Prayer is a special exercise of faith, and faith makes the prayer so acceptable that either it will surely be granted, or something better than we ask will be given in its stead.



Martin Luther, in the Treatise on Good Works



Martin Luther died in his birthplace Eisleben on 18 February 1546 and was buried in the Castle Church at Wittenberg.



A Mighty Fortress Is Our God



A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.



Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;

Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;

Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.



And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,

One little word shall fell him.



That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.

She was a living demonstration of 2 Corinthians 5:7 : We walk by faith and not by sight. Blinded in infancy, Fanny Crosby was the author of more than 8000 hymns during her long and fruitful life and has been an influence in Christian song and hearts for more than a century. She died in Bridgeport, Connecticut on this date in 1915.



Near The Cross



Jesus, keep me near the cross,

There a precious fountain

Free to all, a healing stream

Flows from Calvary’s mountain.



Refrain



In the cross, in the cross,

Be my glory ever;

Till my raptured soul shall find

Rest beyond the river.



Near the cross, a trembling soul,

Love and mercy found me;

There the bright and morning star

Sheds its beams around me.



Near the cross! O Lamb of God,

Bring its scenes before me;

Help me walk from day to day,

With its shadows o’er me.



Near the cross I’ll watch and wait

Hoping, trusting ever,

Till I reach the golden strand,

Just beyond the river.

Thomas Campion was born in London on this date in 1567. An accomplished and rewarding poet most of whose work is intended to be sung, he still finds an appreciative audience. The following is from his A Booke of Ayres (1601 version).





The Man of Life Upright



The man of life vpright,

Whose guiltlesse hart is free

From all dishonest deedes,

Or thought of vanitie,



The man whose silent dayes,

In harmeles ioys are spent,

Whom hopes cannot delude,

Nor sorrow discontent ;



That man needs neither towers

Nor armour for defence,

Nor secret vautes to flie

From thunders violence.



Hee onely can behold

With vnafrighted eyes

The horrours of the deepe

And terrours of the Skies.



Thus, scorning all the cares

That fate, or fortune brings,

He makes the heau'n his booke,

His wisedome heeu'nly things,



Good thoughts his onely friendes,

His wealth a well-spent age,

The earth his sober Inne

And quiet Pilgrimage.