Magnus Hessenthaler

Hessenthaler, Magnus, was born in Oct., 1621, at Hochdorf, near Waiblingen, Württemberg, where his father was pastor. He became, in 1656, professor of history, diplomacy, and rhetoric, in the so-called "Collegium illustre," or academy for sons of noblemen, at Tubingen, and also lecturer on moral philosophy in the University. In 1663 he was appointed by Duke Eberhard III., of Württemberg, as historiographer of Württembcrg, and removed to Stuttgart, where he died April 2, 1681 (Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xii. 271).

A very complete set of his works is preserved in the University Library at Tübingen; but neither there nor in Stuttgart, Amsterdam or elsewhere have we been able to find the Evangelische Jubelstimme which he is said to have published at Amsterdam 1668, and which Koch, 2nd ed. ii. 314, says contained 13 original hymns, in the Nürnberg Gesang-Buch, 1676, there are nine hymns (Nos. 73,84,94, 212, 213, 313, 466, 470, 901) under his name; and in the edition of 1690 a tenth (No. 568, "Wenn jemand seinen Lebenslauf"). One has passed into English, viz.:—
Mein Jesu, wie gross ist die Lieb. Saints' Days, In the Nürnberg Gesang-Buch, 1676, No. 313, in 10 st. of 4 1., appointed for festivals of apostles and martyrs. Translated as:—
True Shepherd, who in love most deep, by Miss Winkworth, as No. 79 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, in 5 st. of 4 1. Miss Winkworth seems to have translated some altered and abridged version; at least the five stanzas she gives borrow more or less from all the 10 st. of the original.

[Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)