Full Text for CTM Sermons and Outlines 5-7 (Text)

(ltnurnrbtu UJ4rnlngirul :!Innt~l!J CoDtiDuiDg LEHRE UNO WEHRE MAGAZIN FUER EV.-LUTH. HOMILBllK THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY. THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY Vol. V July, 1934 No.7 CONTENTS Zur Lehre von der Reue. Th. E ngelder . •••.•••.•.•.••.•. " 497 Christian Burial. J. A. Petersen .••••.•.......•••...••.• " 509 Die rechte Mitte in der Liturgie und Ordnung des Gottes· dienstes. L. Fuerbrinr:er. • • • • • • • • • • • . . • • . . . . • . . • • • . • •• 520 The Question of Aramaic Originals. P. E. Kretr 1IlUl-o~ nicht aUein t('rv/'l4 . L i .. ( ".·ill Bing. ua' die Leute mt:hr al~(l da ..... cr diE' Schnfc uuwn,l'iiOil't \vic ""i de-T Kirch£' 1I4'iuu·1t dtnn di .. gute .., i e r t.'l'htc Chribtel'l soll('n 'l'ill.. nude-rn l'lf·.li~t. .1pol o!lzj • • \rt . .!-~ . • luch danelJ..·n d('n\\ oclft n wthn'n. dat-· ie dit' Schl1f~ niehl. nngreiff'n lIm} mit Ii the trumpet. gin~ an un("~rtain !«lWld, ral.pher Lehre "erfuehr('Tl lind lrrtum ein "h" .• hall pr~pa" hhll,elf to the battle? fuehn·n L",II,..,. 1 Cor. Lf. S. Published for the Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States OONOORDIA. PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo. ARCHIV 538 ~ntiuUrfe iU @e!egen~ettsprebtgten. ~ntwftffe 5u ~eIegenijeit~.pfebigtett+ lJiinfunbfieh~igiiifjrige~ &emeinbejuhUiium. 1 Z5o~. 2, 13-17. mom l.j5aftor fe!llft ge~arten. ~n einem foldjen iYefte geljen unfete ®ebanfen 8uniidjft in bie j8et~ gangen~eit autiid. Unfete ~r±en toiffen ba bon mandjem au etauljlen, 1tJa~ ben .;siingeten unoefannt ift. ~ie ift bides fo gana anbet~ aIS ftiiljetl (~!u~fiiljtenl) ~OCt ein~ ift basfeloe georteoen. ~a~ bie etften ~aftoten biefet ®emeinbe geptcbigt ufto., bas ljeute nodj, unb alum: ±ro~ unferer Untoilrbigfcit. Eauter ®nabe. 5l:lafilr bon ~eraen banfen. - 60bann benfen toir tooljI an bie fommenben .;saljre. @in .anenfdj betliet± im ~Her feine ~tiifte, toirb ljinfiilIig, miibe, berried ba~ .;snteteffe an ben j80tgiingen auf @tben. .;sft e~ mit cinet ®e~ meinbe audj f o? @s fann f 0 toetben. :ittoJ.? uuf3erfidjet ®rof3e innerlidj tot, tro~ lJteidjtum arm ufto. ~oer es muf3 nidjt f 0 toerben. .;sljr ~Her fann fein toie iljre .;sugenb, toenn fie ®o±te~ ~ort nadj toie bot bie Eeudjte iljret iYiif3e fein Iuf3t. Unb barum toollen toir ®ott fIeif3ig oitten. ~ir Teoen in bet Bcit, bie in bet ~emgen 6djtif± aIS oefonbet~ gcfuljtlidj oefdjtieoen toirb. 60 gcfdjelje benn bet lJtiid'oIid' mit bemiitigem 5l:lanf, bet mUd in bie Bufunft mit ljetaIidjem ®eoet. (fine ttoftndje (ftinnctung uub ciue ernfte lmafjuuug 3um funfultbfieli3tgiiifjtigeu &emeiubejuliiliium. 1. 5l:l i e it 0 ftI i dj e @xin net u n g. 2. 5l:l i e e t n ft e .an a gnu n g. 1. j8. 