Dass uns forthin sei unbewusst
Die Eitelkeit, des Fleisches Lust
Und seine toten Werke!
Rühre, führe
Unser Sinnen und Beginnen
Von der Erden,
Dass wir Himmelserben werden!
This hymn for Whitsuntide, addressed to the Holy Spirit, went through various alterations in German hymnbooks until it finally appeared in 8 stanzas, as here. It is a beautiful New Testament paraphrase of Isa. 11:2:
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Michael Schirmer, born in Leipzig, received his education at the University of Leipzig, graduating with an M.A. degree in 1630. He was appointed assistant rector of the Greyfriars Gymnasium in Berlin, but on account of ill health was compelled to resign. Besides the hardships of the Thirty Years’ War, Schirmer experienced added sorrows in the death of his wife and two children. At times deep melancholy fell upon him, lasting for years at a time. Schirmer was crowned court poet in 1637. His published works include a metrical version of Ecclesiasticus, 1655; a scriptural play, Der verfolgte David, 1660; and versions of the Songs of the Old and New Testaments, Biblische Lieder und Lehrsprüche, 1650. Five of his hymns came into wide use in Germany but only this one passed into English.