# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1849 07 24_S186
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

186

received me, and would gladly show you my gratitude. But see, my office gives me so much to do that I cannot possibly pass the time for you as heretofore. If you are in earnest about speaking with me concerning soul and salvation, then let me know it: then I am at your service at any hour; but sooner I shall not come."

The old man was for a moment taken aback, then looked at the preacher piercingly for a while, thereupon kindly extended his hand to him and said: "Good, then come when I send!"

On the third day after, the doctor's coachman came to the preacher and gave the message that he should come soon to his master, who had need to speak with him. The preacher heard that he had taken to his bed and confessed his weakness and sickness to himself, and went with him full of joyful hope.

Doctor: Herr Pastor, I have something to ask you: — Do you really believe that your soul is immortal?

Pastor: Certainly, Herr Doctor, and yours also; yes, more: when we die we come either to a good place or to an evil one.

Doctor: Prove that to me.

Pastor: It seems to me that this no longer requires any lengthy proof. Only consider whence this unrest at the thought of a near death may come? Does not your own conscience thereby bear you witness that after death there is still something for you to hope or to fear? Surely, not in vain is such a presentiment, though an obscure one, laid in our breast. If we had to expect nothing more after death than what the beasts have, we should have just as little a foreboding of dying as they.

Doctor: That is worth hearing, but prove to me that it is true; I demand proofs, and you cannot demand that I should take such a thing on the word of so young a man as you are.

Pastor: Nor are you to; my person, wisdom, age, and the like do not come into consideration here at all. If you desire testimonies, then let us fetch them from a Man who is 1800 years older than we, yes, who has been from the beginning and from eternity. — Have you a Bible in the house?

Doctor (after some reflection): Yes, yes indeed! I have one.

The old housekeeper is called in and receives from him a key, together with the direction to look somewhere upstairs in the house, in such and such a cupboard, among such and such curiosities and antiquities. She found and brought his Bible, which he had perhaps never again had in his hand since his confirmation.

The preacher opens it and finds words written therein, which went through his soul and revealed the gracious outstretched hand of the Good Shepherd.

For the understanding of these words, first this: Our doctor's grandfather was a zealous, orthodox preacher about 100 years ago, and at the same time a richly gifted author of spiritual hymns. Of him is, for example, the hymn: JEsus receiveth sinners, say then this word of comfort to all, etc. (Evangelisch-Lutherisches Gesangbuch No. 222). This grandfather was named Erdmann by his Christian name, his son Gottwerth, and the grandson Erdmann Gottwerth. — In the Bible there stood on the white leaf: This Bible I give to my little son Gottwerth on his eighth birthday, and beseech the God of all grace that He would, by the power of His Word and Spirit, bring my child to believe aright, to live godly, and at last to die blessed.

Erdmann Neumeister.

The preacher now reads these words to the grandson of the old Erdmann and adds: — See, your dear grandfather, who wrote this, long since fell asleep in the faith of an eternal life; your father, in whose Bible this was written, likewise. Now they triumph and rejoice there before the throne with the great multitude of the perfected righteous and saints. You must go there also! would you not like to?

Doctor: Yes indeed! — but how shall I be able to believe that these things are real?

The preacher now testifies to him — the Word of God in hand and mouth — the resurrection of the LORD JEsus, as also the resurrection of our body and an eternal life. And He that hath the keys of death and of hell, and liveth for evermore, stands by His Word; the sick man listens ever more attentively and deeply moved, and at last cries: I will, yes, I must indeed believe it; I am willing not to be unbelieving, but believing. But if there really is an eternal life, then tell me, how does one come thither? What must one then do, that one may make oneself worthy of it and obtain it?

Pastor: As your questions here are worded, I must tell you: there are two ways. Let me show the one as an answer to your question: "what one must do to make oneself worthy of eternal life?" It is the way of the Law.

Now the Law is expounded to him, as it is God's demand upon us, moreover spiritual and inviolable. It was shown him how God requires a heart wholly filled with the greatest and foremost commandment: Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself; moreover a life that is conformable to all His rights and testimonies. If now, said the pastor, your life corresponds to this holy and unchangeable Law of God, then eternal life rightly belongs to you. But examine yourself earnestly.

Doctor: Ah no, no! I have not lived so. But if that is as you say, then my whole life is lost, and I may found upon it no hope of eternal salvation.

Pastor: It is well that you see that for yourself, that nothing single, that no piecework can avail before God, but only a whole holy life.

Doctor: "Well! well!" you say? If you are right, and my conscience, which agrees with you, then it is all over with me; for I have nothing else, and to make good again I, an old man, can no more.

Pastor: Certainly not, but for that reason it is not all over with you. See, if I too from this day forward remained holy and free from sin, and reached your age, I should thereby not have made good with my Judge in heaven one, not the smallest, of my former sins.

Doctor: But how then shall one be saved? how shall I be? I have often been praised by others, and have often also praised myself, for my liberality, unselfishness, and readiness to serve, and thought that, though I had done much that I should not have done, yet I had also done much, and done it as might be required by the strictest moral teaching. But now all my good has collapsed together. What is praised in me, no! to that the love of God did not move me. It is just my nature that I am good-natured, do not make much of money, and serve others also — but then nothing remains to me — what then shall I bring before God?

Pastor: Bring God the merit and the righteousness of His Son. Nothing but that can save you.

Doctor: That I do not rightly understand; explain it to me.

Pastor: Know this: God has prepared help precisely for such sinners condemned by the Law, as you confess yourself to be. His dear Son He has given up; He has presented Himself as surety and has reconciled us lost men with God. Here the pastor read to him Luke 23:39 ff., then laid before him also 2 Cor. 5, the word of reconciliation, and urgently entreated him to let himself be reconciled with God also through Christ.

Doctor: Ah surely, that is a good word, Herr Pastor, that you proclaim to me there, but how shall I manage to believe in JEsus, to comfort myself with this: that God will forgive me my sins for Christ's sake and receive me to grace?

Pastor: This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. But should you not regard as God's work that which has now taken place in your heart, as I perceive from your questions? I certainly cannot work such a thing; I am to keep out of your heart. You too have not done it, for, is it not so? if it had depended on you and your will, you would have remained in your former carelessness?

Doctor: Certainly, God has done it and no one else.

Pastor: Yes, to prepare faith in your soul. Do not now make the matter harder for yourself than it is. The salvation in Christ