Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-02-03

From The Presbyterian.
LUTHER'S PARAPHRASE OF THE 18TH PSALM.

LUTHER'S PARAPHRASE OF THE 18TH PSALl
Luther's Psalms and Hymns did scarcely less f
the Reformation in Germany, than his translation
the Bible. They are thirty-six in number, and we
originally published separate sheets, togeth
with their appropriate tunes. They thus gained
more general circulation than they could have don
if collected and published in a more bulky form
They trayersed the land in letters. thus reaching
ces where pl nted Bible would have been easi
detected, and instantly seized Their metricaI for
fixed them in the memory, and caused them to
repeated and sung even when they could nOtbe pri
ted and read. 1T is wonderful" said a Spani
monk, chow much thes hymns have furhered L
spread OF Lutheranism they have poured for
from Iluther's workshop, and now sung in hoU
es and shops, III markets, streets and fields
1928 the Retormer composed his paraphrase of t
twelfth psalm, Of which the following is transl
tion, attempting to preserve something of the ru
gednesS Of the original
0 God. from highest heaven hear.
Nor let thy mercies slumber,
How desoale the poor appear,
Thy saints, how few in number
Thy word the foe hath long assaed
And human faith at length has failed
In what thy lips have uttered.
For truth men teach canning lie
With confidence Unbounded
With double heart their schemes they ply,
Not on thy promise four dcd
One chooses this, another that
And while their show we wonder at.
They drive our souls distracted.
But God win from earth root out
Al! who have lies invented,
Who cry while they the heavens hOut.
&c will not be prevented
Both might and right snstain deeds
And what we propose aye succeeds
And who shall be master
Therefore saith God will arise,
Ny poor undefcnded
| hear in heaven their heavy sighs,
| have their cry attended.
My healing words shall, in the strife.
Bring to them comfort, cheer, and life,
And be their strength and succunr.
A. silver in the furnace tried
Is ever found the purcr,
so shall Gods holy word abide
No promise can be
Our crosse, prove it, sovereign power
Its glory lights the darkest hour
II shines upon the people
Its truth wilt thou 0 God display
Before this evil nation
And By thy mighty power. pray,
Save from dcsolatOn.
Where'er this evil race abound
The goddess company found,
Exalted DER thy servants.
This paraphrase is associated with some Of tn
most signal triumphs of the Reformation in Germi
ny. 1t early proved itself a most trusty weapon il
the hands Of the common people in resisting tn
enemies of the truth. In the 1921 only four yeaI
after Luther composed it, it was well employed /
one of the churches of Brunswick to silence the ii
terances of error. The Catholic Councillor had il
vted the famous Dr. Sprengel from the Magdebur
Cathedral. to preach at one of the great Romish es
tivals. This priest had boasted that with sermon
he could extinguish the Lutheran heresy in Bruins
wick. He was warmly welcomed by his brother e(
cesastics and selected for the text of his first dis
course, the parable Of the two debtors. In the md
Of his sermon, as he quoting text to prov
chat I; may by good works. merit salvation.
voice from the congregation cried out, - on quot
the Scripture falsely 1t Is not so written in the
BILE. Somewhat dlscOmposcd the preacher rotor
ted, My friend, perhaps yoH have a different tran
lation from mine quote from my Bible. He the
resumed his discourse. and repeated his first assel
tiou. Upon this, simple buTghercricd ont. ''Prles
thou Hest " and with clear voice raised the psalm
30 God, from highest heaven hear The Who'll
congregation Joined IN chorus, and as they rcache
the second stanza, For truth they teach a cannin
lie,' the discomftted preacher came down from tn
pulpit. and sneaked out Of the church
Two years later the same psalm was used with
qnaIly good effect at Lubbock. A poor blind ma
had been wont to sing Luther's hymns at the door
of the houses and at last, this account, bar
ished from the city by the Popish Councillor. o.
the following Sunday Just as the priest at st James
church began the mass for the dead, two little boy
in the congregation began to sing, 20 God tror
highest heaven near. Inc people JOlIeu III, an
devoutly sung the psalm through. 1t was the frs
time that German hymn had been heard in
church at Lubbock but it was not the last. The c
ty gave itself up to the influence ofthe Reformation
and as often as priest or preacher uttered troI
the pulpit any thing contrary to the TRUTH the peOpl
began to sing Luther's 18th psalm.
Well has one of Luther's companions said, $50
has given us, in Luther's little hymn-book, grea
and wonderful, and unexamped gift for which W
cannot sufficiently thank him throughout eternity