# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1855 01 16_S85
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

85

received the word and were baptized; the words "and were added" are therefore to be referred to both preceding members, namely to the reception of the Apostolic Word through true faith and to the acceptance of Baptism, through which both the faith in their hearts is sealed and that reception into the Church is confirmed . . . 6. This distinction also is to be noted, that the effect of Baptism is to be judged differently in children and in believing adults. As concerns baptized children, Baptism is the one ordinary means of regeneration and the one door to the Church; but in believing adults Baptism does not first work the regeneration, of which they have already become partakers through the Word and faith, but it seals the regeneration, confirms it, and increases in them the gifts of the Holy Ghost." (Loc. theol. de eccles. § 55.)—

We therefore take the liberty of recommending these testimonies to Herr Dr. Nast for diligent study. A light will then in any case dawn upon him concerning the doctrinal system of the Lutheran Church, which he has hitherto lacked. To be sure, we know that it would be asking too much of a man such as Herr Dr. N. is, if we were now to request him to retract his article and to declare that the true Lutheran Church, to which our Synod also belongs, does not have that papistical leaven; but we cannot refrain from expressing at least this wish and laying it upon the heart of Herr Dr. Nast, that he may at last begin to study the Lutheran doctrine thoroughly first, before he again expresses himself about it in his paper, or lets other ignoramuses fall upon it in his paper, or — that he be altogether silent about it.

(Submitted by Pastor Hoyer.)

Events of the World.

In considering the events of the world in all ages, we shall always feel as upon uncertain, shaking ground, or as upon a billowing sea, and the only thing sure, firm and certain, the unshakable foundation, the Rock of Ages, God's righteousness and love in His wonderful government, we shall behold and lay hold of with hearty joy and for the refreshment of our anguished soul. But for years the events of the world have not pointed so earnestly and urgently to God and His holy Word as now, at the beginning of the year of the Lord 1855. It is altogether impossible to point out even a single event from which we could interpret with any certainty the course of events in the next few days. It is true, so far as the United States are concerned, that the message of the President, sent to Congress on the 4th of December of last year, has informed us that the government of this country, both internally and in relation to other states, will everywhere preserve a righteous measure within the existing laws and treaties, and also the report on the treasury of the U. S. shows that not only has the expenditure of over 51 millions been made, but also over 24 millions have been paid out in capital and interest of the national debts, and nevertheless over 20 millions remain in the national treasury.

But the more satisfactory the prosperity of the national government might appear to us, the more glaring and distressing do the consequences of the immoderation come before us, with which in the past years a great part of the citizens of this country have made undertakings and given themselves up to the pride of life. In the last quarter of the year 1854 the wholesale merchants, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs of every kind have been struggling with the grimmest lack of all credit, and frauds and swindles have come to light such as one could scarcely have dreamed of before; around New Year 1855 there is now revealed in a terrible degree what unemployment and the loss of the saved-up nest egg through the collapse of the banks and savings banks bring about among the workingmen; not to be counted are the inhabitants of our cities who on New Year's Day felt the hunger of the last hours of the old year and for the days ahead had no earthly prospect of bread. Christians regard this as a chastisement of God; will it lead the people of the U. S. to repentance? God wills it, and God is not mocked.

The view of the events of the world in Europe falls everywhere upon uncertainty and wavering. For over three months now the English and French have lain before Sepastopol in the Crimea; at times they have cannonaded that fortress, or that city of fortresses, day and night; they have had bloody battles with the Russian army, which stands at their side, and with the garrison of the place, which sallies forth almost daily; in particular, there was once at Inkermann a horrible slaughter, in which four English generals alone perished; sicknesses have carried off almost as many soldiers as the battle; a storm finally has lately destroyed 43 English and French ships, and in them many men and provisions and clothing for the poor hungering and freezing troops. But in spite of all these sacrifices the English and French have not yet ruined so much of the fortifications of Sebastopol that it could not have been mended again overnight, and loudly rings their cry for help, so that in the English Parliament the proposal has been brought in to enlist German and Swiss soldiers and to send the militia of the country itself to the theater of war. The latest news brings the confession of the English that for the next time they could do no more than maintain their position; actual attacks upon Sebastopol have not been made for a long time. On the other hand, England and France have gained something which they have long desired. Austria concluded a treaty with them on the 2nd of December of last year, the contents of which are communicated to us and which amounts to this, that if Russia does not by the beginning of 1855 enter upon real peace negotiations according to conditions already fixed, Austria will make a treaty with England and France for the common enforcement of a lasting peace, but until then will keep the principalities on the Danube occupied, without, however, hindering the Turks, English and French in their undertakings against the Russians. Since Russia had already declared earlier that it would negotiate on the basis of the said conditions, Austria has so interpreted these conditions that Russia at once declared against them and is now gathering large masses of troops not far from the Austrian frontier. Prussia will have nothing to do with that treaty of Austria and negotiates on its own hand. The German Confederation has resolved to draw together the federal army. Dear readers see that the old misfortune of disunion threatens our old fatherland; the independent position which it has hitherto taken in relation to the whole war is already half lost; what shall we answer to the question: will not Germany soon be torn into the war and then, as formerly, be made the theater of war and the chief sufferer under the horrors of the same? Already one of the scourges of war, dearth, in spite of the rich harvest, has spread misery and distress over our dear fatherland. God rule it for the best according to His good pleasure!

"The great red dragon."

("The great red dragon." Rev. 12, 3.)

A work of this title has come to us. It consists first of a writing of Anthony Gavin's, formerly a Roman priest at Saragossa in Spain, who, after he had fled to England, went over here in the year 1715 to the Episcopal Church. This writing appeared in the year 1727 at Cologne also in French (Le passe-par tout de l'Eglise Romaine), later also in Dutch, and as early as 1728 also in the German language. In the latter, that is, the German translation, under the title: "Der Dietrich, dessen sich die römische Kirche anstatt der Schlüssel Petri bedient," it is said of the work in the preface: "If ever the abominations of the Roman Catholics have been frankly disclosed in a book, it has certainly happened in the present one, wherein the most abominable deceits of the priests and monks in Spain have been disclosed with such dreadful circumstances that one cannot sufficiently wonder, when one nevertheless sees how far their authority extends. One finds in this book, of all the offenses which have long been charged against the Papists, the most credible examples and proofs. The credibility of the author rests on so good a ground that whoever would call it in question must have forsworn all historical assent. Herr Gavin has everything himself as a former priest at Saragossa from his own experi-