# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1904_S10 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 10 The Lutheran Pioneer. Such is a hurried illustration of the teachings of the Bible as to the way of salvation. Salvation is given for nothing. Itis by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. This teaching gives all the glory of our salvation to God alone. It is humbling to the pride of the heart, and therefore offends human nature and feeling. But it is the only true way of salvation; for salva- tion is in Jesus only —a full and free salvation. ‘*Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,”’ Acts 4, 12. ———o-2-2—___—_ The Saviour’s Invitation. In the Gospel sinners are invited to come to the Saviour for rest and salvation. Jesus says, ‘‘Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’’ With respect to these Gospel invitations there are only two courses that can be taken. They must either be accepted or rejected. There is no middle way. To ignore them, or to put off considering them, is simply to reject them. “The Saviour invites thee, my friend, O what shall thine answer be? Wilt thou bid Him welcome, or reject His offer of pardon so free? “The Saviour invites thee, my friend, O list to His tender voice! And come to Him for peace and for rest, And in His salvation rejoice!’ a ee Prayer Before Going to Church. Merciful God and Father! Thou seest that by reason of my depraved nature I have no delight in Thy Word, and that I so easily permit the devil, my own flesh and blood, the children of the world, also false teachers and preachers, and other trivial causes to keep me away from it, and that I am too indolent and careless to hear and preserve Thy Word. Therefore, I now pray Thee, O eternal God, for- give me this my inbred indolence, and do Thou give me a heart willing and apt to hear and medi- tate upon Thy Word. And make in me such an earnest longing that I may have a desire for the sincere milk of the Divine Word, as a newborn babe. Help me, that I may find my chief delight in Thy Word. May there be nothing in this world dearer to me than Thy Word. May I love it more than gold, yea, than much fine gold, and always regard it as my best treasure. And as I, alas! have lived to see the time which Thy dear Son Himself foretold, that false Christs should arise and do wonders, that, if it were pos- sible, even the elect should be deceived, I pray Thee that Thou wouldst graciously defend and pro- tect me from error and false doctrine. Keep me in Thy truth, for Thy Word is truth, that I may cling to the same as heavenly truth, and remain stead- fast in the same unto death. Grant this for the sake of the honor of Thy most holy and blessed name. Amen. From The Little Treasure of Prayers. en tie ae A Safe Habitation. Spurgeon relates: In 1854, when I had been scarcely a year in London, my neighborhood was visited by Asiatic cholera. Also my congregation suffered severely. Daily I was called to sickbeds; nearly every day I stood at a grave. With youth- ful zeal I served the sick and hence was called upon from all sides. No wonder that I was soon worn out and fell sick myself. Then, in the providence of God, as I was returning cast down from a burial, out of curiosity I was led to read a paper fastened up at a shoemaker’s window. It was no advertise- ment, but the words written in a firm hand: ‘‘Be- cause thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.’? This verse from the 91st Psalm affected me wonderfully. By faith I could make it my own, as though written for me, and felt safe and refreshed. Quiet and full of peace within, I con- tinued my sick visits, and felt no fear, and remained unharmed by the plague. ee ok os Christians Should Judge All Doctrine. Luther says: “If a Christian would be careful and diligent, though he had nothing but the Cate- chism, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Words of the Lord concern- ing Baptism and the Sacrament of the Altar, he would be well able to defend himself and hold his own against all heresies. For the Lord commands and empowers all Christians to judge all doctrine, and to decide what is right or wrong. For you must be absolutely sure in this matter that it is the Word of God, as sure as you live, and even more. For on such ground alone your conscience must stand.’