The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1908, Page 85

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

85

faithful flock. And to-day? It is, we dare say, an
ideal country parish. A good number of its mem-
bers are lords, if not over ready cash, yet over fair-
sized farms. The Lord has here obviously pros-
pered them with temporal goods also, and they had
good cause to render thanks unto Him by celebrat-
ing a Harvest Home Festival.

The Sunday before, Prof. Lochner, who is car-
ing for this vacant charge, received into the Church
seven catechumens by confirmation. H. G.

———————

“Thy King Cometh unto Thee.”

No doubt, thou dost not come to Him, to fetch
Him. He is too high and too far for thee. With
all the labor, toil, and expense of thine, thou canst
not reach Him. ‘Thou canst not boast of having
brought Him to thee by thine own merit and
worthiness. No, dear friend, here is the end of all
human merit and worthiness. There is nothing but
unworthiness on thy part, and all grace and mercy
on His part. Not thou seekest Him, He sceketh
thee. Not thou findest Him, He findeth thee. For
the preachers come from Him, not from thee. Their
message cometh from Him, not from thee. Thy
faith cometh from Him, not from thee. And what-
ever thy faith worketh in thee, cometh from Him,
not from thee. And if He does not come, thou wilt
be left and forsaken. Where there is no Gospel,
there is no God, but merely sin and ruin, whatever
the free will may do, suffer, work, and live, as best
it may. — Luther.

A Thankful Heart.

An aged minister, in his “Reminiscences of an
Old Pastor,” relates the following:

An incident occurred in my first pastorate
which I shall never forget. In the congregation
was a widow, old and poor, who lived in an old log-

house at the edge of a dense woods, with an insane ,

son. I remember my first visit to her as though
it had been but yesterday. As I walked toward
her humble dwelling, I tried to call to mind all
the comforting passages of Scriptures that might
suit her sad lot. It was with a sad and heavy heart
that I stood on the door-step. When I knocked at
the door, I expected it to be opened by a sad-faced
woman who carried her sorrows upon her face.
I expected to be greeted by a tale of woe. I even
expected her to question the goodness of her God.

But I did not know her then. The door opened
and a kind, lovely old face bade me come in.

I entered the room, and we soon had a conver-
sation, and what a conversation it was! I found
her to be one of God’s happy children, contented
in Jesus, and with a thankful heart. She told me
how God had blessed her; how He in His goodness
had given her everything needful for her life and
comfort. As she spoke, I looked around her poor
old home in which there was hardly anything that
we think necessary to make a home. Did I hear
aright? Yes, for there she sat, the dear old woman,
with a face expressing the thankfulness of her
heart.

I must see her garden. As we walked around
the very small plot of ground, she said she believed
that God had blessed her little garden more than all
the rest. I must take a meal with her. As we sat
at the poorly-furnished table and partook of that
frugal meal, she said: “How good God has always
been to me! I have always had enough to eat,
and I had a roof'to cover me, and clothing to keep
me warm.” ;

I looked upon her almost:in reverence. I thought
how many people upon whom God had showered
His blessings never thank Him; how many people
whose lives have fallen in pleasant places are always
complaining. But here this woman, to whom God,
we would say, had given very little indeed, was
pouring out her heart in thanksgiving and praise
to Him for all that He had done for her, a poor
and unworthy creature. ru

She surely had a thankful heart. She seemed
to me to stand there with a crust of bread in one
hand and a cup of water, in the other and saying,
All this, and Jesus, too.

I can never forget that woman, I never want to
forget her. Her memory has been a benediction
to me, and it may be that the story of her thankful
heart may help and cheer others and make them.
more thankful for God’s gifts and blessings.

The Richness of the Bible.

“T have now,” says Luther, “for some time Tread
the Bible twice through every year. It is a great
tree, and all its words are twigs. and branches, and
every twig and spray I have struck to find out what
was on it, and what it was good for; yet, knock as ;
often as I will, down comes a fresh handful of
fruit.”