The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1913, Page 2

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Bian The Lutheran Pioneer.

us!” will no loner alternate with the entreating
“Hosanna! O Lord, help!” There our heads will
be crowned with everlasting joy; our hearts will
shout and sing; all our burdens, oir griefs, our
woes will be forever cast and buried in the sea of
the past. There sin will be overcome, death will
be slain, Satan will be chained, and we shall dwell
in a paradise of everlasting peace and joy. And
there, then, we shall rejoice and sing without end:
“Ebenezer! Hitherto the Lord hath helped us!
Hallelujah !”

The Retiring Editor.

We feel certain that our readers will be sorry
to hear of the retirement of Prof. R. A. Bischoff
from: the editorship of the Pioneer. When the
Synodical Conference, thirty-four years ago, de-
cided upon the publication of an English mission-
ary monthly, Prof. Bischoff was chosen editor of
the new periodical. His work during this long

period of time was most able and satisfactory. In,

language most simple he wrote of the great truths
of the Gospel, in words most touching he spoke of
God’s great love for us poor sinners, and in tones
most inviting did he call his readers to the Savior.
Month after month for thirty-four years did his
fingers touch the same strings of the Gospel-harp,
but always new melodies and new variations did
he succeed in calling forth to arouse the sinner,
strengthen the pilgrim, refresh the weary, and com-
fort the sorrowful. Not few are the hearts whose
doors were first opened to Jesus by the tender,
pleading knocking of Prof. Bischoff’s articles in
the Pronger. Many are the rescued sinners who
on the last day will bear witness to the fact that
they were induced to leave the broad way that leads
to destruction by the plain, simple presentation of
the Savior’s love as found in the pages of the Pio-
weer. And how forcibly and convincingly did he
impress upon us Christians the duty of praying,
“Thy kingdom come,”. and of then’ proving the
sincerity of our prayer by. bringing our gifts for
the glorious mission cause! Yes, how eloquent his
language became, how enthusiastic his accents grew,

when he pleaded with us for the extension of the ©

Savior’s kingdom! May God reward him richly
for his long, faithful, and unselfish labors, and
crown his future with many blessings.

GRacz is given, not to make us proud and boast-
ful, but to make us humble and thankful.

Saving Faith.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved.” Notice, it does not say, “Believe
the Lord Jesus,” but, “Believe on the Lord Jesus ;”
and the little word “on” makes all the difference in
the world. When you “believe” a person, you merely
accept what he says as true; and if it were said,
“Believe the Lord. Jesus,” it would simply mean
that you are to listen to what He tells you, and
credit it as the truth. He has told us, for instance,
that we are sinners, that we need salvation, and

that He came to save us; and we may “believe Him”

in each and all of these declarations. But that is

‘not enough. It is mere assent of the understanding,

and this is not saving faith. You must go farther.
You must “believe on the Lord Jesus,” you must
put your trust in Him, and rest your troubled soul
on His merciful loving-kindness.

And how may you do this? Remember it is
with Jesus that you have to do. He is the same
yesterday, to-day, and forevermore, as gracious and
pitiful now in His glory as in the days when Tle
dwelt in the flesh visibly among the children of
men, and.went about doing good, with never a hard
word upon His lips, and never casting out a poor
soul that came to Him in need and sorrow. There
is no spot in the whole wide world where Jesus is
not present; and wherever His Gospel of forgive-
ness is preached, there He may be reached and Jaid
hold of by the hand of faith. Sinner, believe on
Him, and you are saved.

Laying up Treasure on Earth and None
in Heaven.

A ship bearing a company of emigrants was
driven from its course and wrecked on a desert
island, far from the reach of man. ‘There is: no
way of escape; but they have a good stock of food.
The ocean surrounds them, but they have plenty
of seed, a fine soil, and a genial climate, so that
there is no danger. Before the plans for the future
are fully laid, an exploring party discovers a gold
mine. There they all go to dig. They labor day
after day and month after month. They mine great
heaps of gold. Spring passes, and not a field is
tilled, not a seed is sown into the ground. Summer
comes and goes, and their wealth increases; but
their stock of food grows small. In the fall they
find that their heaps of gold are worthless. Famine