hymns do not, like those of Sudermann, number thousands; but they number hundreds, and their merit is unmistakable. Indeed, Wackernagel, who gives twenty-five of Reissner's hymns in full, expresses the opinion that he is the author of many hymns which have hitherto been credited to other writers.
But of Reissner's most widely known hymn we have thus far made no mention. It is the choice magnificent hymn—"In dich hab ich gehofifet, Herr." This hymn is a metrical version of the Thirty-first Psalm. It was first published in the Form und ordnung Geystlichcr Gcsang mid Psalmen, Augsburg, 1533. It appeared in Zwick's hymn-book, 1540, and in Babst's (Lutheran) hymn-book, 1545. It was included in most of the German hymn-books up to the middle of the 18th century. It appeared in the German hymn-book of the Bohemian Brethren, editions of 1606 and 1639, and subsequently in the Moravian hymn-book. All the editions of the Schwenkfelder hymn-book contain it. The following are well-known English translations of this hymn:[1]
"In Thee, Lord, have I put my trust",—Catherine Winkworth;
"Great God! in Thee I put my trust",—J. C. Jacobi;
"Lord, I have trusted in Thy name",—Dr. H. Mills;
"On Thee, O Lord, my hopes I lean",—N. L. Ffothingham.
We reprint the hymn, employing the orthography of the first edition (1533).
PSALM XXXI.
IN TE DOMINE SPERAUI.
"In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr,
hilff, das ich nit zu schanden wer
noch ewigklich zu spotte.
Des bitt ich dich,
erhalte mich
in deiner trew, mein Gotte.
- ↑ Cf. Julian, loco citato, p. 955.
