Another book appeared in the same year containing
fourteen more hymns by Luther, in addition to the eight
of the first book. Six more from Luther's pen appeared
in a song-book edited by Walther in 1525. The remain-
ing hymns of Luther (twelve in number) were printed
in five song-books of different dates, ending with King's
in 1548. Four hymn-books contain prefaces by Lutheri

249



MUSIC IN THE WESTERN CHURCH

the fiist written for Walther's book of 1525, and the
last for one published by Papst in 1545. Luther's
example was contagious. Other hymn writers at once
sprang up, who were filled with Luther's spirit, and
who took his songs as models. Printing presses were
kept busy, song-books were multipUed, untU at the time
of Luther's death no less than sixty collections, count-
ing the various editions, had been issued. There was
reason for the sneering remark of a Catholic tiiat the
people were singing themselyes into the Lutheran
doctrine. The principles of worship promulgated by
Luther and implied in his liturgic arrangements were
adopted by aU the Protestant commimities; whatever
variations there might be in the external forms of wor-
ship, in all of them the congregational hymn held a
prominent place, and it is to be noticed that almost
without exception the chief hymn writers of the Lu-
theran time were theologians and preachers.