13.14. 5l:lie Heoebolle 60tge bes ljeiHgen ~j.lofters umfaf3t aIle @1iebet bet ®emeinbe. ~Ite, ,;siingfinge unb ~inbet. @t etinnet± fie aunudjft an ba~, toa~ fie empTangen gaoen. @s finb grof3e, gettIidje 5l:linge, boll foftridjen :itroftes. j8Citet, j8.13a.14a. j80n ~nfang luar, .;solj. 1, 1. 2, .;s@fus [~tif±u~. 5l:lcn fennen fie. ~aoen iljn nie gefegen, toie bies oei ben ~pof±ern bet iYaIl tom:. \l!oet ~aulus, .;soljan~ ne~ fjaoen ign ocfdjtieoen, alles etaiiljrt. "Sfennen", mit j8er±rauen unb Buneigung, mit )trof± unb iYteube. ®erabc im ~rter ±raftfidj. ~onnen nun in iYrieben ljinfaljren . .;siingfinge, j8.13b.14b. 5l:la georaudjt et anbere ~usbriide. mofetoidj± iioettounben. j80tljer in beWen ®etoart; geiftridje j8ev fflabung. SDurdj bas ~od ®ottes toutbe ifjnen ,;s@fu~, ber iiocttoinbet, naljegeoradjt. ,;s@fu 6ieg iljr 6ieg. .;sn ,;s@fu ftad, Tannen bem jillibet~ fadjet im ®rauoen fiegreidj toiberf±eljen. 91un riilimen: SDu, 0 ,;s@fu, oif± mein ~@tt; idj oin bein eigen. &ntUJiirfe 3U @etegen~eitSVtebigten. 539 SHnber, )B.1Se. 6ie fennen ben )Baier. SDurdj ~@ifum iljr )Bater. SDurdj bie ljeiHge ::taufe in @otte§ @emeinfdjaft berfett. ~un ba§ "Wooa, Heoer )Bater!" oeten. S'r e nne n iljn; baljer ba§ finb~ Iidje @eoet. S\Ja§ ift bie troftIidje @irinnerung be§ WpofteI§. @ott 200, ber ~fpofter fann ba§fclbc audj un~ fagen. ~ljr WHen, aUf tuen luurbet iljr 60nniag fur 60nniag ljingeluief en ~ WUf ben, "ber bon Wnfang tuar". WUT ber S'ranaer, an S'rranfenbetten, an @riibern. WUf tuen fdjaut iljr nun in eurem Wrter? )ille§ fonnt iljr eudj nun troften? - ~ljr ~ungIinge unb ~ungfrauen, tuer ift e§, ber eudj ftad madjt? ~n ber ~ugenb bunft man fidj allem geluadjfen. Woer benft an ben Q3ofetuidjt; "groB' 9JCadjt unb bie[ 21ft" uftu. S\Jenft iljr nodj an eure S'ronfirmation? Wuf tuen tuurbet iljr immer tuieber ljingetuief en ~ )iller tuill eudj Q3eiftanb Ieiften gegen ben Q3ofetuidjt? )iller tuill eudj burdj )illori unb 6aframeni ftiirfen? - ~ljr S'rinber, tua§ fernt iljr in ber 6djule? )Bom 6djopfer, @idofer, ::trofter. @iure ::taufe, euer @Iaube, bie brei WrtifeI. ~ft ba§ nidjt ljerrIidj ~ SDa§ ljat eUdj @ot± gegeoen. )illir tuollen @ott alle ljeraIidj banfen. ~ft eudj ba§ alIe§ aoer redjt fico unb tuert, bann tuerbet iljr e§ audj oeljaHen tuollen. S\Jaljer ljort benn bodj audj aUf bie ernfte .maljnung. 2. )8.15.16. )Bertuunbert eudj nidjt, baB audj ein ernfter ::ton in unferm iJeftjuoei erfHngtl )illar ba§ fdjon au be§ Wpofter§ Beit notig, fo erft redjt ljeute. SDie S'rirdje ift nodj in ber )illelt, bie gana anber§ benft af§ luit. 6ie bedadjt unfere ~offnung, unfere Q3eftreoungen. 