The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1907, Page 12

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12 The Lutheran Pioneer.

The Death. of Luther.

The month of February brings us the anniver-
sary of Luther’s death. He departed this life at
Eisleben, his native city, on the morning of Feb-
ruary 18, 1546, surrounded by his two sons, two
physicians, and several friends. Tis death was a
blessed death, a departure of God’s servant in peace
after a long life of faithful labor in the Church of
Christ whom he loved, and whom he served. As
the years of conflict and toil passed by, Luther
more and more longed for his heavenly home of
rest and peace. A few months before his death he

he crossed the threshold of his bedroom, which was,
within a few hours, to become his death chamber,
he said: “In God’s name, I am going to bed. Into
Thy hands I commit my spirit. Thou hast re-
deemed me, O Lord God of truth.”

Soon after midnight the death struggle began,
but it was very short. When the cold sweat ap-
peared on his forehead he prayed: “My heavenly
Father, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Thou God of all comfort, I thank Thee that Thou
hast revealed unto me Thy dear Son Jesus Christ,
in whom I believe, whom I have preached and con-
fessed, whom I have loved and exalted, whom the

The Death of Luther.

wrote to a friend: “I am sick of this world, and
the world is sick of me; it will not be difficult for
us to part, as a guest quits his inn. Therefore
I pray for a. peaceful end, I am ready to depart.”
On the morning of February 17 he felt very
weak and ill, but felt somewhat better towards
evening, so that he sat with his friends at the sup-
per table, edifying them with his remarks on death
and eternal life. The question: being asked whether
in heaven we will recognize each other, Luther said:
“As Adam, before the fall, awakening from his
slumber, at once recognized Eve, whom he had never
seen before, as flesh of his flesh and bone of his
bones, thus the saints will surely recognize each
other in eternal life.” When, at the hour of ten,

wretched Pope and all ungodly men dishonor, per-
secute, and blaspheme. I pray Thee, Lord Jesus
Christ, let my poor soul be committed unto Thee!
O heavenly Father, though I must give this body
and am snatched away from this life, I rest assured
that I shall forever abide with Thee, and that no
one can pluck me out of Thy hands.” Afterwards
he recited three times in Latin the passage, John
3, 16: “God so loved the world that He gave His
only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Also
Ps. 68, 20: “He that is our God is the God of sal-
yation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues
from death.” Then he prayed three times in rapid
succession: “Father, into Thy hands I commit my