Angelus, Johann—1624-1677—whose real name was Scheffler, native of Breslau, physician in ordinary to the Emperor Ferdinand the Third. In the year 1653 he resigned this post, went over to the Romish Church, and became a priest, having previously, by a singular fancy, assumed the name of Angelus.

Arndt, Ernst Moritz—born in Pomerania; in 1806 professor of philosophy at Greifswald, in 1816 professor of history at Bonn. From having been a writer of popular songs, he became a writer of sacred ones. The hymn ‘Geht nun hin und grabt mein Grab,’ here selected, must be reckoned one of the greatest gems of sacred poetry of the century.

Brunswick, Anton Ulrich, Duke of—1633-1714—pupil of the learned Schottelius; a learned prince, who was a popular writer of his time.

BÜrde, Samuel Gottlieb—1763-?—native of Breslau, royal secretary to the board of finances at that place.

Dach, Simon—1605-1659—a Prussian, born at Memel, professor of poetry at KÖnigsberg.

Denicke, David—1603-1680—a Saxon, native of Zittau, a member of the Consistory at Hanover.

Edeling, Christian Ludwig, a Saxon, native of LÖbegÜn, in Saalkreis, tutor to Count Zinzendorf, afterwards a clergyman at Schwanebeck, near Halberstadt, where he died in 1742.

FouquÉ, Friedrich Freiherr, de la Motte, born, in 1777, at Neubrandenberg. He is still living at Berlin, the worthy and distinguished descendant of the brave, intellectual, and pious general of Frederick the Great; he has given a beautiful and lasting memorial of his poetical spirit, and his Christian mind, in the hymn ‘Was du vor tausend Jahren.’

Freylinghausen, Johann Anastasius—1670-1739—born at Gandersheim, in WolfenbÜttel; a clergyman, and director of the Orphan Asylum at Halle.

Gellert, Christian FÜrchtegott—1715-1769—a Saxon, native of Haynichen, in Erzgebirge, and son of the minister of that place. He studied theology, in distressed circumstances, at Leipzig, but his bad health did not allow him to preach. He lived at Leipzig, and gave lectures (first as a master of arts and afterwards as extraordinary professor) on eloquence and moral philosophy, and gained as universally the reputation of an author and a pattern of pure taste, as he did love and esteem as a man and a Christian, by his integrity of conduct, and his unaffected piety and humility. Composing hymns was his favourite employment, in which, together with prayer, he spent the happiest hours of his life of suffering. All his hymns speak the simple Christian poet of the people, and many of them have lasting classic merit. His death, as was his life, was worthy of a Christian. When, in his last illness, his friends told him, in answer to his question, that the struggle between life and death might probably last an hour, he lifted up his hands with a cheerful countenance, exclaimed, “Now, God be praised, only an hour!” turned on his side, his eyes gleaming with joy, and gently breathed his last.

Gerhard, Paul—1606-1676—native of GrÄfenhaynichen, in the circle of the Electorate; a zealous preacher of the gospel, and a devout Christian. That personality of expression which stamps his hymns, represents most completely the character of the German people; profound and cheerful, firm and full of repose; for which reason his hymns are the most popular. If the Church had to select only one psalmist, it must be Paul Gerhard, whose hymns are so numerous, that they would almost alone form a hymn-book.

Heermann, Johann—1585-1647—a native of Silesia, born at Rauden, the son of a furrier, early destined for the Church by his pious mother. He was minister at Koban, in FÜrstenthum Glogau, but his bad health obliged him to resign his appointment, and he spent the last thirteen years of his life at Lissa. Being much tried during the horrors of the thirty years’ war, in which he several times almost miraculously escaped being murdered, his mind became more spiritually enlightened through his bodily sufferings, in the midst of which he wrote the greater number of his hymns, which are a true picture of his pious, humble, and prayerful soul. He dedicated them ‘Seinen lieben Kindern’ (to his dear children).

Hermann, Nicolaus, called the pious old ‘Cantor’[2] of Joachimsthal (in Voigtland), a devout writer of hymns. He was the intimate friend of the pious minister of Joachimsthal, Matthesius, whose sermons often inspired him with a hymn on the same text. He died in 1561, at a very advanced age.

Lange, Ernst—1650-1727—of Dantzic, member of the town-council of that place. His hymns appeared in 1701.

Lavater, Johann Caspar—1741-1801—minister in his native town, Zuric, who, with many infirmities and peculiarities, was an active and sincere Christian, and a talented orator, writer, and sacred poet. He died, after having performed the most blessed actions, and having been tried with many afflictions, which he bore with piety and constancy, in consequence of a fatal shot, which a French soldier maliciously aimed at him, after the storming of Zuric in 1799, as he was consoling and administering to the wants of the sufferers, in the streets. His hymns are numerous, and have been repeatedly printed.

Liebich, Ehrenfried—1713-1780—born at Liegnitzischen, minister at Jauerschen, who wrote two hundred and thirty-six hymns. They are very beautiful, and resemble those of Schmolck, but have not his peculiar vigour.

LÖwe, Johann Friedrich—1729-1771—native of Clausthal, on the Harz; a poet and a learned jurist, who lived at Hamburg; his hymns, which resemble those of Gellert, were published in 1770.

