Person Results

Switch back to the old search page.Advanced Search

Showing 61 - 70 of 118Results Per Page: 10 20 50

Johannes Zwick

1496 - 1542 Person Name: Johann Zwick Hymnal Number: 51 Author of "Auf diesen Tag bedenken wir" in Ein Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch Zwick, Johann, son of Conrad Zwick, Rathsherr at Constanz, was born at Constanz, circa 1496. He studied law at the Universities of Basel, Freiburg, Paris, and Padua (where he graduated LL.D.), and was for some time a tutor in law at Freiburg and at Basel. In 1518 he entered the priesthood, and in 1522 was appointed parish priest of Riedlingen on the Upper Danube. Being accused of Lutheran tendencies, he was forbidden in 1523 to officiate, and in 1525 his living was formally taken from him. He returned to Constanz, and was appointed by the Council in 1527 as one of the town preachers. Here he laboured unweariedly, caring specially for the children, the poor, and the refugees, till 1542. In Aug. 1542, the people of Bischofszell, in Thurgau, having lost their pastor by the pestilence, besought Constanz to send them a preacher; and Zwick, proceeding there, preached and visited the sick till he himself fell a victim to the pestilence, and died there Oct. 23, 1542 (Koch, ii., 76; Herzog's Real-Encyklopädie, xvii. 578, &c). Zwick was one of the leaders of the Swiss Reformation. He ranks next to Blaurer as the most important of the early hymnwriters of the Reformed Church. His hymns are collected in Wackernagel, iii., Nos. 672-696. The best appeared in the Nüw gsangbüchle von vil schönen Psalmen und geistlichen liedern, published at Zurich, 1536 (2nd edition 1540 is the earliest now extant), of which he was the chief editor, and which was the first hymn-book of the Reformed Church. The only hymn by Zwick which has passed into English is:— Auf diesen Tag so denken wir. Ascension. This probably appeared in the Nüw gsangbüchle, Zürich, 1536; and is certainly in the 2nd ed. of 1540, from which it is quoted In Wackernagel, iii. p. 608, in 5 stanzas of 7 lines, with "Alleluia." It is also in (2) the Strassburg Psalmen und geystliche Lieder, 1537, f. 99b, and in (3) S. Salminger's (J. Aberlin's?) Der gantz Psalter, &c.(Zürich?), 1537, f. 146 [British Museum]. In each case it is entitled "Another hymn on the Ascension of Christ," while in 1540 the first line is given as "Uff disen tag so dencken wir," in 1537 (2) as "Uf disen tag so dencken wir," and in 1537 (3) as "Auff disen tag so dencke wir." It is the finest of Zwick's hymns, and its spirit of joyful faith, its conciseness, and its beauty of form, have kept it in use among the Lutherans as well as among the Reformed. It is No. 153 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851. The translations are:— 1. Raise your devotion, mortal tongues. 2. To-day our Lord went up on high. By Miss Winkworth, omitting stanza iii., in her Lyra Germanica 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 46. Repeated in Schaff’s Christ in Song, 1869 and 1870, and the Schaff-Gilman Library of Religious Poetry, 1881. 3. Aloft to heaven, we songs of praise. This is a free translation, in 4 stanzas of 6 lines, by Dr. G. Walker, in his Hymns from German, 1860, p. 30. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

