# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1849 03 20_S119
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

119

Lichnowsky were most cruelly butchered: their mob fell to them in heaps like water, and it became clear how deep we had sunk, how all moral feeling had died in the people, how the greatest infamies were no longer able to awaken a noble anger in the hearts; nay, they were applauded on many sides. On the other hand, the noblest men, who in the earlier times of despotism had stepped into the breach, who had spoken for freedom and right, while their present detractors and defamers cowardly kept silent, who had sacrificed office and prosperity and honor, while those wagged their tails like dogs, were given over to contempt and to universal distrust, because they stood once more for freedom and right, but no longer against the princes, against whom it was no longer necessary, but against the agitators and men of the Convention and against the sovereign mob. And remarkably, precisely those to whom for the sake of their existence and their livelihood it must have mattered most that quiet, order and security should return, and thereby again steadiness come into the disturbed course of business, the people of the middle burgher classes it was chiefly who joined in that agitating clamor, who gave ever new applause to every new note of distrust and excitement and carried it from mouth to mouth, not suspecting how they thereby ever more stirred up the mass of the proletarians, and how they would be the ones against whom that flood, when once it had broken the dam, would first break loose and sweep them away together with all that is theirs. And if one told them so, they did not believe it; the cheap republic they wanted, where there should be no more civilians. In vain that one pointed to France, where already the peasant in the cheap republic sighed under the burden of double and triple taxes, where suddenly the proletariat broke loose and could only be overpowered and subdued by a dreadful battle in the streets of Paris, where all at once nearly all the "achievements" of freedom (the right of assembly, the freedom of the press, the right to bear arms, etc.) had vanished under the "rule of the sabre" which had become necessary: they wanted the republic nevertheless, they took no heed of what had already been given, they wanted more, they wanted what they already had, for they did not trust those who had given it and who let everyone have his way; they did not trust the men of their own confidence whom they had forced upon the princes as ministers, for these men showed themselves not as Left, not as destroyers, but as preservers, not as revolutionaries, but as reformers; so they styled them Reactionaries. And as soon as anyone uttered the word: that is Reaction, then everybody cried after: Reaction! Reaction! and it was over with reason and understanding, with reflection and consideration. A cup of giddiness was poured out over high and low. The great knew not how to compose themselves, committing one blunder after another; the small likewise knew not what they wanted, but not like those from dismay, but from wantonness; one looked forward to the saddest future, if it went on so, if the Lord did not look upon it in grace and set a limit to the raging and agitating.

Now and again one breathed more lightly and felt joyfully lifted up in hope, but often the very next day or the coming week brought again a piece of news which had so much the more depressing effect and put everything again in question. So it was a salutary impression which the election of the Imperial Regent, Archduke John, produced everywhere, and all German hearts felt themselves one in him; the republican intoxication had somewhat evaporated over it. Then came the Malmö armistice with the Danes, in which Prussia had violated its authority in form, but in substance had nevertheless observed it, which on that very account was, if not approved, yet recognized by the Imperial Ministry, for which also the majority of the Imperial Assembly had declared itself under some amending conditions. There was now fire again at all ends, a wild devouring fire which was not to be quenched at all, which was fanned yet more by the blood of the Frankfurt barricade fight and the murder of deputies, and which was fed especially by the Clubs which had formed everywhere. The result indeed showed that the majority of the Imperial Assembly had decided rightly, but the sovereign mob asked nothing about that; one sent to the individual deputies addresses of distrust and called upon them to go home and make room for better men, and since these did not comply, because no one had granted them the right to recall them, and also those addresses had proceeded not from the whole or the majority of their electors, but from the Clubs, there came ever more of reviling and contempt.

(To be concluded.)

A Word of Luther against Unauthorized Preachers.

(Kirchenpostille, Sermon on the Gospel Matth. 3, 13—17.)

Christ was God's Son, He had all things in His power; yet He would not take anything upon Himself: He did not preach, let no word be heard from Him before the thirty years, that He was the spiritual man who should help all men: do not as we fellows, when we read but a little word, our belly grows too big, we cannot contain ourselves, we must out with the little piece, all the world must hear it, only ears here, where shall we get them, who will hear it? So our factious spirits busy themselves to bring something new upon the track, that one may hear them; forgetting that here Christ has taught by His example that one should not enter the preaching office unauthorized. These years they have wrought enough, that one may well shrink from them; they do not so much as think behind them whether they also have the voice and the command of God. They say indeed, they have the Spirit of God, who tells it us. Dear fellow, I hold exactly as much of thy spirit as of thy flesh, in that matter; it needs more thereto than thy spirit. The man Christ was more than a spirit, namely God Himself, and full of all spiritual goods, He is full and teems with the Spirit: yet He does not rush in, like our mad spirits, but waits upon the command of the Father, does not break forth until He hears from the Father: This is my beloved Son.

Therefore we should not suddenly fall in and believe the spirits who can do nothing else but boast the Spirit; say to them: I know not thy spirit. But if thou wilt that I believe thee, give a public testimony of thyself, whereby pious people may prove thee, as John of Christ, who heard the voice from heaven; otherwise I do not believe thee. Where that does not happen, but something new wants to be put forward, then just strike out boldly, that he may do it from the devil's spirit.

In the first Corinth. 2, 4. it also stands of the Spirit, but he speaks in demonstration of the Spirit. It is another thing to have the Spirit, and to demonstrate the Spirit. If I had not a demonstration of the Spirit, I would nevermore preach. This now is my demonstration, not that I am called to the preaching office by a vision of God, but that I am compelled thereto by other people, and must do it for other people's sake. Thus I have the demonstration of the Spirit of love, which seeketh not her own, but is zealous for other people's profit. I have nothing of it but unrest; I would rather stay at home in my little room; but I am bound and obliged by the Spirit of love. And even if I had no other spirit, and were a rogue in my skin, I yet should do it for love's sake, and help those who need it and desire it of me. This now is my defiance. But this is their defiance, on which they pride themselves so greatly, that the Spirit has taught them. But who has asked you for it, that you should teach and preach to us?

This indeed thou wouldst like to do: if thou feelest a spirit in thee which suggests something to thee, thou wouldst confer about it with another, whether it be right and agreeable to our faith and the Scripture, as John 1. Epistle 4, 1. saith: Ye shall try the spirits or prove them, whether they are of God. And St. Paul saith to the Romans, ch. 12, 7.: Whether prophecy, let it be according to the proportion of faith. But thus to burst forth, to ask no one about it, and to wish to defend oneself, to explain oneself, to be subject to no one, is certainly the devil. Christ is full of the Spirit; yet He speaks no word, does also no work, unless He has first been glorified by the Father; He will not of Himself enter into the office, but through another, namely through the Father. But after the glorification He takes hold of the matter, carries on His office, teaches, preaches, does wonders, and then it also went forward well.

What a Theologian Needs.

From Scriv. Seel. Sch. 4 Th. p. 25 b.

A pious theologian, well exercised by much cross, was wont to tell of himself that when, still young, he had been called to the preaching office, at a place where he might have his ample support, and on account of his learning, good gifts and manners had been loved and honored by everyone, and his courage had therefore grown considerably, and much love of the world and of self had crept in, he once came riding to an old and godly preacher in the neighborhood, who then received him not only with joy, but also kept him through the night and entertained him well. When now on the following day after the breakfast he would depart, and had swung himself upon his horse, the old preacher said to him: My dear Herr Magister, at parting I must remind you of something, whereby you may think of me. Do you know also what you still lack? He answered: I still lack much, good books, more learning, a happy marriage and the like. Thereupon