Post by JEM on Apr 28, 2009 1:46:28 GMT
The following hymns are taken from The Ausbund, a very old Swiss Anabaptist hymnal which is still used by the Amish today. This 16th century hymnal is a collection of hymns of praise, supplications, and stories of martyrdom suffered by early Anabaptists. This hymnal was considered contraband up until the early eighteenth century and would be confiscated if discovered. Here are a few songs out of this songbook of old.
This first song was written by the Anabaptist Felix Mantz. He was drowned because of his belief that only a believer, not a baby, should be baptized.
With joy I will sing,
My heart delights in God,
Who brings me the ability
To escape from that death
which is eternal and has no end.
I praise you, Christ in heaven,
Who frees me from anxiety
You were sent to me by God
As a model and a light,
Before my life is over you have
Called me into your Kingdom,
That I may have eternal joy with God,
And love Him from my heart
And all His righteousness.
This Next song comes from the story of seven Anabaptists martyred in Schwabich Gmund in 1528. Each of these seven Anabaptists composed this song while awaiting execution.
I cry to you from deepest need
O God, hear my call
Send your Holy Spirit to us
To Comfort our deepest despair
As you have done to now, Christ
We rely on your command
But the heathen now want to kill us
The flesh is weak, as you know
It fears the smallest pain
So fill us with your Spirit
We pray from our hearts
So that we may remain until the end
And go bravely into suffering
and not fear the pain
The spirit is surely willing
To undergo suffering
Hear us, O Lord
Through Jesus Christ your beloved Son!
We pray also for our enemies
Who know not what they do
And think not of Your wrath
We ask You, Father and Lord
As your loving children
Kindle the light through Jesus Christ
Even more in your little flock
That would be our heart's desire
That for which we hunger and thirst
And would bring us greatest joy
You have received us in grace
And made us Your servants
This we have all done willingly
And fulfilled with Your help
Keep us pure in Your Word
We want to be obedient to You
Give us aid and comfort
You, Lord God, are my protection
We lift ourselves up to You
So it is but a small pain
If our lives be taken from us
You have prepared for us in eternity
So if here we suffer insult and blows
It will be for nothing
Body, life, soul, and limbs
We have received from You
These we offer up to You
To praise and glorify Your Name
It is nothing but dust and ashes
We commend to You our spirit, O God
Take it into Your hands. Amen
This song was came to us from George Blaurock, a Catholic priest who joined the Swiss Anabaptists in 1525. He was burned at the stake in 1529, at the age of 37, as a heretic for his views on believer's baptism.
The sinner received a harsh judgement
To bring him to repentance
If he does not refrain from sin
God warns him with threats
His Word shows clearly
That people must repent
Believe His Word and be baptised
And follow His Teachings
So note you sons of men
Cease from your sinning
Do not be senseless, godless and blind
For the Physician sees you
It will be terrible for the sinner
Who is not circumcised
In eternal pain God will put him
And there in suffering he will remain
You, O Lord, are a strong God
Who opens up hell
And throws therein the godless rabble
Who have hated Your children
Antichrist with all treachery
Sets against those who fear God
O God, please watch over us
And strengthen Your weak vessels
The suffering is great and hard
Which is happening to us
Help us to thank You for it
And see it as joy.
This next song was penned by Michael Sattler, another Catholic Priest who became an Anabaptist. Condemned as a heretic, the court stipulated that on his way to the stake, his tongue be progressively cut out, piece by piece. He was to have two pieces torn from his body by glowing tongs and burned five times with the tongs. Finally, he was bound with ropes to a ladder and pushed into the fire.
Eternal Father in Heaven
I call to You from deep within
Do not let me turn from You
Hold me in Your eternal truth
Until I reach my end
O God, keep my heart and mouth
Watch over me, Lord, always
Do not let me part from You
Whether in anguish, fear or need
Keep me pure in joy
To walk in Your strength in death
Through tribulation, martyrdom,
fear and need
Keep me in Your strength
That I may never again be seperated
From Your love, O God
There are many who travel this path
On which stands the cup of suffering
And also much false doctrine
With which they try to turn us away
From Christ our Lord
I lift up my soul to you, Lord
I hope in You in times of danger
Let me not become a disgrace
So that my enemies have the victory
Over me on this earth
They have me here locked up
I wait, O God, from my heart
With great desire
If You would only stir
And save Your ones from prison
Be comforted, you Christians
And always be joyous through Jesus Christ
He gives us love and faith
God comforts through His Holy Word
And we must trust in It
I bid God and His church
That He be today my guardian
For His Names's sake
My Father, let it be so
Through Jesus Christ, Amen.
