# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1855 06 19_S174
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

174

as well as from sentimental flabbiness, from which ailment the more recent productions suffer only too often, and thereby become distasteful to practised senses, while they may perhaps stimulate the less practised, but do not strengthen them, rather weaken and spoil them.

So we went gladly to work, translated the shorter pericopes from the first part, which Chemnitz has treated masterfully in his precise manner, stringing the divine kernel-thoughts together like a firmly strung, precious string of pearls, and that for the most part as true to the words as the German tongue permits; made from the longer pericopes in the Leyser part, which distinguishes itself in particular also by thorough, capable grammatical treatment, and from the still more voluminous sections of Gerhard's treatment, which bear witness to the most thorough learning, astonishing reading and most searching dissection of the text, as complete excerpts as possible, then came together, imparted to one another our gathered treasures, conferred about them, and took them home with us, to lay them out as a rich capital, in that we diligently and conscientiously used them in our preparations for the Sunday and festival sermons. And behold, as often as we met again, we could only with thanks to God extol and praise what great blessing we had from this labor, how, led by the faithful hand of our godly, enlightened fathers, we were ever deeper brought into the right understanding of the text, and a fullness of divine, life-filled thoughts was opened to us, which, with the help of God the Holy Ghost, enabled us to break the bread of life more abundantly to the little sheep of Christ entrusted to us. Yea, it was a true joy of heart to see how this and that younger brother grew and increased so quickly and perceptibly by this blessed means, and how in this way the sermons gained in substance and in a living, many-sided reference.

After we had now, from an experience of a year and a half, actually proved the serviceableness and high usefulness of the course we had adopted, and had also received some requests from outside, there ripened in us the resolution to make the fruit of our labors the common property of the Church, by letting those our translations and adaptations go out in print. We are convinced that we shall thereby not only do our dear brethren in office within our Synod a welcome service, but we hope that also outside our Synodical connection there will yet be found many earnest, godly and aspiring preachers, who are ashamed to feed their congregations with the dull salt of human speech, to whom it is still a holy earnest and a hearty concern to prepare themselves conscientiously for their sermons, and who therefore will greet with joy so thorough and capable a help in this most important business. Yea, we believe that even advanced members from among the hearers, who gladly, according to the declared will of God, would grow up to manhood in the knowledge, will find here just the sound and nourishing food which they desire.

But in order that this work, so blessed already by trial, may find a really wide circulation, and the procuring of it may become possible also to the many faithful and therefore poor bush-preachers here in this country, we not only gladly forgo any remuneration for our slight trouble, but intend also to adopt a way of publication which makes the procuring of it easy even to the poorest. The work shall accordingly appear at intervals in numbers of 32 octavo pages each, containing either one longer or two shorter pericopes, by subscription at the cost of printing, and the esteemed brethren who intend to subscribe are hereby kindly requested to send in their names as soon as possible, in letters post-paid, to the writer of this, at the address:

Rev. Prof. A. Craemer
Care of Rev. Dr. W. Sihler
Fort-Wayne, Ia.

If the undertaking finds the desired reception and the necessary support, the publication shall be continued in series of 10 numbers each, until the whole circle of the ordinary Gospels for Sundays and festivals is covered. The price for such a series of 10 numbers will amount to one dollar.

But the LORD, the faithful God, who even yet acknowledges His dear Church by pure Word and unadulterated Sacrament, and even in this last afflicted time still everywhere sets the candlestick of His gracious Gospel upon the altar, in order to rescue also the last of His elect as brands from the fire which has already been kindled, may He bless the work and let it find a joyful progress and prosperity, for the benefit of His Church and to the honor of His holy name, for the sake of His compassionate love. Amen.

Aug. Crämer.

The "Lutheraner's" Report on Books.

1. Gesang und Saitenspiel der Kirche im Mississippithale. By Hermann Fick. Hildesheim 1854. Gerstenberg'sche Buchhandlung.

This is a collection of the hymns which our dear Fick Sr. communicated from time to time in the "Lutheraner" in the years 1847 — 1854. For the readers of our paper this collection therefore needs no recommendation from us. Surely no upright Lutheran has read these hymns without rejoicing in the sound faith which underlies and expresses itself in these products of a truly chaste poetry. Otherwise it is said: Aut prodesse volunt, aut delectare poetæ, that is: Poets wish either to benefit or to delight. In our dear Fick's poems both are provided for, the benefit and the delight; they are as instructive and defensive as they are lovely and sweet. The appearance of the little book (116 pages thick, and containing 34 hymns) leaves nothing to be desired. The little book may be obtained through the bookstore of Schäfer and Koradi in Philadelphia for the price of 40 cents.

2. Lutherische Lieder by Friedrich Weyermüller, member of the church council of the Lutheran congregation of Niederbronn in Alsace. Halle, published by R. Mühlmann. 1854.

On reading through these hymns one is reminded of the words of the Song of Songs: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." (2, 10—12.) These hymns are in truth fragrant blossoms and lovely nightingale-songs, which proclaim aloud that for our Ev. Luth. Church, after a hard, dumb winter, days of spring have come again. A Lutheran at heart will not find himself deceived if he buys the little book, in order to join in the song of the Church, which now sings again. This little book also (196 pages in duodecimo) may be obtained through the aforementioned bookstore for the price of 60 cents.

3. Magnalia Dei. The great deeds of God. Demonstrated by Valerius Herberger, preacher at the Little Manger of Christ at Fraustadt in Poland. Halle, published by J. Fricke, 1854.

He who knows old Herberger will not expect that we should think it necessary to praise his writings. He who does not yet know him, or knows him only from his master-song, "Valet will ich dir geben," we should like hereby to invite to seek yet more acquaintance with him by purchasing the above-announced work, now newly published again. Herberger belongs not only among the most learned, but also among the most spiritual, most experienced, most anointed theologians of our Church. He combines with depth and thoroughness a noble childlike simplicity, such as few have ever possessed. His style, moreover, is so forcible, pithy, hearty, lively and flowing that he who has read a section of him finds it hard to resolve to close the book. The Magnalia Dei announced above are an edifying exposition of the 1st Book of Moses, to be sure only a part of a larger biblical work of exposition, which Herberger carried on as far as the 23rd Psalm, yet this part also is a whole, and next to Luther's detailed exposition of the same book is probably the most precious thing that has been written upon it for edification as well as for instruction. The book is splendidly suited for family worship in every household, whether the hearers be great scholars or simple children. Herberger's chief aim in this book is to show that JESUS is the kernel and star of the whole Holy Scripture, of the Old Testament also. It is a pity that the new edition does not give the original text quite completely, although the omissions concern only what is unessential. The book (41 sheets thick) is likewise to be had of Schäfer and Koradi for $1.50.