# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S17
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Fourth Delegate Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1884.   17

it has caused us. Let none of that be remembered any longer, for the sake
of the great things God has done for us. Like a woman whose hour is
past, who no longer thinks of the anguish, for joy's sake. — With this joy
in our hearts, let us rather stretch forward confidently, let us be joyful in
hope. Let us trust the one who has sustained us until now, that his
faithfulness and grace will keep us firm to the end; indeed, let us already
rejoice in advance over the great things he will surely still do for us. —
Finally, we should also prove by our deeds that this joy does not leave us
idle and unfruitful in good works, but rather makes us willing, eager, and
powerful for everything that pleases the LORD. So let us make good use
of this time of peace, after the example of the apostolic church! Let us
build ourselves up as they did, let us walk in the fear of God, and the
comfort of the Holy Spirit will not fail us.

Just as, in the burnt offerings of the Old Testament, the rising clouds of
incense surrounded, enveloped, and concealed everything about them that
would have been unsightly and offensive to the senses, so too, among us,
the joy in the LORD and the praise of the great God and our Savior must
envelop, hold down, stifle, and swallow up whatever in us still belongs to
what is below; but must lift up, carry, and strengthen whatever in us
strives upward. Then our offering of joy and thanksgiving will be a sweet
fragrance before the LORD; he will remain with us in his grace, and day
after day we will be able to sing anew:

The LORD has done great things for us,
Whereof we are glad.

Amen.

Presidential Report [Präsidialbericht].

Among the particular events for which we owe praise to God's goodness,
as we look back on the past three years, the following four are probably
the most important:

The first: the outcome of our doctrinal controversy [Lehrſtreit]. — It
has become evident that the decisive confession of our last Delegate
Synod was by no means premature. The matter was ripe for decision, and
the decision was the right one. It therefore soon won the assent of our
congregations, helped many toward clarity, strengthened this or that
troubled soul, and led those who had already fully separated themselves
from us inwardly to do, before long, the only thing left for them to do.
Nor has the blessing which we dared to hope for from this trial failed to