# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1851 09 30_S24
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

24

ken, German Protestants and especially Lutherans in the great cities, God willing, into Christian congregations. If now a little flock has been converted and has become believing in the LORD Jesus; if such a little flock learns, the longer the more gladly, to submit in free obedience to the Word of God in public preaching or in individual instruction and correction, reproof and comforting of the pastor; if by pastor and congregation everything that serves the profit and benefit of the latter is dealt with, mediately and immediately, according to this one rule and standard of the divine Word: then there will well form itself from within, in a sound and natural way, the human church-order suited to the special circumstances of the congregation, which naturally also embraces such things as are subject to human liberty, as, for example, churchly ceremonies, and without prejudice to the unity of the confession and of the doctrine, may be handled differently in different congregations.

But—some one might object—if now the people are so run wild and so unaccustomed to church attendance that perhaps out of 3—400 only 20—30 attend divine service on Sunday, what then?—The enthusiasts know counsel at once and say: Then one stations oneself at the corner of two busy streets upon a table and begins to preach. This, however, would not be the way pleasing to God, answers an understanding Lutheran Christians, even if at present in a very evil condition, are after all in fact no heathen, and there no one has the right to preach to them publicly, unless he be publicly called by them, as the 14th Article of the Augsburg Confession also clearly testifies. No! against God's order a God-fearing and prudent Christian shall do nothing, even if he had for it the most becoming zeal, the most ardent love, and the most glorious gifts. But indeed, in order, in great cities like New Orleans, within "the regular call," to render, by God's grace and blessing, an effectual help to the poor, forlorn kinsmen in faith and in blood, unaccustomed to the church, one must also send thither brethren who are not merely in general orthodox, apt to teach, and of blameless walk, but who are animated and penetrated by the apostolic spirit, so far as we in our feeble faith possess it. There belongs to it neither more nor less than a joyful courage of faith, an effectual gift of preaching, a shepherd's love that untiringly seeks the lost, and a shepherd's fidelity that just as untiringly tends what is found, thoroughgoing earnestness and yet at the same time forbearing patience, no small measure of wisdom and gift of government, and all this accompanied and penetrated by diligent prayer and intercession and sustained by a sound churchly disposition. Men of ordinary stamp, and moreover perhaps trained in a pietistic fashion at Union institutions, either come, which however is the rarer case, to the sound standpoint of the Lutheran Church, or, gradually overpowered by the superior force of the adverse circumstances, they become, the longer the more, mere business-preachers, and stand in great danger of suffering shipwreck altogether in the faith. —

Against the Deniers of God.

A Mockery against Epicurus, by D. M. Luther.

Whoso would live in swinish wise,
Like Epicurus sets his prize,
Let him hold nought of God or men,
Believe there is no God to see and judge,
Believe that no life after this shall be,
Although thy heart cry out against it.
Think, thou wast born for thyself alone,
What thou seest, belongs in thy gullet.
Guzzle, gorge and spew, till full and mad,
Like a sow, take thy ease;
Dost thou then die as a swine and cow,
Say: So one goes to heaven,
Where the angels run about with clubs,
And burn such sows in fire.
Then such an Epicurean wishes:
Alas, that I had never been born.
Far better for him were he dead,
Than that he mock God in heaven.

Luther's Werke, 38th vol., page 321. Erlangen Edition.

When Justus Jonas had hung a fine branch of cherries over the table, in memory of the creation, and praised the glorious blessing of God, Dr. Luther said: "Why do ye not consider this much rather in your children? which yet surpass, and are more glorious creatures of God than the fruits of all trees. Nevertheless we go our way, heed it not much, yea, become quite blind and covetous over such gifts of God, as commonly happens, that the people, when they get children, scrape and scratch as they can, that they may leave them much; they know not that to a little child, even before it comes into the world, its allotted portion, what and how much it shall have, and what shall befall it, is already assigned."

Church News.

After Mr. P. Wunder, who until now served the congregation in Centreville, St. Clair Co., Ills., had received a call from the Lutheran congregation at Chicago, and with the consent of his former congregation had accepted it, the latter has regularly called as its preacher and pastor the candidate of the holy ministry, Mr. W. Holls, pupil of the seminary at Fort Wayne and since January interim assistant of P. Habel at Pomeroy. The same was solemnly ordained, according to churchly usage, in the midst of his congregation, on the Thursday after Dom. XIII p. trin., the 18th of September, by the Vice-President, with the assistance of the P. P. Birkmann and Rennicke.

Notice.

Of the Melodies of German Church Hymns mentioned in the last number, mostly from the 16th and 17th century, in their original rhythms and tunes, according to Dr. Friedrich Layritz, for the use of Christian congregations of the German tongue in North America, lithographed and published by Leopold Gast. Price 25 Cents. the undersigned is now in possession of a larger lot of copies, in order to satisfy incoming orders at once.

F. W. Barthel.

Since experience has taught that many recipients have had to pay disproportionately high postage on the printed matter sent them by mail, I offer, in the case of those who have an account with me, to prepay the postage on such publications, on dispatch, as an advance.

D. O.

Receipt and Thanks.

The undersigned hereby certifies that he has received from the congregation of Pastor Streckfuß in Van-Werth Co., Ohio, $4, 35. as support toward his maintenance at the Seminary.

May the rich God, according to his promise (Matth. 10, 42.), richly recompense also these gifts of love to every giver.

J. Paul Beyer.

Fort Wayne, the 20th of September 1851.

Received

from the congregation of Mr. O. Strasen near Collinsville for poor students $1.00.

A. Biewend.

Received,

a. for the Synodical Mission Fund:
from the congregation of Mr. P. Trautmann in Adrian, Mich. $4,00.
" the congregation of Mr. P. Hattstädt in Monroe, Mich. 3,00.
" the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Indianapolis $10.00.
b.) in contributions toward the travelling expenses of the Delegates to Germany:
from the congregation of Mr. P. Schuster, Kosciusko Co., Ia. 12,00.

F. W. Barthel, Cashier.

Paid

for the 6th volume, the Messrs. F. W. Hartmann, H. Hartmann, P. Trautmann (2 copies).
for the 7th volume, the Messrs. John Beery, Conrad Brande[illegible], Hartmann. Mich. Hochmuth. P. Hattstädt (14 copies), F. W. Hartmann, Heinr. Johanning, Heinr. Lauth, Joh. Friedr. Lohmann, P. J. W. Schmidt.
for the first half of the 8th volume, the Messrs. Mich. Andre, Joh[illegible] Heinr. Ahlmeyer, Christ. Leicht, William Zeitler.
for the 8th volume, the Messrs. P. Albach, J. H. Evers, Friedr. Föllinger, L. Griebel, P. Holls, P. Hahn, Friedr. Heine, C. Lindemann, Joh. Friedr. Lohmann, Heinr. Meyer, Friedr. Ochs, Christian Piepenbrink, Christian Rose, P. Richmann, P. Schliepsiek, C. Sallmann, Fr. Stellhorn, Heinr. Sudbrink, Chr. Schaper, Chr. Schröder, Dr. Sibler, Gustav Spiegel, Schreiber (6 copies), P. Trautmann, P. Wunder, Conr. Westerfeld, P. Fr. Waltz, C. H. Wilkee, Friedr. Zimmer.

Printed by Moritz Niedner,
North corner of Third and Chestnut Street.