Early Protestant Spirituality

by Hendrix, Scott H.

• ISBN13: 9780809142118
• ISBN10: 0809142112
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-09-01
• Publisher: Paulist Pr

Summary

"Protestant spirituality" might sound like an oxymoron. Reformation scholar Scott Hendrix contends, however, that the spiritual tradition found among early Protestants was vibrant because spirituality meant all the ways they practiced their faith. Accordingly, these representative texts are grouped into nine categories: Personal Voices, Interpreting Scripture, Preaching, Admonishing and Consoling, Living the Faith, Singing, Praying, Reconstructing Sacraments, and Worshiping.

Author Biography

Scott H. Hendrix is professor, emeritus of Reformation history and doctrine at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. He has published extensively on the Reformation and is the author of Recultivating the Vineyard: The Reformation Agendas of Christianization.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments and Permissions	p. xiii
Abbreviations	p. xvii
Introduction	p. 1
Personal Voices
Introduction	p. 9
Letter to Oswald Myconius, July 24, 1520	p. 10
Letter to His Father, Hans Luther, November 21, 1521	p. 16
To the Noble and Honorable Adam von Thering, the Count Palatine's Administrator in Neuburg...An Open Letter from Argula von Grumbach, née von Stauff, 1523	p. 21
Answer to the Bishop's Accusations against Him Addressed to the City Council of Strasbourg, 1523	p. 28
Letter unto the Faithful Followers of Christ's Gospel, While He Was Prisoner in the Tower of London for the Word of God, 1532	p. 36
Interpreting Scripture
Introduction	p. 41
The Clarity and Certainty of the Word of God, 1522	p. 143
A Letter of Caspar Schwenckfeld concerning the Course of the Word of God, March 4, 1527	p. 49
The Beautiful Confitemini (Psalm 118:16-18), 1530	p. 56
The Lessons of Jeremiah's Prophecy, 1548	p. 62
Prologue to the Exposition of the First Epistle of St. John, 1531	p. 68
Preaching
Introduction	p. 75
A Guide to Preaching about the Chief Topics of Christian Doctrine Carefully and without Giving Offense, for Young Ministers of the Word in the Duchy of Lüneburg, 1535	p. 76
A Homily or Sermon of Good Works Annexed unto Faith, 1547	p. 86
Sermon on Acts 4:32-37, June 1, 1550	p. 92
Admonishing and Consoling
Introduction	p. 103
Letter to the Suffering Women of the Community of Kentzingen Who Believe in Christ, Sisters with Me in Jesus Christ, 1524	p. 104
A Comforting Sermon on the Resurrection of Christ, Useful for Those Weak in Faith to Read, 1525	p. 112
Apothecary of the Soul for the Healthy and the Sick in These Dangerous Times, 1529	p. 118
A Brief Statement or Instruction on How the Sick Should Be Visited by the Ministers of the Church and the Procedure to Be Followed in Their Homes, about 1549	p. 131
Living the Faith
Introduction	p. 141
How to Live for Others and Not for Oneself, 1523	p. 143
The Two Greatest Commandments: Love of God and Love of Neighbor, 1524	p. 151
A Sermon on the Strength and Increase of Faith and Love, 1525	p. 168
Letter to Ambrosius Blarer, May 4, 1528	p. 175
Singing
Introduction	p. 181
A Christian Song Written When He Was Attacked by the Pestilence, 1519	p. 183
Salvation unto Us Has Come, 1523	p. 185
The Only Son from Heaven, 1524	p. 186
Praise God Above on the Highest Throne, 1531	p. 187
Give Peace in Our Time, O Lord, 1533	p. 189
Foreword to Her Edition of the Hymnbook of the Bohemian Brethren, 1534	p. 190
My Heart Shall Be Yours and Yours Alone, 1540	p. 193
Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word, 1541-42	p. 195
The Morning Is All Fresh and New, before 1542	p. 196
O Dear Lord Jesus Christ, around 1555	p. 197
Duke of Prussia, Let My God's Will Prevail Always, 1554	p. 198
Praying
Introduction	p. 201
Open Letter to Bartholomew von Starhemberg, 1524	p. 203
Sacred Prayers Drawn from the Psalms of David, 1545-47	p. 206
On Prayer, 1552	p. 210
Prayers for Morning and Evening and Prayer in Time of War, 1540, 1551, 1547	p. 219
Meditation and Prayer Recalling God's Unspeakable Love, between 1540 and 1547	p. 221
Original Collects for The Book of Common Prayer, 1549	p. 223
Reconstructing Sacraments
Introduction	p. 227
A Sermon on the Holy and Noblest Sacrament of Baptism, 1519	p. 229
Repentance and Confession, 1525	p. 242
Oldest Order for Confirmation in Strasbourg, after 1549	p. 250
Sermon on the Purpose of the Sacraments, 1551	p. 256
Worshiping
Introduction	p. 269
Action or Use of the Lord's Supper, 1525	p. 271
Preface to German Mass and Order of Service, 1526	p. 279
Public Worship in Strasbourg, 1537-39	p. 286
Selections from The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, 1559	p. 289
Notes	p. 303
Bibliography	p. 319
Index	p. 329
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