# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S44
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

42 Proceedings of the tenth convention

when the uproar became so great that it seemed as if, because of Luther's doctrine, state and church were to go to ruin. Then they all thought: If only Luther had kept silent or at least spoken more mildly. Yes, Luther himself at times fell, for his own person, into distress and anguish, when he saw how great the noise became and how the so-called Lutherans misused his doctrine and caused great offense with it, others, who at first had confessed the pure Gospel with heart and mouth, shamefully fell away, enemies, either again so much the worse papists, or wild enthusiasts, as with the all-reviving spring the most poisonous insects also always come. All this assailed Luther too, but his doctrine did not become uncertain to him on that account. Why? Luther had fetched it from Scripture, and therefore he sang not only with his mouth but with his whole heart: "Though the world should perish and the mountains be cast into the midst of the sea; though the sea rage and swell and the mountains fall in at its tumult, yet shall the city of God remain joyful with its little brooks." Several times all his friends forsook him, but he stood fast though standing alone. Why? Because his doctrine was not supported on men, but had a foundation that never wavers, namely God's Word. And that, yes, that alone is faith. But such faith is just not everyone's affair. Let us hear God's Word itself on this.

Romans 10:17 says: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This is an irrefutable proof that that is no faith which rests on human books. That is a semblance of faith, faith of the understanding, a human faith. True faith is wrought in me by God's Word, and it then says: God has spoken this, and now let all devils and the whole world, yes, now let even all the saints try to persuade me otherwise — "God has spoken it, therefore it is true, he is almighty, therefore nothing at all is impossible with him." "His Word stands like a wall, which no one lets be turned, be he ever so clever." Whose mouth can speak so proves that true living faith dwells in his heart.

In Eph. 2:20 we read of all Christians that they are built "upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Woe therefore to him who lets himself be seduced to believe and teach something because men have believed, taught and defended it. In this point he is no Christian, and this faith is no true faith. For we do not want to say that such a man can be no Christian at all. In other doctrines he may stand on the Word of God, and there his faith is right. But where the Word as ground of faith is lacking, there it is, as Luther says, only a self-made thought in the heart which says: I believe.

1 Thess. 2:13: "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because