# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1850 02 19_S103
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

103

vanished. Later a man confessed who had long been an enemy of the pious village magistrate, that on that evening he had been hidden with an axe in that field of grain, in order to strike the magistrate dead, because he had believed that he would go home alone. But two men, he said, had gone at his right hand and at his left, who talked earnestly with him and did not depart from him until he had come to his house; therefore he had not been able to carry out his purpose. And yet, dear reader, no man was with the magistrate.

But as the heavenly hosts are ready with joy for the service of those who shall inherit salvation, so also the far lesser creatures on the earth and in the water must, at God's command, render help to His children. And the same God who commanded the ravens, which otherwise would rather devour everything themselves, that they should bring Elijah bread and flesh (1 Kings 17, 4. ff.); the same God who brought the great fish to swallow Jonah, and then commanded it to cast the prophet unharmed again upon the land (Jonah 2, 1. and 11.); the same LORD who commanded the fishes to fill the net of the disciples, who had fished all the night, so that it brake (Luke 5, 4—6.); and who by a fish gave Peter the means to pay the tribute (Matt. 17, 27.): the same can also today still command every creature that it must serve thee, for He is yesterday and today the same forever. Many a reader knows well how the pious Brenz was in a wonderful manner preserved in great danger by a hen; and how once the canary bird of a lady of rank had to fly away and into the house of poor people, in order to help them out of great distress. So the LORD once also commanded a fish to rescue a poor widow and her son from hunger.

In the terrible year of famine, 1771, there lived, namely, at Coburg a widow with her son in great poverty. She had formerly not been counted poor, and only the continuing dearth put her in great distress and perplexity. Therefore no one thought of giving help to this widow, and she herself was ashamed to complain of her need to any man. But she knew the Father who dwelleth in heaven, who forsaketh none of His children, who is nigh unto all that call upon Him, who call upon Him in truth, and fulfilleth the desire of them that fear Him, and helpeth them. To Him she turned daily with her son.

Once the need had become very great; no food in the house, the hour of the noonday meal past, but no meal had been on the table. Then the son went out of the town with a sorrowful heart, in order in the open air, unseen by his mother, so as not to increase her grief, to weep out his grief, and to complain of the distress, which had become so great, to the Father-heart of God. And as he thus walked along the banks of the river Itz and prayed, he heard several times a fish leap up in the water, and behold, suddenly over the bank—onto the land. There lay a pike of several pounds before his feet, which he quickly seized, wrapped in his handkerchief, and brought home to his mother, thankful and rejoicing. A little salt was still to be found, and so by this fish hunger was stilled for several days, until God sent further help. Therefore, dear man, make thyself no worry when thou once seest no help; the dear God hath means and ways enough. Only hold fast to Him with thy whole heart and hope in Him and rejoice that He holds His own in such high regard that all creatures must serve them. Make thyself no care, but say from the heart:

So draw me then into thy will,
And bear and cherish and lead thy poor child,
Thine inward witness shall still the doubt,
Thy Spirit overcome the fear and lusts.
Thou art my All, for thy Son is mine;
Thy Spirit stirs itself mightily in me.
I burn now for thee in longing love,
How oft the light of thy brightness refreshes me!

Therefore the creature must ever serve me,
No angel is ashamed now of fellowship;
The spirits who before thee flourish made perfect
Are my brethren and await me.
How oft a heart refreshes my spirit
That loveth thee and me and all Christians!
Is it possible that anything still grieve me?
Come, Fountain of joy, depart for ever, all pain!

Dr. Mörlin's*) Judgment on Luther's Vehemence and Sharpness.

Let it not trouble thee that many err, that many cry out that he was all too hasty, hot and fiery, an angry, rash, quarrelsome head. Such blame is surely laid on him most of all by those to whom it is no real earnest in matters of religion, but who temporize therein, and act according as time, persons and others give their opportunity. To Luther God's Word, the Church's cause, salvation and blessedness were a godly, zealous earnest; these he meant with his whole heart for his body and soul with all fidelity, therefore he burneth (as indeed Paul also boasteth of himself), where men have laid hands on the high matters, and it is truly both found true in him and fulfilled, what the prophet Isaiah saith, chap. 49: “He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword” (that shall be no fox's tail), “in the shadow of his hand hath he covered me.” Therefore it hath been God's work, through which he also broke through, in joyful, cheerful steadfastness, the dear man of God, over which others reeled and miserably fell in their fabricated moderation, God have mercy! (De lectione script. Luth.)

*) This Mörlin was born at Wittenberg in 1514, studied there under Luther, Melanchthon and Bugenhagen, and after holding various offices died at last as Bishop of Samland in 1571.

If God is not angry with the godless and unrighteous, then He also loveth not the pious and righteous; for in things which are opposed to one another, one must be inclined either to the one side or the other, or to neither of the two.

Lactantius (de ira Dei 5, 9.).

Church News.

Already in the 9th number of the current volume we brought our readers the news that Pastor Schieferdecker of the congregations Altenburg, Dresden and Seelitz in Perry County, Mo., had been called as successor of our blessed Löber and had accepted this call also with the consent of his former congregations. In a private letter of January 24 the said dear brother in office now gives us the information that he has already entered upon his office in Altenburg. Let us have him speak for himself about it. He writes: “On Monday afternoon, December 31 of last year, I arrived at Altenburg. As little as my arrival at such a season of the year had been expected, so much the more joy did it awaken, and indeed great, hearty joy, so that I was heartily ashamed before the proofs of love and confidence which I experienced. The parsonage had long been adorned with a triumphal arch, garlands and wreaths of arbor vitae and cedars. I could therefore begin the new year in the midst of my new congregation; therefore I could not forbear to deliver, immediately that afternoon, an address to the congregation from 1 Pet. 1, 24. 25.: ‘How can we hope that the gracious God will give in the new year also new blessing upon the preaching of His holy Word? Answer: 1. If in humble acknowledgment of our nothingness we build alone upon His grace, and 2. if we abide by His pure, unadulterated Word.’ On the festival of Epiphany I delivered my inaugural sermon on the festival Gospel: ‘The gracious purpose of God to bring every soul to knowledge of and faith in His dear Son; 1. that this gracious purpose is revealed in the institution of the preaching office, and 2. that we therefore, according to this purpose of God, should also use the holy preaching office.’ My dear father-in-law, Pastor Gruber, delivered the introductory address before the sermon.” May God grant our dear brother grace to carry forward well the important work begun by our blessed Löber, to God's honor and the edification of his congregation.

When, a little more than two years ago, Pastor Keyl received a call from Milwaukee, Wis., and in consequence left his small congregation at Frohna, Perry Co., Mo., the latter joined itself to the congregation at Altenburg, yet even then with the wish to call in due time again a pastor of its own, partly in order to enjoy the pasture with God's Word more abundantly, partly in order to have the school for their children in their midst. After, therefore, the blessed Löber had been called away from Altenburg by death, the congregation at Frohna now made earnestly