# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1848 11 28_S54
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

54

and for the sake of the sad consequences which were made so plainly known to us by the case before us, I begged and entreated them, for their own salvation, to give God the glory, and to return to His pure Word. But at my "Return again," which I called to them in the name of God, some of my hearers shook their heads in ill humor, and it seemed as if they would say: we will persist in error, even if we should all "likewise perish" like this man. (Luke 13:5.). Although we hope that this one or that might be won for the truth, if it were preached to him, yet it also seems as if upon some of the German Methodists, who have forsaken the truth and chosen the lie, the judgment of hardening has come. God grant grace that they do not draw this more and more upon themselves, and that especially those who are to tend the flock may heed the voice of their conscience, which can nevermore be silent, in a cure of souls such as Mr. Peter, among others, practices.

The more the Methodists follow the thoughts of their hearts, the more simply let us direct our eyes to the lamp of the Word. Then we shall never dream of a perfection in this life, but daily crawl to the cross of Christ; but neither shall we then despair, when the Law and our own heart accuse us, but comfort ourselves with the Word of grace, and say: "By grace! hear this, sin and devil, I swing my banner of faith And go confidently, in spite of all doubt, Through the Red Sea to Canaan. I believe what JEsus' Word promises, Whether I feel it or feel it not."
P. Heid.

The Actress Pelagia.

(From the Sonntagsblatt.)

Once the archbishop of Antioch called together all the bishops of his diocese, to take counsel and be edified with them. During their stay in that city it happened one day that they were sitting together before the church of the martyr Julianus, and were listening with eager attention to a moving discourse of Bishop Nonnus. Then Pelagia, the first actress of the city, passed by with great pomp. She rode on a mule and was covered over and over with gold, precious stones and pearls; even her bare feet shone with gold and pearls. Before her and behind her went many splendidly adorned young men and maidens; and the sweetest perfumes filled the streets through which the procession went. The bishops sighed and turned their eyes away; for shamelessly, with bared head and neck and with brazen brow she came along. The holy Nonnus gazed long into her fair, triumphant countenance; he looked after her until the procession vanished in another street. Thereupon he turned to his fellow-officers and said: Have you not taken delight in this beauty? But they did not understand the purpose of his question and were silent. Then he laid his face upon his knees, wet his lap with tears, sighed deeply and asked again: Have you not taken delight in her beauty? But they were still silent, and were almost indignant at his strange, indeed in their opinion improper, question. Then he began: In truth, I have taken great delight in the great beauty which God has given her, and have admired the great care which she bestows upon the preservation and enhancement of her loveliness. Worthy fathers and brethren, the LORD will one day set this woman over against us on the day of judgment, when we must appear before His dreadful throne. How many hours has she probably spent today in her bedchamber, to wash and to adorn herself! What great diligence, what much thought, how much attention may she have given to every single part of her adornment, in order the more surely to attain her purpose, namely: to please everyone and to secure the favor of her admirers, who live today and tomorrow are no more! And we, who have the Almighty God for our Friend, Him who promises His faithful ones heavenly riches and eternal reward, what do we do to please Him, who in grace and mercy has betrothed Himself to us for all eternity? how little diligence, how little thought and attention we give to it! How hard it is for us to bring a sacrifice and to forgo something that has become dear to us, in order to live wholly according to His will! We, to whom the promise is given that we shall behold the radiant countenance of Him before whom the seraphim worship with deepest humility, we do not cleanse our hearts, but leave, unconcerned and careless, the filth of sins lying upon us!

When he had said this, he went home into his cell, threw himself down there upon the floor, smote upon his breast and prayed with many tears: LORD JEsus Christ! forgive me, poor unworthy sinner, that that vain woman adorned her body more splendidly than I my soul. How shall I look up to Thee, how justify myself before Thy face? For I cannot hide my heart from Thee; even my inmost secrets are manifest to Thee. Woe to me, wretched man, who stand before Thy holy altar, and yet bring Thee no soul so pure and fair as Thou requirest! That woman set herself to please men, and has accomplished it; I have promised to please Thee; but my sloth bears witness against me that I have not kept my word. I am without all hope when I look upon my works; and only the thought of Thy mercy and grace comforts me. So he spoke and wept bitterly.

On the following Sunday, when the night prayers*) were ended, Bishop Nonnus said to his deacon Jacobus: "Hear, my dear deacon! I saw this night a vision in a dream which troubles me greatly, because I cannot interpret it. For behold, there stood at the horn of the altar a black dove, covered with much filth, which flew continually about me; and its loathsome odor became unbearable to me. But it remained about me until the catechumens*) were dismissed; but when the deacon cried to them: Go home now! then it vanished at once. But after the holy Supper was ended, when the whole assembly was dismissed, I went out of the church; and behold! that filthy dove fluttered about me again; but I stretched out my hand, seized it, and cast it into the baptismal font, which stands in the forecourt of the church. Then it lost in the water all its filth, rose up white as snow, and vanished high in the air from my eyes."

When the pious man of God had related this, he took the deacon Jacobus by the arm and went with him to the chief church, where they met with the other bishops, and greeted the archbishop. He delivered an edifying address before the assembled people; then, when the Gospel had been read, he handed the book to Bishop Nonnus, and bade him preach before the assembly. Nonnus began at once and spoke, out of the wisdom of God which dwelt in him, moving and uplifting words; filled with the Holy Ghost, he struck the consciences and touched the hearts of the people, speaking in childlike simplicity of the future damnation of the unbelievers, and of the eternal goods which are reserved in heaven for the righteous. The whole assembly was deeply shaken and many Christians wept. And behold, God's mercy had so ordained that at that same hour the actress Pelagia entered the church, and was suddenly seized with the fear of God and filled with a sorrow for her sins such as she had never felt before. For when Nonnus exhorted the people to repentance, all hope vanished from her of ever being saved; one tear followed another, she could do nothing but mourn, weep and sigh. At the close of the sermon she said to her two servants: Stay here until the bishop goes home; then follow him, and inquire where he lives, that you may tell me

*) It is well known that in the monasteries certain hours of the night are accustomed to be devoted to prayer and the singing of psalms. This custom, contrary to the order of nature, had a very natural origin in the earliest church; for as long as men exposed themselves to persecution by the confession of Christianity, it was almost a pressing need for the Christians to unite at times, even in the night, for common prayer.

*) By catechumens were understood all those Christians who as yet had no such knowledge of the Gospel that they could have been admitted to the enjoyment of the Holy Supper, whether they were children or adults. These were not permitted even to be spectators at the celebration of the Supper. Therefore, before it began, the deacon cried: Missa est ecclesia, that is, the assembly is dismissed. From this word Missa there arose in time the name Mass, by which originally nothing else was meant than the Holy Supper.