Enchiridion, a collection of 26 hymns. Es ist das Heil uns kommen her The words of this hymn were written during the time Speratus was imprisoned; the melody is taken from a 15th-century chorale. According to Catherine Winkworth, "Luther himself is said to have given his last coin to a Prussian beggar from whom he heard it for the first time." The 14 stanzas of Speratus's text expound Luther's teaching concerning salvation by faith rather than by doing good works. According to Scott Hendrix, "It not only emphasizes justification by faith alone but it also underlines the vitality of that faith manifested in service to others". In Gott gelaub ich, daß er hat Miles Coverdale published his English translation of this song as "In God I trust for so I must." Hilf Gott, wie ist der Menschen Not This hymn is recommended in the Missal of Matthäus Ludecus (1589) for several different feasts of the liturgical year including Septuagesima. Later career On Luther's recommendation, Speratus became court chaplain of Albert, Duke of Prussia, a post he held from 1524 to 1529. In 1530, he became the Protestant bishop of Pomesania, a post he held until his death in 1551. He was active there in defending the tenets of faith advanced by Luther, and in attacking such rival sects as the followers of Caspar Schwenckfeldt and Andreas Osiander. He died in Marienwerder on 12 August 1551. References External links 15th-century chorale melody used for "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her" 1484 births 1551 deaths 16th-century Lutheran bishops in Prussia German Lutheran hymnwriters German Protestant Reformers Lutheran bishops of Pomesania People from Kwidzyn