# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Mai 1860_S138
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

138 How the Simple, and Especially the Sick, Are to Be Instructed in Christianity, etc.

9. Well then, Jesus Christ himself says that he came for the sake of sinners and not for the sake of the righteous; as it is written, Matt. 9: I am come to call sinners to repentance, and not the righteous; and Luke 19: The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost; and Matt. 12: A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench. Matt. 8: They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. He will seek the lost sheep and carry it home on his shoulders, so that it be not lost and devoured by the wolf, as it stands in Luke 15. And in John 6 he says: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day. Likewise in Matt. 11 he calls to you and to all the world: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Now I ask you, whether you also confess and feel that you are a poor sinner and a piece of the poor corrupted world, a poor bruised reed, a smoking flax, a sick person who needs the heavenly physician; indeed, whether you are that very stray and lost sheep which can neither help nor counsel itself against the wolf and death? Whether you also do not find in yourself a burdened, poor, troubled, laboring conscience, and need divine refreshment from Christ Jesus? — There let him say: Ah, thou dear LORD JEsus Christ! yes, I desire from my heart thy salvation, comfort, and refreshment.

10. Will you now hear and accept such comfort from Christ's Word, give it room and a place in your heart, and grasp it with firm faith? — There let him say: Yes.

11. So the LORD Jesus Christ, on behalf of his heavenly Father in heaven, of himself, and of the Holy Spirit, causes it to be said to you through his holy, divine Word and Gospel, that your sin shall be forgiven you, and that with him everything shall be taken away — not sin alone, but also guilt, punishment, payment, satisfaction in death, hell, and damnation, etc. — and that you shall in turn be a dearly accepted child of eternal life and the kingdom of heaven, and shall be a joint heir with Christ of eternal blessedness. Do you believe this comforting promise of Jesus Christ? — There let him say: Yes; but ah, dear God! strengthen my weak faith.

12. One thing more. Since God is also just, and neither will nor can leave sin unpunished, but will and must punish wrong and sin — if now such punishment were to fall upon you, you would have to pay for it in eternal darkness, where there is everlasting wailing and gnashing of teeth, and there, with eternal death and the feeling of the eternal wrath of God in hell,