# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1847 04 20_S94
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

live, as St. Paul teaches (Rom. 6:2ff.), beginning here on earth, increasing, and being brought to completion there. For Christ has earned for us not only Gratiam, that is, grace, but also Donum, the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that we might have not only forgiveness of sins but also a ceasing from sins (1 John 1:6-7). Now whoever does not cease from sins, but remains in the same eternal evil condition, must have a different Christ—one from the Antinomians. The true Christ is not present there, even if all the angels cry out nothing but Christ, Christ!—and he must be damned along with his new Christ. (L. W. XVI, 2741-42.)

The Christians and Their Persecutors.

In the land of Bithynia there was a Christian congregation which was harshly persecuted by the heathen, so that they could gather only at night, in forests and ravines, to praise the Lord. There was, however, a man there named Milas, who went about spying out where Christians were, and reported them to the governor out of malice and for base gain. And when the Christians were tormented, he mocked them. But after some time, when he had fallen into a quarrel with his companions over the reward, they broke into his house and beat him with many wounds, and left him for dead in his own blood; but they carried off all his possessions with them. Thus he was as poor as he had never been, nor ever imagined, and his wife and children groaned in hunger and sorrow, so that they thought they would die along with the father. For no one had mercy on them.

Now when this became known to the Christian congregation, they took up a collection, and each one gave generously out of his poverty, according to what he had. And in the evening they sent one from among them to bring it to them. When he entered their house, the mother was lamenting, and the children were crying out and wailing from hunger and misery. But when they saw the stranger, they were startled and fell silent. Then the stranger opened his mouth and spoke in a gentle voice: "Do not be afraid; I bring you some comfort and refreshment, to ease your distress." Thereupon he handed over a supply of provisions and the collection, sufficient for many days. Now when the heathen wife looked at the stranger, she cried out loudly in terror: "O you gods! You are one of those we persecuted!" For the wife too had secretly spied about, and had shown her husband where Christians were to be found. "To us, your enemies," she said, "you show such mercy!" But her husband groaned, for he was full of pain. Then the messenger said: "Do not thank me. I come in the name of the Lord, whom you persecute, and who has taught us to love our enemies, and to do good to those who hate and persecute us." Then he said: "Now take care of the sick man, and if you wish to be grateful, keep silent about what has happened to you here, so that you may be helped further." When he had said this, he greeted them all kindly and went on his way.

When he had gone, a stillness fell over the room; but the wife wept with many tears, and said again and again: "Is that the Lord whom we have persecuted?" And she tended her husband and his wounds with bandages and ointments, which had also been included in the collection, and said again and again: "Is that the Lord whom we have persecuted?" After some days Milas died and was buried. Then in the evening the stranger came to the house and brought the widow the congregation's contribution. Then she fell on her face and wept bitterly and said: "O Lord, what shall I do? And how shall I give thanks? And how shall I cover my sin?" Then he raised her up and said: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved." And she came to believe, with her whole household; and after she was beheaded with the sword, she received the crown of life, which the Lord will give to all who love him.

(Submitted by Pastor Löber.)

From the Life of the Venerable Johann Brentius.

The readers of the Lutheraner have already been reminded several times of this venerable preacher at Schwäbisch Hall, as a faithful witness of the truth and a tried friend of Luther. But however distinguished the reputation of this man of God, however great the blessing which his labors and writings spread abroad, he too had to undergo the experience of other faithful servants of Christ, that the word of his preaching was, at certain times, rightly recognized and duly esteemed by only a few of his hearers. How he nevertheless did not allow himself to become weary or wavering because of this, the following anecdote from his life can teach us—one which can also be a comfort and an encouragement to upright preachers in our own day:

For when he was still a preacher in Stuttgart, a respected theologian named Pfauser, who held our Brentius in very high esteem, once traveled to see him, with the desire to become personally acquainted with him. Having arrived in Stuttgart, he was not a little pleased when he learned from the innkeeper, at whose inn he was staying, that Brentius was not only at home but would also be preaching early the next day at the nearest church. Pfauser supposed that the church would be crowded full of many hearers, and therefore went to the church early, in order to get a good seat. After the third ringing of the bells, the singing finally began; but since only a few scattered people had come, he thought the innkeeper had told him wrong. Meanwhile a venerable man stepped into the pulpit and delivered an exceedingly edifying and forceful sermon. After the sermon Pfauser went up to him in the choir, and learned that he had indeed heard the very man who had drawn him to Stuttgart. Brentius took him along home, and on the way Pfauser expressed to him his great astonishment that a man such as he should have so few hearers. "I," he added, "would not even step forward at all for the sake of such a small crowd." Brentius lamented with him the contempt shown for the divine Word; but as they were passing by a well, he asked Pfauser what, then, might be the greatest virtue of this well. Pfauser excused himself, saying that as a stranger he could not answer this. But Brentius replied: "This well commends itself in that it gives water, whether many or few come to draw from it. So too must a servant of the divine Word be constituted; he must give the water of life, whether few or many come to him."

The Soldier Marinus.

At the beginning of the reign of the Roman emperor Gallienus (about A.D. 260), Marinus died the martyr's death in Caesarea, in Palestine—a Christian who held a military rank and who, moreover, was descended from a distinguished and wealthy family.

For a captain's position had become vacant in the army, and by order of succession Marinus was to attain this rank. But just as the captain's staff was about to be handed to him, another soldier stepped forward and said: "Marinus is a Christian and refuses to sacrifice to the emperors, and therefore, according to the laws, cannot attain this rank; I therefore have, after him, the next claim to it."

The judge, named Achaeus, then asked Marinus what religion he adhered to. And since Marinus steadfastly professed himself a Christian, he was given three hours to consider, within which he had to decide whether he would give up Christ or the office of captain.

As he came out of the judge's residence, the bishop of that city, Theotecnus, came to him and conversed with him at length, then took him by the hand and led him to the church. Here he stepped with him before the altar, and pointed to the sword with which Marinus was girded, and on the other side to a book of the Gospels, which he held out to him, and called upon him to choose between the two. Then Marinus, without hesitation, stretched out his right hand and took hold of the Gospel book. And the bishop said to him: "Now, then, cling fast to God! May you, strengthened by his power, obtain what you have chosen! Go in peace!" As he went back from the church, the herald had already begun calling for him, for the appointed time had run out. But since he now confessed himself to Christ with even greater joyfulness of faith, he was led away at once, just as he was, to the place of execution and beheaded.

Received for the seminary in Altenburg, Perry Co., Mo., from the Lutheran congregation in Washington Co., Ill., served by Pastor Fürbringer: $86.10.

Paid.
2nd half of the 3rd volume: Messrs. P. Euler, J. G. Molan, Ch. Morgenthaler.
1st half of the 4th volume: Messrs. P. Euler and Ch. Morgenthaler.

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