Ausbund
Ausbund (First Published 1564 – Still in Use) The Ausbund is a historic Anabaptist hymnal, first compiled around 1564, making it one of the oldest Christian songbooks still in active use, particularly among Old Order Amish communities in North America. Its origins trace to the early 1530s in Passau, Bavaria, where over 50 Swiss Brethren Anabaptists, including preacher Michael Schneider and hymnist Hans Betz, were imprisoned in the Oberhaus Castle dungeon for their radical faith—adult baptism, rejection of state churches, and pacifism. Facing torture and execution under Catholic authorities, these martyrs composed 51 hymns, smuggled out as letters to sustain their persecuted brethren. Printed initially in German, the collection grew over time, with later editions adding songs from other Anabaptist writers, reaching about 137 hymns by the 1583 edition, though its exact early publication details remain murky due to underground printing presses. The Ausbund’s significance extends beyond its music to its role as a theological and cultural artifact, embodying Anabaptist resilience and spirituality. Lacking musical notation—tunes were memorized or adapted from folk melodies—it emphasizes lyrics of suffering, martyrdom, and hope, such as Schneider’s Psalm 139-inspired hymn or Betz’s reflections on persecution. Carried by Swiss and South German Anabaptists fleeing to Moravia and later by Amish immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 18th century, it became a cornerstone of worship, sung slowly in unison during services. Today, printed by the Amish in places like Lancaster County, it remains a living link to the Reformation era, its worn pages a testament to a faith forged in adversity, distinct from modern hymnals in its raw, unadorned devotion.
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Leonhard Schiemer preaches about the persecution and suffering faced by believers, likening them to scattered sheep without a shepherd, hunted game birds, and lambs led back to town. Despite the trials and false accusations, he emphasizes that no tribulation is too great to draw believers away from the Lord, expressing confidence in God's glory, triumph, and eternal honor. Schiemer declares that God's righteousness is always praised by His people who gather in His name, looking forward to the day when God will return to judge the earth.
We Are Scattered Like Sheep Without a Shepherd
We are scattered like sheep without a shepherd. We have left our houses and lands and have become like owls of the night, like game birds. We sneak about in the forest. Men track us down with dogs, then lead us like lambs back to town. There they put us on display and say we are the cause of an uproar. We are counted like sheep for slaughter. They call us heretics and deceivers... Oh Lord, no tribulation is so great that it can draw us away from you. . . . Glory, triumph and honour are yours from now into eternity. Your righteousness is always blessed by the people who gather in your name. You will come again to judge the earth! -- Leonhard Schiemer, Ausbund, 31:4-5
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Ausbund (First Published 1564 – Still in Use) The Ausbund is a historic Anabaptist hymnal, first compiled around 1564, making it one of the oldest Christian songbooks still in active use, particularly among Old Order Amish communities in North America. Its origins trace to the early 1530s in Passau, Bavaria, where over 50 Swiss Brethren Anabaptists, including preacher Michael Schneider and hymnist Hans Betz, were imprisoned in the Oberhaus Castle dungeon for their radical faith—adult baptism, rejection of state churches, and pacifism. Facing torture and execution under Catholic authorities, these martyrs composed 51 hymns, smuggled out as letters to sustain their persecuted brethren. Printed initially in German, the collection grew over time, with later editions adding songs from other Anabaptist writers, reaching about 137 hymns by the 1583 edition, though its exact early publication details remain murky due to underground printing presses. The Ausbund’s significance extends beyond its music to its role as a theological and cultural artifact, embodying Anabaptist resilience and spirituality. Lacking musical notation—tunes were memorized or adapted from folk melodies—it emphasizes lyrics of suffering, martyrdom, and hope, such as Schneider’s Psalm 139-inspired hymn or Betz’s reflections on persecution. Carried by Swiss and South German Anabaptists fleeing to Moravia and later by Amish immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 18th century, it became a cornerstone of worship, sung slowly in unison during services. Today, printed by the Amish in places like Lancaster County, it remains a living link to the Reformation era, its worn pages a testament to a faith forged in adversity, distinct from modern hymnals in its raw, unadorned devotion.