# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1882_S76
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 76 —

where, if it is now presented as false that election takes place intuitu fidei. Yes, if that were election which takes place according to Matt. 25, then we would be agreed; for that takes place intuitu fidei, but that is precisely not election. If we are not agreed about what election is, how long can we sit here?! But this, I think, and I offer it in the friendliest spirit to Pastor Muus for consideration, should open his eyes: that if that were election of which he speaks and for which he appeals to Matt. 25, we would then have a twofold election. For just as certainly as it is the case that judgment is passed there intuitu fidei, so certainly is it also the case that judgment is passed there intuitu incredulitatis. Scripture and the Fathers, however, have always represented a twofold election as false. If he asserts, however: 'There is after all a twofold election,' then that is precisely not the doctrine of Scripture and of the Church. — Further: Of the election of which this report speaks, we say that it is an 'eternal mystery,' and that one has wished to explain this mystery by the 'intuitu fidei.' But how should we mean to say that the Fathers wished to explain in this way the mystery of Pastor Muus's doctrine of election! No, we are speaking of a mystery that is quite another matter. Pastor Muus, I know well, will say: 'There is after all also a mystery in what I call election.' Which? 'It is not known to us which persons will stand on the right and which on the left.' But this mystery the teachers of the church have not sought to explain. — A clear proof that when we and Pastor Muus speak of election, we are speaking of quite different things. And if we cannot come to an understanding about it, we can go on trying to explain ourselves until the Last Day."

A member of the Synodical Conference then asked whether, in case Pastor Muus wished further doctrinal discussions, it would not be advisable for him to state whether that was his desire. Since today there was at most half an hour left for doctrinal discussion, one could then at least set a time for it.

In connection with Pastor Muus's last speech another delegate then replied:

"Only two quite brief remarks. First, Pastor Muus said that the dogmaticians had indeed expressed themselves very differently about the sense of the words 'intuitu fidei'; but that in doctrine they were nevertheless agreed. That is a contradiction in itself. If they interpreted it differently, then they taught differently. Secondly, Pastor Muus said that the dogmaticians had all declared that they were presenting the doctrine of the Formula of Concord on election. That is not true. On the contrary, they said for the most part that they were not speaking of the election of grace of which the symbolical books speak. Hence Prof. Schmidt also always adds: Election 'in the dogmatic