# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1844 12 08_S31
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

the things of faith also be measured by the yardstick of reason, acts just as unreasonably as one who would defend the rights of the nose, the ears, and the eyes, and would therefore maintain that one must also be able to smell the moonlight, see with the ears, and hear with the eyes.)

"When reason confines itself to the sphere assigned to it, it does not stand opposed to Scripture; but when it wishes to leave and overstep its sphere, and to judge the highest mysteries of the faith according to the dictates of its own principles, then it comes into conflict, accidentally, with Scripture at the very point where Scripture instructs us concerning the mysteries of the faith. Just as a great light often reveals what remained hidden in a dim light, so the light of grace kindled for us in the Word reveals what is hidden by the light of nature. Now, just as one abuses the service and benefit of a lesser light who wishes to deny, because he cannot see it by a lesser light, what one sees by a brighter light, so too does he abuse the benefit and service of reason and the natural light who denies and contests the mysteries of the faith — which are revealed to us in the light of grace — merely because they are not supposed to agree with reason and the light of nature. — The articles of faith are, in and of themselves, not against reason, but above reason. It happens only accidentally that they are also against reason — namely, when reason presumes to pass judgment on them according to its own principles, does not follow the light of the Word, but instead denies and contests them. The articles of faith, furthermore, are not against, but only above, reason, insofar as reason was not yet corrupted before the Fall into sin" (that is, as it was once laid down in man as God's work, without the darkness that has now penetrated into it along with sin); "but after the Fall, those articles are not only above but also against corrupted reason, since in this state it cannot restrain itself from wishing to pass judgment on them according to its own principles. With the reason that confines itself within the limits set for it, no doctrine of Holy Scripture is in conflict, but with the reason that oversteps its bounds, all the mysteries of the faith are in conflict. Thus, for example, there is in itself no contradiction between the shoemaker's trade and the art of painting; but if, as the proverb says, the shoemaker will not stick to his last and presumes to pass judgment on all the principles of the art of painting, then it happens accidentally that he judges wrongly and contradicts the art of painting.

That the sayings of the Bible do not, in and of themselves, conflict with reason that remains within its limits, is by no means to be concluded to mean that violence is to be done to those sayings according to the rule and judgment of reason,

31

but rather, on the contrary, that the articles of faith must be judged according to their proper foundation, namely according to Holy Scripture, and that the different principles of the different branches of knowledge must not be mixed together." (See Exegesis, sive uberior explicatio articulorum de Sacra Scriptura, §§ 474 and 75. Jena, 1625.) What, then, are those doing who now set up their corrupted, darkened reason as judge over the mysteries of revelation? They wish to set the sun by their clocks, rather than set their clocks by the sun. That is what is called Enlightenment!

——

"The Distress of the German Lutherans
in North America."

——

The pamphlet bearing the above title, which appeared some months ago in Pittsburg, has now finally reached us as well. It has, to be sure, already been announced in several German-American religious papers, and in some of them has already been reprinted almost word for word; nevertheless, we cannot refrain from belatedly doing our part as well, in order to direct our readers' attention to this small (containing 37 octavo pages), but exceedingly substantial, important, and interesting little book.

In it we first made the acquaintance of the dear author himself. He is Fr. Wyneken, hitherto a Lutheran preacher in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who, however, as we learn from the "Christian Journal," has now been elected pastor of the German Lutheran church in Baltimore, which Pastor Häsbert had hitherto served.

Mr. Wyneken writes that about six years ago he was made aware, through a German missionary paper, of the distress of the German Lutherans in America, and was thereby compelled in his conscience to devote his energies to the Lutheran Church here. He did so, and then, after several years of missionary journeys in this country, set out again to visit our fellow believers in Germany, and to impress upon their hearts the need for help of the Lutheran Church in America, which he had now come to know from his own experience. He did this first orally, and thereafter also through the publication of the above-mentioned little book. It was therefore at first intended solely to sketch for our brethren in the old fatherland a living picture of the helpless condition of the Lutheran congregations here, and especially of the Lutherans living scattered here, thereby to arouse sympathy for our distress in Germany, and to bring it about that help might come to us from there.

Since, however, it is no less necessary for the German Lutherans here to recognize vividly their own shortcomings and the dangers threatening them here, and since this insight is the first necessary step toward remedy, the editors of the Lutheran Kirchenzeitung in Pittsburg have arranged for a new edition through their printing house, for which all who are concerned about the distress of our Church will certainly feel bound to give it their heartiest thanks. (The little book may be had at this printing house, a dozen for $1.50.)

Mr. W. himself gives a summary of the contents of the present work on the fourth page, in the following words:

"Let me describe, 1) how the Lutherans in America for the most part are entirely deprived of the benefits of the Church;

2) what dangerous enemies the Lutheran Church has in North America in the many sects and in the Roman Church, and

3) from what defects it suffers in this regard in its inner life; then set forth

4) how threatening these ecclesiastical conditions are for the future; and finally answer the question

5) what should be done in this distress, and how can help be given?"

We call our readers' attention especially to the treatment of the second and third sections. We do not recall ever having read so apt a portrayal of the Methodists in their enthusiastic and unscriptural conduct and character. Whoever wishes to become acquainted with them through a brief description grounded in the experience of an honest eyewitness will certainly not lay this little book aside unsatisfied. To be sure, however, it is food only for one who loves and seeks the truth. We have had to learn, with deep regret, that among the Methodists themselves this writing has not had the intended effect. Despite the fact that Mr. W. treats the whole matter with Christian love and modesty, refrains from all personal remarks and bitterness, and speaks only of doctrines and facts, he has nevertheless been answered at once by the Methodists in their paper, the "Apologist," we cannot put it otherwise, so unlovingly, so proudly, so spitefully, that it must deeply grieve every Christian heart. The chief weapon that has been used against Mr. W. is this: that he, in whose writing a love for the truth and for those redeemed by Christ is plainly expressed, has been branded as an unconverted man who lacks all Christian experience and is hostile to living Christianity. The Methodists have thereby only judged themselves and themselves sealed the fact that Mr. W. has written the most perfect truth; they have acted as befits a sect that no longer gives ear to any correction (Tit. 3:10-11) and that loves and considers Christians only those who belong to it or at least praise it. We must confess that we had formerly expected better of the Methodists.

We cannot refrain from inserting here just one more passage from our little book, one that concerns us in particular here in and around St. Louis. For in the third chapter, Mr. Wyneken calls attention to the rift "which for some years has divided and split the whole Lutheran Church here