To characterize Luther’s hymns is no easy task, because of their richness. Luther’s soul possessed an enormous span of faith and spiritual life. It experienced the mediaeval thunder-tones of judgment as well as the brightness of the Gospel. Compare, for example, the two hymns, “Though in midst of life we be” and “Dear Christians one and all rejoice.” Compare the following stanza from “Ein feste Burg,” The Word they still shall let remain, Nor any thanks have for it; He’s by our side upon the plain With His good gifts and Spirit. Take they then our life, Goods, fame, child, and wife, When their worst is done, They yet have nothing won: The Kingdom ours remaineth. with one of the stanzas from “Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her”, Ah, dearest Jesus, Holy Child, Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled, Here in my poor heart’s inmost shrine, That I may evermore be Thine. It is obvious that in “Dear Christians one and all rejoice”—Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g’mein—we have the outline of Luther’s entire experience of faith, from the moment he felt himself condemned by God till he could triumph in songs of praise. This hymn forms a very clear parallel to his exposition of the Second Article. Most of Luther’s hymns ought to be found in our English Lutheran hymn books. They are noble church hymns—all Lutherans should know them. The Church Militant is one of Luther’s chief subjects. Note his great heroic hymn “Ein feste Burg.” Note also one of his last hymns: Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort Und steure deiner Feinde Mord, (Original: und steur des Pabsts und Tuerken Mord). Die Jesum Christum, deinen Sohn, Stuerzen wollen von deinem Thron. Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word; Curb those who fain by craft or sword Would wrest the kingdom from Thy Son, And set at naught all He hath done. Powerful and courageous Lutheran hymns! Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein—Look down, O Lord, from heaven behold—seems to be as valid against the disintegrating subjectivism and super-culture of our time as against the age in which it was born, which dissolved God’s kingdom and divine will at pleasure and put uncontrolled human will in their place. Whether this refers to clericalism and papism or modern culture and mass dominion, makes little or no difference; the result in both cases is destruction. Nearly all of Luther’s hymns close with words of praise—note this consciousness of communion with Christ. Take for example the last stanza of “Christ lag in Todesbanden”: Then let us feast this Easter day On the true Bread of heaven; The Word of grace hath purged away The old and wicked leaven: Christ alone our souls will feed; He is our meat and drink indeed; Faith lives upon no other! Alleluia! We recommend a careful study of “Luther’s Hymns” by James F. Lambert. GERMAN HYMNODY