# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1848 10 03_S22
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

22

as through deep waters (Ezek. 21, 7.). O what a sorrowful assembly is this, the like of which Friedland, as long as it has stood, has not had! That has come true for us which is read in the prophet Jeremiah, chap. 30, v. 7.: "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble." How I see the countenance of you all so full of affliction! How I see the eyes of you all flowing with water! What a lifting up of hands, what a wringing of hands I see! What a wailing, what a lamentation I heard as I came out! — The Lord has thus made us full of misery for the sake of our sins (Lam. 1, 5.), for your eyes have been obliged to see that with a weapon in hand, with arrogance and defiance, a Catholic mass-priest was set over me, that church and parsonage were surrendered to him, and that, alas! your sanctuary has now been defiled! (Lam. 1, 10.) Your eyes must see me, your teacher, the comforter who should refresh your soul, depart from you! (Lam. 1, 16.) Therefore mine eyes also run down with tears for the destruction of the daughter of my people. (Lam. 3, 48.) For whereas I otherwise bore the persecution that came upon us with great cheerfulness, and was able to bear without emotion the plunder of my goods, which I had to leave behind me and by which I had just now in part to pass: yet you, with your weeping and lamenting, have broken my heart, yet have also at the same time comforted it, so that I have been able to perceive how you are in my heart and I in your heart, to die and live with you. (2 Cor. 7, 3.) Who then would take it amiss in me that I open my mouth unto you, pour out my heart further toward you, and refresh myself with you? You, however, with your love and sympathy, with your sighs and tears, lend me a hand, that I turn my thoughts to the farewell which the holy Apostle Paul took of his hearers." After our Günther, in the second part of his sermon, had implored and admonished all, man and woman, small and great, for the sake of God's mercy and of the wounds of Christ, that they should not let themselves be moved to apostasy, either by the papistical priest who had been introduced, or by other such teachers, whether it be urged upon them by sweet words or harsh threats, but should hold out in patient bearing of their cross, in steadfastness of their faith, and in diligent prayer to God, he proceeds thereupon as follows: "Hear then what Christ your Saviour says: He that endureth to the end shall be saved. He admonishes faithfully: Be thou faithful unto death. Behold, I come quickly. Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. He comforts richly: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. I will give thee a crown of life. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Whosoever forsaketh houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. He threatens also terribly: Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. And: Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man also be ashamed, when he shall come in his glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. Yea, through Moses the jealous God threatens: He will blot out the name of him that turneth away from him and his commandments from under heaven, and separate him unto evil and curse. Deut. 29, 20. 21." Last of all the farewell speaker breaks out in these words: "This is my fatherly and hearty admonition, which I leave behind me to you at my departure. Be vigilant and remember that I have admonished you hereunto with tears. Above all hold fast to the word of life, to the honor of God, to your salvation, and to me for a rejoicing in the day of Jesus Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain (Phil. 2, 16.). Know how I have laboured among you these nine years and also now this hour (1 Thess. 5, 12.). We stand now assembled under the open heaven before the Lord our God; so I testify now that I am pure from the blood of all; for your ears have heard from my mouth how faithfully I have admonished you and warned you against apostasy. I have set before you the blessing and the curse, life and death (Deut. 11, 25. 30, 15.). God in heaven and His holy angels, who are present with us, this visible heaven, the bright-shining sun which we see above us, and this field and earth on which our feet stand (Deut. 31, 28. and 1 Tim. 5, 21.), the many tears that have been shed on all sides, are witnesses of it. Should any one among you fall away from the faith, let his blood be upon his own head. (Acts 18, 6.) Let him consider how he will look upon me yonder on that day, when I shall have to bear witness against him before Christ. Let him consider how heaven, the sun and the earth, which I have called to witness, will then stand against him and accuse him. Yea, let him consider how he will stand before Christ, the Judge of all flesh. How will he escape the punishment, since he has here not regarded so great a salvation, and for God's sake has forsaken nothing and been unwilling to suffer anything? What would it profit his poor and damned soul, though he had gained the whole world in this life? There such a one with eternal woe and misery, in unceasing pain and unquenchable fire, will have to learn what is threatened to such Mamelukes, Rev. 14, 9—11.: 'If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand (that is, whoever shall turn to the doctrine of Antichrist and accept the same): the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night.' I testify therefore once more before God and you, on this present day and at this hour, that I am pure from the blood of such a man. The word which I have spoken and which he has now heard with his ears will excuse me and judge him at the last day. But I beseech my God with tears that He would prevent this and grant me my wish: Utinam nemo auditorum meorum pereat! Ah, that none among my former hearers might fall away and be lost eternally!" At last he concludes thus: "Although we must now be parted in body, yet let us in mind and heart, and also in dear prayer, be always together and remain one in the Lord Christ, until the merciful God at some time again, according to His gracious will, gladden us, if not in this, yet in that life, where you then shall be my joy, rejoicing and crown, before our Lord Jesus Christ. And now I commend you, O longed-for brethren and sisters, to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. May He also keep you fast unto the end, that, as He hath begun a good work in you and given you the will, He may also perform it and work in you the doing of it, according to His good pleasure, sanctify you wholly and preserve you blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it; to Him be honor from everlasting to everlasting. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace, especially spiritual peace and peace of soul. The Lord bless you more and more, you and your children. (Ps. 115, 14.) Amen."

After the sermon was ended he exhorted the assembled to fall down upon their knees with him, whereupon he prayed thus: "Righteous and merciful God and Father, we lie before Thee upon our face in utmost affliction and sorrow, and weep bitterly before Thee over the great evil that has befallen us and our children. For we are now as the fatherless, who have no father; the comforter who should refresh our souls we shall have no more. Our heart is troubled and our eyes are grown dim, yea, the whole land is dark with anguish. Thou Lord art righteous — for we have been disobedient to Thy mouth, we have been ungrateful to Thee for Thy holy Word. But, O merciful Father! for the sake of all Thy goodness behold how Thine adversaries and ours rage so fiercely, how