Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 965
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Dein Leben Lang habe \ Gott Vor Augen Und Ihm Hertzen Und Hüte Dich Daß Du In Keine \ Sünde Willigest Noch thust Wieder Gottes gebott, Tobia Cappit, 4. ver: 6: \ Gott fürchten Lieben und Ehren, Soll Man mit Ernst, die Kinder Lehren, und wer in Gottes gnaden \ Leben, muß solcher Lehr micht widerstreben, durch Gottes furcht Meyd Man die Sünd, \ Weil Man durch sünd die straff verdient, ein Kind daß Gott vor Augen hält, in \ dieser Bösen argen Welt, daß wird Gott auch demüthig \ bitten, daß er sein Seele wohl behüten, solch Kind daß nimt Gott \ auf in Acht durch seiner heilige Engel Wacht, wer Gott nicht fürcht der lebt \ Ruchloß, wird wild und endlich gar Gottlos, Solch Gottloß leben bringt zum Lohn \ der Höllen Pein und quaal darvon, drum weil noch die Gnaden \ zeit, so laßt uns willig und bereit, Alß Schäflein Hören Jesus stim? \ Unsere Hertzen Auff thun und folgen ihm, er führt uns \ hin zum Schafstall ein, allwo die heilige Lämmer \ sein

Translation:

All your life have God before your eyes and in your heart and refuse to agree to any sin or to act contrary to God’s commandments. Tobias 4:6.
To fear, love and honor God, one should teach to the children in earnest, and whoever lives in God’s grace must not resist such teachings. Through fear of God’s one avoids sin, because through sin one deserves the punishment. A child that holds God before his eyes in this evil wicked world will also plead humbly to God, that He keeps his soul well. Such a child God takes on in his care through the holy angel’s watch. Whoever does not fear God lives impiously, wild and finally even godless. Such a godless life brings as its reward the pains and suffering of hell. Therefore, since there is still time of grace, let us be willing and prepared to hear as little sheep Jesus voice, open our hearts and follow him; he leads us into the sheep stable, were the holy lambs are.

Category: Writing Exercise (Vorschrift)
Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The text in Fraktur and German script extends across the document. The first four words are written in prominent and decorated letters. On the left the text is flanked by a bird and a variety of flowers. Two birds, with their necks intertwined, are in the lower center of the document. The entire document is framed by a decorative border.
Previously attributed to Christopher Dock by Henry S. Borneman. The checkerboard calligraphic ornaments are typical of the work of Andreas Kolb, and the handwriting compares to his signed examples. Kolb was a Mennonite schoolmaster in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton Counties. This piece is thought to have been made when he was teaching at the Salford Mennonite Meeting school between 1797 and 1800.

Associated Names: Kolb, Andreas
Bibliography:

“Andreas Schwartz Kolb” in Russell D. and Corinne P. Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes: Guide to the Fraktur Artists and Scriveners (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997), 2^nd ed., vol. 1, pp. 453-455.

Henry S. Borneman, Pennsylvania German Illuminated Manuscripts (Norristown, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Society, 1937), published as plate 20.

Mary Jane Lederach Hershey, “Andreas Kolb, 1749-1811,” in The Mennonite Quarterly Review 61, no. 2 (April 1987): 121-192.

Mary Jane Lederach Hershey, This Teaching I Present: Fraktur from the Skippack and Salford Mennonite Meetinghouse Schools, 1747-1836 (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2003); published as plate 62, p. 114.

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on design characteristics and artist’s location
Region/County:[Montgomery]
City/Town/Township:[Salford Township]
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1800
Image Dimensions Width: 20 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 332
Creator Name: [Andreas Kolb (1749-1811)] - Decorator
[Andreas Kolb (1749-1811)] - Scrivener