Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769), a pious mystic of the eighteenth century, was born in Mörs, Germany. He was apprenticed as a young man to his older brother, a shopkeeper. He purchased a humble cottage near Mühlheim, where he led a life of seclusion and self-denial for many years. At about 30 years of age, he began to preach in private and public gatherings. His influence became very great; such was his reputation for piety and his success in talking, preaching, and writing about spiritual matters. He wrote 111 hymns, most of which appeared in his Spiritual Flower Garden, 1731. His pious life influenced many in his day and some of his hymns, like “Lo, God is Here,” can still be found in many hymnals.
