1653 - 1737 Person Name: Joh. Neunherz Author of "Trauernd und mit bangem Sehnen" in Gesangbuch mit Noten Neunhertz, Johannes, son of Johannes Neunhertz, weaver at Waltersdorf, near Kupferberg, in Silesia, was born at Waltersdorf Aug. 16, 1653, and entered the University of Leipzig in June, 1673 (M.A. 1676). In 1678 he was appointed assistant preacher at Lauban, in Silesia; in 1680 pastor at Kiesslingswalde; and in 1696 pastor at Geibsdorf, both near Lauban. He then became, in 1706, diaconus of the Holy Trinity Church, and also morning preacher at the Holy Cross Church in Lauban. Finally, in 1709, he was appointed chief pastor at Hirschberg, in Silesia, and died there Nov. 26, 1737 (S. J. Ehrhardt's Presbyterologie Schlesiens, 1780-89, iii. pt. ii. p. 187; Koch, v. 450; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie xxiii. 549; Bode, p. 121—-the first dating his birth 1652). Neunhertz was the author of a large number of hymns, good and flowing in style, but often lengthy and with little power or concentration. They appeared in his various works:—
(1) Eyangelische Sabbaths-Freude, Zittau, 1690. (2) Christliche Leid-Andachten, Lauban, 1698. (3) Evangelische Ilertz-Ermunterung, Leipzig, 1701. (4) Tröstliche . . . Andachten, Lauban, 1709; 2nd edition as Andachts-Flammen, Budissin, 1717; and in the Silesian hymn-books of the period. A large number are given in the Hirschberg Gesang-Buch, 1741, a few in Burg's Gesang-Buch, Breslau, 1746, and some still survive in modern collections.
The only hymn by him which seems to have passed into English is:—
Zweene Jünger gehn mit Sehnen. Eastertide. A hymn on the Two Disciples on their way to Emmaus (St. Luke xxiv. 13-35). Included in the Lauban Gesang-Buch, 1707, p. 162 [Wernigerode Library], as No. 5 of the Easter Hymns, in 9 st. of 8 1., and marked as by M J. Neunhertz. Also in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 326. The form translation into English is: "Trauernd und mit bangem Sehnen." This appeared in the Liegnitz Gesang-Buch,1804 (ed. 1819, No. 155), and is repeated in the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, No. 176, in 7 stanzas. It is a recast by L. E. S. Müller. The translation in common use is:—
Sad with longing, sick with fears. A full and good translation from the 1842 text by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser. 1858, p. 43. In the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868, the translations of st. iv.-vii. altered and beginning, "Truest Friend, Who canst not fail," were given as No. 440. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Johann Neunherz
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