The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1912, Page 74

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74

The Lutheran Pioneer.

Christ was looked upon as a severe Judge, ready
to condemn all who should not trust in the saints
or the pope’s indulgences. Other intercessors were
put in His place: first, the Virgin Mary, and the
saints, whose numbers were increased by the popes.
These mediators granted their intercessions only to
such as had deserved well of the orders founded by
them. For this it was necessary to do, not what
God had commanded in His Word, but to perform
a number of works invented by monks and priests,
and which brought money into their treasury.”
Yes, that was the great object of pope, priests, and
monks, to get money. And the great pity of it all
was that the people were cheated, not only out of
their money, but also out of their souls’ salvation.
For they could find no peace, because the Gospel
of Christ was not preached.

At last God’s time of deliverance came. Through
His servant Dr. Martin Luther, He gave to the
Church an open Bible and restored the Gospel of
Christ in all its apostolic purity. In that Gospel,
Luther himself, anxious for his soul’s salvation,
found peace and the assurance of salvation, after
having in vain sought peace in the way. pointed out
by the Romish Church. That Gospel he then made
known with tongue and pen for the salvation of
others, and defended it against all its enemies.

’ Thus the victory was won, whose fruits we still
enjoy, and for which we may well give thanks to
God on Reformation Day. —_

Thankful hearts will also be moved to help in
making others partakers of the blessings which they
enjoy. One of the theses which Luther nailed to
the church-door at Wittenberg reads thus: “The
true treasure of the Church is the holy Gospel of
the glory and grace of God.” This true treasure
we still have in God’s Word and in the Sacraments.
It is ours not-only for our own salvation, but also
for the salvation of others. ‘Therefore Christ gave
to His Church the command: “Go ye into all the
world, and preach the Gospel to every creature !”

Faithful Victoria.

Victoria was.a fourteen-year-old girl who lived
in Southern Germany in the thirties of the past
century, and who proved faithful to the Gospel
truth in spite of much cruel treatment. The story
of her sufferings for the Gospel’s sake has been told
by a German church-paper published in her own
country.

Victoria’s “parents and all her relatives were

Roman Catholics of the most fanatical kind. So
she was brought up in the error of the Romish

Church. She was a bright girl and very fond of
reading. As there were some Lutherans living near

her home, she borrowed a Bible from them, which
she often read secretly. Comparing the teachings
of the priests with God’s Word, she found a great
difference and soon came to know that her belief
was’ a denial of the truth. Her heart was deeply
moved, and she was often very sad that she had to
attend a church in which she could not hear the
pure Gospel.

One day her father surprised her as she was
trying to hide the Bible in a closet.

“What have you there?” cried the hot-headed
man as he tore the book out of her hands. He
turned to the first page and read the title. With
an angry look at his daughter, he said, “Where did
you get this heretical book? You don’t want to
tell me? All right!’

He went to the kitchen, tore out the leaves of
the Bible one by one, and threw them into the fire.
Then he went back to Victoria, and seizing her by
her shoulder, said, “I tell you, if I ever again catch
you with such a book, it will be the end of you.

The Bible had been taken from Victoria, but
the evangelical faith had already taken firm hold
of her heart. Although she was only fourteen years
old, she was fully determined not to give up the
truth which she had learned from God’s Word.
Whenever it was possible for her to do so, she
attended the Lutheran church near by. There she
found strength and comfort. But of course her
father soon learned of this through his friends.

One Sunday when she came home from the
Lutheran church, her father stood in the doorway.

“Come, my child,” he said in a friendly tone,
“T have something to tell you.” He went with her
into the barn and locked the door. Then he threw
her on the floor, grabbed a thick stick and cried,
“Wait, you devil’s child, I will make you Lu-
theran!” As he said this, he beat her until she
lay there unconscious.

When she came to herself, she was lone Rais-
ing her hands up to heaven, she prayed, “Lord,
strengthen me that I may remain faithful!”

Then she went to the well; washed the blood
from her face and hands, and hastened to her
room. There she again sank to the floor uncon-
scious, till her mother came and put her to bed.
For several days she could not move on account of
great pains.