# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Juni 1862_S176
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

176    Essay on the Right Mean of the Lutheran Liturgy.

holds with regard to outward appearance and the delivery of the officiant, to the outward gestures of the congregation, and to the arrangement of the place of worship. Since, however, the pattern of pure doctrine is decisive, beauty holds sway — it cannot be otherwise — within the bounds of chaste truth and noble simplicity, so that it may serve the Word and the Sacrament instead of hindering them.

Ps. 27:4: "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I would gladly have: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beautiful services of the Lord and to visit his temple."

Phil. 4:8: "Finally, dear brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report — if there is any virtue, if there is any praise, think on these things."

Augsburg Confession, Art. 24: "It is a matter of public knowledge that the Mass, without boasting, is celebrated among us with greater devotion and earnestness than among our adversaries."

Apology, Art. 12: "The adversaries invoke Daniel, where he says: The abomination of desolation shall stand — and apply this to our churches, on the ground that the altars are not covered, that no candles burn upon them, and the like. Although it is not even true that we do away with all such outward ornaments, still, even if it were so, Daniel is not speaking of such things, which are altogether external and do not belong to the Christian church," etc.

The same: "And if one were even to speak of outward propriety, our churches are better adorned than the contrary is true of theirs. For the right outward adornment of the church is also right preaching, the right use of the sacraments, and that the people be earnestly accustomed thereto, and come together diligently and decorously, learn and pray. Since, by God's grace, in our churches Christian and wholesome things are taught concerning comfort in all temptations, people gladly remain with good preaching. For there is nothing that keeps people with the church more than good preaching. But our adversaries preach their people out of the church, for they teach nothing of the necessary articles of Christian doctrine, but tell legends of the saints and other fables. Moreover, where our adversaries set up their candles, altar cloths, images, and similar ornaments as necessary articles and thereby conduct divine service, they are the retinue of the Antichrist, of whom Daniel says that they honor their god with silver, gold, and the like adornment."

Luther, Admonition Concerning the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, 1530: "Not that I reject outward adornment altogether, but that it should not be called a divine service, still less that it should hinder or obscure this one true divine service; rather, it is meant to be useful, in that it furthers this divine service of thanksgiving and helps toward it."