The Story of Our Hymns Part 8

The last name that we would mention is Heinrich Theobald Schenk, a pastor at Giessen. Not much is known of this man except that he was the writer of a single hymn, but it is a hymn that has gained for him the thanks of posterity. There is scarcely a hymn-book of any communion today that does not contain, "Who are these, like stars appearing?" Schenk died in 1727, at the age of 71 years.

The Swan-song of Gustavus Adolphus

Be not dismayed, thou little flock, Although the foe's fierce battle shock Loud on all sides a.s.sail thee.

Though o'er thy fall they laugh secure, Their triumph cannot long endure, Let not thy courage fail thee.

Thy cause is G.o.d's--go at His call, And to His hand commit thine all; Fear thou no ill impending; His Gideon shall arise for thee, G.o.d's Word and people manfully In G.o.d's own time defending.

Our hope is sure in Jesus' might; Against themselves the G.o.dless fight, Themselves, not us, distressing; Shame and contempt their lot shall be; G.o.d is with us, with Him are we; To us belongs His blessing.

Johann Michael Altenberg, 1631

A Hymn Made Famous on a Battle Field

"Be not dismayed, thou little flock" will always be known as the "swan-song" of the Swedish hero king, Gustavus Adolphus.

No incident in modern history is more dramatic than the sudden appearance in Germany of Gustavus Adolphus and his little Swedish army during the critical days of the Thirty Years' War. It was this victorious crusade that saved Germany, and probably all of northern Europe, for Protestantism.

The untimely death of the Swedish monarch on the battlefield of Lutzen, November 6, 1632, while leading his men against Wallenstein's host, not only gained immortal fame for Gustavus, but will always cause the world to remember the hymn that was sung by his army on that historic day.

When Gustavus Adolphus landed in Germany in 1630 with his small but well-trained army, it seemed that the Protestant cause in Europe was lost. All the Protestant princes of Germany had been defeated by Tilly and Wallenstein, leaders of the Imperial armies, and the victors were preparing to crush every vestige of Lutheranism in Germany.

The Margrave of Brandenburg and the Duke of Saxony, however, furnished a few troops to Gustavus, and in a swift, meteoric campaign the Swedish king had routed the army of the Catholic League and had marched all the way across Germany. In the spring of 1632 Gustavus moved into the heart of Bavaria and captured Munich.

The Imperial forces who had sneered at the "Snow King," as they called him, and who had predicted that he would "melt" as he came southward, were now filled with dismay. The "Snow King" proved to be the "Lion of the North."

Wallenstein rallied the Catholic forces for a last stand at Lutzen, the battle that was to prove the decisive conflict.

On the morning of November 6, 1632, the two armies faced each other in battle array. Dr. Fabricius, chaplain of the Swedish army, had been commanded by Gustavus to lead his troops in wors.h.i.+p. The king himself raised the strains of "Be not dismayed, thou little flock," and led the army in singing the stirring hymn. Then he knelt in fervent prayer.

A heavy fog prevented the Protestant forces from moving forward to the attack, and, while they were waiting for the fog to lift, Gustavus ordered the musicians to play Luther's hymn, "A mighty Fortress is our G.o.d." The whole army joined with a shout. The king then mounted his charger, and, drawing his sword, rode back and forth in front of the lines, speaking words of encouragement to his men.

As the sun began to break through the fog, Gustavus himself offered a prayer, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, help me today to do battle for the glory of Thy holy name," and then shouted, "Now forward to the attack in the name of our G.o.d!" The army answered, "G.o.d with us!" and rushed forward, the king galloping in the lead.

When his aid offered him his coat of mail, Gustavus refused to put it on, declaring, "G.o.d is my Protector."

The battle raged fiercely. For a time the outcome seemed ominous for the Lutherans. At 11 o'clock Gustavus was struck by a bullet and mortally wounded. As he fell from his horse, the word spread quickly throughout the Swedish lines, "The king is wounded!"

It proved to be the turning point in the battle. Instead of losing heart and fleeing, the Swedish troops charged the foe with a fierceness born of sorrow and despair, and before the day was ended another glorious victory had been won. The Protestant cause was saved, but the n.o.ble Gustavus had made the supreme sacrifice.

The authors.h.i.+p of his famous "battle-hymn" has been the subject of much dispute. The German poet and hymnologist, Albert Knapp, has called it "a little feather from the eagle wing of Gustavus Adolphus." Most Swedish authorities, too, unite in naming their hero king as the author. However, the weight of evidence seems to point to Johann Michael Altenberg, a German pastor of Gross Sommern, Thuringen, as the real writer of the hymn. It is said that Altenberg was inspired to write it upon hearing of the great victory gained by Gustavus Adolphus at the battle of Leipzig, September 7, 1631, about a year before the battle of Lutzen.

In any event, it is a matter of record that the Swedish king adopted it immediately, and that he sang it as his own "swan-song" just before he died at Lutzen. Someone has aptly said, "Whether German or Swede may claim this hymn is a question. They both rightly own it."

