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.<\/p>\nAt this time preaching the gospel of grace almost certainly brought persecution. So, I want to post here a hymn Luther wrote in response to the first martyrs for the evangelical cause. The background of the hymn is given by cyberhymnal<\/a>:<\/p>\n On June 23, 1523, two young Augustinian monks, Heinrich Voes and Johann Esch, from Antwerp, had been, after examination by the Cologne Inquisitor, Jacob von Hogstraten, and at the instigation of the Louvain professors, condemned to death and burnt at the stake in Brussels. On receipt of the news of this first martyrdom for the Evangelical cause Luther’s spirit was fired, and he wrote this spirited narrative, ending with the prophetic words [translated by Richard Massie<\/a>, 1854]: Here is the hymn:<\/p>\n Flung to the heedless winds, And from that scattered dust, The Father hath received, Still, still, though dead, they speak,
\nSummer is even at our door,
\nThe winter now hath vanished,
\nThe tender flowerets spring once more,
\nAnd He, Who winter banished,
\nWill send a happy Summer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nOr on the waters cast,
\nThe martyrs’ ashes, watched,
\nShall gathered be at last.<\/p>\n
\nAround us and abroad,
\nShall spring a plenteous seed,
\nOf witnesses for God.<\/p>\n
\nTheir latest living breath,
\nAnd vain is Satan’s boast,
\nOf victory in their death.<\/p>\n
\nAnd, trumpet tongued, proclaim,
\nTo many a wakening land,
\nThe one availing Name.<\/p>\n