German Hymnology [pp. 574-602]

Gelrman Hymnology.
In rare instances, the points of angry contest between the
Lutherans and the Reformed stand out offensively; but
one might peruse hundreds of hymns without ever having
these differences brought to his mind. It is time however to
dismiss this first period; which we do the more willingly, because the next opens with so great and venerable a name.
PAUL GERHIARDT stands clearly at the head of German
hymn-writers; if indeed we may not ascribe to him an influence on religious sentiment more strong and extensive than is
due to any uninspired psalmist. IHe was born in Saxony, in
1606, and was brought up by pious parents in the good old
ways of the Reformation. In 1651, we find him Probst at
Mittenwalde, and in 1651, Diaconus at Berlin. The only
great public event which has much connexion with his life was
the Brandenburg controversy between the Lutherans and the
Reformed. The Great Elector, as well from education as from
long residence in Holland, was devotedly attached to the Reformed Church. In the bitter conflicts which ensued, Gerhardt fell into the party of the warm Lutherans, but escaped
most of the rancours of zealotry. We can scarcely enter
however into those scrupulous judgments which led this good
man to endure troubles, as he apprehended, little short of persecution. These inward trials led to some of his deepest experiences and most memorable writings. HIe fled to the
patronage of Christian, duke of Saxe-Merseburg, and, was
made Archidiaconus of Lubben, at which place he died, in
1675. His last utterance was in words from one of his own
hymns:
"Death no more hath power to kill,
He but sets the spirit free
From the weight of earthly ill,
Though its name should legion be;
Shuts the gate of bitter woe,
Opens wvide the heavenly way,
That our willing feet may go
To the realms of endless day."
T'ut it is as a Christian poet that we are concerned with
Gerhardt. Of one hundred and twenty hymns, eighty-eight
appeared from time to time in different ways, some having
been first printed with his funeral sermon. The earliest com
585
1850.]