Gerhardt, PAUL

Gerhardt, PAUL, perhaps the best writer of hymns that the German Lutheran church has produced, was born at Gräfenhainichen, in Saxony, 12th March 1607, became dean at the church of St Nicholas in Berlin in 1657, but, in consequence of his opposition to the elector Frederick-William's attempt to bring about a union of the Lutheran and Reformed churches, was banished from Brandenburg in 1666. The last seven years of his life he was pastor of Lübben, where he died, 6th June 1676. He wrote 123 hymns, all excellent, and many of them worthy to be placed amongst the choicest productions of Protestant sacred poetry. The one beginning 'Commit thou all thy ways' is well known in England from Wesley's translation. Other exquisitely tender lyrics are 'Nun ruhen alle Wälder' (Now all the woods are sleeping), 'O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden' (O wounded head and bleeding), 'Du bist zwar mein, und bleibest mein' (Thou 'rt mine, yes, still thou art mine own).