Other Lutheran hymn-writers of this period were Joachim Magdeburg, Martin Rutilius, Martin Schalling and Philipp Nicolai. The last name in this group is by far the most important and will be given more extensive notice in the following chapter. To Magdeburg, a pastor who saw service in various parts of Germany and Hungary during a stormy career, we owe a single hymn, "Who trusts in God a strong abode." Rutilius has been credited with the authorship of the gripping penitential hymn, "Alas, my God! my sins are great," although the claim is sometimes disputed. He was a pastor at Weimar, where he died in 1618. Schalling likewise has bequeathed but a single hymn to the Church, but it may be regarded as one of the classic hymns of Germany. Its opening line, "O Lord, devoutly love I Thee," reflects the ardent love of the author himself for the Saviour. It was entitled, "A prayer to Christ, the Consolation of the soul in life and death," and surely its message of confiding trust in God has been a source of comfort and assurance to thousands of pious souls in the many vicissitudes of life as well as in the valley of the shadow. Although Schalling was a warm friend of Selnecker, he hesitated to subscribe to the Formula of Concord, claiming that it dealt too harshly with the followers of Melanchthon. For this reason he was deposed as General Superintendent of Oberpfalz and court preacher at Heidelberg. Five years later, however, he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's church in Nuernberg, where he remained until blindness compelled him to retire. He died in 1608. A Masterpiece of Hymnody Wake, awake, for night is flying: The watchmen on the heights are crying, Awake, Jerusalem, arise! Midnight's solemn hour is tolling, His chariot wheels are nearer rolling, He comes; prepare, ye virgins wise. Rise up with willing feet, Go forth, the Bridegroom meet: Alleluia! Bear through the night your well trimmed light, Speed forth to join the marriage rite. Zion hears the watchmen singing, And all her heart with joy is springing, She wakes, she rises from her gloom; Forth her Bridegroom comes, all-glorious, The strong in grace, in truth victorious; Her Star is risen, her Light is come! All hail, Thou precious One! Lord Jesus, God's dear Son! Alleluia! The joyful call we answer all, And follow to the nuptial hall. Lamb of God, the heavens adore Thee, And men and angels sing before Thee, With harp and cymbal's clearest tone. By the pearly gates in wonder We stand, and swell the voice of thunder, That echoes round Thy dazzling throne. To mortal eyes and ears What glory now appears! Alleluia! We raise the song, we swell the throng, To praise Thee ages all along. Philipp Nicolai, 1599. THE KING AND QUEEN OF CHORALES