# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1855 07 03_S182
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

182

now. Never yet have so many places in the interior of the country been open to us as now; never yet was the good cause so widespread among the Armenians; never yet were the Protestants so awake. If it goes on so, laborers for the harvest will soon be lacking. A Mohammedan family, which about two years ago had to flee from here on account of its Christianity, will probably soon be able to be called back, and might yet find work enough among its former people. But to be sure, all this is only a weak beginning of a mighty work of grace, which the wilderness needs in order to blossom and to be green like Carmel and Sharon. Streams of the divine Spirit this poor land seems to need, great mighty showers of grace, if all is not to run off and dry up in the glowing sand. Yet to the LORD nothing is too much and nothing too little. HE has all things and can do all things. Therefore let us call upon Him, pray, knock and seek. HE will do to us above what we ask or understand."

Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's House

In Strassburg the Lutheran Church has possessed, since the time of the Reformation, considerable property, which is applied to the maintenance of the Protestant seminary of St. Thomas. The lawfulness of this three-hundred-year possession is guaranteed by the Peace of Westphalia, by the capitulation of Strassburg under Louis XIV., by decrees of the legislative assemblies, etc. But the Romanists, long covetous of this income, have suddenly stretched out their hands after it with craft and under a semblance of right, in that they assert that the property of St. Thomas is common municipal property, and the burgomaster of Strassburg has commanded that the tenants of the foundation's estates shall no longer pay their dues to the Consistory of the Lutheran Church. All written and personal complaints and representations to the Minister of Public Worship and of the Interior in Paris and to the Emperor himself have not yet helped the Lutheran Church to its right again.

Enter Thou into the Joy of Thy Lord

The General Consistory of the Churches of the Augsburg Confession was assembled in Strassburg (in October of last year) for deliberation. The sermon for the opening service was to be preached by Pastor Verny of Paris. He preached on the 19th of October on Acts 15:28, with demonstration of the Spirit and of power. When already for an hour the congregation, carried away by his mighty discourse, had hung upon his lips, he touched upon how the Romanists in Strassburg had lately sought to seize the Protestant Thomasstift under a semblance of right, and how there was yet hope that the court would render a just decision, but also, if the Protestant Church had to suffer the robbery of her goods, she would not therefore fall, but: "let them take our body" — and he quoted this verse of Luther's hymn in German, while he was preaching in French, and spoke in particular the words: the kingdom must remain ours still! with great power of triumphant faith. Behold, then the kingdom was suddenly granted him! He had sat down, wiped the sweat from his brow, he wished to close the sermon: the grace of our — grace — grace —, the breath flew high, a clergyman, a physician hastened to the pulpit, twice more Pastor Verny drew a deep breath, then the heart stood still, he was departed, the kingdom granted him. What unspeakable shock through the whole assembly, what tears and loud lamentations. — Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!

The Sabbath-Breaker

To a clergyman a worldly man, who was a despiser of religion, was once introduced in the following manner: "This is Mr. —, an acquaintance of mine, and I regret to have to say that he, although young and healthy, has never attended public worship." "I am much inclined to hope," said the clergyman, "that you are bearing false witness against your neighbor." "By no means," said the guest, "for I always employ my Sundays in the adjustment of my accounts." The clergyman replied all at once very gravely: "You will find that the Day of Judgment will be employed in the same manner."

Preachers, Not Menservants

When in the year 1558 a papal legate was with Duke Ernest of Brunswick, the former asked the Duke that he would forbid his court preacher to have the hymn sung: "Preserve us, LORD, by Thy Word, and curb the Pope's and Turk's murder," etc. The Duke gave the legate the following fine Christian princely answer: "My preacher is not called in order that I should tell him what he is to sing, teach or do in the church; but for this he is called, that by God's command and in the stead of our LORD Christ he should preach and teach me and all mine what is useful and needful for the one as for the other, and for the very least at court, to know and learn unto eternal salvation, and that he should warn me and every one, none excepted, against everything that might be harmful and hindering and harmful to salvation, so that one may know how to guard against it. I have therefore nothing to bid or to forbid my preacher in this matter; if you on his account will not go to church, you have power to stay out."

Would that many American congregation members would take note of this, who are still far from being dukes and yet often presume to tell and command the preacher what he is to teach!

God the True Refuge in Need

A pious citizen, who had many children, had once fallen into debts which, although they amounted to only a few dollars, he could not pay. The hardhearted creditors accordingly sued the poor man, and he was now condemned to distraint. When he hears this, he falls on his knees with his little children and sings with them the hymn: "When in the highest need we be, and know not where to turn or flee," etc. While the family sings this hymn, the executor appears at the door and hears the singing, interrupted with weeping, that tore the heart. Moved, he stands still, tears rush from his own eyes. What shall he do? As officer of the court he has strict orders to carry out the distraint. But he does not deliberate long; he takes off his new coat, throws it into the room and says: There, take this, sell this garment and pay your debts with it. Which then also came to pass. The distraint was left undone. J. C. Olearius, who relates this, adds finely: "It was surely a strange mercy. With God, on the other hand, grace and help are unfailingly to be hoped for, if we only use the said hymn penitently and with true devotion."

Luther's Prophetic Threat Fulfilled

In the year 1537 Duke John of Saxony, Duke George's son, died on the 11th of January at Dresden. His consort was Frau Elisabeth, sister of Landgrave Philip of Hesse. This Duke had once, through Lucas Cranach the elder, caused word to be sent to Luther that he complained much in his writings about his father, as though he had suffered much hardship from him; but should he (John) once come to the government after his father, he would find in him quite another enemy; if his father had been iron toward Luther, he would be steely (stälern) to him. Then Dr. Luther laughed at the presumption and said: Duke Hans might well think on how he would die blessedly, and let him be told that he need have no concern for his threat, for he knew well that Duke Hans would not live to see his father's death. When now the painter Lucas came again to the Duke and he wished to know from him what Luther had given for answer to his ungracious message, Lucas, after sufficient submissive request that he would graciously take it in good part, reported what the Doctor had said. Whereupon the Duke was soon dismayed, fell into melancholy, and not long after died.

Church News

When at Lemgo some years ago a preacher so unbelieving was to be forced upon the congregation, that all the theological faculties asked for their opinion declared this preacher stood wholly outside of Christianity — and when all representations to the superior