The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1907, Page 11

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

ii

in eternity. Before the foundation of the world
God chose us as His people and predestinated us,
that is, foreordained us “unto the adoption of chil-
dren,” thus establishing heaven as our eternal in-
heritance. Such being the case, we cannot but reach
eternal salvation on the way plainly revealed in
Scripture. With all confidence we may and shall
conclude: Before ever the world began God knew
me, He remembered me, and purposed to give me
His gifts, forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

The apostle says that we are blessed “in Christ,”
that we are chosen “in Tim,” that we are predesti-
nated unto the adoption of children “by Jesus Christ
io Himself, according to the good pleasure of His
will.”
meritorious cause of our election. In’ Christ God
chose us according to the good pleasure of His-will.

God has pleasure in life, for He is love, and so He’

graciously chose us unto life in His Son before the
foundation of the world “to the praise of the glory
of His grace.” We shall be heirs of everlasting
glory, for such is God’s purpose. Not one of His
sheep shall be plucked out’ of His hand. He has
purposed that His elect shall be saved, and they
will be saved; they will all tune their harps to the
praise of His glory. Must not this give us con-
solation? As a ‘consequence of my election God
called me to His kingdom, He worked true repent-
ance and faith in me, He justified, sanctified, and
hitherto kept me: how, ‘then, can I doubt that Ie
will also glorify me? Rom. 8, 28—380.-

God, from all eternity

In Thy Son Thou didst elect me;

Therefore, Father, graciously

In my course to heaven direct me;

Send to me Thy Holy Spirit,

That His gifts I may inherit.

F. J. L.

—— + o___——_-

The Gentleness of Jesus.

The conversation of Christ with His disciples,
when'He took leave of them at His last supper,
was most sweet, loving, and friendly, talking with
them lovingly, as a father with his children when
he must depart from them. He took their weak-
ness in good part, and bore with them, though
now and then their discourse was very full of
simplicity; as when Philip said, “Show us the
Father,” etc.; and Thomas, “We know not the
way,” etc.; and Peter, “I will go with Thee unto
death;” each freely showing the thoughts of his

The suffering and death of Ohrist is’ the*

heart. Never, since the world began, was there a

more precious, sweet, and amiable conversation.

Is it not a shame that we are always afraid of
Christ, whereas there never was in heaven or earth
a more loving, familiar, or milder man, in words,
works, and demeanor, especially towards poor, sor-
rowful, and tormented consciences. Hence the
Prophet Jeremiah prays: “O Lord, grant that we
be not afraid of Thee.”

I expect more goodness from Kate, my wife,
from Philip Melanchthon, and from other friends
than from my sweet Savior, Jesus Christ; and yet
I know for certain that neither she nor any other
person on earth will or can_suffer for me what He
has suffered for me. Why, then, should I be afraid
of Him? This, my foolish weakness, grieves me
very much. We plainly see in the Gospel how mild
and gentle He showed Himself toward His disci-
ples; how kindly He passed over their weakness,
their presumption, yes, their foolishness. He
checked their unbelief, and in all gentleness ad-
monished them. Moreover, the Scripture, which is
most sure, says: “Blessed isthe man that trusteth
in Him.” Fie on our unbelieving hearts that we
should be afraidyof this Man, who is more loving,
friendly, gentle, and compassionate towards us than
our kindred, our brothers and sisters, yea, more so
even than parents towards their own’ children.

: _ Tatther.

. | & Blessed Despair.

The more’a Christian, in his fight against sin,
learns to know his own sinful, corrupt nature, the
more will he despair of his-own self and of his ©
own works, and will be driven to Christ as his only
Refuge and Help. Such despair of one’s own self
and one’s own worthiness and merits is a blessed
despair. Luther therefore writes: “Dr. Staupitz
used to say: ‘More than a thousand times have
I vowed to my Lord God that I would be a good,

pious man, but I never kept it. Therefore I will

no longer make such vows, knowing that I am not
able to keep them. If God will not be gracious
unto me for Christ’s sake and grant me a blessed
dying hour when I must depart from this world,
I would never be able to stand before Him worthily
with all my vows and good works, but would be lost
forever. This is, indeed, a‘fine, godly, and blessed
despair which is corifessed with heart and mouth
by all who want and expect to be saved in Christ
alone.” : :