David Denicke

1603 - 1680 Hymnal Number: 132 Author of "Hilf, Gott, dass ja die [unsre] Kinderzucht" in Ein Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch Denicke, David, son of B. D. Denicke, Town Judge of Zittau, Saxony, was born at Zittau, January 31, 1603. After studying philosophy and law at the Universities of Wittenberg and Jena, he was for a time tutor of law at Königsberg, and, 1624-1628, travelled in Holland, England and France. In 1629 he became tutor to the sons of Duke Georg of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and under father and sons held various important offices, such as, 1639, the direction of the foundation of Bursfeld, and in 1642 a member of the Consistory at Hannover. He died at Hannover, April 1, 1680 (Koch, iii. 237; Bode, p. 58). His hymns, which for that time were in good taste, and are simple, useful, warm, and flowing, appeared in the various Hannoverian hymnbooks, 1646-1659, which he edited along with J. Gesenius (q.v.). All appeared there without his name. Those translated are:—i. Wenn ich die heilgen zehn Gebot. Ten Commandments. Contributed to the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1652, No. 69, as a hymn on the Ten Commandments, in 22 stanza of 4 1., stanzas i.-x. being a confession of sins against them, and stanzas xi.-xxii. a medi¬tation and prayer for God's mercy. Included in Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica, 1661, in Freylinghausen's Gesang Buch, 1714, and recently in a few collections, as Sarnighausen's Gesang Buch, 1855, No. 164, and the Ohio Gesang Buch, 1865, No. 182. It is translated as Almighty Lord of earth and heaven. By C. H. L. Schnette, as No. 206 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. Stanzas i.-iv. are literal; stanzas v.-vii. seem based on v., vii., xvi., xvii. Hymns not in English common use:— ii. Ach treuer Gott! ich ruf zu dir . [Christian Life .] 1st published in the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1652, No. 135, in 17 st. This is translated as:—(1) “My God! I call upon Thy name," by Miss Cox, 1841, p. 177. (2) "Most holy God! to thee I cry," by Lady E. Fortescue, 1843 (1847, p. 69). iii. Kommt, lasst euch den Herren lehren . [ The Beatitudes,] 1st published in the Hannover Gesang Buch , 1648, in 11 st., No. 133. It may have been suggested by J. Heermann's "Kommt ihr Christen, kommt und höret" (9 st. in his Sontags- und Fest-Evangelia, Leipzig, 1638; Mützell, 1858, No. 94), but has only 3 lines in common with it. In the Nürnberg Gesang Buch , 1676, No. 962, and many later hymnbooks, it begins : "kommt und lasst uns Jesum lehren." It is translated as "Come and hear our blessed Saviour," by J. C. Jacobi, 1722, p. 46. In his 2nd edition, 1732, p. 75, altered and beginning “Come, and hear the sacred story," and thence in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1754, pt. i., No. 469; stanzas x., xi. beginning, "Jesus, grant me to inherit," being repeated in later editions and as No. 423 in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841. iv. Was kann ich doch fiir Dank. [Praise and Thanksgiving] 1st publised in the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1648, in 8 st., No. 154. Stanza vii. is altered from “Herr Jesu, führe mich," by J. Heermann (Devoti Musica Cordis); Breslau, 1630; Mützell, 1858, No. 57. Translated as "What, thanks can I repay?" by J. C. Jacobi, 1725, p. 46 (1732, p. 147). v. Wir Menschen sein zu dem, O Gott. [Holy Scripture."] 1st published in the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1659, No. 180, in 10 stanzas. Founded on the Gospel for Sexagesima Sunday—St. Luke viii. 4, &c. Translated as:—(1) "Give us Thy Spirit, Lord, that we," a translation of stanza iii. by J. Swertner, as No. 8 in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1789 (1886, No. 9). (2) "Let the splendour of Thy word," a translation of stanza ix. by J. Swertner, as No. 15, in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1789. (1886, No. 17). [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

