Menno Simons – wrote, Nov 12, 1556

“I can neither teach nor live by the faith of others.  I must live by my own faith as the Spirit of the Lord has taught me through His Word.”  Amen.

11/12 Menno Simons, 1556, a well-kown Dutch reformer is said to have written the above in a letter dated 11/12/1556.  He was born 1496(?) in Friesland and passed from this life 1/31/1561 at Holstein.

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Hans Leo Hassler – birth, Oct. 25, 1564

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Hans Leo Hassler, born this date 10/25/1564, at Nuernberg, Bavaria.  He started his musical career studying with his father.  This German, a sacred music composer, left behind a good musical legacy, including the tune to the hymn, “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded.”  Hassler passed from this life 6/8/1612, at Frank­furt am Main, Ger­ma­ny.

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James Montgomery – wrote on this date, Oct. 13, 1834

In the hour of trial, Jesus, plead for me,
Lest by base denial I depart from Thee.
When Thou seest me waver, with a look recall,
Nor for fear or favor suffer me to fall.

With forbidden pleasures would this vain world charm,
Or its sordid treasures spread to work me harm,
Bring to my remembrance sad Gethsemane,
Or, in darker semblance, cross-crowned Calvary.

Should Thy mercy send me sorrow, toil and woe,
Or should pain attend me on my path below,
Grant that I may never fail Thy hand to see;
Grant that I may ever cast my care on Thee.

When my last hour cometh, fraught with strife and pain,
When my dust returneth to the dust again,
On Thy truth relying, through that mortal strife,
Jesus, take me, dying, to eternal life.

The above poem (hymn) was penned this date 10/13/1834 by James Montgomery. 

James Montgomery was born 11/4/1771 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland where his father John was a minister in the Moravian Church.  In 1783, his parents were sent to the West Indies as missionaries and left James in the Moravian settlement near Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland. He passed from this life, 4/30/1854, Mount, Shef­field, Eng­land.

 Montgomery become the editor/owned of the Sheffield Iris.  In addition he wrote 400 hymns including “Hail To the Lord’s Anointed” “Angels From the Realms of Glory,” “Go to Dark Gethsemane,” “Prayer is the Souls’ Sincere Desire.”

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David Brainerd – wrote, Feb. 20, 1743

“Selfish religion loves Christ for His benefits, but not for Himself.”

David Brainerd, on this date, 2/20/1743, is said to have written the above in his journal.  He was, of course, a Colonial area missionary to our American Indians.  Brainerd was born 4/20/1718, at Haddam, Connecticut, and passed from this life, 10/9/1747 at Northampton, Massachusetts.

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A. B. Simpson – founded college, Oct. 1, 1883

O how sweet the glorious message simple faith may claim
Yesterday, today, forever Jesus is the same.
Still He loves to save the sinful, heal the sick and lame
Cheer the mourner, still the tempest, glory to His Name.

 

Refrain

Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!
Glory to His Name! Glory to His Name!
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!

 

He, who was the Friend of sinners, seeks the lost one now
Sinner come, and at His footstool penitently bow
He Who said “I’ll not condemn thee, go and sin no more,”
Speaks to thee that word of pardon as in days of yore.

 

Oft on earth He healed the sufferer by His mighty hand
Still our sicknesses and sorrows go at His command
He who gave His healing virtue to a woman’s touch
To the faith that claims His fullness still will give as much.

 

As of old He walked to Emmaus, with them to abide
So through all life’s way He walketh ever near our side
Soon again we shall behold Him, Hasten Lord the day
But twill still be this same Jesus as He went away.

 

A. B. (Albert Benjamin) Simpson on this date, 10/1/1883, founded the Christian Missionary Alliance’s college, Missionary Training Institute.  It was the first school in America to train missionaries.  The name was changed to Nyack College in 1972.

Simpson was born 12/15/1843, at Bay­view, Prince Ed­ward Is­land, Can­a­da.  He passed from this life 10/29/29/1919, at Ny­ack, New York.

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