# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1852 10 12_S25
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Der Lutheraner.
(Rev. John 14:6, 7.)
"God's Word and Luther's doctrine shall never pass away."
Published by the German Ev. Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States.
Edited by C. F. W. Walther.
Volume 9.  St. Louis, Mo., the 12th of October 1852.  No. 4.
Terms: Der Lutheraner appears once every two weeks at the yearly subscription price of One Dollar for out-of-town subscribers, who are to pay in advance and bear the postage. — In St. Louis each single number is sold for 5 cents.
Only the letters which contain communications for the paper are to be addressed to the editor; all others, which contain business matters, orders, cancellations, money, etc., are to be sent hither under the address Mr. F. W. Barthel, care of C. F. W. Walther, St. Louis, Mo.

(Submitted.)

Reformation Sermon,

delivered on the 31st of October 1851 in the church at Altenburg, Perry Co., Mo., and given to the press at request.*)

*) We found the sermon here communicated already in the archive of the "Lutheraner" on our return from Germany. We now communicate it, at the same time as a means of preparation for the Reformation festival in this month. The Editor.

Prayer.

Praised be thou, Lord our God, and praised be thy holy name forever and ever, that thou hast not only chosen to thyself a church out of the lost and condemned human race through the blood and death of thy Son, and gathered it by thy Word and Spirit, but hast also preserved the same ever and anon to this hour, delivered it out of great afflictions and dangers, shielded it against all its enemies, against the power and might of the devil, against so many factions and sects, and built it upon a rock from which nothing can dislodge it. Well didst thou suffer it to be held long under hard oppression by its enemies, to be outwardly the lonely and persecuted one, over whom all storms passed, to drink the bitter cup of suffering with its Lord and Savior, and to be baptized with his baptism of blood; but ever again it rose anew out of its weakness and bore away the victory over the world; ever again its radiance broke forth and overcame the power of darkness. This thy power and goodness, which thou hast ever and anon shown to thy Church, we remember today, on the memorial day of the blessed Reformation, by which thou didst deliver thy Church from the afflictions of the antichristian tyranny, and didst give back to it the pure doctrine of thy Word as a victorious banner. Although now more than 300 years have passed since that time, and so many hard struggles and temptations have been prepared for it by its enemies, yet by thy grace it stands unconquered to this day, and no enemy has been able to rob it of its jewel. Therefore we give thee praise, honor, glory and thanks for all the benefits which thou hast shown to thy Church. Let it also in future enjoy thy gracious oversight and thy almighty protection. Keep us and our posterity with thy true Church, and forgive us all sins wherewith we have transgressed against the fidelity, love and gratitude we owe it. Lead back to it many more of its cooled, fallen-away children. Heal all its rents and breaches; unite upon the pure ground of truth what has been divided; so that, while the enemy gathers all his forces for the last assault, he may find it well armed and be put to shame against it. Strengthen all thy members with courage and strength of faith to a joyful confession and testimony of the truth against the fickleness and unbelief of those who have departed from the truth, and help that all who are named by thy name may also adorn the true doctrine of thy Gospel with holiness of life; for thy Word is the right doctrine, holiness is the ornament of thy house forever. Thou hast a kingdom and rulest among the heathen. Thou shalt have a seed that serveth thee, and it shall be told of thee to a generation. Let thy grace flow over us in eternity. Amen.

Devout and beloved in Christ JESUS!

It was a wise, sensible counsel which Gamaliel once gave in the council of the Pharisees at Jerusalem, when these were bent with nothing but murderous thoughts and plans against the disciples and apostles of the LORD. He admonished them, namely, not to be too hasty in their zeal, but to wait and see where it would lead and what outcome the teaching of the apostles would have. "And now I say unto you," said he, "refrain from these men, and let them alone. If this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." Take heed, therefore, what ye do; it is a dangerous matter; it concerns doctrine, faith and conscience. God may have his hand in it; therefore do nothing rash, which ye shall afterward have cause to repent, for God will not suffer you to meddle with his government unpunished. But if it is nothing except the conceit, presumption and wantonness of men that has called forth this movement, then God will make it manifest, and the authors will receive their reward, and be destroyed and scattered, before their thorns become ripe."

It was a shrewd, sensible, wise counsel. For this is certain, that whatever is of God and his work will defy all the might and power of men, will go on irresistibly until it reaches its goal; and those who resist the work of God will not only accomplish nothing, but also bring disgrace, shame and ruin upon their own head. — Had there been such a wise Gamaliel in the council of the papists at Rome at the time of the Reformation, and had he found as willing an ear as Gamaliel found there among the Pharisees, the pope would have managed his cause better than by stirring up the whole world against Dr. Luther and the Christians,