Valerius Herberger


Valerius Herberger was a German Lutheran preacher and theologian.

Life

He was born at Fraustadt, Silesia. He studied for three years at Freystadt in Silesia, and then entered the University of Frankfort-on-the-Oder. In 1582 he went to Leipzig University.
In 1584 he became a teacher in Fraustadt, in 1590 deacon, and in 1599 pastor. Sigismund III Vasa ordered his congregation to cede their house of worship to the Roman Catholics; Herberger then acquired two private residences, which he gradually transformed into a church. He died in Fraustadt.

Works

In 1613 an epidemic broke out at Fraustadt, and under those circumstances Herberger composed his only hymn, Valet will ich dir geben. It was published in 1614 with a melody by Melchior Teschner.
He was a prolific writer. His most comprehensive work is Magnalia Dei de Jesu scripturæ nucleo et medulla, meditations on the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, emphasising the revelation of Christ in the Old Testament. Herberger also
wrote commentaries on Revelation xxi.-xxii. and published them as Himmelsches Jerusalem. Passionszeiger, Trauerbinden or funeral sermons, and Evangelische Herzpostille
are collections of sermons which may be mentioned.
After his death appeared Epistolische Herzpostille, 97 Predigten über Jesus Sirach, and Stoppelpostille. Several of his works were reprinted in the nineteenth century: