Neander, Joachim—1610-1680—latterly minister of his native town, Bremen, previous to which he was a professor at Düsseldorf, where his love for the Lord Jesus, and his preaching vital Christianity raised persecution against him. He is the first writer of hymns of any importance of the reformed Church, and may be called the psalmist of the New Covenant, as his sacred songs are entitled, ‘Bundeslieder’ (Songs of the Covenant). Like David and Luther, he was great in the composition of tunes as well as words.