6ie ljat eine gana anbere )illeHanfdjauung, anbere 2eoen§aie[e (in unf erm ::te~t oef djrieoen). "iJIeif dje§Iuft. " 6innentaumeI, )illolluft. ~intuei§ auf miidjer, 3eitfdjriften, ::tljeater, )8ergnugungen. "Wugenluft." .mit Ifrfteren Q3ficfen fdjiert bie )illert nadj itbifdjem Q3efit. .mammon§bienft. .man felje fidj nur bie 3eitungen baraufljin an. S\Jaljer bie )BoHcrhiege, Q3e~ trug, S\JieoftafjI, !Rauo, .morb. @Sgoi§mu§. ,,~offiirtige§ 2eoen." @ifjrfudj±. SDe§ ::teufeI§ Buge: ,,~ljr tuerbet fcin tuie @o±t." )illollen fjodj fjinau§, geefjrt fein. S'reine S\Jemut. S\Ja§ aile§ "ift nidjt bom )Bater". S\Ja§ ift bon ber )illert, Me @oU feinb ift. (Wu§fiiljrenl) linb ba§ ift nun bie ernfie .maljnung: ~aot bief e )illelt nidji fieo I ~aHet nidjt fur gut unb f c]jon, tua~ fie fjodjf djiitt I )illunf djt cudj nidjt bief e SDingel 6telIt cudj ber )illert nidjt gleidj, inbem ifjr mitfauft in ba§f eloe tuufte, unorbentridje )iller en. Wdj, e§ ift fo fdjtuer au tuiberfteljenl Wudj unfer ~era boll bon @ebanfen ber )illolluft, be§ @eiae§ unb ber @i]jrfudj±. Woer ba~ follen luir tuiffen: geoen tuir bem nadj, bann finb tuit nidjt mefjr bom )Bater. SDarum, ifjr WHen, liutet eudj bot bem .mammon§Dienft unb bet @ifjr~ 540 ~nttniltfe au ®e!egen~eigVtebtgten. fudjt 1 ~fjt ~ungen, fIiefjt bie Eufie bet ~ugenb 1 @5inb nidjt &naeidjen ba, ban bie @efafjt gtOn if±? )!Bm nidjt bie meoe au @otte~ )!Bod oei bielen etfaHen? )!Bitb bie !8etgnugung~Iufi nidjt immet fiatfet? :ittitt nidjt bie ~agb nadj @elb unb @ui immet mefjt in ben !8otbetgtunb? )!Bitb nidjt bet @jifet fut @emeinbe unb @emeinbeatoeit, aoet audj fut bie @5l:)nobalatoeit, immet geringet? @eIieote, fjod bodj aUf bief e etnfie Wlafjnung 1 !8etnefjmt mit ait" tetnbem ~etaen ba~ etfdjuttetnbe )!Bod unfet~ :ite6te£!, !8. 171 $Die )!Bert mit iljtet Euft, mit aIIem, wotan fie fidj fo etgo~i, betgefjt, gefjt au" gtunbe, wei! e~ nidjt bom !8atet ift, bet bie OueUe aIIe~ Eeoen£! ift. $Dagegen: )!Bme @otte~: wet feine @5eHgfeit fo fudjt unb fdjaffi, wie @ott e~ fjaoen wm, namUdj in feinem @5ofjne, @ott~~ )!Bod bie Eeudjte feinet ~iine fein rant, beffen ,8ufunfi ift gefidjed, bet oleiot in @jwigfeit. Eaj3t un~ nidjt au~einanbetgefjen, oljne bUtdj @otte£! @nabe auf~ neue ben !8otfat gefant au fjaoen: ,,~dj geoe bit, mein @ott, auf~ neue" ufw. ,8utucHiHcrenb aUf bie !8etgangenljeit, etfennen wit ia, wie gut @ott gegen un~ gewefen ift. $Datum wollen wit audj in ,8ufunft oei ifjm oIeioen. jj3f. 90, 17. ~. ZS. \8. iYiinf~igiiiijrige~ 6JemeinbejnliUiinm. jj3f. 119, 111. 