# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1889_S38 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) The Lutheran Pioneer. Luther Translating the Bible. In our picture we see Luther at work in his room at the Wartburg. He was secretly taken to the Wartburg castle as to a safe hiding place, in the year 1521, by order of his friend, the Elector of Saf&ny, who wished to save him from the clutches of his enemies and to protect him from the knife of the hired assassin. Luther remained ten months at the Wartburg, where he was known as Squire George. He laid aside the garb of the monk, and allowed his hair and his beard to remain unshorn and unshaved. Whenever he went outside of the castle, he had to gird on a sword and behave like a knight, so that people might not know| him. During his stay at the Wartburg Luther was not idle. His desire had been to place the word of God into the hands of the people. He therefore devoted much of his time at the Wartburg to the translation of the New Testament. He bestowed so much Jabor and zeal to this work that he had finished it before he left the Wartburg. After his return to Wit- tenberg he reviewed the whole most carefully with the help of his learned friend Melanchthon. The first copy was struck off on September 25th 1522. Soon three presses were em- ployed, striking off 10,000 sheets every day. Whilst the New Testament was going ‘through the press, Luther began the translation of the Old Testament. The demand for the translation wasso urgent that Luther could not wait until the whole was completed before he pub- lished. As one part was finished he gave it to the press. In the year 1534 the work was completed, and in the summer of that year the whole Bible, as translated into German by Dr. Luther, was printed and published. In a few months a new edition had to be printed. OF this work Melanchthon well said, ‘‘The German Bible is one of the greatest wonders that God has wrought, by the hand of Dr. Martin Luther, before the end of the world.’”’ By his translation of the Bible Luther brought the word of God into the homes of the rich and the poor. The people rejoiced and gladly read and studied the precious Book. Cochlaeus, a bitter enemy of the Reformation, in speaking of Luther's translation of the New Testament, says: ‘‘Copies of this New Testament have been multiplied to an astonishing amount, so that shoemakers, women and laymen of all “classes read it, carry it about with them and commit its contents to memory. As a result ‘of this they have within a few months become 80 bold that they. have dared to dispute about faith, not only with Catholic laymen, but with “priests and monks; yes, even with Masters "and Doctors of Theology. At times it has even happened that Lutheran laymen have been able to quote off hand more passages of Script- ure than the monks and priests themselves; and Luther has long ago convinced his ad- herents that they should not believe any doc- trine that is not derived from the Holy Script- ures. The most learned Catholic theologians are now looked upon by the Lutherans as ignorant in the Scriptures, and here and there laymen have been heard to contradict the theologians in the presence of the people, and to charge them with preaching falsehoods and things of man’s devising.’’—Thank God that we still have an open Bible. The Giving Alphabet. FOR THOSE WHO DON’T BELIEVE IN MISSIONS. All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.—1 Chron. 24, 14. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.—Mal. 3, 10. Charge them that are rich in this world,... that they do good, that they he rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to commu- nicate.—1 Tim. 6, 17. 18. . Do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.—Gal. 6, 10. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so Jet him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity.—2 Cor. 9, 7. Freely ye have received, freely give.—Matth. 10, 8. God loveth a cheerful giver.—2 Cor. 9, 7. Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase. — Prov. 8, 9. If there be firat a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not accord- ing to that he hath not.—2 Cor. 8, 12. Jesus said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.—Acts 22, 35. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.—Eph. 6, 8. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break inand steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth cor- rupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. —Matth. 6, 19. 20. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.—1 John 3, 18. Now concerning the collection for the saints, upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him.—_ 1 Cor. 16, 1. 2. Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth to Thee.—Gen.. 28, 22. Provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens which faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.—Luke 12, 33. Quench not the spirit.—1 Thess. 5, 19. . Render unto God the things that'are - God’s. Matth. 22, 21. See that ye abound in this grace also.—2 Cor. 8, 7. ; The silver is Mine, and ‘the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts. — Hag. 2, 8. ; Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.—Luke 12, 48. Vow and pray unto the Lord your God.— Ps. 76, 11. Whoso hath this world’s goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?—1 John 3, 17. Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.—2 Cor. 8, 9. Zealous of good works.—Titus 2, 14.—H. << om p> Since the fall of man God has placed before us but two perfect objects, the incarnate Word and the written word, and the relation between the two is most intimate and precious. The former is everywhere revealed in the latter, and he who reads a chapter in the Old Testa- ment or the New, and does not find Christ there ~ has read it unintelligently.—J. H. B. os c