# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Februar 1857_S45
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Lutheran-theological Pastor's Library. 45

writes the following of Luther as a polemicist: "Among those of our own who have gained renown in the theological struggles, our late Martin Luther undoubtedly deserves the first place, who was also the first, when everything was hopelessly corrupted, to raise the banner of a hopeful age. Nor could a more fitting or more skillful man have been found to lead the cause of truth. In him the keenest power of judgment vied for the palm with fruitfulness of intellect; hence the strength of his arguments was joined to the most penetrating eloquence, with which he struck down everything that opposed him and overwhelmed it like a raging torrent. To this was added his fearless spirit, which neither the power of his adversaries, nor fear of dangers, nor any force or threat could move or bring to depart from the right path. Truth fought for him, I confess it; but no less did he fight for her, that she might not have been defended more rightly, or better, or with greater success by any mortal, nor more securely established against every attack of her enemies." (See the Isagoge, in the section on polemical theology, p. 1186.) It cannot indeed be denied that many have taken offense at the vehemence with which Luther often assails his opponent in his polemical writings; but Melanchthon himself already says, in the funeral sermon he delivered for that dear man of God: "I let it rest with the answer that Erasmus often gave on this point: that God has given the world, in this last age in which great and grievous plagues and afflictions have gained the upper hand, a hard and sharp physician as well.. And if God has raised up such an instrument against the enemies of the Gospel, who run against the truth with such great pride, insolence, and wickedness, just as he speaks to the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 1:9; and if he has thus willed to terrify them with Dr. Luther's harsh writings, then let them call God to account for it, though they will contend with him in vain.. So too must everyone who rightly knew him and was often around him bear this witness: that he was a very kind man, gracious, friendly, and lovable in all his speech, and not at all insolent, blustering, headstrong, or quarrelsome; and yet there was withal an earnestness and courage in his words and bearing, as befitted such a man. In sum, in him the heart was faithful and without guile, the mouth friendly and gracious, and — as St. Paul requires of Christians — everything that is true, everything that is honorable, everything that is just, everything that is pure, everything that is lovely, everything that is of good report, etc. Hence it is plain that the harshness which he used in his writings against the enemies of the pure doctrine was not the product of a quarrelsome and malicious disposition, but of a great earnestness and zeal for the truth. This all of us, and many other strangers besides who have seen and known him, must testify concerning him." (Luther's Works, XXI, 351 ff.) Still more beautifully does the good-hearted man of Joachimsthal, old Mathesius, speak of this in his sermons on Luther's life. He says there: