# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1845 09 06_S4
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

[continued from Seite 3] ...of their text be disputed or shaken,* since they have never made themselves unworthy of even a merely moral credibility (see the note immediately preceding)—indeed the opposite is absolutely impossible, because they lived in such a position and under such circumstances that their deceit would in any case have been discovered by the stiff-necked, rebellious people, so inclined to idolatry and to all disobedience, whose carnal expectations they constantly contradicted: therefore, once we have grasped the content of their writings through correct interpretation, we must either pass it by with irresponsible unbelief, or, moved by an inner compulsion of the truth and its proofs, ascribe it—as they themselves do—to a higher origin. (To be continued.)

[Footnote continued from Seite 3] ...of truth, the holiness of their teaching in general, their love of neighbor (whose supreme principle is Matthew 7:12), their sober-mindedness, their freedom from all fanaticism, their contempt for all earthly advantage, etc., etc.; and finally 3) because of the immense effects their writings have produced, since their teaching was spread only through conviction, and not, as with Islam, through fire and sword. Paul was certainly a shrewd man who well knew what he was writing—how carefully and sharply must he, and men such as Justin Martyr, Origen, and others, have examined everything! Indeed, dear reader, one knows far less about many a pagan writer to whom full credence is given nowadays than about the authors of the holy books. Therefore, surely, if I am to believe anything at all out of the ancient histories, I must believe the history of the Christians and Jews. And it is precisely the fabulous tales of pagan antiquity that, upon impartial comparison, confirm the truth of the biblical statements.

* Unless we wish, with unreasonable suspicion, to doubt all faithfully transmitted works that have been examined with sober discernment (criticism)—like a Hardouin. In a fuller treatment of the points touched on here, the presumptuous assertions and encroachments of rationalism would indeed appear in their nullity and shame, as though not merely "whole books were doubtful, but individual chapters and verses were evidently spurious," etc. (pp. 6, 9, 10). As for the various readings of the sacred original text, it is—to name only this one instance—remarkable enough that, although the famous English collector of variants, Benjamin Kennicott, whose undertaking was furthered by the generous support of the foremost European libraries, had announced toward the end of the eighteenth century a greatly altered Hebrew Bible, people have nevertheless, to this very day, been unable to strip the old edition of the Dutchman van der Hooght of its merits; just as the Masoretic text (according to the tradition of the Jews) remains indispensable for careful criticism. — That Mr. Münch further declares the first two chapters of the Gospel of St. Matthew and the last chapter of the Gospel of St. John, etc., to be spurious shows nothing more than his ignorance, with which he merely repeats the crudest excesses of certain scholars of his religious school, without heeding the counter-evidence of more thorough and more moderate rationalists. But if God had wished to preserve the text of the holy books—every part of which is numbered before him, like the hairs of our head (cf. Matthew 5:18)—from all variation of readings, he would have had to perform the greatest miracle in the world, and the faith of Scripture could then no longer be faith. A careful comparison of all the readings, however various, convinces us that they have not the slightest influence on the doctrine of faith; it has been the high, wise purposes of the governance and judgments of God that have permitted that variation, and they will surely become still more evident as time goes on. Whoever wishes to read further on this, and understands Latin, may consult the highly learned Bengel's Apparatus Criticus, especially the epilogue, p. 881 and following.

God's Answer.

There was a man, otherwise of Christian disposition, who had the habit, in cases where he did not immediately know what he should do, of opening the Bible; whatever verse first caught his eye he then took as the divine answer and decision. When he once did this again in a very important matter, he came upon the passage Ezekiel 20:31: "Should I let myself be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you." Startled, he shut his Bible again, and now recognized that such a casting of lots with Bible verses was a kind of tempting of God. From then on the man conducted himself according to the command of Christ: "Search the Scriptures." John 5:39.

Subscription for an Unaltered Reprint of Dr. Martin Luther's House Postil, According to Veit Dietrich's Edition.

Certainly the number of Lutherans in this western land is not small, and it increases with every year, who carry a sincere longing for the wholesome, solid spiritual nourishment that we find in Dr. Luther's writings. Unfortunately, however, these writings are in general so rare here, and obtainable from Germany only at great expense, that only a few—particularly among the poorer class of the people—can enjoy possession of this treasure.

The undersigned therefore hopes to render an essential service to many of his fellow believers by offering to supply a faithful reprint of Dr. Luther's House Postil. He intends to produce the work in 624 royal-octavo pages, on fine white, sturdy paper, printed in clear type legible even to a weak eye, at the extremely low prices of $1.50 stitched in a paper cover and $2.00 well bound in sheepskin, and gives the assurance that he will make not the slightest alteration or mutilation of the original text, and will adhere strictly, in the printing, to the Leipzig edition of Luther's writings of the year 1732. Printing will begin without delay as soon as 1,000 genuine subscriptions are on hand, and is to be completed within three months. Collectors will receive one free copy for every ten copies for whose payment they stand surety. The shipping of the copies is at the expense of the agents or collectors. These may charge the subscribers for the amount of the transportation and collect it from them, so that it will come to only a small sum for each of them.

Since the undersigned is not seeking his own profit in this undertaking, and is therefore all the less to be blamed for securing himself against possible losses, he makes it a condition for the subscribers, or their collectors, that when the work is nearing completion, the payment for it be sent to him in cash; in return, he pledges himself to furnish sure security, up to the amount of the cost of 1,000 copies, for the punctual delivery of the book. As soon as printing has begun, notice of it will be given in the Lutheran Church Gazette at Pittsburgh, as well as in the Lutheraner at St. Louis.

Should the undertaking meet with a favorable reception, then, with God's help, steps will also be taken to reprint Dr. Luther's Church Postil under the same conditions.

The best recommendation of the House Postil is given in the testimony that the pious Elector of Saxony, John Frederick the Magnanimous, bore to Dr. Luther's writings, when he says: "Dr. Martin Luther's books go to the heart, they penetrate marrow and bone, and there is more sap and strength, and more comfort, in a single leaf of them than in whole quires of other writers!"

Heinrich Ludwig, Publisher, No. 70 and 72 Vesey Street.
New York, July 3, 1845.

Note. — The editor of the "Lutheraner" offers to accept subscriptions for the above work; those who wish to obtain it through him are requested to contact him in writing or in person about it as soon as possible. Readers may be given the assurance that Mr. H. Ludwig, the publisher, is known as a reliable, solid man, and that he will therefore surely keep his promise punctually.

Receipts.

Payment has been received for the first volume from: Mr. Zühelsdorf; for the second half of the first volume, from Mr. Gräb; for the first half of the second volume, from Mr. Gerding.

N.B. The editor is pleased to be able to inform his esteemed subscribers that he is in a position to issue the second volume, as noted above, for $1.00, and each single issue for 5 cents.

N.B. The editor is prepared, upon request, to supply free of charge, to those subscribers to whom some numbers of the first volume may not have reached them or may have been lost, the missing issues, with the exception of the first number, which is sold out except for a few copies.

The "Lutheraner" can always be obtained at the residence of the carrier, Mr. Gräber (South Fifth Street, opposite the oil mill), further at Mr. Quast's (Olive Street, between Second and Third, below the theater), and from the editor.

Printed by Weber and Olshausen.