# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1849 05 11_S126
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

when at the place mentioned he adds: 'on earth' — showing that he did not first receive the power to forgive sin in the state of his exaltation, when, having left the earth, he took possession of the heaven of heavens, but that he already had and had revealed it on earth, in his deepest state of humiliation. The possession of this divine power was given to him in the very first moment of his conception; nor was its use entirely lacking even then, though the full and universal use was reserved for heaven...

"'Who is this who even forgives sin?' Such thoughts the devil often puts into the mind of the poor sinner when he hears the word that preaches reconciliation, whether inside or outside the confessional, but especially before, during, or after confession: could it really be possible that the preacher, a man who is a sinner just as you yourself are, could forgive your sins? Indeed, he is just the man for it! Only rely on that, and you will find yourself shamefully deceived. What should he forgive of sin, who himself is stuck in sin up to his ears? You have sinned against God, and not against him. How can he give away God's right, and forgive you what does not concern him? But, dearest soul, do not let yourself be led astray. God has also given to men the power to forgive sin on earth. It is true that, because the sin is committed against the Lord, the Lord also forgives the sin. No one may release another's debt — that belongs to the creditor alone. But since God no longer deals with us visibly on earth, he has instituted the office of reconciliation, and has given to the one who has been lawfully called to it the power to forgive sin — yet not in his own name, but in the name of the one who has entrusted him with the office. From him he has the power to forgive sin. He is his servant; he must follow his command exactly; he must seek his honor alone in this. Do not think it strange that a sinner forgives sin. The angel is without sin, and yet forgives no sin — for who could bear his presence in this sinful flesh? Man is a sinner, and yet forgives sin. So it is found: through men God draws men to himself. One sinner need not be terrified before another. The apostles were men, and yet Christ gave them the power to forgive sin: 'Whose sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them.' The sickness is in us; the remedy we find close at hand, one man with another. On earth we sin; there also sin shall be forgiven. To the humble God shows grace. It is no small humility when one man confesses his sins to another. It is no small grace when one man comforts another. In this, nothing is taken from God or from his honor. For God alone forgives sin, as Lord; men only as his servants — men, not as men, but in God's stead, not in their own name, but in his. The preachers do not, properly speaking, forgive sin; rather, God forgives it through them. The preacher only lends God his hand and mouth, but God thereby accomplishes what no angel or archangel can accomplish, says Chrysostom. And Luther writes: 'It is true that it lies in no human power or capacity, nor in merit or worthiness, to forgive any sin, even if someone were as holy as all the apostles together, and all the angels in heaven. Therefore one must make a proper distinction between what men do of their own initiative and on their own worthiness, and what Christ commands to be done in his name, and where he himself works through his power.' If absolution is to be right and effectual, it must proceed from this command of Christ, and must run thus: I absolve you from your sins, not in my own name, but in the name of Christ, and by the power of his command, who has commanded me to tell you that your sins are to be forgiven you — so that it is not I, but he himself, who through my mouth forgives you your sin, and you are bound to accept this not as a man's word, but as though you had heard it from the Lord Christ's own mouth. For although the power to forgive sin belongs to God alone, yet he exercises and dispenses it through the external preaching office — indeed, not only through the preaching office, but also through all believing Christians: through the former in all ordinary cases, through the latter in certain extraordinary cases, where necessity requires it. 'It is not said only to those who are preachers or ministers of the church, that they should remit sin,' says Luther, 'but to all Christians as well.' There a man may comfort another in mortal peril, or wherever else there is need, and pronounce an absolution. The keys, as I have already written elsewhere, are given to the church, and entrusted by it to the preachers as stewards over the mysteries of God — yet in such a way that every member of the church retains his own right to the keys, and may also exercise that right toward his neighbor if no regular pastor is available. Every Christian has the power — indeed, is obligated, by virtue of the anointing he has received from God — to proclaim from the Word, to an anxious heart wrestling with hell, the comfort of God's grace in Christ. And what is this but to forgive sin? Of the powerful effect of this absolution you, poor sinner, need not doubt; for the promise of him who is the truth stands there expressly: 'Whose sins ye remit on earth, they are remitted in heaven.' So sweet an echo there is between heaven and earth! Loosed on earth: loosed in heaven! If a man, as a mere man, told you, your sins are forgiven you, you might well doubt. But now that God says it through a man, you may be of good courage. For you hear this comfort as though from Christ's own mouth, because you hear it from one who speaks in Christ's place and in Christ's name. As for his own person, you would not trust the man who speaks with you so much as a single word; but Christ, your Redeemer, you must trust, who has given him the power to remit your sin in his name. The man does not forgive you your sin, but God through him; of this the word of Christ assures you: 'Whose sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them.'

"'Who is this who even forgives sin?' You may well still say this in astonishment, when you hear that the servant of Christ, or another believing Christian, absolves you from sins in Christ's name. Who is this man, that he forgives sin? Surely the authority of a faithful servant of Christ stands far above all authority on earth, so that without him no one — however great and powerful he may be — shall or can be freed from sin and eternal death. For even if all kings and emperors gathered together their splendor and power, their money and goods, they could still help neither themselves nor any other man out of the least sin. What good does it do a man, when his heart is terrified, that he is a mighty king or emperor? To the most powerful king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, nothing helped when he went mad, except that the prophet Daniel came and absolved him from his sins. And oh, how comforting this is to you, poor sinner, that you can find the forgiveness of sins on earth as often as you seek it with a penitent heart! Truly an inexpressible comfort, that one man can open heaven and shut hell for another with a single word! An inestimable comfort, that through men the heavenly, eternal treasure is given to you, which the whole world with all its riches cannot pay for. What are all the treasures of the world, all the crowns of kings, gold, silver, precious stones, compared to the treasure called the forgiveness of sins, through which you are freed from the power of the devil and of death, and assured that God in heaven will be gracious to you — and so gracious that, for Christ's sake, you shall be his child and heir, and Christ's brother and co-heir? You lie sick; your confessor, or another devout Christian, comes to you and comforts you. Who stands there before your bed? The Lord Christ himself, though in his servant, visits and comforts you. For he speaks not his own word, but Christ's word, at Christ's command, in Christ's name. O comfort above all comfort! Christ your comfort in the last hour, when no one else can comfort you. For such comfort be Thou, Lord Jesus, eternally praised!"

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(Submitted by Pastor Fick.)
Petalesharro.

The Pawnee Loups had long practiced the cruel custom, unknown to the other American tribes, of offering human sacrifices to the "Great Star," or the planet Venus. This dreadful practice preceded, every year, the preparations for planting corn, and was held to be necessary to bring about a fruitful year.