The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1889, Page 21

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Che Autheran Pioneer.

A MISSIONARY MONTHLY.

PousiisHEeD BY THE HvanoELicaAL LuraeraN SynopicaAL Conrerence or NortH AMERICA.

R. A. BISCHOFF, Editor.

Entered at the Post Oflice at St. Louis, Mo., as second-class matter.

Vol. XI.

St. Louis, Mo., June, 1889.

No. 6.

Missionary Hymn.

Yes, my native land, I love thee;
All thy scenes I love them well;
Friends, connections, happy country,
Can I bid you all farewell?
Can I leave you,
Far in heathen lands to dwell?

Home! thy joys are passing lovely;
Joys no stranger heart can tell!
Happy home! indeed I love thee!
Can I—can I say—Farewell?
Can I leave thee,
Far in heathen lands to dwell?

Scenes of sacred peace and pleasure,
Holy days and Sunday bell;
Richest, brightest, sweetest treasure,
Can I say a last farewell?
“Can I leave you,
Far in heathen lands to dwell?

Yes! I hasten from you gladly,
From the scenes I love so well!
Far away, ye billows, bear me,
Lovely native land, farewell!
Pleased I leave thee
Far in heathen lands to dwell.

In the deserts let me labor,
On the mountains let me tell,
How He died—the blessed Saviour,
To redeem a world from hell!
Let me hasten,
Far in heathen lands to dwell.

Bear me on, thou restless ocean,

Let the winds the canvass swell,
Heaves my heart with warm emotion

While I go far hence to dwell.

Glad I bid thee,
Native land! — Farewell — Farewell !
Selected.
ee ee ae oe

Pentecost.

Do you know what that word Pentecost
means? It means the fiftieth. On the fiftieth
day after the resurrection of Christ the Holy
Spirit was poured out upon the apostles, and
therefore the day on which we celebrate this
great event is called Pentecost.

By His sufferings and death Christ secured
forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation. These

be brought to us and must be made our own.
This is the work of the Holy Spirit, whom our
ascended Lord sent according to His promise.
“Tf I go not away,’’ said He, ‘‘the Spirit will
not come unto you; but if I go, I will send Him
unto you.’”’ Ten days after He had been taken
up to heaven, this promise was fulfilled, as the
disciples were all with one accord in one place.
The day upon which this occurred is called
Pentecost, and in view of the great importance
of the event our church observes this day as
one of her-great festivals.

On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was
poured out on the disciples in an extraordinary
manner, but He still continues His work on
earth, though now by ordinary means. ‘The
means of grace by which the Holy Spirit does
His work are the word of God and the Holy
Sacraments. By these means the Spirit brings
to us the precious gifts of salvation and works
in our hearts.true faith by which we take these
gifts as ourown. Having these blessed means
of grace, through which salvation is imparted,
we keep the festival day of Pentecost with re-
joicing, because the Holy Spirit comes to us
also with glorious gifts unto eternal life.

The Believer’s Glory.

How great is the glory, how exalted the
privileges of the true believers, the saints of
God! Whatever men may think of them in
their present condition, there is a glory belong-
ing to them which surpasses the highest con-
ceptions of an earthly mind. They are, even
“now, the sons of God; and it doth not yet
appear what they shall be; but we know that,
when He shall appear, we shall be like Him,
for we shall see Him as He is.”” The day of
His appearing is the day of ‘‘the manifestation
of the sons of God.’’ Then shall be seen the
reality of those hopes which a profane and un-
believing world despise. The glory of the be-
liever is, like that of his Master, while below,
a hidden glory: carnal men see nothing of it.
Look at those to whom Peter wrote.
were they, in the eye of men? ‘‘Strangers

precious gifts he secured, not for Himself, ‘but| scattered.’’ But what, in the eye of God? They
for sinners. If we are to enjoy them they must| were “‘elect, according to the foreknowledge of

What |

God the Father, through sanctification of the
Spirit, under obedience, and sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ.’ They had been “‘be-
gotten again unto a lively hope, . .
heritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for them,’’
and they for it, being ‘‘kept by the power of
God, through faith unto salvation!’’ Believer,
‘therefore the world knoweth us not, because
it knew Him not.’’
spit on Him, scourged, mocked, pierced Him,
conceived what was the real character and dig-
nity of that despised Jesus of Nazareth? ‘‘ Had
they known, they would not have crucified the
Lord of glory.’
real character of His people, the believers in
Christ, partakers with Him of His glory, John
17, 22., they would dare to scorn and injure

. to an in-

Who that buffeted Him,

And so, did men know the

them no more.

“1 Will Give You Rest.’’

What folly it is for men to run up and down
the world in search of rest, becoming more weary

all the while, when our Saviour calls them to

come to Him, and assures them that He will
give them rest!, Do they think that He is un-
able to keep His Word or that He does not
mean what He says? He loved us even unto
death and most heartily desires our peace. He
will surely give it to all who come to Him. In
the world it will never be found. That is full:
of sorrow and disappointment, but it has not

that to offer which will quiet the troubled con- —

science or give relief to the burdened heart. In
the world we shall have tribulation, but we can
be of cheer, for our Lord has overcome the
world. And now He calls to us: ‘‘Come unto
me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest.’ What folly to seek for
rest, and yet refuse to go where alone it is to
be found!—Z. S. :

A Beautiful Answer.

Rabia, a devout Arab woman, being asked,
in her last illness, how she endured the extrem-
ity of her suffering, answered, “They who look
upon God’s face do not feel His hand.””