The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1912, Page 76

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16

The Lutheran’ Pioneer.

Faithful unto the End.

It was on the 10th of September, 1871, that a
missionary of the Berlin Society, in South Africa,
was conducting the Sunday morning service as
usual, without disturbance. Suddenly, in the midst
of the service, the church door swung open, and the
chief of the tribe walked in. With proud demeanor
he strode up the aisle, glanced around over the
andience without looking at the missionary, seized
a young man of about nineteen years of age, dragged
him to the door, and beat him unmercifully, with-
out saying a word. Then he returned and treated
a second and a third young man in the same way.
Finally, he cried aloud, “This is only the beginning !
I am bound to see who is lord in this place, that
book” (meaning the Bible) “or I.” Hereupon he
withdrew. ‘The people trembled with fear, and
many wept. The missionary asked a baptized :con-
vert, by the name ‘of Moses, what he thought of the
matter. The man replied:

. “We must pray that God would’ punish the
king, if there is no way of saving him; he has no
power, Jesus alone is mighty.”

“Moses,” continued the missionary, “to-day the
king scourged only the young men; when he begins
to beat you older believers, what then ?”’

* “We will bear it,’ said Moses, “and pray the,

Lord for strength to-endure.”

“But if he kills you,” inquired the missionary,
“what then?”

Moses replied, “We will suffer even unto’ death;
we will carry the Book” (the Bible) “under our
arm, and then he may kill us; but he has no power,
Jesus alone. But, teacher, what do you say about
this matter?”

The missionary answered, “I think even as you
do; let us pray without ceasing.”

“He that shall endure unto the end, the same
shall be saved,” Matt. 24, 13.

_A Sure Foundation.

In Vienna there lived a doctor by the name of
Kreizer, who was known as a devout and zealous
member of the Romish Church. Hoping to gain
salvation through his own merits, he was very dili-
gent in performing what he considered good works.
He gave alms to the poor, attended mass every
day, fasted three times every week, and also founded
a home for the poor and outcasts where they could

find shelter and food and be directed to lead a better
life. Being an honest and upright man, he en-
joyed the respect of all that knew him. In his last
illness, however, when he felt death approaching,
he thought of God’s judgment, and his soul was
sorely troubled and filled with fear. He recalled
the many works he had done, but it was all in vain.
He could find no comfort, no rest, no assurance of
salvation. As he was reminded of his good deeds
one after the other, he again and again said in fear
and trembling, “That also will not help.” At last,
with a deep sigh and with tears rolling down his
cheeks, he cried out, “Have mercy on me, the sin-
ner, O God, for the sake of Jesus Christ!”

Trusting only in the mercy of God in Christ the
Savior, he found comfort and rest. His fear was
gone, and he peacefully fell asleep in Jesus, in whom
he had found the sure foundation on which to build
his assurance of forgiveness and his hope of ever-
lasting life, the sure foundation, “which unmoved
shall stay when earth and heaven pass away.”

— + ee —__—____ —

The Value of Souls.

Missionary Bock, who for twenty-five years
labored on the coast of Labrador, was asked by a
Christian friend how many Eskimos he, in this
long time, had won for the Lord.

“Seven persons,” was the reply. -

“Why, how little for so much labor!” said his
friend.

With a smiling, joyful face the venerable mis-
sionary replied, “Little indeed; and yet much when
I once meet them at the throne of the Lamb and
ean say: Behold, here am I, and the Eskimos CHS
Thow hast given me.”

From an Old Mission Sermon.

“As the wise men from the East brought gifts
to the Christ-child, the newborn King, so let us
bring our gifts to Him for the spread of His King-
dom. But, alas! what must I hear? ‘The times
are hard, the mission must wait.’ © Lord, have
mercy upon us miserable sinners! There is money
enough for houses and land; for fine furniture;
for horses and wagons; for amusements and travel-
ing; for good and bad reading matter; for con-
certs and theaters; for jewelry and fine dress; for
the world, the flesh, and the devil — only for mis-
sions, to save the poor lost souls of men, there is
no money! O Lord, have mercy upon us! Amen.”