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Martin Rinkart
Martin Rinkart was born in 1586, the son of a poor coppersmith. Educated at the Latin School at Eilenburg, in November 1601, he became a foundation scholar and chorister of the St. Thomas School in Leipzig. This scholarship allowed him to enter into theological training. He served churches at Eisleben, Erdeborn and Lyttichendorf, before being appointed archdeacon at Eilenburg in 1617, arriving there just as the Thirty Year War was beginning. As war, famine and widespread disease overwhelmed the city, he eventually was the only pastor still living, conducting over 4000 funerals in 1637.
In the midst of this, the Swedish forces that were occupying Eilenburg demanded a tribute of 30,000 thalers from the people. Rinkart interceded for the impoverished people. It is said that the Swedish commander at first would not listen to his request for a lower amount, but that Rinkart turned to his parishioners and said, "Come, my children, we can find no mercy with man; let us take refuge with God." He knelt in prayer, and led them in the singing of a familiar hymn. The commander was so moved by his demonstration of spiritual fervency that he reconsidered and lowered the tribute to 2,000 thalers.
Rinkart was a prolific writer. He wrote a number of hymns and seven dramas on the Reformation for the centenary in 1617. His hymns appeared in Jesu Hert-Buchlein (1636), Der Meissnische Thranen Laat (1637) and Praxis Pietatis Melica (1636) along with other volumes.
Page numbers in Trinity Hymnal (1990) and The Worshiping Church (1990)
| Title | Trinity | Worshiping |
|---|---|---|
| Now Thank We All Our God | 98 | 374 |