Liebster Gott, in Allen.
First published in the author’s Geistliches Blumengärtlein, entitled “Remembrance of the glorious and delightful presence of God,” 1729.
Gerhard Tersteegen, one of the greatest of German hymn writers, was born at Mörs in Westphalia, the son of a tradesman. He was educated at the grammar school of his native place, and then bound as an apprentice to an elder brother, a shop-keeper at Mülheim. When his time was out, he left his brother and moved to a little cottage near Mülheim where for some years he supported himself by weaving silk ribbons, giving his money to the poor, and living a life so simple that it brought upon him the contempt of his thriving and money-getting relatives. For a time, due to various disappointments, he lived in a “state of darkness,” a five year period of spiritual depression, during which he doubted the love, if not the existence, of God. He at last, as in a moment, regained peace and joy, whereupon he signed, with his own blood, a covenant with God to devote himself to His service. Soon he was found speaking at prayer meetings and other places and became popular as a religious teacher and counsellor. From far and wide people came to him for personal interviews, and his public meetings were always crowded.
Tersteegen was never ordained. Grieved by the open sin of the church people of his time, he early dissociated himself from the organized church and absented himself from the communion service. Though he had a wide following, he never organized a sect of his own, and, after his death, most of his disciples reunited with the Reformed Church. Like all great leaders, he pled the cause of the underprivileged. He was a mystic of the purest type, yet his faith was practical. He provided food and simple medicines for the poor and became widely known as the physician to the poor and forsaken. Tersteegen had many friends among the Mennonites and often preached in their church at Krefeld.
He is the author of 111 hymns, many of which have been rendered into English.
Frederick Foster and John Miller, translators of stanzas one and two, respectively, were both members of the Moravian Church. William Mercer, translator of stanza three, was an English scholar who translated and paraphrased many of the Latin and German hymns into English, but is best known for his successful work as editor of The Church Psalter and Hymn Book, 1857, the most popular hymn book of the Church of England. Another translation of this hymn appears at [No. 508].
MUSIC. ARNSBERG, also called “Wunderbarer König,” and “Gott ist gegenwärtig,” was composed by the poet and musician, Joachim Neander, 1650-80. It appeared in his collection, Glaub- und Liebesübung, Bremen, 1680, set to the hymn, “Wunderbarer König.”
For comments on Neander see [Hymn 127].
507. Jehovah! Jehovah! Jehovah!
Gottlieb Konrad Pfeffel, 1736-1809