ordained at Wittenberg Jan. 6, 1558. The principal theologians at the Saxon court at that time were inclined to follow Melanchthon's lead and to approximate to Calvin's teachings regarding Consubstantiation. When therefore Selnecker thought it his duty openly to declare his adhesion to strict Lutheranism, he found his position almost untenable. When Martin Hoffmann of the Neustadt church in Dresden preached against the Elector August's passion for game preserving, Selnecker took Hoffmann's part. His enemies took advantage of this, and managed so that after Hoffmann had been expelled from Dresden, in August, 1564, Selnecker was requested to seek work elsewhere. He preached his farewell sermon at Dresden on March 15, 1565, and on the 26th he entered on his new office of Professor of Theology at Jena. After the siege of Gotha, Duke Johann Wilhelm of Saxony recalled Wigand and other professors of Theology who had been expelled from Jena, in 1561, as adherents of Flaeius; and Selnecker, not being so extreme a Lutheran as they, had to leave Jena. Thereupon the Elector August again received him into favour, appointed him professor of Theology at Leipzig, and also pastor of St. Thomas's church and Superintendent of Leipzig. He entered on his duties at Leipzig in August 1568, and for some time worked quietly and successfully. In July 1570 the Elector acceded to the request of Duke Julius of Brunswick for Selnecker's services, and gave Selnecker leave of absence to go to Wolfenbüttel as court preacher and general superintendent. Here he succeeded in inducing the clergy to receive the so-called Saxon Confession, and persevered in zealous visitations of churches, schools, &c. After 1572 he resided at Gandersheim, took an interest in the Gymnasium there, &c. In 1573 he also visited, and drew up a book of Church Order and Discipline for the district of Oldenburg-Jever. But in Brunswick, what with Martin Chemnitz the Superintendent of Brunswick, who was a High Lutheran, the Duke who wished for peace, and the other General Superintendent at Wolfenbüttel, Selnecker found it a difficult matter to work comfortably, and was himself accused of Crypto-Calvinism. He therefore gladly accepted the Elector August's recall to Leipzig, and began to lecture there again in Feb. 1574. In 1576 he was once more appointed pastor of St. Thomas's Church, and Superintendent. At Leipzig the sacramental controversy broke out afresh, and Selnecker became deeply involved therein, lie was then engaged in drawing up the Formula of Concord (meant to unite the Lutherans, but to exclude the Romanists on one hand, and the Calvinists on the other), which was finally revised on May 29, and published on July 22, 1577. The Formula of Concord was so far a success that it was very largely subscribed, but at the same time its authors, and specially Selnecker, were subjected to the most violent abuse both from the High Lutherans and from the Galvinists, so much so that he called 1579 his "year of patience and silence." For a few years immediately thereafter his life was a more peaceful one, and he found time to devote to poetry and music. At this time he assisted greatly in the building up of the famous Motett Choir of St. Thomas's Church, which J. S. Bach afterwards conducted. But on the death of the Elector August in 1586 the real direction of affairs passed into the hands of Dr. Nicolaus Crell, Chancellor to the Elector Christian I., and under his rule the Lutheran clergy were gradually displaced by Melanchthonians and Crypto-Calvinists. When the new court preacher Salmuth began to issue a German Bible with notes in which he clearly taught Calvinism and impugned the Formula of Concord, Selnecker published a pamphlet in opposition, and was in consequence deprived of his offices on May 17, 1589. For a time he stayed on in his own house in Leipzig, and used his pen in controversy. But after haying received, on Oct. 22, notice to cease writing, he thought it prudent to leave Leipzig, He found many sympathisers, and after a short time spent in Halle and then in Magdeburg, he accepted the appointment of Superintendent at Hildesheim. Here he had many anxious and weighty matters to settle, and was finally called on, in 1591, to arbitrate in matters of dispute at Augsburg. Returning from Augsburg in stormy December weather, and being worn out and seriously ill, he reached Hildesheim half dead, and was confined to his room till April. Meantime the Elector Christian I. had suddenly died, and his widow, after deposing the Chancellor Crell, proceeded to recall those whom Crell had banished. Selnecker, spite of his weakness, welcomed the idea of returning to Leipzig, left Hildesheim on May 9, and reached Leipzig on May 19; but only to die. He died at Leipzig, May 24, 1592. Seluecker, as we have seen, was a prominent figure in the ecclesiastical history of Germany in the latter half of the sixteenth century, and a good illustration of the extremes to which