Ehrenfried Liebich

1713 - 1780 Hymnal Number: 314 Author of "O dass doch bei [bey] der reichen Ernte" in Ein Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch Liebich, Ehrenfried, was born July 15, 1713, at Probsthain, near Goldberg, Silesia, where his father was a miller. He assisted his father in the mill up to his sixteenth year, and was thereafter allowed to study at the Latin school at Schweidnitz, and the St. Elisabeth school at Breslau. At Easter, 1738, he entered the University of Leipzig as a student of Theology, and on concluding his course in 1740, was for some time engaged in private tuition. In April, 1742, he became pastor at Lomnitz and Erdmannsdorf, near Hirschberg, Silesia, and remained there till his death on June 23, 1780 (Koch, vi. 391; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xviii. 584, &c). Liebich is one of the best German hymn-writers of the middle of the 18th century; Scriptural, heartfelt, and good in style, always edifying, if sometimes too didactic. He had begun hymn-writing about 1749, and contributed 8 hymns to the Hirschberg Gesang-Buch, 1752. A copy of this book fell into the hands of C. F. Gellert during a visit to Carlsbad in 1763, and through his encouragement Liebich began again to compose hymns. He published his compositions as: (1) Geistliche Lieder und Oden, &c, Hirschberg and Leipzig, 1768, with 142 hymns. (2) New ed., Liegnitz, 1773; with a second part, entitled, Geistliche Lieder zur Erbauung, Liegnitz, 1774, with 94 hymns. A considerable number of his hymns passed into German common use, and still hold their place. Those which have been translated into English are:— i. Dir, dir, du Geber aller Gaben. Harvest Thanksgiving. 1768, p. 128, in 16 st. of 6 1., entitled, "The Goodness of God in the Harvest." This has passed into English through the following forms. 1. O dass doch bei der reichen Ernte. This is st. xi.-xvi., as altered by J. S. Diterich, in the Berlin Gesang-Buch, 1780, No. 172 ; repeated in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863. From this form the recasts of st. xii.-xvi., beginning, “Kommt, Christen, Gottes Huld zu feiern," were included, as No. 250, in Bunsen's Versuch, 1833, and translated as: Come, Christians, praise your Maker's goodness. A good translation from Bunsen, by Miss Winkworth, as No. 181, in her Chorale Book for England; repeated in the Ohio Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal,1880. 2. Wir kommen deine Huld zu feiern. This is a very greatly altered form of st. xii. ff., as No. 850, in the Berlin Gesang-Buch, 1829; retaining little either from Liebich or Diterich. It is repeated in Bunsen's Versuch, 1833, No. 666, and the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, No. 543. The translation in common use from this form is:— We come, our hearts with gladness glowing. A good translation from the text of 1829, by Miss Cox, in her Sacred Hymns from the German, 1841, p. 199; repeated, abridged, in the American Unitarian Hymns for the Church of Christ, Boston, 1853, and in Archdeacon Pott's Collection, 1861. Another translation is: "O Lord, Thy goodness we adore," by Lady E. Fortescue, 1843, p. 29. ii. Gott ist getreu! Sein Herz, sein Vaterherz. Trust in God. 1768, p. 181, in 9 st. of 9 lines, entitled, "The faithful God, 1 Cor. x. 13." It is a beautiful hymn, and has been specially appreciated in Württemberg, where it is found in the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1791, No. 24 (1842, No. 45). Lauxmann, in Koch, viii. 416, says it was the favourite hymn of J. C. F. Steudel, Professor of Theology at Tübingen, who died 1837; was sung by the Württemberg contingent at a field service near Toul, in August, 18-70, during the Franco-German War, &c. The translations are:— 1. Our God is true! Them He will ne'er forsake. In full, by Dr. H. Mills, in his Horae Germanica, 1845 (1856, p. 182); repeated, abridged, in the American Lutheran General Synod's Collection, 1852, and the Ohio Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. 2. My God is true! His heart, a Father's heart. A good and full translation by R. Massie, in his Lyra Domestica, 2nd Ser., 1864, p. 119; repeated, in full, in Reid's Praise Book, 1872; and abridged in the Ibrox Hymnal, 1871. iii. Hier ist mein Herz! Mein Gott, ich geb' es dir. Self-surrender to God. 1768, p. 79, in 9 st. of 9 1. (11. 1, 9 of each st. being "Hier ist mein Herz"), entitled, “Surrender of the heart to God," and suggested by Proverbs xxiii. 26. Included, as No. 763, in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863. Translated as :— Here is my heart! my God I give it Thee. A good translation, omitting st. iv., by Mrs. Findlater, in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1st Ser., 1854, p. 16 (1884, p. 21). Included, in full, in Boardman's Selections, Philadelphia, U.S., 1861; Lyra Eucharistica, 1863 and 1864, &c. The translations of st. i.-iii., v., reduced to 6 8's, and beginning, "Here is my heart, I give it Thee," were included in the American Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858; and, repeated, omitting st. ii., in the Christian Hymn Book, Cincinnati, 1865. iv. So bringen wir den Leib zur Ruh. Burial. 1774, p. 204, in 12 st., entitled, "At the burial of a corpse." In the Bavarian Gesang-Buch., 1854, No. 229, beginning "Nun bringen wir." Translated as, "This body, weary and distressed," by Dr. H. Harbaugh, in the German Reformed Guardian, June, 1863, p. 187. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Michael Franck

