# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Februar 1862_S53
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Seventh Synod of the Lutheran Church Immigrated from Prussia, Etc. 53

same is to stand in honor and love among the hearers, not merely in itself, but also according to its evangelical activity instituted by God. Here now the Confession speaks of a twofold honor-obedience; for on the one hand it speaks of that obedience which is shown to the preaching office by divine right, insofar as it promotes and defends the pure doctrine of Christ; but on the other hand also of that obedience which gladly accepts everything good that follows from the pure doctrine, wherever the circumstances and needs of the church and of the fellow believers bound up with it require it. This latter obedience the Confession calls "for the sake of love and peace," and says that it is fitting for the parish people to render it, while the former is to be rendered by divine right" (so the latter not by divine right, and yet for the sake of the Fourth Commandment — let him understand who can). And again: 'When it is said that "obedience in matters indifferent may not be demanded," and that "demand" is understood in the sense in which a civil authority demands with the temporal sword, then it is correct that such obedience is not demanded or required in the church' (how gracious!), "but rather we demand, that is, expect and claim as a matter of propriety, only that obedience which is due from the parish people in these cases — that is, in Christian ordinances and matters indifferent; an obedience, namely, which has honor for its basis and the planting of love and peace for its purpose and goal. In another sense, this obedience is no matter of conscience. For in truth, God intended really to comprehend all three estates, with their whole activity, within the Fourth Commandment; therefore in this commandment he in fact speaks properly only of honoring, and nothing of obedience. But according to whatever honor is to be shown in each estate, so also is the obedience that proceeds from that honor ...... For with children it is the honor of discipline; with subjects, the honor due to rulers; but with church members, the divine honor of doctrine and the Christian honor of love and peace toward their pastors is included within the Fourth Commandment. As, then, is the honor for each estate ordained by God, so also is the obedience toward that estate shaped and rendered. From this is explained that phrase "worthy of double honor," 1 Timothy 5:17 — meaning both the honor of obedience toward the pure divine doctrine, and also that of love and peace in other right and good matters in the church of God. (Truly a masterly mingling of it all together.) — And as to the next, related thesis: "Therefore the Confession says with great wisdom: Such obedience is due from the parish people toward the bishops; it does not say that the parish people are to make a covenant with them, and they with the parish people, in free love! And the Formula of Concord teaches that the matters indifferent, which in these cases have now ceased to be adiaphora, bind our conscience for Christ's sake — that is, in the faith of the truth and in his love; it does not say that we need, in addition, a covenant with the bishops in our love." (It is, in truth, a