theological controversies were then carried. He was the author of some 175 theological and controversial works, in German and Latin, perhaps the most important being his Institutio Religionis Christianae, Frankfurt, 1572-73. He also ranks, with Helmbold and Ringwaldt, among the most important hymnwriters of the period. Amid the manifold changes and chances of his life he found inspiration and consolation in the study of and recourse to the Psalter, and in his love of music. In Latin verse he published a Scriptural play on the Fall of our First Parents, entitled Theophiania, &c, Wittenberg, 1560 [Brit. Mus.], and a version of the Psalms as Paraphrasis Psalterii, Heinrichstadt, 1573…His German hymns partake for the most part of the objective churchly character of the hymns of the Reformation period, and indeed contain many reminiscences of them. Of the rest, many only too faithfully mirror the misfortunes and changes and conflicts of his life, and are full of personal matter and careless in style. Still there remain not a few worthy of note, in which a genuine piety, a deep and fervent love to the Saviour, and a zeal for the best interests of His Church on earth, are expressed in clear, flowing and musical style. The hymns by Selnecker which have passed into English are:— i. Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ. Peace and Orthodoxy. It has sometimes been said of this hymn that st. i., ii. are by Selnecker, and that the rest are a later addition. The opposite however is the case. The full form appeared in theGeistliche Psalmen, &c, Nürnberg, 1611, p. 597, in 9 stanzas, viz.:— 1. Ach bleib bey uns, Herr Jesu Christ. 2. In diser schweren betrübten Zeit. 3. Herr Jesu, hilff, dein Kirch erhalt. 4. Erhalt unns nun bey deinem Wort. 5. Ach Gott es geht gar libel zu. 6. Den stoltzen Geistern wehre doch. 7. Die Sach und Ehr, Herr Jesu Christ. 8. Dein Wort ist unsers Hertzens Trutz. 9. Gib dass wir leben in deim Wort. The text of 1611 is in H. Thiele's ed. of Selnecker's Geistliche Lieder, 1855, p. 31, and in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 408. The translations in common use from this text:— 1. Lord Jesus with Thy children stay. This is a tr. of st. 1, 2, 8, 6, 9, 3 by J. Swertner in the Moravian Hymn Book 1789, No. 6 (1886, No. 6). 2. Ah Jesu Christ, with us abide. This is a good tr. of st. 1-5, 9, by Dr. Kennedy as No. 41 in his Hymnologia Christiana 1863, repeated in Holy Song, 1869. 3. Lord Jesu Christ, with us abide, For round us fall, &c. By Miss Winkworth, of st. 1, 2, in her Chorale Book for England. 4. Forsake us not, 0 Lord be near. Other trs. are-—(1) Abide with us, O Jesu dear," as No. 336, in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. (2) "Lord Jesu Christ, with us abide, 'Tis now." By H. J. Buckoll, 1842, p. 69. (3) "With us, Lord Jesus Christ, abide." By Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 61. ii. Christus der wahre Gottes Sohn. Holy Baptism. Translated as:— Now Christ, the very Son of God. iii. Hilf, Herr, mein Gott, in dieser Noth. Cross and Consolatio. In hisChristliche Psalmen, 1587, in 15 lines entitled "Anno 1565. God knows why." It was probably written during his last months at Dresden. It has indeed been said to have been written to comfort Martin Hoffmann, diaconus of the Holy Cross Church at Dresden, on his expulsion after preaching about the Elector August's passion for hunting and game preserving; but the hymn is dated 1565, and Hoffmann left Dresden in August, 1564. The form translated into English is:— Hilf, Helffer, hilf in Angst und Noth. The translations are:— 1. My Helper, aid: Thy mercy show. By A. T. Russell, in full, as No. 223 in his Psalms and Hymns. 1851. 2. Help, Saviour! help, in fear and need By E. Cronenwett, in full, as No. 410 in the OhioLutheran Hymnal 1880. 3. Help, Jesus, help! in woe, in need. By Miss Manington in her Footprints of the Holy Dead, &c, 1863, p. 8. iv. Lass mich dein sein und bleiben. Close of Service. This is a beautiful stanza of 8 lines which is very frequently used in Germany at the close of Divine service. It was written as his daily prayer . The translations are:— 1. Let me be Thine for ever, My gracious. This is a tr. of st. i.-iii. by Dr. M. Loy as No. 230 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. 2. Make me Thine own and keep me Thine. By Miss Winkworth in her Christian Singers of Germany, 1869, p. 152. v. 0 Herre Gott, in meiner Noth. For the Dying. Founded on Ps. cxvi. 9. Translated as:—- 0 Lord my God, I cry to Thee. This is a good and full tr. by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Germanica 2nd Ser. 1858, p. 212, and her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 192. vi. Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ, Dass du gen Himmel gefahren bist. Ascension. The translation in common use is:— We thank Thee, Jesus! dearest Friend, that Thou didst. Other trs. are—- (1) “Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee now." This is No. 334, in pt. i., of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. (2) "To Thee, our Lord, all praise be given." vii. Wir danken dir, o treuer Gott. Absolution. Translated as:— O Faithful God, thanks be to Thee. By C. H. L. Schnette, in full, as No. 246 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal 1880. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Ernst Christoph Homburg

