1640-1690
Johann Jakob Schutz was born September 7, 1640 at Frankfurt am Main, Germany. After studying at Tübingen (where he became a licentiate in civil and canon law), Schütz began to practice law in Frankfurt, and in later years with the title of Rath. He seems to have been a man of considerable legal learning and piety, and was well-respected in the community. He became involved with the Evangelical movement of the Lutheran church, but following the example of Philipp Jakob Spener and Johann Wilhelm Petersen, he left it sometime after 1685 to become a Separatist .
Schutz wrote a number of religious publications as well as five hymns. Of the hymns, only one is still in use. "Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut" ("Sing Praise to God") was composed in 1673; Schutz was Spener's most intimate friend during the latter's residence in Frankfurt. When first published, it was titled "Hymn of Thanksgiving" and appeared in Christliches Gedenckbüchlein, 1675, with a reference to Deuteronomy 32:3. The music, "Mit Freuden Zart," was taken from a Bohemian Brethren hymnal, Kirchengesange, published in Eibenschutz, Moravia, in 1566 (other sources give Berlin as the place of publication).
He died May 22, 1690, at Frankfurt.
His works include:
Hymns:
Sources: Cyberhymnal, Larry Marietta's Music Notes and others