# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_August 1858_S234
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

On the Transfer of Preachers. 234

...if he should leave a sighing and repeatedly recalling Christian congregation without some weighty cause. But to this the often-cited Theological Deliberation, approved by the Tübingen theologians, answers: "Just as human reason is accustomed to fret and speculate in all of God's other works, so it also does in the matter of a devout preacher's call. For here the called man's own heart and thoughts find no rest, and reason clings strongly to earthly things, looking quickly to the favor and friendship of those among whom he lives," etc. Faced with such promptings, a devout preacher reminds himself that he is bound to God more than to the world and all that is in it. For he indeed glories in being God's servant and ambassador, and holds his office to be God's office. As he belongs to God with his office, so he should also look chiefly to God. And just as, in the whole of his holy office otherwise, he lives to please not men but God, and in this should have no regard for the world's favor or disfavor, so too, in the matter of his call, he ought rather to weigh whether it is divine and Christian. If he finds this to be so, and is convinced of it in his heart, then here too he must obey God rather than every human prompting and fleshly thought. God holds the hearts of all men in his hand, and can raise up for us and for our own other faithful friends and helpers."

16. It is therefore not the case that the tears of the hearers should hold anyone back, since even Paul did not let himself be hindered by them, Acts 20:7. The removal of a faithful preacher from his former congregation therefore serves as a correction for the good, a punishment for the wicked, and a warning to both, whereby all are to attain the blessing of becoming partakers of the divine promise, John 30:20–21: The Lord will no longer let your teacher flee away, but your eyes shall see your teacher, and your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying: This is the way, walk in it — neither to the right hand nor to the left.

"This calling away of their pastor," say the Jena theologians in the passage cited, "ought rather to move the hearers to prayer, that out of a truly penitent and tearful heart they may call upon God for another capable teacher, rather than, the other way about, wanting on that account to hinder the course of a regular vocation. Moreover, such tears of the hearers are a public testimony that the pastor has conducted himself well among them, so that he is deemed fit and worthy to be advanced to higher service."

17. In passing, we believe we ought also to recall this from p. 541: "No one should suppose that in such a vocation he acts contrary to God's commandment: You shall not covet. For it is indeed known that this law deals with a forbidden, evil, sinful desire, and can accordingly no more be applied against the regular call of a church minister—