Hermann, Nicolaus, called the pious old ‘Cantor’[2] of Joachimsthal (in Voigtland), a devout writer of hymns. He was the intimate friend of the pious minister of Joachimsthal, Matthesius, whose sermons often inspired him with a hymn on the same text. He died in 1561, at a very advanced age.
[2]Cantor is, in some parts of Germany, a title given to the village schoolmaster, who, as parish clerk, leads the singing in church.
Lange, Ernst—1650-1727—of Dantzic, member of the town-council of that place. His hymns appeared in 1701.
Lavater, Johann Caspar—1741-1801—minister in his native town, Zuric, who, with many infirmities and peculiarities, was an active and sincere Christian, and a talented orator, writer, and sacred poet. He died, after having performed the most blessed actions, and having been tried with many afflictions, which he bore with piety and constancy, in consequence of a fatal shot, which a French soldier maliciously aimed at him, after the storming of Zuric in 1799, as he was consoling and administering to the wants of the sufferers, in the streets. His hymns are numerous, and have been repeatedly printed.
Liebich, Ehrenfried—1713-1780—born at Liegnitzischen, minister at Jauerschen, who wrote two hundred and thirty-six hymns. They are very beautiful, and resemble those of Schmolck, but have not his peculiar vigour.
Löwe, Johann Friedrich—1729-1771—native of Clausthal, on the Harz; a poet and a learned jurist, who lived at Hamburg; his hymns, which resemble those of Gellert, were published in 1770.
Luther, Doctor Martin—1483-1546—the great instrument of God, father and master of the art of hymn-writing, and of German poetry. ‘Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein,’ here selected, is a free paraphrase of the 12th Psalm, a call of the Church, founded on God’s word, for aid and protection against those who despised and corrupted it, written in 1523.
Müller, Michael—1673-1704—native of Blankenberg, who lived at Wirtemburg.
Neander, Joachim—1610-1680—latterly minister of his native town, Bremen, previous to which he was a professor at Düsseldorf, where his love for the Lord Jesus, and his preaching vital Christianity raised persecution against him. He is the first writer of hymns of any importance of the reformed Church, and may be called the psalmist of the New Covenant, as his sacred songs are entitled, ‘Bundeslieder’ (Songs of the Covenant). Like David and Luther, he was great in the composition of tunes as well as words.
Neumann, Gottfried—1740-1815—a friend of “the community of Brethren,” who was living in 1778, at Meerholz.