150 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED
either written or translated by himself. In his preface he says, I have also, according to my power, put forth all my ability, your old hymn-book as well as the Bohemian hymn-book being before me, and have brought the same sense, in accordance with Holy Scripture, into German rhyme. Luther called him a good poet, with somewhat erroneous views on the Sacrament. His best work has a certain charming simplicity of thought and expression. He died in 1534.
Hymn 175. Jesus lives! thy terrors now.
CHRISTIAN FURCHTEGOTT GELLERT ; translated by FRANCES ELIZABETH Cox.
Jesus lebt, mit ihm auch ich appeared ,in his Gdstliche Oden und Lieder, Leipzig, 1757, entitled Easter Hymn. It is based on John xiv. 19. The Hallelujah is not in the original. Miss Cox s translation is from her Sacred Hymns from the German, 1841, a collection of forty-nine, afterwards increased to fifty-six pieces.
Gellert was born in Saxony in 1715, studied theology at Leipzig University, and for some time acted as assistant to his father. He had a treacherous memory, and as public feeling did not allow a pastor to read his sermons, he became a private tutor and afterwards an extraordinary professor in his university. He was too delicate in health to fulfil the duties of an ordinary professorship, and declined that offer in 1761. Goethe and Lessing were among his pupils. He took warm interest in the personal conduct and welfare of his students, and gained peculiar reverence and affection. His best hymns have won great popularity, and mark an epoch in German hymnology. He prepared himself by prayer for their composition, and selected the moments when his mental horizon was most unclouded.
When Gellert was in sore straits, a peasant brought a load of firewood to him in grateful recognition of the benefit received from his Fables. His hymns were greatly blessed, and people of all ranks and conditions came to visit him. Once, when he was in much darkness, he heard one of his hymns sung in church, and said to himself, Is it you who composed this hymn, and yet you feel so little of its power in your own heart ?
In December, 1769, when told that he was likely to die in an hour, he lifted up his hands with a cheerful look, and exclaimed, Now, God be praised, only an hour. It had been his wish to die like Addison (see under hymn 75).
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