# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1888_S35
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1888. 35

rather, as long as possible, turn everything to the best in love. If there are real offences that need to be removed, it shall be done in accordance with love and in the manner agreed upon by us.

An excellent means of preserving unity will also be this, that we reflect on the ultimate purpose for which we are set, as individuals and as synods. As no individual Christian, so also no synod is to live for itself, but only for Christ, namely to win souls for Christ and his kingdom. We ought to say: Cursed be every synodical activity that does not keep in view this purpose alone, to save souls.

Apology, Müller, p. 126: "When the Apostle now says: 'Love is the bond of perfectness' (Col. 3:14), that is: it binds, joins and holds together the many members of the church among themselves. For just as in a city or in a house unity is preserved by one's making allowance for the other, and neither peace nor rest can remain where one does not overlook much in the other, where we do not bear with one another: so Paul wants here to admonish to Christian love, that one is to bear with and endure the faults and infirmities of the other, that they are to forgive one another, so that unity be preserved in the church, so that the Christian host be not torn apart, divided, and split into all kinds of factions and sects, from which great mischief, hatred and envy, all kinds of bitterness and evil poison, and finally open heresy might result. — For unity cannot remain if the bishops without any cause lay too heavy burdens on the people. Factions also easily arise from this, when the people want to criticize everything at once and pick at the conduct and life of the bishops or preachers, or when they quickly grow weary of the preachers, perhaps on account of some small fault; much mischief follows from that. Then, out of that same embitterment, they soon seek other teachers and other preachers. Conversely, perfectness and unity are preserved, that is, the church remains undivided and whole, when the strong bear with and carry the weak, when the people also have patience with their preachers, when the bishops and preachers on their side know, as occasion offers, to make allowance for all kinds of weakness and infirmity in the people. — For we must forgive one another much and let much pass for the sake of unity."

Gerhard says: "It is godless to call an orthodox person a false teacher because he has expressed himself in an awkward way on some point of doctrine."

Formula of Concord, Müller, p. 557: "May the almighty God and Father of our Lord JESUS grant the grace of his Holy Spirit that we all be one in him and remain constantly in such Christian unity pleasing to him. Amen."