Martin Luther's Hymns And Exclusive Psalm Singing In Public Worship In Germany Among Lutherans (Reformation Worship Songs)

'When the Lord brought the testimony of his witnesses out of obscurity in Piedmont, Bohemio, &c., by the ministry of Luther, his contemporaries and successors; then the psalms were restored to their place in the churches of the Reformation. Luther was skilled in music, himself composed many hymns; but he carefully distinguished between the Psalms and his hymns. An old lady in eastern Pennsylvania is said to have in her possession 'a German Psalm-book, published by Luther himself.' The book closes with a collection of Luther's hymns; but the old lady says that in her young days in Germany, 'its directions were rigidly obeyed, and in public worship they sang only the Psalms of David.' The same order, as is well known, prevailed in all the other reformed churches of Europe and the British Isles.'

• David Steele, 'Psalms and Hymns,' The Original Covenanter Magazine (Vol. 3:1-3:16, March 1881 to Dec. 1884), p. 41. Available from Still Waters Revival Books [swrb.com] as a cerlox bound photocopy ($13.99) or as a hardcover photocopy ($23.00).

'The organ in worship is the insignia of Baal… The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews.' (Martin Luther, Mcclintock & Strong's Encyclopedia, Vol. 6, page 762).

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