# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1847 12 08_S72
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

...finds, concerning which complaints were being voiced already before the Reformation begun by Luther.
Gerhard, loc. V. de eccl. § 146.

A Wondrous Providence of God.

When the well-known theologian Joachim Lütkemann was still archdeacon in Rostock, he was attacked from many sides. His enemies at last brought it about that he was removed from his office. The day of his departure arrived; Lütkemann did not know where he should turn. A considerable number of his former hearers accompanied him with much loud weeping and lamenting. But scarcely had the whole procession come out through the city gate when a postilion came riding up, addressed the people, and asked whether they did not know of a preacher named Joachim Lütkemann; he was bringing him a call — he was to become superintendent in Wolfenbüttel. At this a great cry of joy arose; everyone praised the wondrous God, and heartily wished Lütkemann well in his new calling, which he accepted without objection. This happened in the year 1649, and became the occasion for Lütkemann soon afterward to write the delightful book, "Of the Foretaste of God's Goodness." (See Männling's Historical Theatre.)

(Submitted.)
Sad Heart, Be Glad Again!

When I count up my sufferings,
I find nothing that torments me more
than that daily my soul
sins against God.

Must I thank you thus, Lord,
that daily in my thoughts
I stray from the holy bounds,
and transgress your law?

You have won salvation for me,
have suffered death for me,
and never cease to plead for me
before the Father evermore.

If I were always mindful of you,
kept your commandments fully,
and offered myself wholly to you as a sacrifice —
it would still be but a feeble thanks.

But ah! I sink down,
sin binds my limbs,
and again and again I stray
from the narrow path of life.

However earnest my striving
to conquer all sin,
I still do not succeed:
ah, who will deliver me from it!

O unfathomable mercy!
Sinful as my heart still is,
you nevertheless forgive me hourly,
because I believe, Lord, in you.

You hold me embraced in love,
you have clothed me with innocence,
in which I may joyfully shine;
your innocence is my adornment.

Though I must still suffer sin,
I will earnestly shun it,
until one day, at my departing,
Jesus makes me wholly holy.

Even if sin is like mighty armies —
grace is like great seas,
to consume all sin:
sad heart, be glad again!

H. Fick.

(Submitted.)

Long Grove P. O., Lake Co., Ill.,
November 24, 1847.
Esteemed Mr. Editor!

Allow me, through your esteemed paper, to ask the "Christlicher Botschafter" [Christian Messenger] whether it accords with the statutes of the religious body in whose interest it operates, that a preacher of that body should be a partner in a business in which one does not shrink from profaning the Lord's Day through the sale of goods and the needless pursuit of one's temporal calling. I would hereby call upon the party involved — an Israelite, allegedly baptized with the Holy Spirit, by the name of John Rothschild, who for several months, alongside conducting a mercantile business, has been acting in exemplary fashion as a preacher of the Evangelical Association*) in this region — to defend himself, and at the same time urge the heads of this denomination toward a stricter oversight of their preachers. The above accusation is not founded upon the uncertain basis of a vague rumor, but upon my own observation. Even though I can already sufficiently anticipate the excuse of the party concerned, by analogy with his otherwise Jesuitical manner of proceeding, this shall nevertheless not tempt me to conceal the truth. J. R. and his accomplices will, quite unabashedly, know how — even in the case of a still greater crime — to wash their hands in innocence like a Pilate; for the former, guided by the Mosaic Law (?), in which he appears to be somewhat better versed than in the New Testament, has already made provision by installing a scapegoat in the person of his "unconverted" brother. For this brother — so refined is the scheme — must bear all the blame whenever cases of religious transgression occur. It is this brother whom Sunday finds on his peddling rounds and in the shop; — he alone sells and bears the sin, while J. R. shares in the profit. — Should it happen that on some Sunday an unconverted customer of this shop has the misfortune of running into J. R. instead of H. R., I truly do not know whether the "disappointment" of the one eager to sell or the one eager to buy equals that — well known to Mr. J. R. himself — of the Englishman upon hearing a German-Lutheran Pentecost sermon instead of a German-Methodist one. — But what does the sinless Albright preacher do in the case just mentioned, since it is, after all, not the dollars but only the souls that concern him? Well — he will surely give the Sabbath-breaker a stern sermon of repentance; that is, after all, his hobbyhorse! — Far from it this time! He knows nothing else to do but refer the transgressor unambiguously to his brother. Or what else could be the sense of his speech: "I sell nothing on Sunday except medicine; but my brother, he sells — it is, of course" — with a shrug — "not right"? Surely this: "You may certainly come back when my brother is present." The one kills the prophets, the other builds their graves. Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God. Do not make yourselves partakers of other men's sins. Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Let it not tempt you, the wages of unrighteousness. These words of the God who will not be mocked shall one day yet fall, like Sodom's brimstone, into the curse-laden soul of the transgressor, of the wrongdoer.

Can you, friend Rothschild — you who, with so much bitterness, with such untamed rancor, while feigning brotherly goodwill in personal encounters with the object of your hatred, pursue and slander, by every conceivable underhanded path (because you do not feel equal to open, honest combat), the eye of justice and truth that strictly watches over your shameful doings, and thereby revile the Spirit of grace — can you, without blushing, declare before the Searcher of Hearts that the word of our Master, "You shall not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth," is the maxim of your conduct? What was it, then, that earlier already moved you to sell spirituous liquors of various kinds in your shop? And why do you still not tremble now, when — after the abolition (?) of the popular whiskey, which was brought about by my opposition — your supplier, at least, dispenses to the poor victims of your greed for gain so-called nobler, yet equally intoxicating, beverages, perhaps under the plausible mask of medicines?

At some point the veil had to be lifted from these abominations. Perhaps, through the unmasking of a hypocrite, the scales will fall from the eyes of many a deceived soul enslaved by Satan to his will.

This rebuke is delivered publicly, because the sin was committed publicly and is still being committed publicly; publicly, because my relationship to the party concerned does not allow me to apply the Lord's counsel in Matt. 18:15; publicly, because my private opposition to the abominations of the whiskey trade, on the part of a minister of the Gospel, has brought upon me only the bitterest hatred of my adversary. Come out, then, friend Rothschild, into the arena; we are ready to receive you, girded with truth. In the hope that, for the blessing of many a soul, my request will be granted, I remain, with great respect,

Yours etc. etc., John S. Dumser,
Ev.-Luth. Preacher.

*) These are the so-called Albright People, a kind of Methodists. — The Editor.

—

Received for the widow of the late Pastor Burger:
From the congregation of Pastor Schieferdecker in St. Clair Co., Ill. ...—.—————
From a member of the congregation in St. Louis ...

Total: 3.20
Fort Wayne, November 25, 1847.
W. Sihler, Lutheran Pastor.

Received.
For the Mission Fund.
$1.00 from Mr. Pastor J. A. G. Döpken.
2.50 " Geo. Pfeiffer, Sr.
2.00 " " " Jr. —
" [illegible]
0.50 " Bernh. Schacht
0.25 " Joh. Hubert
0.50 " Seb. Petersheim.

Paid.
2nd half of the 3rd volume: Mr. Lauenhardt.
1st half of the 4th volume: Messrs. Fr. and Chr. Fey, Geo. Miller, Molan, Joh. Popp, Fr. Sitzler.
4th volume: Messrs. Friedr. Böhringer, Carl Fr. Blüß, Cand. Flessa, P. Hattstädt (3 copies), Paulus Hoffmann, Lauenhardt, Gottlieb Thieme.

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