# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1851 06 10_S167
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

167

knowledge of the truth, and wilt thou, now, when so much is said and written about the Church, learn from God's Word what the true Church really is, what its nature and what its power are; wilt thou learn to know the high and holy rights which every Christian congregation has that has God's Word and Sacraments and is united in the name of JESUS; wilt thou learn to understand what it means to be a Christian, and what noble, precious liberty, what privileges, what glorious freedom thou, if thou art a Christian, possessest as a spiritual priest; wilt thou at the present time, when so much is disputed about the Ministry and priestcraft, learn the true foundation and holiness of the Ministry, but also its measured bounds; wilt thou have divine weapons wherewith thou mayest defend thyself against all priestcraft and all tyranny of conscience, and a safeguard against being deceived of the liberty dearly purchased for thee by the blood of the Son of God, under the name of Lutheranism or of Protestantism, and yet being brought under a papal yoke; wilt thou know the real nature and greatness of the deliverance which once befell the Church through the work of the Reformation, and that precisely the old Lutheranism is as far removed from all fine and gross Popery, from all priestly dominion and all priestcraft as heaven from hell; wilt thou have counsel how thou art to conduct thyself when thou sighest under the tyranny of conscience of a domineering "priest," or when thou art far from fellowship with orthodox preachers and livest solitary among nothing but false prophets; wilt thou learn to get free from men and, forsaking all human mediators between thee and thy God, go straight to JESUS and settle thy cause with Him alone, and yet not despise His holy ordinance, but hold it sacred: then buy thyself the little book above mentioned, and thou wilt praise God with me that He has given our Church such a precious jewel."

Good Thoughts for a Preacher Who Is Assailed Over the Burdensomeness of His Calling.
Luther on Genesis 17:9.

God would have me be a preacher, that is, He willed that for His Word's sake I should draw upon myself the envy, hatred and enmity of the world. To other people He lays on the labor of the hand, which I, when I look at it, hold to be blessed, and esteem their station much better than they themselves think: for their work is pleasant and agreeable to them, they live on without cares and without particular burden and trial, and would not willingly have it that they should not work, or be in a quiet and idle station; for work strengthens the body and preserves health. But while another does his work in play, like a child of seven years, I must be sorely plagued with peril and trial, and yet a common workman is as truly saved as I.

What shall I do, then, on that account? Shall I become impatient, or withdraw from my calling? No, but I shall think thus, that God has manifold ways of grace, and distributes the same among us according to His will, but it becomes us to be obedient to God, whenever and to whatever He calls us. Rom. 12. 1 Pet. 4.

In a man's body it may be seen that the hands have it much worse than the eyes, since they must work, while the feet must hold and carry the whole body; and if one will look at such burden, they are the most wretched and plagued member of the whole body. For the tongue has it much better, which feels what good is done it, and is gloriously praised. But however it be with all this, the gifts are manifold, and the discomfort and burden one should bear patiently, as it is laid upon each by God, who gives ability and strength that one may bear it, and each should remember that Paul says: My grace is sufficient for thee. For although the feet alone must bear the burden of the body, yet they have their ability and health from the body, and share in the gladness of all that is done for the good and benefit of the body. The eyes also, however glorious a member they may be, could never undertake this humble service, as it appears, of carrying the body. For they are otherwise, and created for another office and service of the body. So that one must hold this rule throughout, that each remain in his calling, and let himself be content with his gift, but about others' he shall not inquire.

The Papists and the Bible.

If it is charged against the Papists that, by refusing to allow the laity the reading of the Bible, they plainly reveal themselves as the synagogue of the devil, their usual excuse is: they do not forbid the reading of the Bible, but are only against the circulation of Protestant Bibles, because these are falsified. That this is only a Jesuitical evasion everyone knows who knows the history of antichristian Popery. In the latest number of the "Wahrheitsfreund" there is again a proof of it. There it is written from Crefeld that the Catholics there "often dismiss rather roughly and bluntly" those who offer them Bibles. The writer then continues thus: "We hope that the Catholics in other places also will know how to meet these obtrusive persons in a fitting manner, if it should become necessary; let them consider that by the purchase of such Bibles without explanations, even if the text is otherwise good, they not only act contrary to the wish of the Church, but also promote the work of the Bible societies." — Who is not reminded, by this incredibly impudent confession, of the words of the LORD: "Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered!" Luke 11:52.

Luther's Confessions Concerning His Life under the Papacy.

(As to the doctrine in the Papacy,) there we can suffer no jesting, for it concerns my salvation. I am tortured and plagued; so deep has the shameful oil of the Papacy gone through my marrow and bone that I cannot get rid of it even today, and I would rather have lived in the destruction of Jerusalem than in this prison of the Papacy. For what is a pestilence, poverty or war? And though thou must stake thy neck upon it, only that the heart and faith remain pure. In the cloisters we had enough to eat and drink, but there we had sufferings and torment of heart and conscience, and the suffering of the soul is the greatest of all. I was often terrified at the name of JESUS, and when I looked upon Him on the cross, it seemed to me He was like a flash of lightning, and when His name was mentioned I would rather have heard the devil named; for I thought I must do good works so long until Christ should thereby be made my friend and gracious to me. In the cloister I thought not of money, goods or wife, but my heart trembled and fluttered how God might become gracious to me. For I had departed from the faith and could not think otherwise than that I had angered God, whom I must reconcile to myself again with my good works. But God be praised and thanked that we have His Word again, which so depicts and shows us Christ, that He is our righteousness. Therefore I cannot bear that men would still adorn and excuse the Papacy. I cannot take revenge enough upon it; for the damage is too great which it has done. One cannot sufficiently rebuke and revile the Pope. Only no mercy upon him. For he has dealt with us with all unmercifulness, also bodily. For he has had emperors executed as knaves and villains, which yet might be borne; but that he has so miserably spent my fair youth, and moreover so tormented and plagued my conscience that I cannot be content even to this day, that is too much.

(Luther's ungedruckte Predigten, edited by Hoeck, 1847, p. 473.)