1609 - 1667 Hymnal Number: 98 Author of "Sei Gott getreu, halt seinen Bund" in Ein Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch Franck, Michael, son of Sebastian Franck, merchant at Schleusingen, was born at Schleusingen, March 16, 1609. At the Gymnasium of his native town he made good progress, but at his father's death it was found possible only to give his brothers Sebastian and Peter a university education. Michael was accordingly apprenticed to a baker, and in 1628 became a master baker at Schleusingen. Reduced to poverty by the sufferings of war, he fled in 1640 to Coburg, was there kindly received by one of the master bakers, and in 1644, somewhat unexpectedly, was appointed master of the lower classes in the town school. He died at Coburg Sept. 24, 1667 (Koch, iii. 435-441; Allg. Deutsche Biog. , vii. 259-260). He was a friend of Dach and Neumark; was in 1659 crowned by Rist as a poet, and afterwards received into his order of Elbe Swans. In his times of trial he found consolation in hymn writing. While many of his pieces are crude in form and expression, some are yet popular in style, and are full of faith. The best of his hymns probably is:— Ach wie flüchtig! ach wie nichtig. For the Dying. Appeared as the third of three hymns by Franck, published with music in four parts at Coburg, 1652, entitled Die Eitelkeit, Falschheit und Unbeständigkeit der Welt [Wernigerode], in 13 stanzas. In his Geistliches Harpffen-Spiel, Coburg, 1657 [Gotha], No. 24 with the motto “Der Mensch und all sein Thun must mit der Zeit hergehn; Wer Gott und Gottesfurcht recht liebt, wird ewig stehn." Repeated in Crüger's Praxis, 1661, No. 530, and many subsequent collections, as in the Unverfälscher Liedersegen, 1851, No. 803. It is a powerful picture of the vanity and nothingness of this world and all its treasures. The only translation in common use is:— “0 how cheating, 0 how fleeting”, Is, &c. In full by Sir J. Bowring in his Hymns, 1825, No. 35. The translations of stanzas i., iii., iv., xiii. were included in Curtis's Union Collection, 1827, and of stanzas i.-iv., xiii. in the Plymouth Collection, 1855. Another translation is: "Ah how fleeting, ah how cheating,” by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 153. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

Johannes Leon

1530 - 1597 Hymnal Number: 363 Author of "Ich hab' mein Sach Gott heimgestellt" in Ein Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch Leon, Johannes, was a native of Ohrdruf, near Gotha. He was for some time an army chaplain, then in 1557 pastor at Königsee (Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt), in 1560 at Gross-Muhlhausen, and in 1575 at Wolfis, near Ohrdruf. He died at Wölfis about Easter, 1597 (Allg. Deutsche Biographie, xviii. 298; Wachernagel, i. pp. 466, 654; iv. p. 490, &c). Leon's hymns appeared principally in his (1) Handbüchlin, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1566, and (2) Trostbülein. The edition printed at Nürnberg, 161-1, has a preface of Dec. 9, 1588, so that the first ed. was probably 1589. His hymns are reprinted in Wackernagel, iv., Nos. 671-715. The only hymn ascribed to him which has passed into English is:— Ich hab mein Sach Gott heimgestellt. For the Dying. Wackernagel, iv. p. 519, gives this, in 18 stanzas of 5 lines, from the Psalmen, geistliche Lieder und Kirchengesäng, Nürnberg, 1589; with a long note, in which he traces all the stanzas save xi., xiv., xv., viii., to Leon's Trostbüchlein, and to his Leich-Predigten [i.e. "Funeral Sermons"], 1581-82. Mützell, No. 347, cites it as in the Psalmen, geistliche Lieder und Lobgesänge, Strassburg, n.d., but apparently before 1587. In the Berlin Geistlicher Lieder Schatz, ed. 1863, No. 1460.This hymn has been frequently ascribed to Dr. Johann Pappus [b. Jan. 16, 1549, at Lindau on the Lake of Constanz; 1571, professor of Hebrew at the University of Strassburg; d. at Strassburg, July 13, 3610]; but this ascription has not been traced earlier than about 1640, e.g. in the Cantionale sacrum, Gotha, pt. iii., 1648, No. 18, and the Königsberg Gesang-Buch, 1650, p. 530. Lauxmann, in Koch, viii. 609, thinks that Pappus may have arranged the hymn in its present form. It was probably suggested by a song beginning, "Ich hab meine Sach zu Gott gestellt," which Wackernagel iii., Nos. 1242, 1243, quotes from a Leipzig broadsheet of 1555, and other sources. This hymn has been translated as:— 1. My Life I now to God resign. By J. O. Jacobi, in his Psalter Germanica, pt. ii., 1725, p. 56 (1732, p. 199), omitting st. vii., xv., xvi. Repeated in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754, pt. i., No. 313 (1886, No. 1242, beginning with the translation of st. viii., "Teach us to number so our days"), and in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841 and 1852. In the Bible Hymn Book1845, it begins with st. iii., "What is this life? a constant scene." 2. My all I to my God commend. A very good translation of stanzas i., iii., vi., viii., x., xi., xiv., xvii., by A. T. Russell, as No. 246, in his Psalms & Hymns 1851; repeated, abridged, in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, and Kennedy, 1863, No. 156. Dr. Kennedy, also gives a cento, beginning with the translation of stanza x., "Few are our days and sad below." 3. My cause is God's, and I am still. A good tr. of stanzas i., xi.-xiv., xvi.-xviii., by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 210; repeated, omitting the translations of stanzas xii., xvii., in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 127. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Johann Burchard Freystein

