# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1850 05 14_S152 # AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 152 B. Why not? A. Because God's plain commandment prescribes something else for thee. B. And what? A. Not to forsake wife and child. B. Oh, my wife is quite agreed with me. And I think, too, to come back again. A. Dost thou know that? B. I can die here also. A. Is it then all one whether thou diest here or on the way? B. That I will not say. A. But what sayest thou then, when thou leavest everything in the lurch, and couldst yet have got through here also with wife and child? B. That is just what I cannot do. A. Who tells thee so? B. My experience hitherto. A. Hast thou found in thy distress hitherto no sympathy, no help? B. Yes, that I have. A. Has one of thy friends hitherto withdrawn his help from thee? B. No, none has done that. A. Have thy creditors pressed thee? B. Not that either; yes, — wilt thou believe it? — Z... has made me a present of the rest of my debt, entire. A. And yet thou darest not make a living here any longer? B. Oh, that takes something more. A. Hast thou not an excellent good health? B. Thank God, yes. A. And a pair of hands that are used to work? B. Those I have. A. And a piece of land of thine own? B. Yes, twice forty. A. And some cattle? B. No more than two cows and a yoke of oxen. A. And a worthy helpmate and two hopeful children. — Is then all hope already gone? B. Three years ago thou wouldst have had good persuading. Then I too was full of hope. A. As now for California. B. Yes, California and ... County, that is a difference. A. So I think too. For staying here on thy farm with wife and child thou hast duty and commandment, comfort and promise. “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” “And if it goes hard with thee in thy tillage, let it not vex thee, for the Lord hath so ordained it.” What canst thou allege for the adventurous journey to California? B. How canst thou ask so! Thou knowest what is found there. Is not a lucky find, which relieves me and mine of all want for several generations, worth fetching, and worth overcoming the possible difficulties with Christian courage? A. Dost thou not know also that many go in vain? B. That is just it, that one must rely upon God. A. Why wilt thou then rely upon God only in the case that it is to go to California; but if thou art to stay here, then thou hast no faith? B. Oh, I do not doubt, God would stand by me just as well if I stay here; but I think nevertheless that it is much surer to try one's fortune in California than to take the meagre morsels in ... County with hunger and grief. A. Dost thou notice no filth here? B. Which? A. If thou wilt follow the trail, thou canst find a whole gold-mine. B. How so? A. Just now thou saidst that thou didst not doubt God would stand by thee here also, and shortly before thou hast asserted that thou couldst by no means get through here. B. Well now — if one is to take it so exactly. I do not deny that I might also get through here, but how? A. As a Christian. B. How dost thou understand that? A. He lets himself be content, does not resort to break-neck means, bears patiently, knows that God helps to bear and that He lays not on more than one is able; he has his trouble, but also his promise and help, without harm to the soul and yet with just sufficient necessaries for the body — and seals with his faith that God is true. But he who will not do this, what does he seal? — that one cannot trust God altogether; that He leaves His own in the lurch, in spite of all toil and labor — then one is forced to seek in gold another and surer god, and to go to California, and if thereby body and soul are risked or lost and wife and children made widows and orphans, then God must answer for it, because He did not mete out the daily bread plentifully enough. Is that the Christian faith? Can he who goes there with such a disposition, can he still deny that he goes from sheer unbelief? Whether now the word of the apostle, “whatsoever is not of faith is sin,” finds its application here also, that I leave to thine own judgment. Take yet another word besides: “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11, 6.), and the word which the Lord Christ holds up to the tempter: “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matt. 4, 7.) B. Thou hast made me very uneasy. A. I should have still several points to discuss with thee; but let this be enough for this time. Let me only give thee, to take with thee on the way — not to California, but back from thine unhappy resolve — the word of the holy apostle: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” 1 Tim. 6, 6—11. Changed address: Rev'd Brohm, New York, 320 Ninth Str. Letter-box. Numbers 1—5 of the “Lutheraner,” Volume 6, are out of print. Received for the church building in New York: From the congregation of Rev. Keyl in Milwaukee $7.19. From the congregation of Rev. Ernst, Erie Co., N. Y., $5.00. From members of the congregation U. A. C. in St. Louis $12.00. Theod. J. Brohm. Received for the Synodical Mission Fund: $1.00 from the branch congregation of Rev. 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