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| 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 in re-baptism. 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. |
| Anabaptist Songs taken from The Ausbund |