# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1848 01 25_S86
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

so in the Thirty Years' War recognize a fulfillment of the many prophecies which our dear Luther, on account of the prevailing ingratitude toward the Gospel shown by the whole Church that wished to boast of it, so emphatically left behind.

4. The more we enjoy ecclesiastical freedom in this land, the more reason we also have to seize this opportunity to thank God for this great blessing and to spur ourselves on toward its right use, so that it may not, by God's just judgment, be torn away from us and our children as well.

5. We owe it to our fellowship in the body of Christ to unite ourselves, in joy and in sorrow, with all its members, both of the past and of the present.

But if the aforesaid commemorative celebration is to be made suitable and effective for the purposes named here, it would indeed be necessary that a short, instructive, and edifying history of the Thirty Years' War and of the peace that followed it be composed and circulated beforehand in our congregations. But should that not come to pass, then at least some of the principal parts of that remarkable history might perhaps be treated in the present periodical from a churchly point of view, and consideration might in particular be given to how, a hundred years ago, those historical facts were judged from a churchly standpoint in biblical texts, in sermons, in hymns, prayers, and so forth, and how the jubilee celebration was accordingly arranged in a manner pleasing to God and edifying.

Whoever now has at hand, from that period, useful writings and sources for this purpose should seek them out and share the best of them for the Church's benefit.

Since the day of the commemorative celebration does not fall until the 24th of October, a joint deliberation on the matter could still take place at our synodical assembly, and the opinions of others could be heard; for now we have wished only to draw attention to this subject, and we leave it, in particular, to the president of our synod, as well as to our other dear brothers in the ministry, to judge whether they consider it necessary to pursue the matter further even before the time of the synodical assembly.

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"He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways; they shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." (Psalm 91:11–12.)

The former devout Lutheran professor Dr. S. F. Lorenz of Strasbourg relates from his own life the following comforting example of "God's special providence for His children during their toilsome pilgrimage on earth," in the second volume of his "Sunday Rest Sanctified to God," p. 287, which we repeat here in his own words. When I, he writes there, in the month of October 1751 resolved to make, entirely alone, a journey to Jena from Altenburg — where I had been staying for some time with my beloved friends and relatives — I composed a hymn with which I intended to occupy my thoughts pleasantly in solitude along the way. As firmly as my faith in the scriptural truths contained in it was grounded, by God's grace, I nevertheless did not think that the faithful Father in heaven would fulfill what I had expressed in it, according to His precious Word, so very exactly, punctually, and literally, as I actually experienced, to my great astonishment. I let it be printed here word for word, for this reason, because it is so closely bound up with the story that follows, and gives faith so fine a prospect. It reads as follows:

1. Though I am here in distant lands, far separated from all friends, yet my hope is put to no shame, for my God and Jesus know me. Though I am hidden from the heart that otherwise watches for my best interest, it is enough that the Lord Himself will provide — He who made that heart so tender.

2. O unfathomable mercy! O indescribably sweet delight! He tears me from a father's arms and lays me on His own breast. He bids me go forth amid a thousand blessings, away from parents and kin. He Himself will care for the child whom His favor has chosen.

3. He teaches me, in the wide fields and in the green splendor of the earth, in rivers, gardens, meadows, and forests: there is a God who watches over you. He who founded this fair land, who gave you your first life, is present in every place where He finds you, your staff and your strong support.

4. The seed that nourished you at home springs up also in this place; and what God granted you at home stands here as well in fullest bloom. The sun that shone upon you there is the very one that also wakens you here. A little shelter will serve you here too, to shield you from frost and rain.

5. Though you shine, as it were, on a strange road stripped of all help, yet you learn, even from the smallest blade of grass, that you do not walk wholly alone. The God who protects this little blade of grass is far more mindful of your welfare, since you are sprinkled with the blood of Him who is one Being with Himself.

6. Though you be far from those you know, what does it matter, since early and late a host of shining escorts stands about your carriage? What does it matter if friends must part and no companion walks with you, since the angels themselves accompany you, and Jesus stands at your side?

7. Why do you heed the roaring of your foes, since such a shelter covers you? You walk indeed according to the will of Him who frightens even the strongest lions. No storm nor tempest may trouble you; He speaks, and it grows gentle and still. He can govern wind and clouds, when, how, where, and whither He wills.

8. The dark night need not frighten you, though it fall over land and man. Even should the sun hide itself, your Jesus is the light of the world. He who formed the sun itself needs no borrowed light. When His wise hand leads you, even the night itself is light to you.

9. I dwell here in a foreign land, alone, yet within God's own domain. Though I find nothing but strangers, my highest glory knows me still. My refuge, in whom my heart is sunk, shows me His gracious countenance and says: My child, be not distressed — your faithful Father does not forsake you.

10. My God, whom I have chosen for myself, what uncommon gladness my soul, devoted to You, already tastes here in this want! If You already grant me so many blessings in these vain years, what shall I then experience there, where You give drink from whole rivers?

11. Though my foot wanders over foreign ground, my heart is yet greatly delighted, when with joyful bearing it sets heaven before its eyes. The land of everlasting joy lies no farther from me here than it does from that region which gave me my first breath.

12. Only be comforted and still, my heart! Heaven itself cares for you. Be undismayed in suffering and pain, for Jesus loves you eternally. Should death itself bring the journey to its end, you remain in the hand of your Jesus. This means to end the journey blessedly; He leads you into your fatherland.

Furnished with this store of holy thoughts, I seated myself early in the morning of the 12th of October in the travel-carriage I had hired for the purpose, and arrived at midday at Gera, at that time a very handsome and pleasant town. As I stood there, while the meal was being prepared, at the door of the inn on the market square, a small, plain but very friendly man came up to me, addressed me by name, and asked whether I was not the brother-in-law of the general superintendent at Altenburg. I marveled at being known there, for I had not supposed I would find anyone here who would know who I was. I answered the question in the affirmative, and now I wished in turn to know who he was. He did not tell me his name, but only that he held an office at Leuchtenburg, which I understood to mean the mountain castle of that name, well known to me, belonging to the Duke of Gotha. He then asked further where I meant to go. Answer: To Jena. He: "Why, then I have the honor of accompanying you." I: "Whether he had business there as well?" Answer: "He had been going another way, but in order to enjoy my company he would now take the same road." I thought it would not be of much use — for he was on horseback and I in a covered carriage, so that we could not easily converse with one another — and I would rather have remained in the solitude that was so pleasant to me, so as to occupy myself the more undisturbed with the subject of my hymn; but I let it be, and answered in the