# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1847 05 04_S99
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Methodism, and this is precisely the reason why they do everything to rescue their Lutheran brethren from the poisonous seduction of this sect. Only this they perhaps do not yet know: that recently uncalled Methodist backwoods preachers attempted to sneak into the well cared-for Lutheran congregations of Perry County, Missouri, in order to unleash their poisonous fanatical spirit there — which, however, the Lutherans prevented. Nor may they yet know that the profound Methodist scholars find a multitude of errors in our small Lutheran Catechism, as it has been explained in accordance with Scripture by the Reverend Pastor Löhe, and in our Augsburg Confession. But we would like to do the "Apologete" the favor of giving this news to the "true Christians of Germany," so that they may continue to support the Lutheran church of North America with gifts and prayer. Whatever Methodist speculation there may be upon the mission gifts of "the true Christians of Germany" will probably prove to be in vain. We also wish to report conscientiously how the Lutheran preachers sent out from here are being reviled by the "Apologete"; these slanders will be a welcome proof to the true Christians of Germany that they have sent out the right men. — Yes, rejoice, my brethren, that the Lutheran church is reviled in the same way by papists and Methodists alike, that work-righteousness and fanaticism join hands to make her their enemy. But while the church of Christ cheerfully endures the attacks of her haughty enemies and bears the reproach of Christ in peace, she calls and lovingly invites to herself all who are weary and heavy-laden, all anguished and broken hearts who humbly recognize their sins and cannot quench their thirst from the leaky cistern of sectarian tormenting of souls, so that they may find rest for their souls in the unspeakable riches of the knowledge of Christ.
H. Fick.

Luther on Sanctification.

Christian holiness, or the holiness of ordinary Christians, is this: when the Holy Spirit gives people faith in Christ and thereby sanctifies them (Acts 15:9) — that is, he makes new the heart, soul, body, work, and being, and writes the commandments of God not on tablets of stone, but on hearts of flesh (2 Cor. 3:3). To put it plainly: according to the first table, he gives right knowledge of God, so that, enlightened by him, people can withstand all heresies with right faith, overcome all false thoughts and error, and thereby remain pure in faith against the devil. He also gives strength, and comforts the timid, faint-hearted, weak consciences against the accusation and assault of sins, so that souls do not despair or fall into desperation, nor are terrified before torment, pain, death, God's wrath, and judgment, but, strengthened and comforted in hope, boldly and joyfully overcome the devil. Thus he also gives right fear and love toward God, so that we do not despise God, and do not murmur or become angry against his mysterious judgments, but in everything that happens, good or bad, love, praise, thank, and honor him. This is called a new, holy life in the soul according to the first table of Moses. It is also called the tres virtutes theologicae, the three chief virtues of Christians, namely: faith, hope, love (1 Cor. 13:13), and the Holy Spirit, who gives, does, and works this (having obtained it for us from Christ), is therefore called Sanctificator or Vivificator (Sanctifier and Life-giver). For the old Adam is dead and cannot do this, and must, moreover, learn through the Law that he cannot do it, or is dead; otherwise he would not even know this of himself.

In the second table, and with respect to the body, he sanctifies Christians also, and grants that they willingly obey parents and civil authorities, keep themselves peaceable and humble, are not angry, vengeful, or malicious, but patient, kind, helpful, brotherly, and loving; not unchaste, adulterous, or licentious, but chaste and modest with wife, child, and household, or without wife and child. Likewise, that they do not steal, practice usury, covet, or overcharge, etc., but work honestly, earn their living honorably, gladly lend, give, and help where they can; likewise, that they do not lie, deceive, or slander, but are kind, truthful, faithful, and steadfast, and whatever else is required in the commandments of God. This the Holy Spirit does; he also sanctifies and awakens the body to such a new life, until it is completed in that life to come. And this is called Christian holiness. And such people must always be found on earth, even if it should be only two or three, or only the children. Alas, there are few of the old. And those who are not such should not count themselves as Christians; nor should one comfort them, as though they were Christians, with much chatter about the forgiveness of sins and the grace of Christ, as the Antinomians do. For these, after they have rejected the Ten Commandments and do not understand them, preach in the meantime much about the grace of Christ, but strengthen and comfort those who remain in their sins, telling them they need not fear or be terrified because of their sins, since they are all taken away through Christ — and yet they see and let people go on living in open sins, without any renewal or improvement of their lives. From this one can well perceive that they truly no longer understand faith and Christ either, and that in preaching him they abolish him at the very same time. For how can one speak rightly of the works of the Holy Spirit in the first table — of comfort, grace, and forgiveness of sins — who regards and practices not at all the works of the Holy Spirit in the second table, which he can indeed understand and experience, while he has never attempted or experienced the former! Therefore it is certain that they have and understand neither Christ nor the Holy Spirit, and that their chatter is nothing but foam upon the tongue; they teach Christ and destroy Christ even as they teach him.
(L. W. XVI, 2781–83.)
— — —— —
Death Notice.

It has pleased God to call home our dear brother in the faith and in office, the Rev. J. G. Burger, Lutheran pastor in Van Wert County, Ohio, after a sickbed of only ten days — due in part, no doubt, to strenuous labors in his office — on March 26th, to that rest which still remains for the people of God.

Having come over from Germany in 1842 together with Pastor Ernst of Union County, Ohio, he first served, amid many heart-trying experiences and in great poverty, a Lutheran congregation in Hancock County, Ohio, and in the spring of 1846 accepted a call from two small Lutheran congregations in Van Wert and Mercer County, Ohio. And although the time of his official labor among them was of such short duration, his two congregations had already come to know and value his faithful disposition and his self-denying love well enough to feel his loss painfully. But not only these his congregations, but also the Lutheran church of this land — which still holds fast to the confession of the fathers, and firmly and immovably preserves the noble treasure of the pure, Scripture-true doctrine in all the articles of saving truth — this church too has lost in him a faithful servant. For he was not only thoroughly simple and pure, humble and childlike in his heart and disposition, but was also equipped by the Holy Spirit with the gift of teaching, so that he was equally able to teach the truth unto salvation and to guard against errors, and carried out both well. At the same time, he was faithful and sincere in his concern for every single soul, to teach and admonish, rebuke and comfort each according to their need, with and according to God's Word.

Although in the last days of his illness — which was pneumonia — he repeatedly lay in a state of stupor, perhaps also as a result of the medicine he had received, he nevertheless made, among other things, two lovely utterances which bear witness to his faith and his love. On one occasion he said to two of his parishioners: "God has now given you a pastor; but he can also take him away again; only hold fast to the confession of the truth, and be united among yourselves!" On the other occasion he said: "I do indeed desire to depart and to be with Christ; yet I would gladly remain a while longer in the flesh, for your sakes — but as God wills."

The text for the sermon at his burial, Ephesians 2:8–9, as well as the hymns to be sung there, he had chosen himself.

Born in Nördlingen in Bavaria on July 4, 1816, he reached not quite the full age of thirty-one years, and leaves behind a grieving widow with a one-year-old son and a child not yet born, in altogether destitute circumstances.
W. Sihler,
Lutheran pastor at Fort Wayne.

Strange Proselytizers.

Just before the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, when the afflictions of the Lutherans through