# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1860_S15
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 15 —

...would have to be ungrateful, hypocritical, shameful rogues if we did
not confess and boast of it aloud — not that it is our particular
wisdom, understanding, or other excellence, but God's grace and mercy
alone that has brought us to the right, simple understanding of the
eternal truth as it is witnessed to in our confessional writings. Woe
be to him who contradicts that.

I consider the past year especially to have been an extremely
blessed year, because the article of justification has, within our
synodical circle, been truly and properly brought to the fore —
"this highest, foremost article of the whole Christian doctrine, which
also chiefly serves for a clear and correct understanding of the whole
of Holy Scripture, and alone shows the way to the unspeakable treasure
and the right knowledge of Christ, and alone opens the door in the
whole Bible; without which article no poor conscience can have any
right, steadfast, sure comfort, or come to know the riches of the
grace of Christ." I have, namely, the good confidence that the
excellent Referat [paper] of the Western District Synod, as well as
the discussion of it in the other synods, has powerfully — and God
grant, lastingly — stirred us all, and has lit up for us, even if no
new light, still a brighter one. God grant only that we deal
faithfully with what has been given us, and go down deeper and deeper
into this inexhaustible mine, to bring up ever more of the pure gold
for ourselves and our congregations, indeed for all who desire it.
For all boasting of pure doctrine in every other article is in vain if
the heart is not rightly grounded in this article. For "in this
article all the other articles of our faith are comprehended; when it
is pure and sound, it stands rightly and well with all the others.
If this article, which teaches how one becomes sinless and righteous
before God, is lost, then the whole of Christian doctrine goes with
it. For this reason, too, according to Luther, all theological
disputations should have regard to this article and be judged by it."

Now, the greater the treasure that has been entrusted to us, the
greater the earnestness and diligence with which we should hold to it
and bear in mind that of him to whom much is given, much will also be
required. But how does it usually turn out when the Lord pours great
gifts into one's lap? The vice of our flesh abuses everything toward
pride and false security. We must therefore also guard against this:
first, that we do not exalt ourselves and despise others alongside us.
That this is often charged against us, we know. "Proud Missouri" is an
expression not unusual among our opponents, and one must also give
them credit that they take it eagerly upon themselves to show us the
bounds of humility. But little as we wish to let such outcry stop our
mouths, so that we would no longer, as far as it is possible for us,
bear serious, forceful, and universally intelligible testimony against
every abomination of false doctrine and false living that breaks out
everywhere against God and His Word and makes itself so much at home
even within the Lutheran Church — just as earnestly, nevertheless, we
want to call upon the Lord that we may at all times be found before
Him in sincere, heartfelt humility.

What we have — and God's grace be praised forever, it is