"The love with which the contemporaries of Gerhardt, as far as the bell of an evangelical church was heard, turned to his song, has only one precedent--the veneration, the devotion, with which Luther's songs were regarded. The songs of no other poet, either before or since, have ever produced so mighty an effect or obtained so speedy and so wide a circulation." ---------- [1]Wetzlar's "Analecta Hymnica." [2]One qualified and authorized to preach, but not ordained, ordination taking place only when the candidate is placed over a congregation as a pastor. [3]The Elector Sigismund had gone over to the Reformed Confession in 1613, and the position of the Lutherans and Reformed in the Mark in relation to the court had since been reversed. [4]Wackernagel says, that it was his official duty to sketch the writings in attack and defence, that they display great tact and acuteness, and furnish a new proof that critical acumen may be combined with a poetical temperament. [5]Since writing this sketch, the writer observes that currency has been given to this apocryphal story in a recent work, "Our Hymns: their Authors and their Origin. By the Rev. Josiah Miller." [6]In the reference to the Syncretists. [7]A Theologian experienced in the sieve of Satan. [8] A graven, indeed, yet living image of Paul Gerhardt, In whose mouth, faith, hope, love have ever been. Here Asaph returned to life, taught in our coasts, and sang thy praises, O Gracious Saviour! The Spirit will come to thee as a guest, from the heavenly seats wherever thou shalt sing these Sacred Songs to God. INDEX OF FIRST LINES.