This first song was written by the Anabaptist Felix Mantz. He was drowned because of his belief that only a believer, not a baby, should be baptized.
With joy I will sing,
My heart delights in God,
Who brings me the ability
To escape from that death
which is eternal and has no end.
I praise you, Christ in heaven,
Who frees me from anxiety
You were sent to me by God
As a model and a light,
Before my life is over you have
Called me into your Kingdom,
That I may have eternal joy with God,
And love Him from my heart
And all His righteousness.
This Next song comes from the story of seven Anabaptists martyred in Schwabich Gmund in 1528. Each of these seven Anabaptists composed this song while awaiting execution.
I cry to you from deepest need
O God, hear my call
Send your Holy Spirit to us
To Comfort our deepest despair
As you have done to now, Christ
We rely on your command
But the heathen now want to kill us
The flesh is weak, as you know
It fears the smallest pain
So fill us with your Spirit
We pray from our hearts
So that we may remain until the end
And go bravely into suffering
and not fear the pain
The spirit is surely willing
To undergo suffering
Hear us, O Lord
Through Jesus Christ your beloved Son!
We pray also for our enemies
Who know not what they do
And think not of Your wrath
We ask You, Father and Lord
As your loving children
Kindle the light through Jesus Christ
Even more in your little flock
That would be our heart's desire
That for which we hunger and thirst
And would bring us greatest joy
You have received us in grace
And made us Your servants
This we have all done willingly
And fulfilled with Your help
Keep us pure in Your Word
We want to be obedient to You
Give us aid and comfort
You, Lord God, are my protection
We lift ourselves up to You
So it is but a small pain
If our lives be taken from us
You have prepared for us in eternity
So if here we suffer insult and blows
It will be for nothing
Body, life, soul, and limbs
We have received from You
These we offer up to You
To praise and glorify Your Name
It is nothing but dust and ashes
We commend to You our spirit, O God
Take it into Your hands. Amen
This song was came to us from George Blaurock, a Catholic priest who joined the Swiss Anabaptists in 1525. He was burned at the stake in 1529, at the age of 37, as a heretic for his views on believer's baptism.
The sinner received a harsh judgement
To bring him to repentance
If he does not refrain from sin
God warns him with threats
His Word shows clearly
That people must repent
Believe His Word and be baptised
And follow His Teachings
So note you sons of men
Cease from your sinning
Do not be senseless, godless and blind
For the Physician sees you
It will be terrible for the sinner
Who is not circumcised
In eternal pain God will put him
And there in suffering he will remain
You, O Lord, are a strong God
Who opens up hell
And throws therein the godless rabble
Who have hated Your children
Antichrist with all treachery
Sets against those who fear God
O God, please watch over us
And strengthen Your weak vessels
The suffering is great and hard
Which is happening to us
Help us to thank You for it
And see it as joy.
This next song was penned by Michael Sattler, another Catholic Priest who became an Anabaptist. Condemned as a heretic, the court stipulated that on his way to the stake, his tongue be progressively cut out, piece by piece. He was to have two pieces torn from his body by glowing tongs and burned five times with the tongs. Finally, he was bound with ropes to a ladder and pushed into the fire.
Eternal Father in Heaven
I call to You from deep within
Do not let me turn from You
Hold me in Your eternal truth
Until I reach my end
O God, keep my heart and mouth
Watch over me, Lord, always
Do not let me part from You
Whether in anguish, fear or need
Keep me pure in joy
To walk in Your strength in death
Through tribulation, martyrdom,
fear and need
Keep me in Your strength
That I may never again be seperated
From Your love, O God
There are many who travel this path
On which stands the cup of suffering
And also much false doctrine
With which they try to turn us away
From Christ our Lord
I lift up my soul to you, Lord
I hope in You in times of danger
Let me not become a disgrace
So that my enemies have the victory
Over me on this earth
They have me here locked up
I wait, O God, from my heart
With great desire
If You would only stir
And save Your ones from prison
Be comforted, you Christians
And always be joyous through Jesus Christ
He gives us love and faith
God comforts through His Holy Word
And we must trust in It
I bid God and His church
That He be today my guardian
For His Names's sake
My Father, let it be so
Through Jesus Christ, Amen.