Page:Schwenkfelder Hymnology.djvu/82

7O denen lassen, di si ihnen wissen nütze zu machen. Kommen si aber Imande vor, der ihm einen Nutzen daran ersihet, der sage Gott Lob und Dank darum; weil Gotte für alle Gaben zu danken ist, si sind natürlich oder geistlich; und lasse sich um den Author unbekümmert, weil er si nur für sich und die Seinigen, welche es auch hertzlich verlanget haben ausgegeben hat. Gott wolle uns seinen Geist, den Geist der Gnaden und Andacht, um Jesu Christi seines liben Sohnes willen geben und verleyen, dass wir si singen, betrachten und gebrauchen, zu seinem Lob, Preiss und Ehren, und uns zu unsrer Seelen Heil und Seeligkeit. Amen."

With respect to the classification of the individual hymns, two distinguishing features serve to characterize the collection of Caspar Weiss. First: The hymns are arranged, not according to theme or rubric, but in agreement with the course of the ecclesiastical year—a group of hymns being arranged for each Sunday and holy-day in the calendar year, beginning with the first Sunday of Advent. Moreover, a close study of the classification reveals the fact, that the compiler intended that each hymn should, as far as possible, be peculiarly appropriate to the particular day to which it was assigned. Secondly, the hymns thus set apart for each Sunday and holy-day are further arranged into two groups: one group being designed for use in the morning worship, and the other in connection with afternoon or evening devotions. It may also be observed, in conclusion, that the completed compilation was designed primarily for the use of the author's own family. This fact is noted by the Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann in his account of the collection, quoted above, and is also plainly stated on the title-page of the original collection itself.

The following general classification of the hymns compiled by Caspar Weiss—on the basis of authorship—is suggested in the introduction to the manuscript volume of 1758: ( 1 ) the