1671 - 1718 Person Name: J. B. Freystein Hymnal Number: 155 Author of "Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit, wache" in Ein Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch Freystein, Johann Burchard, son of A. S. Freystein, vice-chancellor of Duke August of Saxony and inspector of the Gymnasium at Weissenfels, was born at Weissenfels, April 18, 1671. At the University of Leipzig he studied law, mathematics, philosophy and architecture. He resided for some time at Berlin and Halle and then went to Dresden as assistant to a lawyer. After graduating L.L.D. at Jena in 1695, he began an independent legal practice at Dresden. In 1703 he became Rath at Gotha, but returned to Dresden in 1709 as Hof-und Justizrath, and was also, in 1713, appointed a member of the Board of Works. Enfeebled by his professional labours, he died of dropsy at Dresden, April 1, 1718 (Bode, p. 70; Blätter für Hymnologie, 1884, pp. 22-24; Koch, iv. 222). Of the six hymns of this pious lawyer and disciple of Spener, five seem to have first appeared in the Merseburg Gesang-Buch, 1716. The other (which has been translated into English) is:— Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit. [Watchfulness.] This fine hymn, a stirring call to fight against the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, founded on St. Matthew xxvi. 41; first appeared in the Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Halle, 1697, p. 393, in 10 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled, "On the words Watch and Pray." It was repeated in Wagner's Gesang-Buch, Leipzig, 1697, vol. iv. p. 1280; in Freylinghausen's Gesang-buch, 1704, and many later collections, and in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851. The translations in common use are:— 1. Rise, my soul, to watch and pray, omitting stanzas 2, 4, 8, 10, by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 125, repeated in J. Robinson's Collection, 1869, No. 10. 2. Up, my soul, gird thee with power, omitting st. iv.-vi., by E. Cronenwett, as 396 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. Other translations are: (l) "O my soul, with prayers and cries," in Lyra Davidica, 1708, p. 53. (2) "Wake, my soul, wake up from sleep," by J. S. Stallybrass in the Tonic Solfa Reporter, January, 1859. (3) “Have thy armour on, my soul," by Miss Burlingham in the British Herald, Feb. 1865, p. 29. The hymn "O my spirit, wake, prepare," by A. T. Russell, as No. 104 in the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book, 1848, and repeated as No. 196 in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, while not a translation, is based on st. iii., viii., ix. of the German. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

Burkhard Wiesenmeyer

Person Name: r Wiesenmeyer Hymnal Number: 319 Author of "Wie schoen leucht' uns [leuchtet] der Morgenstern, Vom [Am] Firmament" in Ein Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch Wiesenmeyer, Burchard, was a native of Helmstadt, and died at Petershagen (probably Petershagen near Alt-Landsberg), apparently before 1691. He was from 1637 to 1644, and probably somewhat longer, one of the masters in the Greyfriars Gymnasium at Berlin. (Koch, iii. 341; M. Michael Schirmer. By Dr. J. F. Bachmann, Berlin, 1859, p. 220, &c.) He assisted in preparing the two hymn-books which his colleague at Berlin, Johann Crüger (p. 271, Nos. 1, 4), issued in 1640 and 1653. To these he contributed a few recasts of earlier hymns. The only one translation into English is noted at p. 1091, i. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Johann Albrecht

