Gerhard, Johann Ernst, (1.) a theologian, was born at Jena December 15, 16:'l. He studied at the universities of Jena, Altdorf, Helmstadt, Leipzig, and Wittemberg. devoting himself to Oriental literature and theology. He visited successively the libraries of Holland, Switzerland, and France, and in his journey became acquainted with some of the most eminent lit- erary men of that period. After his return to Jena he became professor of history, afterwards of theology, in the university, and died in that city Feb. 24, 1688. He wrote Uarmonia lingnarum orientalinm : — Consen- sus et Dlssensus religionum profanarum Judaismi, Sa- maritanismi, Muhamedismi et jv/grmismi. — Ersch und GruhcT, A llg. Encycl. ; Jocher, Ally. Gil.-Lex. ; Hoefer, I^'ouv. Biog. Gtnerale, xx, 213.
Gerhard, Johann Ernst, (2.) son of Johann Ernst (1.), was born at Jena Feb. 19, 1662. He studied theology at Jena and Altdorf, became a member of the Sociefas Disrp/irentium, and contributed a number of Jlemoirs to the Acta Eruditoj-um of Leipzig. He was afterwards appointed church and school inspector of Gotha ; was called to Giessen in 1G96 as professor of theology, and became preacher in the same city in 1698. He wrote some controversial works little sought after now ; the most remarkable of them is entitled Der lutherischen vnd reformirten Religion Einigkeit. — Ersch u.Gruber, AUg. Encycl. ; Fischer, Vita Gerhardi; Hoefer, Xoiiv. Biog. Generale, xx, 213.
Gerhard, St., was born at Staves, diocese of Na- mur, in 890. In his youth he served under Berengar, count of Namur. Being once at a hunt, he left his companions and retired to pray in a chapel built on a high cliff near the village of St. Gerhard. Having fallen asleep there, he had a dream in Avhich he thought that he saw the apostles, and that Peter, taking him by the hand, took him around the chapel, afterwards telling him that it was to be enlarged in honor of St. Peter and the martyr Eugene, and that the bones of the latter were to be brought there. Gerhard fulfilled this dream, and in 918 built there a church and also a
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convent. Some time after he was sent by Berengar oil a luissiou to count Robert of Paris, after fulKlling Avhieh he entered tlie abbej' of St. Denis, near I'aris. The relics of St. Eugene and of several other saints •were given him bj' the abbej^ of St. Denis, which was said to possess enough of them to supply all France ! The fame of the miracles wrought by the relics of St. Eugene was soon spread around, and drew crowds of visitors, obliging Gerhard to live in a cell near the church in order to obtain some quiet. After spending twentj^-two j'ears in the reformation of convents, he died Oct. 3, 1)57. He was canonized by Innocent 11. See ]\Iabillon, Acta ss. ord. s. Bened. v, 2-18 sq. — Her- zog, Real-Eiicyklop. v, 89.
Gerhardt, Paul, the "prince of German hym- nists," was born at Grafenhainichen, in the electorate of Saxony, in IGOG or 1G07. He received his tirst ap- pointment in 1651 as minister at Mittenwalde. In 1G57 he was called to the church of St. Nicholas, in Berlin. In 1GG8 he became archdeacon at Liibben, in Saxony, where he died in 1676. As a theologi- an, he is noted particularly in the controversies be- tween the Lutherans and the Reformed. As. a poet, his hymns are remarkable for dejith of Christian feel- ing and suggestive thought. They are the expres- sion of his own feelings and experience, and charac- terized generallj' by their subjective tone. Among his 120 hymns there are no less than 16 commencing with " I," and 60 others referring exclusively to God and the individual heart ; yet their popular element distinguishes his productions from the poets of the Ref- ormation and those of tlie later rationalistic period. "His hymns happily combine simplicity with depth and force. The)' are the heart-utterances of one who had a simple but sublime faith in God, and who recog- nised his fatherly presence in the operations of nature, the superintendence of Providence, and the daily be- stowment of the surpassing gifts of redemption." He never published a complete edition of his hjMnns, but after IG-IO they found their way into Protestant hymn- books. J. E. Ebeling, music director in Gerhardt' s church, had them published in 1GG7, with music of his own composition. There have been many editions since ; among the latest are those of Wackernagel (Stuttg. 1843; new edit. 1849), Schultz (Berlin, 1842), Becker (Lpz. 1851\ and Langbecker, Lebcn vnd Lieder Gerhardls (Berl. 1841). Many of his hymns have been translated into English; the fullest collection is Paul Gerhardt's i^'piritital Songs, translated by J(ilin Kelly (Lond. 1867), a well-meant but unsuccessful effort. His nol)le hymn, 0 Havpt voll Blut vnd Wunden (based on Bernard's Salve caind cruentaUmi), has been repeatedly rendered; the best version is that of Dr. J. AV. Alex- ander (0 sacred Head now voiindrd^, given in Schaft''s Christ in Song, p. 178. His BefM du dAne ]Vege is admirably translated by John M^esley in the hymns, Commit thou all thy griefs (779 of Methodist Episcopal Hjnnn-book), and Give to the winds thy fears (780 of the same collection). His 0 Jesu Christ mein schones Lnst is also translated by John Wesley (Jesus, thy hortndiess love to me, Hymn 8.33, Methodist Hymn- book). Dr. Schaff also gives versions of liis Wir singen dir, Immanuel, We sing to thee, Immanuel (Christ in Song, p. 5G) ; Frbhlich soil mein Herze sjiringen. All my heart this night rejoices (Christ in Song, p. 58, C. Winkworth's version) ; 0 Welt, sieh hier dein Lehen, O world, behold upon the tree (Christ in Song, p. 174, C. Winkworth's version). Some of these, and also versions of other of Gerhardt's hymns, are given by Cox, Hymns from the German (Lond. 1865) ; and hy C. Winkworth, Lyra Germanica (London ; reprinted in New York). See, besides the works already cited, Herzog, Real-Knrylhpudie, v, 45; Hoefer, Noviu Biog. Gener. xx, 214; Jliller, Onr Hymns, their Authors and Origin (Lond. 1866, ]2mo); W'immer, Lehen G.'s (Al- tenburg, 1723) ; Roth, G. nach seinem Lehen u. Wirken (Leipz. 1829) ; Schulz, Paul G. u. dcr t/rosse Kurfiirst