Back in October I posted a piece on the doubtful authenticity of the oft-quoted last words of Jan Hus.
You, this day, burn a goose, but a hundred years hence a swan will arise, whom you will not be able to roast or boil.
These words, some say, were a prophesy of the coming of Martin Luther roughly one hundred years after Hus was martyred. I looked at things from the Hus side of history and came to the conclusion that the quote was probably not genuine.
James Swan has posted a bit from an article by Robert Scribner that traces the quote back to a fusing of two quotes—one from Hus and one from Jerome of Prague—perhaps by Luther himself.
Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face; Here would I touch and handle things unseen; Here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace, And all my weariness upon Thee lean.
This is the hour of banquet and of song; This is the heavenly table spread for me; Here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong The hallowed hour of fellowship with Thee.
Here would I feed upon the bread of God, Here drink with Thee the royal wine of Heaven; Here would I lay aside each earthly load, Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.
I have no help but Thine; nor do I need Another arm save Thine to lean upon; It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed; My strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone.
I have no wisdom save in Him Who is My Wisdom and my Teacher both in One; No wisdom can I lack while Thou art wise; No teaching do I crave save Thine alone.
Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness: Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing blood; Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace; Thy Blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord my God!
Too soon we rise; the symbols disappear; The feast, though not the love, is past and gone. The bread and wine remove; but Thou art here, Nearer than ever, still my Shield and Sun.
Feast after feast thus comes and passes by; Yet, passing, points to the glad feast above, Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy, The Lamb’s great bridal feast of bliss and love.
Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.
Monday, March 8, 2010 at 4:00AM 