Publisher of "" in Ein Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch

Jacob Gabriel Wolf

1682 - 1754 Person Name: Jacob Gabriel Wolff Hymnal Number: 307 Author of "Seele, was ermuedst du dich" in Ein Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch Wolff, Jakob Gabriel, LL.D., son of Jakob Wolff, sometime conrector at Greifswald, was born at Greifswald in 1684. He matriculated, in 1702, at the University of Greifswald, as a student of law. In 1705 went to Halle, where he graduated LL.D. In 1716 he was appointed extraordinary, and in 1724, ordinary professor of law at Halle, and afterwards received the title of Hofrath. He resigned his professorship in 1744, and died at Halle, Aug. 6, 1754 (Koch, iv. 375; Bode, p. 174; the Grischow-Kirchner Kurzgefasste Nachrichte, Halle, 1771, p. 54, &c). Wolff's hymns were mostly written early in life, principally during his student years at Halle. He was in thorough sympathy with the characteristic teachings of the Halle Pietists, and his hymns share in their excellences and defects. Some of them ate of considerable merit, elegant in style, earnest and glowing in devotion, and have attained considerable popularity in Germany. Nineteen were contributed to Freylinghausen's Neues geistreiches Gesang-Buch, 1714; and these, with nine others, were included in his autograph manuscript (see No. iv. below). Those of Wolff’s hymns which have passed into English are:— i. Es ist gewiss ein köstlich Ding. Patience. First published 1714 as above, No. 481, in 6 stanzas of 7 lines. In the Hannover Gesang-Buch, 1740, No. 653, with a new stanza as stanza vii. Translated as "It is, indeed, a precious thing," by Miss Manington, 1863, p. 59. ii. 0 wie selig ist die Seel. Love to Christ. First published 1714 as above, No. 418, in 12 stanzas of 4 lines. In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 1257. The translations are: (1) "O how happy is the soul." As No. 688 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. (2) "O those souls are highly blest." As No. 294 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789. In the 1801 and later eds. (1886, No. 390) it begins "Blest are they, supremely blest". iii. Seele, was ermüdst du dich. Heavenly Mindedness. First published 1714 as above, No. 401, in 12 stanzas of 6 lines, 1l. 5, 6 of each stanza being the popular refrain, "Suche Jesum und sein Licht; Alles andre hilft dir nicht." In the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No 338. Translated as "0 soul, why dost thou weary," by Miss Warner, 1869, p. 14. iv. Wohl dem der sich mit Fleiss bemühet. Christian Warfare. On True and False Christianity. This hymn is ascribed to Wolff, by Count Christian Ernst of Stolberg Wernigerode (d. 1771), and by Koch, iv., 570. In the Nachrich as above, p. 54, it is given under Wolff’s name; but Kirchner adds that it was not to be found in the autograph manuscript of Wolff’s hymns which he had bought at Wolff’s sale in 1755. It appears in the Berlin Gesang-Buch, 1711, No. 825, in 11 stanzas of 6 lines, and was repeated (reading " mit Ernst") as No. 235 in Freylinghausen, 1714 as above. In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 646. The translation in common use is: "0 well for him who all things braves." This is a good and full translation by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 1st Ser. 1855, p. 167. Her stanza ii.-iv., x., xi., beginning, “Who follows Christ, whate'er betide," are included in the Rugby School Hymn Book, 1876, No. 309. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Christopher Dock

1698 - 1771 Hymnal Number: 266 Author of "Mein Lebensfaden lauft zu Ende" in Ein Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch Dock, Christopher. (ca.1698--1771). Mennonite. Came from Germany sometime between 1710 and 1714. Four years later he opened a school for the Mennonite children on the Skippack in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. On September 28, 1735, he purchased 100 acres in Salford Township nearby and opened a second school, thereafter three days a week in each school. For several summers he also taught a Mennonite school in Germantown. A devout, sensitive lover of children, it was his custom to remain in the schoolroom each day after the children had left and pray for each individually. In this devotion, he was found dead on his kneed in the school one evening in 1771. His classrooms were adorned with illuminated mottoes from his pen. His method of organizing and conducting a school, Eine Einfältige und gründlich abgefasste Schul-Ordnung was published in Germantown by Christoph Saur in 1770. His Life and Works was compiled by Martin G. Brumbaugh in 1908. Six of his children's hymns are in the Unpartheiische Lieder-sammlung compiled by S. D. Guengerich in 1892: Mein Lebensfaden lauft zu Ende Ich will euch, Kinder, nicht verhehlen Bedenkt auch wohl, ihr liebe Jugend Allein auf Gott setzt dein Vertrau'n Kommt, liebe Kinder, kommt herbei Ach Kinder, wollt ihr lieben Others were: Ach! Kommet her ihr Menschen-Kinder! Kein Trost ward ihm gegeben Fromm seyn ist ein Schatz der Jugend Abermal uns deine Güte Ihr suender kommt gegangen Suesser Christ, Der du bist --Leonard Ellinwood, DNAH Archives