# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1854 06 06_S161
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Der Lutheraner.
"God's Word and Luther's doctrine pass away now and nevermore."
Rev. John, Chap. 14, v. 6. 7.
Published by the German Ev. Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States.
Edited by C. F. W. Walther.
Volume 10.  St. Louis, Mo., June 6, 1854.  No. 21.
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 it in advance and bear the postage. — In St. Louis each single number is sold for 5 cents.
Only those letters which contain communications for the paper are to be sent to the Editor; all others, containing 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.

(Sent in for the Lutheraner.)

The So-Called Large Hanoverian Catechism, Judged by Wege.

(Continuation.)

A right judgment upon the treatment of a subject — be it the doctrine of prayer in general, or be it the Lord's Prayer — depends not merely upon a knowledge of the most obvious defects of that which is to be judged, but no less upon insight into the depth of the subject itself.

To promote this insight we impart, at the close of this essay, from the numerous writings and little writings of Luther on the holy Lord's Prayer, the following one, which, besides the truth, earnestness, depth, fullness of spiritual experience and liveliness which it has in common with everything that has flowed from the pen of the great Reformer, bears the charm of a peculiar grace by reason of its form of dialogue, and is well suited to make the difference of the spirits comprehensible. Might the following, since it is (as prayer ought to be) a conversation of the soul with God, not merely be read, but be prayed!

(Title: Brief Summary and Order of All the Prescribed Petitions. A Conversation of the Soul with God. Luther's Works, ed. Walch, Vol. VII, p. 1174.)

O Our Father, who art in the heavens, we thy children on earth, separated from thee in exile — how great a gulf lies between thee and us, how shall we ever come home to thee in our fatherland?

A child honoureth his father, and a servant his master. If I then be your Father, where is mine honour? If I be your Lord, where is my fear and reverence? (Mal. 4, 6) For my holy name is blasphemed and dishonoured among you and through you. (Is. 52, 5.)

O Father, that is sadly true, we acknowledge our guilt; be thou a gracious Father and reckon not with us, but give thy grace that we so live that thy holy name be hallowed in us. Let us by no means think, speak, do, have or undertake anything unless thy praise and honour be therein, so that before all things thy honour and name, not our own vain honour and name, may be sought in us. Grant that we love, fear and honour thee, as children a father.

How can my honour and name be hallowed among you, when all your heart and thoughts are inclined to evil and held captive in sins (Gen. 8, 21), and yet no one can sing my praise in a strange land? (Psalm 137, 4.)

O Father, that is true; we feel that our members are inclined to sins and that the world, flesh and devil would rule in us, and so drive out thy honour and name. Therefore we pray, help us out of this misery, let thy kingdom come, that sin be driven out and we be made godly, well-pleasing to thee, and thou alone mayest reign in us, and we may become thy kingdom in obedience of all our powers, inwardly and outwardly.

Him whom I am to help, I destroy, and him whom I will make alive, blessed, rich and godly, him I kill, cast off, make poor and bring to nothing. But such counsel and work of mine ye will not suffer. (Ps. 78, 10, 11.) How shall I then help you, and what more shall I do? (Is. 5, 4.)

We are sorry that we neither understand nor endure thy wholesome hand. O Father, give grace and help that we let thy divine will be done in us; yea, though it hurt us, go thou on, chasten, prick, hew and burn, do all that thou wilt, that only thy will, and by no means ours, be done. Forbid, dear Father, and let us undertake nothing according to our own opinion, will and notion, and