# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S6
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

6 Proceedings of the tenth convention

Rom. 10:17. Eph. 2:20. 1 Thess. 2:13. 1 Cor. 2:4–5. Heb. 11:1. Rom. 4:20–22. Luke 16:29 (cf. vv. 27–31).
b. contrary to the warnings contained in Scripture against trusting in men, also in matters of faith, and against all doctrines of men, as well as contrary to the exhortations contained in it to test everything.
Ps. 62:10. John 2:23–25. Matt. 5:20–21. Matt. 15:9 (cf. vv. 1–14).
1 Thess. 5:20–21. John 4:39–42. 1 Cor. 10:15. Acts 17:11.
II. because it is a relapse into the antichristian papacy;
III. because it is a falling away from the chief principle of the Church of the Reformation.

The Conference first dwelt at length on the not unimportant Preliminary Remark: "The writings left behind by the so-called Church Fathers as well as by the pious teachers of our Church are treasures for which we cannot thank God enough."

The following remarks were made on this:

Valerius Herberger, the old pastor, as warm-hearted as he was spiritual and gifted, at the Church of the Manger of Christ ("Kripplein Christi") at Fraustadt in Posen, writes in his epistolary *Herzpostille* [devotional postil on the Epistles]: "This is how all faithful pastors do in their sermons: 1. they appeal to the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testament; 2. they cite testimonies of the old teachers of the Church; 3. they add their own good ideas, which the Holy Spirit grants them in answer to their diligent prayer, in study or also in speaking." (See Epistolische Herzpostille on the Epistle for the 11th Sunday after Trinity.)

The dear Herberger is without doubt quite right. All faithful servants of the Church have always done so. They drew their doctrine from Holy Scripture; but they were also not ashamed to cite in their sermons and writings testimonies of pious teachers of the past and the present, partly to repel opponents, partly for their own strengthening in the faith. And finally they also added here and there small crumbs of their own, which they had learned through the mediation of no man, but which had been given them by the Holy Spirit in earnest study of Holy Scripture, through fervent prayers, and in the school of the holy cross.

We in the Synodical Conference can say to God's honor: This is also the manner in which we have acted until now, and our dear