Luther, Doctor Martin—1483-1546—the great instrument of God, father and master of the art of hymn-writing, and of German poetry. ‘Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein,’ here selected, is a free paraphrase of the 12th Psalm, a call of the Church, founded on God’s word, for aid and protection against those who despised and corrupted it, written in 1523.

MÜller, Michael—1673-1704—native of Blankenberg, who lived at Wirtemburg.

Neander, Joachim—1610-1680—latterly minister of his native town, Bremen, previous to which he was a professor at DÜsseldorf, where his love for the Lord Jesus, and his preaching vital Christianity raised persecution against him. He is the first writer of hymns of any importance of the reformed Church, and may be called the psalmist of the New Covenant, as his sacred songs are entitled, ‘Bundeslieder’ (Songs of the Covenant). Like David and Luther, he was great in the composition of tunes as well as words.

Neumann, Gottfried—1740-1815—a friend of “the community of Brethren,” who was living in 1778, at Meerholz.

Neuss, Heinrich Georg—1664-1716—native of Elbingerode, superintendent[3] at Wernigerode. He published one hundred and thirty-four hymns in his ‘Hebopfer,’ (heave-offering).

Olearius, Johann—whose real name was OelschlÄger—1611-1684—of Halle, chaplain to the king and superintendent-general at Weissenfels, a learned theologian. His numerous hymns stamp him as the Gellert of his time. With true scriptural singleness of heart, an ardent Christian mind, and great abilities, he endeavoured to restore the sublime simplicity of the church-hymns, and to put fresh vigour into their style. This gave him, as it did Gellert eighty-six years later, a great influence over the hymn-books, in which many of his writings were soon adopted.

Oswald, Heinrich Siegmund—who published in 1793, “Gedichte und Lieder fÜrs Herz,” which shew a beautiful Christian mind; he was still living in Breslau, as king’s privy counsellor, in 1827. From the “Schwanen-lieder,” (swan’s songs) of this venerable old man, is taken “Wem in Leidenstagen.”

Rist, Johann—1607-1667—of the province of Holstein, born at Ottensen, near Altona, member of the ecclesiastical council and minister at Wedel; one of the most celebrated and influential poets of his time. He was, in the pulpit, as well as in sacred poetry, a zealous preacher of Christianity, and was consequently attacked by the zealots of his time, because he did not preach enough upon matters in dispute, and against erroneous doctrine. To this he replied, that, “In his parish there were scarcely two persons who held erroneous doctrine, but there were many who led sinful lives.” He had great trials in his youth, and in his later years he suffered from pillage, pestilence, and all the horrors of war. “The blessed cross,” he says, “has produced from me many hymns.” Though a great number of his hymns were adopted by many churches even during his life-time, he would never suffer them to be sung in his own church, with the exception of a Christmas hymn, which, on one occasion, he allowed the children of the school to practise, and to begin to sing on that festival, “wenn das Volk aus der Kirche zu gehen beginnt,” as the people were beginning to go out of church.

Ritter, Jacob—1627-1669—a native of Magdeburg, and a secretary at Halle.

Sacer, Gottfried Wilhelm—1635-1699—a native of Naumburg, who was at his death an advocate and privy-counsellor at WolfenbÜttel, distinguished in his official duties by a strict conscientiousness, and the most unbounded benevolence. He wrote the greater number of his hymns whilst a student at the university of Greifswald. Only a part of them appeared during his life-time: they were collected and published in 1714, and immediately procured him the reputation of a distinguished poet.

Schenk, Theodor—born at Alsfeld, died in 1727 whilst minister of the town of Giessen.

Schiebeler, Daniel—1741-1771—an advocate and a poet, who resided in his native city, Hamburg.

Schmolck, Benjamin—1672-1737—a Silesian, born at Brauchitschdorf, minister at Schweidnitz; a man of great piety, and very influential in his day. Most of his hymns (and they were above a thousand in number) are distinguished by a truly poetical and peculiar genius. Their characteristic is a simplicity and sincerity, which emulates that of Paul Gerhard, but without his sublimity.

SchrÖder, Johann Heinrich—native of Calenberg; in 1696 he was minister at Magdeburg.

Stark, Johann Friedrich—1680-1756—born at Hildesheim, a member of the Consistory at Frankfort. His hymns are very numerous; he was likewise a very popular writer of religious tracts.

Tersteegen, Gerhard—1697-1769—born at MÖrs; he resided at MÜlheim an der Ruhr, as a ribbon-maker; a gentle heaven-inspired soul, whose hymns are the reflection of a heavenly, happy life, his mind being full of a childlike simplicity.

Wegleiter, Christoph—1659-1709—born at Nuremburg, professor of Theology at Altorf.

WÜlffer, Daniel—1617-1685—born at Nuremburg, a professor and minister in that city. The hymn “O Ewigkeit, O Ewigkeit,” is a serious and pious consideration of, and apostrophe to, Eternity, which in the last verse replies to man. The first seven verses, as far as the words “O lange Freud, O langes Leid,” WÜlffer found in an old hymn-book, perhaps the Catholic hymn-book of Cologne; he improved them, and added the spirited conclusion.

Zinzendorf und Pottendorf, Nicolaus Ludwig, Count of—1708-1760—the great founder of “the Community of Brethren,” who was born a sacred poet.

Zwick, Johann—of Kostnitz, who died about 1542; he was first a jurist, and afterwards a theologian and minister in his native city; a pious and learned man.