# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1853 06 07_S142
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

142

rocks. But when He rose again from the dead, then nature, with jubilant voice, proclaimed to the world His glorious triumph by the thunder of a mighty earthquake. And at the ascension of our Lord also nature was busy as His faithful handmaid, for a cloud received Him out of their sight.

L. We should understand nature better if we lived more in the Word of God. Then we should receive that humble, childlike mind which best recognizes God's works.

W. The Scripture says: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handywork. Ps. 19, 1. And Rom. 1, 19. 20. That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them, for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.

L. Certainly. God reveals Himself to us also through the book of nature, so that we can recognize from it His existence, His glorious being and His divine attributes. But this knowledge would always remain an insufficient one if we did not have the book of Holy Scripture.

W. But yet God expresses His divine thoughts also in creation: earthly things are images of heavenly things; for which reason God so frequently speaks to us in His Word by similitudes which have come from the realm of nature.

L. Indeed. Christ is the Sun of righteousness, the spiritual Rock, the Vine whose branches are the believers. So spring is a lovely picture of the resurrection. A short time ago everything was still cold, dead and withered: and now everything, by God's almighty power, is resplendent, full of new life and fresh verdure. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. 1 Cor. 15, 42. The bodies of the believers die and decay, but on the fair spring morning of the resurrection they shall come forth incorruptible, transfigured, in immortal, eternal beauty and youth.

W. I confess to you, dear Leopold, that I now look upon nature with other eyes. Formerly it had for me always something strange, almost hostile. But now it is dear to me, since I behold it in Christ as God's work! Now I shall also again have my joy in it.

L. And yet you will guard yourself in like manner against sinful rejection, as against the deification of nature. Christ is the Truth, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Col. 2, 3. In Him alone we find also the key to a right contemplation of nature, well-pleasing to God.

Meanwhile, during the conversation of the two friends, evening had come. The moon had risen and shone in quiet beauty in the dark heaven and poured its silver light over the fragrant fields.

Now tell me, dear interpreter, Wilibald broke the silence, is not the moon also, according to the Word of God, the image of something heavenly?

It is an image of the Christian Church, replied Leopold. For it is said, Song of Sol. 6, 9.: Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon . . ? As the moon receives its light from the sun, so the Church receives her righteousness and beauty from Christ. And as the moon, with the light it has received, illumines the dark earth, so the Church, with the Gospel entrusted to her by the Lord, enlightens the world filled with darkness and the shadow of death.

W. And truly, when the Holy Ghost then breathes upon the dead hearts through the Gospel, awakens and regenerates them, then there arises in them a spiritual, heavenly spring of life and love, then it is said: Lo, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Song of Sol. 1, 11-13.

L. Ah yes, may the Holy Ghost awaken also in our hearts a joyful spring and consecrate and adorn them with His gifts to be blessed gardens of God!

Hermann Fick.

Oh, Were I but with Thee!

Oh, were I but with Thee!
LORD JESUS, I am here
On earth not at home,
I long to go out hence.

This world becomes to me
More bitter day by day;
It hates Thee fiercely,
And I, I love Thee.

I love Thee, for Thou
Givest rest to my soul,
Givest me Thy heaven:
Oh, were I but with Thee!

Indeed I know full well,
Alas, that I am full of sin;
Yet Thy precious blood
Makes my conscience good.

But well I am aware
That the evil lust still
Lives in my flesh,
And ever strives against Thee.

Only in glory
Shall the white robe adorn me,
The ornament of pure innocence:
Oh, were I but with Thee!

I am, O Jesus, Thine,
The blessedness is mine,
Thou hast often ravished me
And refreshed me with heavenly sweetness.

But soon joy is followed
Ever alternating by sorrow again,
And often my heart is filled
With only terror, anguish and pain.

For blessed full enjoyment,
The overflow of bliss,
Will be mine only in heaven:
Oh, were I but with Thee!

Hermann Fick.

Church News.

On Ascension Day, the 5th of May, Pastor Joh. Kunz, having received a regular call from the German Evangelical Lutheran congregation near Sugar Creek, Hancock Co., Ia., and having accepted it with the consent of his former congregation, was installed into his new congregation by Pastor Fr. Schumann, since Pastor Fricke, through sudden illness, could not fulfil the commission given to him first, where may the LORD also henceforth grant him His grace, zeal and fidelity, that he may become a blessing to many.

Dr. M. Sihler, Pastor.

Fort Wayne, 17 May 1853.

The address of the dear brother is:

Revd. Joh. Kunz,
Sugar Creek P. O.,
Hancock Co., Ia.

Right Reverend Mr. President!

Herewith I render the due report that Mr. J. Strieter, formerly a pupil of the Fort Wayne Seminary, having received a regular call from the German Ev. Luth. congregation in and about Elyria, Loraine Co., O., was ordained by me on the 6th of April before his congregation, by commission of the Vice-President, with the assistance of Pastor Steinbach, and was thereby pledged to all the Confessional Writings of our Church.

The field of labor of our brother is outwardly small; may the LORD for that reason make it the more fruitful through His blessing!

H. C. Schwan.

Cleveland, 6 May 1853.

Received

for the Evang. Luth. congregation at Neumelle, Mo.
toward the rebuilding of their church, burned down by the hand of fire:
From the congregation at Pomeroy, O., namely:
from Mr. Pastor Habel $5.00,
" Messrs. Teachers Holls, Benz and Mees, G. Rasp, each $2.00 6.00
" Mr. Gander and the school children 1.43
" " Treß the younger 1.50
" Messrs. M. Joachim, J. Gebhardt, Jac. Tiez, J. Klein, A. M[illegible]es, G. Weiersmüller, H. Scharf, Jac. Göglein, A. Fruth, each $1.00 9.00
" Mr. G. Joachim 0.95
" Messrs. J. Klein, W. Scharf, W. Scharf, Joh. Göglein, J. Niemeier, Widow Wienk and Mrs. Kinstein the elder, each $0.50 3.50
" Mr. D. Göglein 0.35
" Messrs. J. Göglein, P. Sauvage, Ch. Hamm, J. Mack, L. Reuter, A. Kalb, F. Niemeier, Widow Gebhardt, Widow Guschwa, each $0.25 2.25
" the congregation at Chester near Pomeroy, O.,