Rinkart's Hymn of Praise

Now thank we all our G.o.d, With hearts and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His earth rejoices; Who from our mother's arms Hath blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous G.o.d Through all our life be near us, With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us; And keep us in His grace, And guide us when perplexed, And free us from all ills, In this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to G.o.d The Father now be given, The Son, and Him who reigns With them in highest heaven; The One eternal G.o.d, Whom earth and heaven adore; For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore!

Martin Rinkart (1586-1649).

THE LUTHERAN TE DEUM

The last of the great Lutheran hymn-writers belonging to the period of the Thirty Years' War was Martin Rinkart. Except for the time of the Reformation, this period was probably the greatest creative epoch in the history of Lutheran hymnody. But of all the glorious hymns that were written during those stirring years, there is none that equals Rinkart's famous hymn, "Now thank we all our G.o.d."

The date of this remarkable hymn is obscure. The claim has been made that it was written as a hymn of thanksgiving following the Peace of Westphalia, which in 1648 brought to an end the long and cruel war. This claim has been based on the fact that the first two stanzas are a paraphrase of the words of the high priest Simeon, recorded in the Apocryphal book Ecclesiasticus 50:29-32: "And now let all praise G.o.d, who hath done great things, who hath glorified our days, and dealeth with us according to His loving-kindness. He giveth us the joy of our hearts, that we may find peace in Israel as in the days of yore, thus He lets His loving-kindness remain with us, and He will redeem us in our day."

Inasmuch as this was the Scripture pa.s.sage on which all regimental chaplains were ordered to preach in celebration of the conclusion of peace, it has been inferred that Rinkart was inspired to write his hymn at that time.

It is probable, however, that these circ.u.mstances were merely a coincidence, and that the hymn was written several years previous to 1648. In Rinkart's own volume, "Jesu Hertz-Buchlein," it appears under the t.i.tle "Tisch-Gebetlein," or a short prayer before meals, and many believe that it was originally written for Rinkart's children. It will be noticed that, while the first two stanzas are based on the pa.s.sage from Ecclesiasticus, the last stanza is the ancient doxology, _Gloria Patri_.

No hymn except Luther's famous "A mighty Fortress is our G.o.d" has been used more generally in the Lutheran Church than Rinkart's glorious paean of praise. In Germany, where it has become the national _Te Deum_, it is sung at all impressive occasions. After the battle of Leuthen, the army of Frederick the Great raised the strains of this n.o.ble hymn, and it is said that even the mortally wounded joined in the singing.

In his history of the Franco-Prussian War, Ca.s.sel tells of a stirring incident that took place on the day following the battle of Sedan, where the Germans had won a decisive victory over the French. A mult.i.tude of Prussian troops who were marching toward Paris were billeted in the parish church of Augecourt. They could not sleep because of the extreme excitement of the day. Suddenly a strain of music came from the organ, first very softly but gradually swelling in volume until the whole sanctuary shook. It was the grand old hymn--"Nun danket alle Gott!"

Instantly men and officers were upon their feet, singing the stirring words. Then followed Luther's "Ein feste Burg," after which the terrible strain seemed relieved, and they laid themselves down to peaceful slumber.

It is recorded that the hymn was also sung at the opening of the magnificent Cathedral of Cologne, August 14, 1880, as well as at the laying of the cornerstone of the Parliament building in Berlin, June 9, 1884. It has also achieved great popularity in England, where it was sung as a _Te Deum_ in nearly all churches and chapels at the close of the Boer War in 1902.

Rinkart's life was a tragic one. The greater part of his public service was rendered during the horrors of the Thirty Years' War. He was born at Eilenburg, Saxony, April 23, 1586. After attending a Latin school in his home town, he became a student at the University of Leipzig.

In 1617, by invitation of the town council of Eilenburg, he became pastor of the church in the city of his birth. It was at the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, and, because Eilenburg was a walled city, it became a refuge for thousands who had lost everything in the conflict. Famine and pestilence added to the horror of the situation, and the other two pastors of the city having died, Rinkart was left alone to minister to the spiritual needs of the populace.

Twice Eilenburg was saved from the Swedish army through the intercession of Rinkart, first in 1637 and again in 1639. A levy of 30,000 thaler had been made on the city by the Swedish general to aid the Protestant cause.

Knowing the impoverished condition of his townsmen, Rinkart went out to the Swedish camp to plead their cause, but to no avail. Turning to those who were with him, Rinkart exclaimed, "Come, my children, we can find no mercy with men, let us take refuge with G.o.d." He then fell on his knees and uttered a fervent prayer, after which they sang the hymn of Paul Eber so much used in those trying days, "When in the hour of utmost need." The scene made such an impression on the Swedish commander that he relented and reduced his demand to 2,000 florins or 1,350 thaler.

Rinkart lived only a year after the close of the b.l.o.o.d.y war. He died, a worn and broken man, in 1649.