# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1855 07 03_S177
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Der Lutheraner.
"God's Word and Luther's doctrine pass away now and nevermore."
Published by the German Ev. Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States.
Edited by C. F. W. Walther.
Volume 11.  St. Louis, Mo., July 3, 1855.  No. 23.
Terms: Der Lutheraner appears once every two weeks at the yearly subscription price of One Dollar for out-of-town subscribers, who pay for 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, which contain 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.

(Contributed by Pastor Brauer.*)

The Distress of the Lutheran Church since the Death of Luther, and its Deliverance therefrom through the Religious Peace of Augsburg concluded on the 25th of September, 1555.

A historical contribution to this year's celebration of the Peace Jubilee on the coming 25th of September.

Continuation.

The Introduction of the Interim.

The imperial political Interim-religion was thus fabricated, the union of Christ and Belial, of the Lutheran and the antichristian Roman Church, was resolved upon by order of the State, and commanded to Christians, the free servants of their one LORD in heaven. Thus the time of trial, of sifting, had broken in upon the Church, — the thoughts of many hearts were revealed! Much chaff flew from the threshing-floor, many a city yielded, giving up the conscience of individuals to the outward, so-called political welfare of the whole, many a preacher kept silent out of love for the belly, out of fear of struggle and distress. At the same time, however, in this storm the indestructible rock-nature of the true Church of God was also made manifest, which would let itself be blinded neither by the Roman-Lutheran union of peace, this old and new craft and lie of Satan, nor frightened by the gates of hell, the threats of the Emperor.

*) Hindered by his visitation journeys from completing the work himself, our Reverend President has committed it to Pastor Brauer. The Editor.

At Augsburg the play began first. At the Emperor's command the Council had to assemble in the town hall to come to a resolution on the acceptance of the Interim, and in order that it should receive the desired form and all scruples be quickly removed, the Emperor applied that means of persuasion which the power of the State in general likes to exercise when it takes over the role of the teacher of religion; he had the city gates occupied, and quartered many hungry and rough soldiers upon the citizens. That worked, the Council yielded. The Interim had to be read out from the pulpits and guildhalls, and the keys to all the churches delivered to the bishop, who then had the churches consecrated anew, as desecrated and unclean through the Lutheran worship. The Spanish soldiers did not fail to show their scorn; during the Lutheran sermon in the Church of the Holy Cross they played ball, so that it flew among the hearers, in another church they broke up the pulpit and pews, and when one tried to prevent it, they took to arms. They themselves again went in processions with little bells and candles, canopies and train-bearers, like fools through the Lutheran city, and woe to him who refused them reverence. A craftsman's wife who asked mockingly whether her God could not see without candles was thrown into prison, into irons, banished from the city, and, had not Queen Maria interceded for her, would have fared still worse. This manner of introducing the Interim was too much even for the Council and the citizens, and they made representations and objections. Then the Emperor cut it short; he deposed the whole Council, abolished all guilds and trades, and forbade them on pain of death to hold their customary meetings. Most of the preachers had to leave the city within three days before sunset, to swear on oath to preach no sermon in the whole Empire, to visit none of their friends and acquaintances, to disclose to no one the reason of their departure, nor to give anyone in the city written word of what had been transacted with them. That was then the peace-loving and justice-loving spirit of this imperial papal union! — When the captive Elector John Frederick heard that the Emperor had banished the preachers from the whole Empire, he had them brought to him and comforted them with the words: "If the Emperor has forbidden you the Empire, yet he has not forbidden you heaven; so God too will surely find a land where you can preach His Word. Thereupon he called for his purse and said to them: "Herein is all that I have on earth, of it I will give you a viaticum; divide it among your fellow-brethren and companions of the cross. And although I am now a poor captive prince, yet the Lord our God will surely bestow something upon me again. —

The Nurembergers at first sought to evade the imperial commands by a suppliant representation. They had, they said, always sought to render obedience to the Emperor and to God. In religion everything with them was kept according to the words of Christ and the practice of the apostolic Church, and they were bound also henceforth to confess the