# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1853 10 25_S39
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

39

could, let another understand! Let us hope that continued examination will lead the worthy editor of Evangelical Kerngebete in a short time onto the right paths. The reviewer refrains here from any further discussion of the "Neue Aphorismen," but reserves the right to subject them (together with the second Buffalo Synodal Letter) to a more detailed discussion in this periodical.

(For the Lutheraner.)

1.

Pastor B. in E. was fond of railing mightily against the poor Old Lutherans. Thereupon a man who had not long been in the country is said once to have asked him what sort of people they actually were and what terrible things they did. Why, said the pastor, these people have a crucifix and candles on the altar. Well, that we also had on the altar at home (in Bavaria), replied the questioner. What else do the Old Lutherans have? They sing at the altar, said the pastor, and even the blessing. Well, it is just so with us at home, said the eager-to-learn man, and if they have nothing else than that, I do not see why they should be so dangerous, for that has done no man any harm. But, added the pastor with a grave mien, they have something else, namely the ear-confession! The ear-confession, asked the man in surprise, what is that? Of that I have indeed heard nothing so far with us. The pastor may then have said this and that in explanation or rather in distortion of this word; in short, the man who had asked knew actually afterwards as much as he had known before of the ear-confession. Now it happened that this man and other men came together with another pastor. To him they now also put the question what the ear-confession actually was. That I will tell you at once, dear people, replied the pastor. See, when one comes to the ear-confession, the preacher takes him with both hands by the ears and shakes him until he says out everything; therefore your pastor must by no means come to the ear-confession, for he would be shaken by the ears so long until he was brought to confess what the ear-confession actually is.

2.

A baker once came to a pastor and inquired of him about something he wanted to know. When the pastor had given him information, he inquired of the baker to what church he went. The baker said he used to go to such and such a church, but for a long time he had gone to no church at all. The pastor asked: Why? Well now, answered the baker, I trust no pastor any more, for I was once taken in. It goes with you, said the pastor, with the pastors just as it goes with me with the bakers; I too trust no baker any more, for one once took me in with a loaf of bread that was supposed to be freshly baked and was yet hard as a bone. The baker said thereupon: But not all bakers are so, whereupon the pastor replied: Neither are all pastors like the one who took you in. With that the baker parted from the pastor.

3.

Prohibition of Bible-reading among the Roman Catholics.

(Cf. 'Lutheraner' Vol. 9, No. 26.)

The well-known Württemberg theologian Bengel once relates the following story: Friedr. Fulgratius, theologian at Venice, preached on the words of Jesus, Mark 12, 10: Have ye not read" etc., thus: If the Saviour were to put this question nowadays, all the people would have to say: "No, they had not read it, because it had been forbidden them to read."

And on the question of Pilate, John 18, 38: 'What is truth?' he said: "The impatience and discontent of Pilate is very vexing to us today; if he had waited until Jesus had answered, or if his own vices had not prevented the answer, we should not now have such trouble in seeking the truth. I have sought it in the desert, in the cities, in the societies and monasteries, among the hermits, at the court of the Pope, who says that he is infallible, and have found it nowhere. At last I have found it after all, namely in this book!"—and thereupon he drew out a New Testament, but put it away again and said quite dryly: "But see to it that you do not seek the truth in it, for it is forbidden to read this book."

(Süddeutsche Originalien, edited by Barth)

Luther's letter to Marcus Crodel, teacher at Torgau, when he sent him his son Johannes.

"Grace and peace! As we have agreed with one another, I send you, my dear Marcus, my son Johannes, that you may take him in among the boys who are learning grammar and music, and have heed to his manners and mend them; for I have a very great confidence in you in the LORD. The costs I shall gladly defray. In due time you will let me know what progress he has made and how far he may be brought. I have sent the boy Florian along, chiefly because I see that such boys have need of the example of many boys, who are their comrades, which seems to me to accomplish more than if they were instructed and brought up privately each one for himself. God bless the work begun. If I see good success in that son, you shall soon, if I live, have my two other sons also. For I am concerned that after you there will be no such zealous teacher, particularly as regards grammar and strictness of morals. One must therefore take advantage of the time; time passes quickly, and diligent teachers vanish much more quickly still. Thereafter the pupils, prepared for the higher studies, will return hither. Fare you well in the LORD, and greet and ask Johann Walter that he take my son into his charge in music. For I can well bring theologians into the world, but wish also to beget grammarians and musicians. Fare you well once more, and greet Gabriel for me with his family. For the third time and for ever, fare you well! Saturday, the 27th of August, 1542. Your Martin Luther."

Luther on Matth. 2, v. 11.

They opened their treasures and presented unto him gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Thus we should (whoever is able) apply gold and goods to this end, that our LORD Christ's kingdom may be preserved and increased, and the little Child in His misery may have His sustenance, that is: we should help with money and goods that one may have diligent preachers of the Gospel, His church servants and schoolmasters, that the poor, who by reason of their sustenance, sickness or other need cannot provide for themselves, may be maintained. And especially, that one bring up young boys who are fit for learning, that our posterity also may have upright preachers and church servants, for we should in such a case do as a wise, prudent gardener, who is always raising young trees, so that where this year, or in a year or two, an old tree goes, another may soon be set in its place, which will bear fruit. Whoever lays out his money in this manner, he gives and offers it to the Child JESUS, just as well as the wise men did.

Catechismusauslegung

from Dr. Luther's writings and the symbolical books, compiled by Ernst Gerh. Wilh. Keyl, Pastor of the Evang. Luth. St. Paul's Congregation in Baltimore.

This writing, already announced, has at last arrived and through the book-store and