# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1851 03 18_S118
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

118

pleasure that the world can give. "The sun is never still, it rises and sets, and runs (hastens, like a runner who pants in running and draws breath quickly) to its place, that it may rise there again; (Eccl. 1, 5.) and this its daily and perpetual labor is not grievous to it, but it "rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race" (Psalm 19, 6). A fountain of art, a spring-jet, is in full labor day and night, and imparts its water willingly and cheerfully to all the thirsty, and if it could speak, it would say: My labor is no burden to me, but a pleasure. The heart of a man is in constant labor, it moves always, and such unrest is its rest and life; whoever should deprive it of motion would take its life from it. So it is with a regenerate man, and with a faithful servant of Christ and of His congregation; the labor of his holy office, the constant diligence and zeal, the holy longing and endeavor to further the honor of GOD, and the edification of the Church, is not burdensome to him, but pleasant.

§ 7. How agreeable is his work to a miner, when he strikes a rich lode and a blessed shaft, which gives the wished-for yield. How willingly does a diver let himself down into the sea, when he finds many pearls at the bottom? And how should not the servants of the Church be joyful in their spiritual and holy labor, since there is such rich yield, such gold, such silver, such pearls, which are to be preferred to all the treasures of the world, and are held in high esteem in heaven. The little bees are very industrious and busy when the trees bloom, and the flowers in the fields and woods stand in full vigor; what makes it so? they find honey, which is their own delight. And the servants of the Church are always zealous and diligent in their work, and grow not weary, because they always find a sweetness in the Word of God which surpasses "honey and the honeycomb" (Psalm 19, 11.), so that they may refresh themselves and others. One also finds often that, with their blessed and holy unrest and constant labor, they grow older than the children of the world in their voluptuous rest. The flowing waters remain pure and pleasant, but the standing waters become foul.

§ 8. And even if the body of the laboring teachers should suffer some harm, and the outward man lose somewhat in strength, it matters nothing. A light, in that it serves others, must consume itself; and what would one rather wish than to spend his bodily and vital powers in the service of GOD and of his neighbor? If a beautiful rose, which a high hand has plucked, had understanding, it would esteem it a great honor and felicity to wither in such a hand; and how should not a servant of Christ esteem it a grace of GOD, that he may employ his gifts and powers to the honor of his LORD, and spend himself in His service? "Let the glass" (the vessel of our body) be broken, if only the fragrance of the "pure and costly spikenard" (the power of the Spirit) fill the whole house, and the head of JESUS be anointed therewith (Mark 14, 3.)

§ 9. We justly lament that in former time, before we rightly knew GOD, and were called to the service of His Church, so many hours were spoiled, and so many powers wasted in vain; but we must, "as to the rest of our time in the flesh, live not to the lusts of men, but to the will of GOD (1 Pet. 4, 2). We know what a gracious and dear LORD we have, who will not leave unrewarded even "a cup of cold water" given to His own (Matt. 10, 42). Even the very least little saying, writes a pious teacher, imparted to a hungry soul, shall not remain unrewarded; to say nothing of when one has done more good with the Gospel. And again: A Christian (a preacher) ought to grieve at once if a day has passed in which he has gladdened no soul (and has not served it to its comfort or edification); but whoever serves a Christian serves a high person, yea, the Lord Christ Himself.

§ 10. Wherefore, then, ye teachers and servants of the Church of GOD, be zealous, diligent and restless in your holy and blessed labor. Apply your gifts, powers, time, health, life most willingly and cheerfully to the spreading of the honor of GOD and to the edification of His dearly purchased congregation! Ye know well that ye are not your own, but with all that ye are and have are devoted and consecrated to the Church of GOD. Ye know what the Spirit of GOD says: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4, 17.). So no sensible and enlightened soul will deny that much yet remains to be done, and that a God-loving heart finds work in abundance everywhere. Therefore hold not your peace, ye holy watchmen, (Is. 52, 8. 62, 6. 7) "till He establish and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth." Shine, ye burning and shining lights, though ye consume yourselves in shining! Forget, ye zealous runners, what is behind, what ye have hitherto done, and reach forth unto that which is before (and yet to be done) (Phil. 3, 13.). Labor, ye industrious bees, and gather the noble honey (of comfort and of strength), and refresh therewith your own and other hungry and wearied souls. "Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field, and give ye a sweet smell as frankincense; flourish as a lily, and smell well" (Sirach 40, 17. 18.). "Let us do good as we have opportunity, and not be weary, for in due season we shall also reap without ceasing" (Gal. 6, 9. 10.)."

§ 11. My God, I was told, when according to Thy holy counsel and will my severe illness fell upon me, that I had brought it on, among other things, by much and constant labor. I know it not, and cannot say, especially as I have never found myself exhausted through such holy unrest and toil; yea, it has never been better with me than when I have searched most diligently in Thy Word, gathered the grains of gold which this river of Paradise carries with it, and so enriched myself therewith, and imparted of it to other dear souls. Should it then indeed be so, that the sinful and weak body has suffered some loss of strength thereby, I count myself happy that it has been done in Thy and Thy Church's service. Am I not indeed bound to shed my blood, to burn myself and to lay down my life, if Thou findest it serviceable to Thy glory. My own wish, my heartfelt longing, my most zealous desire is: Let me love Thee, praise Thee, serve Thee, in time and eternity.

(Correspondence.)

Mission.

Saginaw Co., Hampton P. O., Mich.
Sibiwaing, February 3, 1851.

Reverend President!

— In the mission all goes well so far, thank God. Our little congregation gives me, in part, ever more joy, as I see that the Word of God is not preached in vain among them.*) An old man especially, who already has one foot in the grave, devours every word that he hears of our LORD Christ; he came to visit us a few days ago, because he thought it was not right that he should pay us no visit, and stayed with us over night. According to the custom of the service which I hold morning and evening with our children, in which a chapter from the New Testament, sometimes only portions of a chapter, is read, a hymn sung, Luther's morning and evening prayer, the Creed and the Lord's Prayer are prayed, it happened now that just the 8th chapter of the Epistle to the Romans was read. He seemed to be all ear; the words "If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, etc.; Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" made a deep impression upon him. After about half an hour he asked me whether he might ask me a question. When I answered that I should be very glad if he desired instruction about anything, he said: "Have you no picture of our LORD Christ?" I asked: Why so? Then he said: "See, I am a very old man, I cannot read the Word of God, my memory is very weak; I believe what the Word of God tells me; I believe that my LORD Jesus died for me, and I love Him therefore with my heart, but I cannot read, and am also too old to learn it, otherwise I should have begun to learn it already, and should then have asked you for God's Book (the Holy Scriptures). Since now I cannot read, I should like to have a picture of my LORD Christ, which would tell me how my LORD was crucified and died for me, that I also, a poor Indian, might not be condemned, but be saved, although I have been so great a sinner." Here he paused, and I asked him: "Would you then hold the picture of Jesus Christ to be your LORD and God

*) Since the necessary time fails me to give the readers of the Lutheraner a more detailed report of this mission station, and since the occurrence here related was itself very edifying to me; I thought I would set it down in this letter to you, and if you should then find it suitable to communicate it to the readers of the "Lutheraner," this might be done according to your judgment, and a complete report would thereby be to some extent supplied.