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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) Luther's Third Preface. - The Hymns of Martin Luther
Luther’s Third Preface. - Martin Luther, The Hymns of Martin Luther [1884]Edition used:Dr. Martin Luther’s Deutsche Geistliche Lieder. The Hymns of Martin Luther set to their original Melodies with an English version, ed. Leonard Woolsey Bacon and Nathan H. Allen (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1884).
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- Introduction.
- Luther’s First Preface.
- Luther’s Second Preface.
- Luther’s Third Preface.
- Luther’s Fourth Preface.
- A Preface to All Good Hymn-books. By Dr. Martin Luther. From Joseph Klug’s Hymn-book, Wittenberg, 1543.
- A Warning By Dr. Martin Luther.
- From the “eight Songs,” Wittenberg, 1524.
- I.: Nun Freut Euch, Lieben Christen G’mein. Dear Christians, One and All Rejoice.
- II.: Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh’ Darein. Look Down, O Lord, From Heaven Behold.
- III.: Es Spricht Der Unweisen Mund Wohl. the Mouth of Fools Doth God Confess.
- IV.: Aus Tiefer Noth Schrei’ Ich Zu Dir. Out of the Deep I Cry to Thee.
- From the “eight Songs,” Wittenberg, 1524.
- V.: Ein Neues Lied Wir Heben An. By Help of God I Fain Would Tell.
- VI.: Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland. Saviour of the Heathen, Known.
- VII.: Christum Wir Sollen Loben Schon. Now Praise We Christ, the Holy One.
- VIII.: Gelobet Sei’st Du, Jesu Christ. All Praise to Jesus’ Hallowed Name.
- IX.: Christ Lag In Todesbanden. Christ Was Laid In Death’s Strong Bands.
- X.: Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist. Come, God Creator, Holy Ghost.
- XI.: Jesus Christus Unser Heiland, Der Den Tod. Jesus Christ, Who Came to Save.
- XII.: Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott. Come, Holy Spirit, Lord Our God.
- XIII.: Diess Sind Die Heil’gen Zehn Gebot’. That Man a Godly Life Might Live.
- XIV.: Jesus Christus Unser Heiland, Der Von Uns. Christ, Who Freed Our Souls From Danger.
- XV.: Gott Sei Gelobet Und Gebenedeiet. May God Be Praised Henceforth and Blest Forever.
- XVI.: Es Wollt’ Uns Gott Genädig Sein. May God Unto Us Gracious Be.
- XVII.: Wohl Dem, Der In Gottes Furcht Steht. Happy the Man Who Feareth God.
- XVIII.: Mitten Wir Im Leben Sind. Though In Midst of Life We Be.
- From Walter’s Gesangbuch, 1525.
- XIX.: Nun Bitten Wir Den Heiligen Geist. Now Pray We All God, the Comforter.
- XX.: Mit Fried’ Und Freud’ Ich Fahr’ Dahin. In Peace and Joy I Now Depart.
- XXI.: Mensch, Willt Du Leben Seliglich. Wilt Thou, O Man, Live Happily.
- XXII.: Gott Der Vater Wohn’ Uns Bei. God the Father, With Us Stay.
- XXIII.: Wir Glauben All’ an Einen Gott. We All Believe In One True God.
- XXIV.: Wär’ Gott Nicht Mit Uns. Had God Not Come, May Israel Say.
- From the German Mass, 1526.
- XXV.: Jesaia, Dem Propheten, Das Geschah. These Things the Seer Isaiah Did Befall.
- In “form Und Ordnung Geistlicher Gesang,” Augsburg, 1529.
- XXVI.: Ein’ Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott. Strong Tower and Refuge Is Our God.
- In a Collection of “geistliche Lieder,” Wittenberg, 1533.
- XXVII.: Verleih’ Uns Frieden Gnädiglich. In These Our Days So Perilous.
- XXVIII.: Herr Gott, Dich Loben Wir. Lord God, Thy Praise We Sing.
- From Joseph Klug’s Gesangsbuch, 1535?
- XXIX.: Vom Himmel Hoch Da Komm Ich Her. From Heaven Above to Earth I Come.
- XXX.: Sie Ist Mir Lieb, Die Werthe Magd. Dear Is to Me the Holy Maid.
- In Köphl’s Gesangbuch, Strassburg, 1535? 1538?
- XXXI.: Vater Unser Im Himmelreich. Our Father, Thou In Heaven Above.
- In Klug’s Gesangbuch, 1543.
- XXXII.: Von Himmel Kam Der Engel Schaar. to Shepherds, As They Watched By Night.
- XXXIII.: Erhalt Uns, Herr, Bei Deinem Wort. Lord, Keep Us In Thy Word and Work.
- XXXIV.: Christ, Unser Herr, Zum Jordan Kam. to Jordan Came Our Lord the Christ.
- XXXV.: Was Fürcht’st Du, Feind Herodus, Sehr? Why, Herod, Unrelenting Foe.
- XXXVI.: Der Du Bist Drei In Einigkeit. Thou, Who Art Three In Unity.
Luther’s Third Preface.
To the Hymn-book printed at Wittenberg by Joseph Klug, 1543.
There are certain who, by their additions to our hymns, have clearly shown that they far excel me in this matter, and may well be called my masters. But some, on the other hand, have added little of value. And inasmuch as I see that there is no limit to this perpetual amending by every one indiscriminately according to his own liking, so that the earliest of our hymns are more perverted the more they are printed, I am fearful that it will fare with this little book as it has ever fared with good books, that through tampering by incompetent hands it may get to be so overlaid and spoiled that the good will be lost out of it, and nothing be kept in use but the worthless.
We see in the first chapter of St. Luke that in the beginning every one wanted to write a gospel, until among the multitude of gospels the true Gospel was wellnigh lost. So has it been with the works of St. Jerome and St. Augustine, and with many other books. In short, there will always be tares sown among the wheat.
In order as far as may be to avoid this evil, I have once more revised this book, and put our own hymns in order by themselves with name attached, which formerly I would not do for reputation’s sake, but am now constrained to do by necessity, lest strange and unsuitable songs come to be sold under our name. After these, are arranged the others, such as we deem good and useful.
I beg and beseech all who prize God’s pure word that henceforth without our knowledge and consent no further additions or alterations be made in this book of ours; and that when it is amended without our knowledge, it be fully understood to be not our book published at Wittenberg. Every man can for himself make his own hymn-book, and leave this of ours alone without additions; as we here beg, beseech and testify. For we like to keep our coin up to our own standard, debarring no man from making better for himself. Now let God’s name alone be praised, and our name not sought. Amen.
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