# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1847 07 07_S134
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

taught. For in his own house he is a pastor and bishop over his household, and it is commanded him that he look after what they learn, and answer for them. But that does not mean that you should want to do such a thing outside your own house, and of your own accord force your way into other people's houses or upon your neighbors. Nor should you tolerate that some sneak come to you and make something special of preaching in your house, which has not been commanded him. But if someone comes into a house or town, let him be required to bring testimony that he is known, or to show seal and letter proving that he has been commissioned. For one must not believe all the roamers who boast of the Holy Spirit and thereby turn from house to house. In short, it means: the Gospel or the preaching office is not to be heard in a corner, but held aloft on the mountain, and let itself be heard freely and publicly in the light.

(Submitted.)
Methodism.

In No. 22 of the "Apologist" a Methodist opens his attack on us with the strongest Methodist proof against the Lutheran Church, namely with a certain Stephan. This man is unforgettably dear to the Methodists; he is their patron saint and ally against the truth of our pure confession, their Goliath, whom they, like the Philistines of old, tirelessly send out of their camp every day to mock Israel. And what, now, is this their strongest proof? "Once, years ago, when a Lutheran congregation deposed an unworthy preacher, therefore the Lutheran Church is not the true one." A genuinely Methodist conclusion, and worthy of the fanatical spirit. Go on, Methodists, answering us in this way, so that your own folly may strike you down and you yourselves thoroughly convince all of Christendom of your complete lack of spirit.

Peter Schmucker, it seems, absolutely must be called "Father," notwithstanding our explicit warning. That there is such a thing as spiritual fatherhood the Christian Church has always acknowledged, hence also the terms "church father" and "father confessor." But when Mr. Schmucker, like the popish priests, allows himself to be adorned with the standing honorific title "Father," that is and remains a punishable clerical conceit, which is plainly forbidden by the Lord in Matthew 23:9 — all the more since Mr. Schmucker is not at all a true spiritual father, because he leads his supposed spiritual children astray into unbiblical errors.

That Methodist has the shameless impudence to declare our well-founded report to be palpable lies. In doing so he insults not us, but his own people, for what we have written we have heard from the mouths of "converted" Methodists themselves. One of them assured us that he had the certainty of the forgiveness of his sins, for when he had knelt at a Methodist camp meeting, his head had been touched by an invisible hand, and thereby he had received the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Others were said to have received the same by seeing Christ in the form of a lamb, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, a heavenly light, or by hearing heavenly voices. — Let us indeed see what Methodist holiness is. We have publicly confirmed the truth of our statement, and we therefore expect of that Methodist that he publicly retract his accusation; if not, he remains a malicious slanderer. But what are we to say of the Methodist camp meetings, where such things go on? Are these the workings of the Holy Spirit? Is this the marriage of the Lamb? Never. It would be blasphemy to assert that. Every Christian who has some experience and knowledge of the nature and working of the Holy Spirit will fully agree with us that these are devilish delusions and hellish weddings, at which poor souls become unfaithful to their true Bridegroom and to the covenant made with him in holy Baptism, and marry themselves instead to the spirit of fanaticism and lies.

Our adversary behaves very unholily over the fact that the Lutherans do not praise the errors of his sect as truth, and also warn their fellow believers against them. But who is really the party under attack? The Lutheran Church. Who is it that sneaks about without ceasing in Lutheran congregations and houses, in order to preach falling away from the true faith? The uncalled, false prophets of the Methodist sect. That they now spew forth poison and gall against the Lutherans, who resist their murderous intrusion, is only to be expected of them, for, as is well known, ravening wolves are never fiercer than when they must withdraw, their business undone, from a well-guarded sheepfold. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they so call the members of his household? Matth. 10:25. We gladly and heartily give up our persons to you — slander them as you will; but not our doctrine, for it agrees literally with the Gospel; it is God's. Will you strive against God? Are you stronger than he? Then humble yourselves now under the mighty hand of God. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way; for his wrath will soon be kindled; but blessed are all who trust in him. Ps. 2:12. Hermann Fick.

Luther on Fanatics and Sneaks.

This little point we should note well: that the devil will not come in a wolf's pelt, but that he will have a sheep's skin about him. Just as at this time the Anabaptists and sectarian spirits come sneaking in with fine, smooth words: "Dear child, you have had many preachers up to now, and have heard much; but you have not been rightly preached to. You must not have God's Word alone, but the Spirit — Spirit you must have. Christ has not been rightly formed in you through the preaching of faith; you must come here." With such words they make people curious, so that they listen to them: "Well then, it is nevertheless not to be despised." Thus the devil sneaks in, so that one thinks it is St. Paul, indeed, an angel from heaven. (Luther's Works, Erlangen edition, vol. IV, p. 401.)

The Fourth Volume of the
"Lutheraner."

Although we must acknowledge with humble thanks that God has visibly furthered the publication of the "Lutheraner," undertaken by us in trust in Him, so that the circle of readers has grown from month to month and we have never been at a loss over raising the costs, we have nevertheless, guided by the wish to see our paper in better hands, made application to the Reverend German Ev.-Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, to leave the "Lutheraner" to its free disposal. The said Synod has accepted this proposal; the "Lutheraner" will therefore appear, beginning with the fourth volume, as its organ. The continued editorship has been entrusted to the previous editor, and the publishing to Messrs. Pastor J. F. Bünger and F. W. Barthel, both of whom reside here.

We announce this to our readers with particular joy. The Synod intends not only to undertake to have the "Lutheraner," from the fourth volume on, continue to appear for the previous annual subscription price of one thaler, but now in an enlarged form (on a whole sheet of four leaves); several of its members have also bound themselves to supply the paper with regular contributions; steps have likewise been taken to obtain correspondence articles from capable men in Germany, through which the readers of the "Lutheraner" shall in future receive continuous news of the condition and fortunes of the Church in Germany. We must, however, point out here that the Synod, in undertaking to cover the now considerably increasing costs of publication, hopes especially that the dear brethren in the ministry will make it their concern to secure as wide a circulation of our paper as possible in their circles; it also sees itself compelled to make full annual prepayment obligatory for every subscriber.

Finally we note that, from the beginning of the fourth volume on, only those letters containing communications for the paper are to be sent to the editor, while all others containing business matters — orders, cancellations, money, etc. — are to be sent here under the address: Mr. F. W. Barthel, care of C. F. W. Walther, St. Louis, Mo.

Paid.
Second half of the 2nd volume: Mr. Bruns.
Second half of the 3rd [volume]: also W. Frerking.
Second half of the 3rd [volume]: Messrs. Birnz, G. Brakmann, J. Dedeke, F. Frerking, Reidenbach, L. and F. Stünkel, Thürnau.
First half of the 4th volume: Messrs. Birnz, Reidenbach, L. and F. Stünkel.

Printed by Arthur Olshausen, publisher of the "Anzeiger des Westens."