# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Juli 1862_S199
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Report on the Right Mean of the Lutheran Liturgy. 199

I do not permit a woman to teach, nor to have authority over the man, but to
be silent."

Luther, on John 17:1: "This much is true, that when it (the kneeling,
lifting of eyes, folding of hands, beating of the breast, etc.) is a mere external
gesture, mumbling, or bawling, as men have hitherto stood in church all
day, counted the beads on the rosary, turned pages, howled and droned
in the choir — that is certainly not praying. For it happens without heart and soul at all,
and there is no one who seriously thinks even once to
ask or obtain something from God. But where such gesture,
singing, speaking, or reading happens with the intent
that one thereby kindles the heart, and awakens desire and devotion
to pray, then it is very useful and good. For this is also
why the Psalter has from ancient times been appointed in Christendom to be sung and
read daily, so that through God's Word, bodily heard and handled,
one might draw forth devotion to call out and sigh. We also have many examples in
Scripture of such prayer and outward stirring, as of the prophet
Elisha, 4 (2) Kings 3, whose custom it was, when he did not feel
devout or eager enough, to have a harp-player fetched for him,
by which he was roused and gained illumination to prophesy; and
King David likewise ordered that all sorts of stringed instruments be played joyfully to sing
and sound daily in the Temple, so that the people would be roused and made eager for prayer.

I do not know how strong others are in spirit; but I myself cannot become
so holy — however learned and full of spirit I might be — as some
imagine themselves to be. Indeed it happens to me every time, that when I am without the Word,
do not think on it, nor occupy myself with it, no Christ is at home, nor indeed
any desire or spirit; but as soon as I take up a psalm or a saying of Scripture
for myself, it shines and burns into the heart, so that I gain another courage and
mind. I know too that everyone ought to experience this for himself
daily in just this way.

The reason is this, as we all find in ourselves, that our senses and
thoughts are so uncertain, slippery, and unsteady that, even if we intend to
begin to ask something in earnest or to think of God, without word
and Scripture, it certainly happens that, before one looks around,
we have traveled a hundred miles from the first thought. Let whoever will try it,
and tell me afterward how long he could stay with one thought he had set out
to hold. Or set yourself a little hour, and promise me to tell
all your thoughts: I wager you will have to be ashamed before yourself,
and fear that, if you were to speak what came into your mind, one would
bind you as a foolish dog and put you on a chain. It happens to me indeed,
even when I occupy myself with earnest and the very best of thoughts.
So pitifully torn a thing is the human heart: it goes, sways,
and wavers, so that no wind or water is so restless and unsteady. . . .

I say this so that one does not simply rattle through such texts,
as the crude spirits do, but rather learns to what end such outward word and manner