At the time of the publication of the Saur edition, Balthaser Hoffmann had a more intimate knowledge of the hymn-collections of Caspar Weiss and George Weiss, both as to their history and their content, than any other Schwenkfelder living. In 1753 he had completed a transcription of the George Weiss collection, enriching the value of the collection for devotional use with interpretations and Scripture references. At this time he had also carefully recorded the facts of the origin of this collection, then the hymnary of the sect in manuscript. He was well informed with regard to the work of Caspar Weiss and that of George Weiss in the textual criticism of numerous hymns of the Schwenkfelder collection, and in 1754 had written an explanation of the motives by which these compilers had been actuated in venturing upon the work of textual revision. From 1740-1763, he filled the pastoral office of the Schwenkfelders—the period during which the hymn-book of the Bohemian Brethren passed out of use, and the publication of a hymn-book by and for the Schwenkfelders had been discussed, undertaken and realized. Moreover, documentary evidence is not wanting that Balthaser Hoffmann had long felt keenly the need of a printed Schwenkfelder hymn-book, and that he was a leader in the movement for the publication of it. Of the hymns by Balthaser Hoffmann contained in the Saur edition, twelve, including the hymn which heads the collection, were written while the hymn-book was in process of publication.
We give here, in translation and somewhat abridged, the biographical account of Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann written by Rev. Christopher Hoffmann, his son:[1]
"Balthaser Hoffmann was born in the year 1687 in Harpersdorf, Principality of Liegnitz, Silesia, of poor plain and unpretending parents, and was brought up in such traditions. He was employed in Harpersdorf, especially in winter, as a weaver; at other times, however, frequently as a day laborer. In stature, he was a tall man, rather slender, his face longish and thin; and after his fiftieth year
- ↑ Ibidem.
