But one fold, was out on the hills away, Far off from the Thee?" But the Shep-herd made an swer: This of mine Has wandered cross'd; Nor how dark was the night that the Lord pass'd thro' Ere He found His way from the tender Shepherd's care, A-way from the ten-der Shep-herd's care. go to the desert to find my sheep, I Sick and helpless, and read-y to die, go to the desert to find my sheep." Sick and helpless, and ready to die. Used by per. 4 "Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way 5 But all thro' the mountains, thunder-riven, There arose a glad cry to the gate of heaven, And the Angels echoed around the throne, SANKEY'S STORY OF THE GOSPEL HYMNS A Mighty Fortress Words by Martin Luther Music by Martin Luther "A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing." Martin Luther, the great leader of the Reformation, is the author of both the words and music of this famous hymn, probably written in 1521. Two of the most popular English translations are by the Rev. Dr. F. H. Hedge and Thomas Carlyle. While Luther was still living his enemies in the Roman Catholic Church declared that the whole German people were singing themselves into Luther's doctrines, and that his hymns "destroyed more souls than all his writings and sermons." During the prolonged contest of the Reformation period "A Mighty Fortress" was of incalculable benefit and comfort to the Protestant people, and it became the national hymn of Germany. Gustavus Adolphus, the hero of the Thirty Years' War, used it as his battlehymn, when he led his troops to meet Wallenstein. The first line of this hymn is inscribed on Luther's monument in Wittenburg. Luther himself found great comfort in his hymn. When dangers thickened around 105 |