# Balthasar Hübmaier/Hymn

A FORGOTTEN HYMN OF HÜBMAIER'S
Much of the earliest Anabaptist literature is in the form of hymns, often crude in expression and halting in metre, but full of spiritual fervour. It would be surprising if so fertile a writer as Hübmaier had contributed nothing to this sort of literature; and still stranger, if he did write hymns, that none of them should be preserved. As a matter of fact, several of the old Anabaptist documents contain a hymn that is attributed to Hübmaier. It is not unknown, being printed in full, but anonymously, in Wackernagel's great collection, vol. iii., p. 126 sq. The title there given is, "Ein preiss lied göttlichs worts" (A song in praise of God's word). As to the authorship, the editor contents himself with remarking that the hymn has been attributed without satisfactory reason to Erasmus Alber. Beck, Hoschek, and Loserth agree that the hymn is undoubtedly Hübmaier's. The text is herewith reprinted from Wackernagel, with a metrical translation, in which the attempt has been made to follow the original as closely as the exigencies of English versification would admit—at any rate, to represent fairly the spirit of the original.
| ​ Frewt euch, frewt euch in diser zeyt, jr werden Christen alle! Wann yetz in allen landen weyt Gots wort her dringt mit schalle. Est ist kein man, ders weren kan, das habt ir wol vernummen, Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan den bösen als den frummen. Adam, Adam, du alter greysz, wie hat es dir ergangen? Nach deynem fall im Paradeysz hast du von Got empfangen Sein Götlich wort genummen an, vnd bist dadurch erhalten, Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan den jungen als den alten. Noe, Noe, du Gottes man! Got hat dich auszerkoren, Das du seyn wort hast gnummen an, hat er zu dir geschworen, Mit wasser nit ertrincken lan, wolt von seim zorn abweichen, Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan den armen als den reichen. Abraham, Abraham geb gut bescheyd: er glaubet Got, seim Herren, Das ward jm zelt zur grechtigkeyt, seyn samen wolt er meren. Also hat Gott den allen than, die seinem wort vertrawen, Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan den die darauff thünd bawen.   ​ Loth, Loth, ein frumm Gotförchtig man, Got thet jm zwen Engel senden, Hiesz jn ausz Sodom zihen than und solt sich nicht vmbwenden: Alsbald hüb Gott zu regnen an mit schwefel und mit feüre, Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan, kumbt vns allen zu steüre. David, David, ein küng und herr, ein man nach Gottes willen, Hat angenummen Gottes leer, darumb seyn wort erfüllet: Ausz seinem stamm Got globet an, wolt er geboren werden, Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan jm himel vnd auff erden. Jesus Christus, Marie son, vom heyligen geyst empfangen, Was all Propheten gsaget hon ist als an jm ergangen: Das hat Got als durch jn gethan, vnd spricht "den solt jr hören!" Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan, den sol wir loben vnd ehren. Nun hört, nun hört vnd mercket mit fleysz was vns fürter beschreiben Im Testament auff newe weisz, darinn sie thün verleiben, Was vormals ye gesaget ward von Christo vnserm herren: Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan vnd wirt sich allzeyt meren.   ​ Mattheus Leui Euangelist, ein man vom Zoll berüffen, Der erste Cantzler worden ist, lernet allein zu suchen Disen Heilandt, der selber spricht "kumpt, jr betrübten alle!" Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan mit pracht vnd grossem schalle. Marcus, Marcus der ander ist, der auch reichlich auszpreytet Mirackel grosz von disem Christ, damit er hat geleytet Zum glauben bracht, das der allein gerecht vnd frumm thüt machen, Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan, sie waynen oder lachen. Lucas auch in die ordnung tritt, grosz wunderthatt vns zeyget, Zu schreiben ausz ist er der drit, wie hoch vns Gott sey geneyget, Das er vns schickt von hymel herab seyn Son freundtlich lest locken, Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan, wer das nicht glaubt, müsz pocken. Johannes, Johannes, der Jüngling schon, ist auch der vierdte worden, Das Wort er fürt in gleichem thon, lert vns den Christen orden Mit glaub vnd lieb beweysen recht vnd sunst anders nicht suchen, Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan, es hilfft kein scharrn noch puchen.   ​ Saulus, Paulus, erweltes fasz, ist erst der rechte keren, Der vns erregt den neid vnd hasz, darnon so zornig werden Die welt vnd jr grosz hoffgesind, die also toben vnd wüten: Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan, vor den wirdt ers behüten. O Paul, O Paul, was richstu an mit deinem theüren schreiben? Menschlich vernunfft hoch sichtest an, wilt ire werck vertreiben, Allein den glauben richten auff, der sols alles auszrichten, Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan, wie wol sie es vernichten. Petrus, Judas vnd Jacobus folgen auch diser lere, Das sie vns lernen rew vnd büsz durch Christum vnsern Herren, Auff den sie all vns weysen thon: on jn wirt nit geholffen! Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan vor Löwen, Beren vnd Wolffen. Ach mensch, ach mensch, nu schick dich drein lasz deinen dunckel faren Und glaub der schrifft vnd worten sein, damit du mögst bewaren Dein gwissen vnd auch all dein thon trewlich darauff verlassen: Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan, zeygt vns den weg vnd strassen.   ​ O Jhesu Christ, du Gottes son, las vns nit von dir weychen! Das vns nit werd ein böser lon, so menschen leer her streychen Mit schöner gestalt vnd wüterichs gwalt zu tilgen deynen namen; Dann Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan von nun vnd ewig, Amen. Lobt Gott, lobt Gott in eynigkeyt, jr Christen all gemeyne! Das er seyn wort hatt auszgepreyt, das ist seyn werck alleyne. Keins menschen wan nicht helffen kan, wie hoch er sey mit namen, Dan Gottes wort bleybt ewig stan, Nun singen wir fröhlich, Amen! | ​ Rejoice, rejoice, ye Christians all, And break forth into singing! Since far and wide on every side The word of God is ringing. And well we know, no human foe Our souls from Christ can sever; For to the base, and men of grace, God's word stands sure for ever. O Adam, Adam, first of men, What future did fate send you? After your fall in Paradise How did your God befriend you? His holy word from him you heard, That word which faileth never, To tend'rest age, to hoary sage, God's word stands sure for ever. O Noah, Noah, man of God, Thy God hath thee selected And sworn to thee an oath, since thou His word hast not rejected: "With flood again to drown all men My wrath shall hasten never"; To swollen pelf, to want itself, God's word stands sure for ever. And Abraham believed his God, And so, for his devotion, His faith became his righteousness, His seed like sands of ocean. Thus has God done for every one, Who trust him perish never; To every one who builds thereon God's word stands sure for ever.   ​ And Lot, devout, God-fearing man, Two angels came to find him, And lead him out from Sodom safe, Nor should he look behind him. God's fiery flood therein withstood No living thing whatever; All men, like Lot, must pay their scot, God's word stands sure for ever. O David, David, king and lord, A man of God's own choosing, God's truth he hid within his heart Beyond all fear of losing. From David's seed Christ should proceed, He swore who changeth never; In heaven and on earth the same God's word stands sure for ever. Jesus the Christ, of Mary born And of the Holy Spirit, What all the prophets promisèd We shall in him inherit. "Hear him," the call of God to all, To save us his endeavour; To him all praise and honour raise— God's word stands sure for ever. Now hear, now hear, and mark with care What else for us is written, And learn from his new Covenant What more to do we're bidden. And what of old has been foretold Of Christ our Lord and Saviour; To latest hour, in vaster power, God's word stands sure for ever.   ​ Matthew, the first evangelist, From Roman service taken, Has now become chief counsellor And has his sins forsaken; Hears Jesus call, who says to all, "Follow with best endeavour." In ample fame, always the same, God's word stands sure for ever. And Mark, yes, Mark, the second is, And richly he has taught us The knowledge of that mighty power Wherewith our Lord has brought us To faith in God, to which is owed All goodness whatsoever; For all men's tears, for all men's jeers, God's word stands sure for ever. Luke also follows in the train And tells the gospel story: The wondrous works of Christ, and how From heaven the God of glory To men undone has sent his Son That men might perish never; Believe we must, or bite the dust, God's word stands sure for ever. And John, the fourth evangelist, A youth of wondrous beauty, Reveals to us the Word divine And teaches us our duty. With faith and love your calling prove And seek no other lever; It gives no aid to hoe or spade, But God's word stands for ever.   ​ And Saul, God's chosen vessel he, His early sin repented: He stormed and strove against the saints As if he were demented. In vain the age 'gainst us shall rage, Our souls from Christ to sever; In time of ill our stronghold still, God's word stands sure for ever. O Paul, O Paul, what fruit of all Thy writings in their season! The truth thou hast declared shall stand Against all human reason. Sin is o'erthrown by faith alone, And, though the great and clever Were all employed to make it void, God's word stands sure for ever. And Peter, Jude, and James, all three Do follow in this teaching; Repentance and confession they Through Christ our Lord are preaching In him men must put all their trust, Or they shall see God never; The wolf may tear, the lion, bear,— God's word stands sure for ever. Ah, man, blind man, now hear the word, Make sure your state and calling; Believe the Scripture is the power By which we're kept from falling. Your valued lore at once give o'er, Renounce your vain endeavour; This shows the way, no longer stray, God's word stands sure for ever.   ​ O Jesus Christ, thou Son of God, Let us not lack thy favour, For what shall be our just reward If the salt shall lose its savour? With angry flame to efface thy name In vain shall men endeavour; Not for a day, the same for aye, God's word stands sure for ever. Praise God, praise God in unity, Ye Christian people sweetly, That he his word has spread abroad— His word, his work completely. No human hand can him withstand, No name how high soever; And sing we then our glad Amen! God's word stands sure for ever. |