The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1904, Page 33

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— The Rutheran Pioneer.

A MISSIONARY MONTHLY.

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PuBLISHED BY THE EVANGELICAL Lurieran SynopicaL CONFERENCE OF NortH AMERICA.

R. A. BISCHOFF, Editér.

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

No. 5.

Vol. XXVI.

t. Louis, Mo., May, 1904.

Ascension Day.

To-day our Lord went up on high,

And so our songs we raise:
To Him with strong desire we cry

To keep us in His grace;
For we poor sinners here beneath

Are dwelling still ’mid woe and death.
All hope in Him we place:

Hallelujah!

Thank God that now the way is made!
The cherub-guarded door

Through Him, on whom our help was laid,
Stands open evermore;

Who knoweth this is glad at heart, |
And swift prepares him to depart

Where Christ is gone before:

Hallelujah!

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From the German.

Our Saviour’s Ascension.

It is our Saviour’s ascension which we commem-
orate on Ascension Day. Therefore Ascension Day
is a day of joy. He that goes up to heaven is the
same that came down from heaven to redeem the
world of sinners and to become the Saviour of all.
Having done the work which He came to do, He
went back to the Father who sent Him. From His
ascension we learn that the work of redemption is
finished. Speaking of Christ’s ascension, the psalm-
ist exclaims rejoicingly: ‘“Thou hast ascended on
high; Thou hast led captivity captive; Thou hast
received gifts for men: yea, for the rebellious also,”’
Ps. 68,18. It was our captivity which He led cap-
tive —the captivity of sin, death, devil, and hell.
Over these enemies He triumphed in His resurrec-
tion and led them captive in His ascension. Our
enemies are put under His feet, and He is crowned
as the great Conqueror and as the Lord over all

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things. Through Him deliverance, forgiveness of
sins, and life everlasting are procured for all sinners.
These are the gifts which He received, not for Him-
self, but for men, for all men, yea, for the rebellious
also. These gifts are offered to every sinner in the
Gospel without money and without price. - There-
fore the Saviour, before His ascension, told His dis-
ciples to go into the world and preach the Gospel
to every creature. The Gospel brings to every sin-
ner the glad tidings: The work of redemption is
finished, your captivity is led captive, your enemies
are conquered, your prison is destroyed, you are
free, heaven is opened to you.

Blessed.are they who by faith accept this Gospel.
They enjoy the gifts which the ascended Saviour
received for all men, and which in the Gospel He
offers to all. They are no longer captives and slaves,
but the free children of God. In all sorrows and
tribulations they rejoice in the presence of their
Saviour, who makes all things work together for
good to them that love Him. He that ascended into
heaven and thus withdrew His visible presence is at
all times present with His people, though they see
Him not. He has not left us orphans. No; His
promise is, ‘‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto
the end of the world.’? ‘‘Alway!?’ On all days, in
all hours He is with us! We need Him every day
and would not be without Him onehour. But espe-
cially in the days and hours of sorrow and grief we.
find consolation in the fact that the Saviour 18 with
us and keeps us and guides us in His own way to
the place which He has gone to prepare forus. “In
my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were
not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. I will come again and receive you
unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be
also.?? : SOS Be Pret}