# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1855 03 13_S115
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

115

tended to attack certain princes who disturbed the peace and quiet in the Empire, and under the pretense of religion sought to bring other Estates under themselves, to draw their possessions to themselves, and had dared to rise up against imperial majesty, and because they were arming against him, not merely on account of religion, and thereby to set the German nation in peace and unity. This the cities should surely believe, and let themselves neither be persuaded nor informed otherwise, that the Emperor was minded differently than he herewith assured them by his imperial words and dignities." He succeeded thereby in fact, not only in pacifying the Swiss and several cities, but even in winning some Protestant princes for his service. Only the city of Strasbourg sent a manly and brave reply to the Emperor. They reminded him how the guilt lay not with them, but with their opponents, that no proper union had yet been reached in regard to religion. The latter appealed always to the Pope; the Pope, however, would maintain by force all those horrible errors over which for years such disputes had arisen in the Church, and so conduct matters that one could in no wise submit to his judgment. One should not always reproach the Protestants that they had seized the church property, since it was plain that they used it only for the purpose for which it had originally been intended. The Papists used the church property indeed, but for what else than for their pomp, for the upkeep of which they were always heaping together more prebends; they had so little regard for the Church that in many places in their lands there were no ministers of the church, and if some were present, they were fit for nothing, whether one looked at their doctrine or their life. How they provide for schools, or help the poor, was known to everyone. But if anyone had nevertheless not acted according to equity therein, he should be summoned to justice according to the custom of the Empire; this was no reason to overrun and ruin all Germany with war. The Pope was to blame for everything, he incited the Emperor; he himself could well observe the fidelity of the Protestant Estates by the manifold strong help which they had at all times brought him in his wars. They besought his imperial majesty, as their most gracious Emperor and Father of the Fatherland, for the sake of God and the welfare of the German nation, to be pleased to stop such war preparations, and to proceed lawfully, according to the long-established custom of the Empire, against those who had been so grievously accused; then they would perceive the unjust accusation which had befallen them, and their loyal will toward imperial majesty. He should consider what a ruinous war would arise, and what great misery and distress would come upon the poor, innocent people, women, children, and others of the kind, and not at the instigation of such persons, who, only to preserve their own grandeur and power, were unjustly hostile to them, utterly ruin the German nation, so highly renowned, which was so faithfully devoted to imperial majesty, or so weaken it that it could henceforth not withstand the Turks or other enemies. They promised, finally, that if anyone should be found who, after a decision rendered upon right and equity, would not be obedient to imperial majesty, they would then help the Emperor, as their highest authority given them of God, to the best of their ability, and show all fidelity at all times.

But such well-meant admonitions were in vain. The destruction of the Protestants was resolved upon, and since the Lord, according to His wisdom, was willing to give His Church up for a time, for her own good, under the rod of her enemies, they could now proceed to the unhindered execution of their design. The Elector Palatine also sought still to mediate, but the Emperor's counsellors, Granvella and Navius, repeated, instead of an imperial answer, only the accusations with which they had once begun to overwhelm the Protestants, or rather the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse. Against such rebels, they said, in whom no amendment was to be hoped, and who practiced mere violence and tyranny, the Emperor could choose no other way than that which they themselves had made a habit, namely, that he take up arms, restore peace in Germany therewith, and maintain the Empire in its freedom.

On the 20th of July there followed, in the harshest terms, the ban and double ban against John Frederick and Philip, who called themselves Duke of Saxony and Landgrave of Hesse, as rebels forgetful of duty and oath, violators of imperial majesty and breakers of the common public peace. With heavy punishment, disfavor, and forfeiture of body and goods, everyone was threatened not to take up the cause of the two outlawed princes in any way, neither secretly nor openly, and all their Estates and subjects were released from all their duty and obedience toward them. And all this "with well-considered mind, right knowledge, and imperial plenitude of power." Where one has power, and evil will besides, the pretext is easily found to use it also against the innocent, though it had to be broken off a fence.

It is worth recording that in the midst of these tumults of war the small town of Leutkirch in Swabia resolved to introduce publicly the Lutheran exercise of religion.

(To be continued.)

(Submitted by Pastor Röbbelen.)

The Revelation of St. John.

The Ninth Chapter.

Continuation.

V. 13. "a voice from the four horns of the golden altar" —: The "golden altar" points to the pomp which reigned in the Church, and to which faith, the true gold of the altar, gave way. Hence the cry, the voice from the four horns. Without figure: Because the Spirit of Christ departs from the Church, the places of worship, the offices and orders of Christendom provoke God's wrath: for "before God" the ungodly conduct that is practiced at the altar is manifest, however little it seems to count with God; and "before God" the sighing of hidden children of God is the only voice that penetrates from the profaned temple of the LORD into heaven, however little it is heard on earth for hypocritical clamor. — Here the idolatry is rebuked which had already crept in and defiled the "altar," since men no longer built solely upon Christ, His sacrifice and vicarious office of Mediator, but the spider's web of the priesthood, saint-worship and works of their own proved that the housewife was asleep and the maids did not attend to their service.

A general corruption; hence the One voice which cries to heaven for vengeance that Christ lies thus prostrate and His merit is dishonored — from all four horns of the altar, from all the world, where Christians are and sigh in secret.

The horns may also be so interpreted that in outward worship all piety was spent, and because no life in Christ was hidden beneath it, it only raised a cry in heaven. The horns then indicate that the spiritual life was shut up in the golden altars and costly churches, and the LORD could not go forward if He was to be a life-giving power. One may also understand the horns of the filth which was heaped up in the corners of the altar, that is, in secret, and aroused God's wrath: for the altar is indeed the whole of Christendom, which should be a sacrifice to God, but, alas, remains hanging in the stone churches like the ram in the thicket, lives in chambering and uncleanness, strife and envy, and thus secretly heaps up dung, while publicly she glitters. When God then looks in, a cry arises in heaven and judgments follow.

V. 14. "Loose ... Euphrates" —: From the Euphrates a plague had come upon Israel. For a long time it had been nearly forgotten, until Mohammed's seed there united four kingdoms, as one plaits a scourge.

V. 15. "which were prepared for an hour," etc.: Before the time the devil cannot break loose, but he burns with desire until the hour comes which God has permitted him.

"to slay the third part of men" —: This time blood flowed in streams; yet God's mercy tempered the punishment, so that more remained alive than were slain.

V. 17. "of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone" ["feurige und gelbe und schwefelichte Panzer"; the printed verse number is blotted, apparently 17] —: Devastating was the fury, like fire ("fiery"); the plunder made them ever thirstier ("yellow" — from the plundered gold; wealth and power increased courage); unclean lusts hovered before them on their forays, and they found thereafter what they sought ("brimstone").

"the heads of the horses — lions" —: Such courage and such strength as the leaders of the Saracens showed, one had not for a long time