1605 - 1681 Person Name: Ernst Homburg Hymnal Number: 339 Author of "Jesus er mit Liv i Live" in Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika Ernst C. Homburg (b. Mihla, near Eisenach, Germany, 1605; d. Naumberg, Germany, 1681) wrote most of his hymns for his own devotions. He described this eight-stanza text as a "hymn of thanksgiving to his Redeemer and Savior for his bitter sufferings." In early life, Homburg was a writer of love and drinking songs. After a difficult time of family illness he experienced a religious conversion, and his poetry took a more serious turn. A lawyer by profession, he wrote hymns to express and strengthen his own faith rather than for public use. Some 150 of his hymn texts were published in his Geistliche Lieder. Bert Polman ====================== Homburg, Ernst Christoph, was born in 1605, at Mihla, near Eisenach. He practised at Nauraburg, in Saxony, as Clerk of the Assizes and Counsellor. In 1648 ho was admitted a member of the Fruitbearing Society, and afterwards became a member of the Elbe Swan Order founded by Rist in 1660. He died at Naumburg, Juno 2, 1681. (Koch, iii. 388, 392; Allegemeine Deutsche Biographie, xiii. 43, 44.) By his contemporaries Homburg was regarded as a poet of the first rank. His earlier poems, 1638-1653, were secular, including many love and drinking songs. Domestic troubles arising from the illnesses of himself and of his wife, and other afflictions, led him to seek the Lord, and the deliverances he experienced from pestilence and from violence led him to place all his confidence on God. The collected edition of his hymns appeared in two parts at Jena and Naumburg, 1659, pt. i. as his Geistlicher Lieder, Erster Theil, with 100 hymns [engraved title, Naumburg, 1658]; and pt. ii. as the Ander Theil with 50 hymns. In the preface he speaks of them as his "Sunday labours," and says, "I was specially induced and compelled" to their composition" by the anxious and sore domestic afflictions by which God.....has for some time laid me aside." They are distinguished for simplicity, firm faith, and liveliness, but often lack poetic vigour and are too sombre. Two of his hymns have passed into English, viz.:— i. Ach wundergrosser Sieges-Held. Ascension. 1659, pt. i. p. 400, in 6 stanzas of 11 lines, entitled, "On the Ascension of Jesus Christ." In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 327. The translations are: (l) “O wondrous Conqueror and Great," by Miss Burlingham, in the British Herald, Oct. 1865, p. 153, and Reid's Praise Book, 1872, No. 445. (2) "O glorious Saviour, conquering King," by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 272. ii. Jesu meines Lebens Leben. Passiontide. 1659, pt. i. p. 318, in 8 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled, "Hymn of Thanksgiving to his Redeemer and Saviour for His bitter Sufferings." This is his most popular hymn, and has passed into many recent collections, including the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863. Translated as:— 1. Jesu! life! the life of heaven. Translation of stanzas i., ii., vi.-viii., by A. T. Russell, for his Psalms & Hymns, 1851, No. 88. 2. Of my life the Life, 0 Jesus. A good translation of stanzas i., ii., v., vii., viii., contributed by R. Massie to the 1857 edition of Mercer's The Church Psalter & Hymnbook, No. 404 (Ox. ed. 1864, No. 185), repeated in the Methodist New Connexion Hymn Book, 1863. 3. Christ the life of all the living. A good translation of stanzas i., ii., v., vii., viii., by Miss Winkworth, in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 49. Repeated in full in Dr. Thomas's Augustine Hymn Book, 1866, and the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal 1880; and abridged in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Ch. Book., 1868, the Hymnary , 1872, and others. 4. Thou eternal life bestowest. Translations of stanzas i.-iii., viii., by Miss Borthwick, contributed to Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, No. 73, and repeated in Hymns from the Land of Luther, ed. 1884, p. 257. Other translations are: (1) "Jesu, Source of my Salvation," by J. C. Jacobi, 1732, p. 29, repeated in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754 (1886, No. 97). (2) "Jesus! Source of life eternal," by Miss Burlingham, in the British Herald, Aug. 1865, p. 120, and Reid's Praise Book, 1872, No. 389. (3) "Jesus, of my life the living," by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 198. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)