# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S55
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1884. 53

they may be, you must not therefore say that they cannot err and fail, and that one should build and rely on all the sayings of the fathers, likewise accept as right and believe everything they have taught. Rather, take the touchstone and assay stone in hand, namely the divine Word, and test, judge and decide by it everything that the fathers have written, preached and spoken, and also whatever else they have made of rules, ordinances of men and the like. For where one does not do this, one is easily led astray and deceived. And because in earlier times the Pope was not brought to this grindstone, he had an easy time of it and flooded the church with error as with a deluge, and brought it about that all speeches and teachings, indeed whatever the monks and priests dreamed at night, were accepted and believed as holy and precious. . . But one should diligently guard against this. For there is no saint in this life pure and without sin; he still has flesh and blood hanging on him and the devil beside him, who can well lead him astray, so that he stumbles and falls." (On the words: "Many believed in his name, when they saw the signs which he did. But Jesus did not trust himself to them." John 2:23, 24. See Exposition of chapters 1 and 2 of John, [Walch edition] VII, 1785 ff.)

So, precisely because even the greatest hero of faith can err, one should indeed not listen to him with suspicion but expect the best of him, yet also not forget that he can err. It is therefore no contempt for our dear old teachers of the church when we say: They were great men, but they erred. Only of the apostles and prophets may this not be said. To be sure, these too were not gods; but of them Christ says expressly: "He who hears you hears me." Hence we do not believe men when we follow them without further ado, but God himself.

In our thesis it says further: "and against all doctrines of men" (that is, we are warned against them in Scripture). To this belongs the passage Matt. 5:21, 22: "You have heard that it was said to those of old: You shall not kill; but whoever kills shall be liable to judgment. But I say to you: Whoever is angry with his brother is liable to judgment; but whoever says to his brother, Raca, is liable to the council; but whoever says, You fool, is liable to the hell of fire." Most remarkable! When the Lord first appeared with a long sermon, what did he teach there? Against what did he first take his stand? Against the paternal traditions, on which the Jews at that time also based their faith. For when Christ says: "You have heard that it was said to those of old," etc., he does not mean by that the ten commandments contained in the Old Testament. For the Lord does not say: You have read, so that it would have to be referred to the writings of Moses; but