# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1872_S11
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 11 —

Not peace and quiet, but struggle and strife, not honor and praise, but disgrace and slander await us from all sides, not only from the unbelieving world, the heterodox, fanatical sects and the antichristian papacy, but even from quarters, quite a few of them, that are children of One Mother with us, bear our name and stand with us under the same banner of confession. But what the outcome of our common work will be, we do not know; that rests with Him who alone gives growth to the planting and watering of His servants, according to His good pleasure. Perhaps it is decided in His counsel not only to lead us into much struggle but also to grant us little joy of victory, not only to lay upon us much labor and toil but also to let us see little fruit. —

But what is it that can and will certainly preserve us from growing weary in our trials, and will strengthen us to remain cheerfully and with good courage in the ranks, with the trowel in one hand and the sword in the other? This sure means of preservation is solely and alone that we above all let the saving of souls be and remain the ultimate purpose of our common work. For if God deems us worthy of being His instruments for this, what more do we want? Does Christ not say: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Is not One soul worth more than heaven and earth with all their treasures? If each one of us were to save but One soul, what greater and more glorious thing could we even wish for?

Come then, my brethren, let us banish from our hearts from this day forth for ever every other thought of seeking something for ourselves in our union. "We want to seek souls and lead them to Christ, keep souls with Christ, save souls": let that be what animates our Synodical Conference [*Synodalconferenz*] as a whole body; let that be what fills each of our synods and each of our congregations, with their pastors, with fervent zeal; let that be what gives our assemblies their spirit and their substance, our fellowship its heavenly, unbreakable bond: then He who wills that all men be helped and come to the knowledge of the truth will be with us always, and even if we had to lament with Christ: "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and in vain," yet there one day God's Word and promise will be gloriously fulfilled for us also, beyond what we ask or understand: "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine; persevere in these things. For if you do this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you." May God the Father grant this to us all, through the gracious assistance of His precious Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son, our Lord and Savior. Amen.