112. SDie @!iebet biefet @emeinbe etIeoen fjeute ben funfaigften ZSaljte~" tag be~ \8eftefjen~ ifjtet @emeinbe. Wlit 9tedjt fjaoen fie biefen :itag au einem oefonbeten ~teubentag oeftimmt. )!BeIdje~ ~eta, ba£! bie Iutlje" rifdje ~itdje Iieofjat, wutbe fjeute nidjt mit $Dan! gegen ben tteuen @ott etfiiIIH @5djaut autiicI auf bie fleinen &nfiinge eutet @emeinbe; et" wagt bie @nabe unb Eieoe, bie bet ~@jtt eutet @emeinbe etwiefen fjat: wie et eudj gettagen fjat wie aUf &blet~fIiigeIn, eudj geweibet auf bet gtiinen &ue feine~ )!Bode~, eudj aIIe eute @5iinben betgeoen, in aIIem Eeib eudj geitoftet fjat; wie et eut~ @emeinbe fjat wadjfen laWen nadj innen unb nadj aunen, fo wetbet ifjt bie bringenbften \8eweggtiinbe Bum SDan!en finben, jj3f. 100; 103,1.2; EuI. 1, 46. 47; 1 Wlof. 32, 10. m!ie fonnt iljt nun bem ~@jttn eute fjetaIidje $Danfoatfeit fUt feine un" BafjIigen )!Bofjrtaten oeweif en? ~uer feiedidjeB &eHUibe licim gofbenen ~uliUiium eurer &emeinbe. ~fjt geloot bem ~@jttn, 1. feine ,8eugniffe aI~ euet ewige~ @jtoe feftau" fjarten, weir fie eute~ ~et3en~ )!Bonne finb; 2. nadj feinen 9tedjten au tun og an£! @jnbe. 1. SDet jj3falmift fjart bie ,8eugniffe be£! ~@jttn feft aI£! fein ewige~ @jtOe. SDie ,8eugniffe beB ~@jttn finb bie gottIidjen )!Bafjtfjeiten, bie @ott ben jj3topfjeten unb &pofteIn eingegeoen unb butdj fie in bet ~ei" ~ntlllUtfe aU @eLe\Jen~eit~lltebigten. 541 ligen @l4jrift au unieter @leligfeit fjat aufaei4jnen laWen, 2 :irim. 3, 15-17. ~ieie .8eugniiie f4jiitt ber jj3falmiit fjofjer al~ alle anbern lBefi~tiimer. @lie finb feine~ S)eraens m5onne, bie ifjn innerli4j lie" glilcfen unb entaucfen. 2l:11e~ ;srbif4je ni4jtig unb bergiingli4j, jj3reb. 1,1 f. meb 376, 10; bie .8eugniffe be~ S)@nn alier liringen uns un" bergiingliclje, ewige ®uter: mergeliung ber @lunben bur4j ~fjriftum, bie ewige @leligfeit. ~iefe fellien .8eugniffe in ifjrer lReinfjeit unb iJulle ba~ lBeii~tum unb @rlie einer jeben wafjrfjaft lutfjerif4jen ®emeinbe. @lie finb bon unfern miitern aUf un~ gefommen but4j 2utfjer~ ~ir4jenteformation. ®ott fjat fie feinem ~ne4jt 2uifjer gegelien, alS bieier in grofJer 2l:ngit um fein @leelenfjeil aittede unb aagte. 2l:us ber S)eiligen @l4jrift gewann 2utfjer bie re4jte 2efjre bon be:r lRe4jife:rtigung. ®ottes m50d fjieli er feit alS bie einaige 2l:uto:ritiit in allen ®lauliensfa4jen. rom ®otte~ m50rt fiimj.Jfte e:r gegen allen ;s:rdum; baraw f4joj.Jfte er alle 2efj:ren; babOlt wi4j e:r ni4jt ali, webe:r au:r lRe4jten no4j au:r 2infen. ~as ift ba~ @:rlie wafjrer 2utfjerane:r, ba~ @:rlie au4j bieie:r ®emeinbe: bie unfefjllia:ren .8eugniffe be~ S)@:r:rn unbedu:rat unb unlieflecft. ~ie lutfjerif4je ~i:r4je fjiilt feft an allen 2efjren be:r S)eiligen @l4jrift. ~ie lBiVer bie einaige 2l:uto:ritiit unb Ouelle alle:r ifj:re:r 2efjren. @ingebenf bes une:rmefJli4j :rei4jen @l4j~e~, ben be:r S)@n in ieinen .8eugniifen eu4j anbe:r±:raut unb funfaig ;safjre lang eute:r ®emeinbe e:r" fjalten fjat, gelolit ifj:r fjeute feie:rli4j, bieie .8eugniife als eu:ren foftri4jiten lBefi~ feftaufjalten, weir fie eu:res S)eraen~ m50nne finb. roWge be:r S)@:r:r ein jebe~ ®lieb Meie:r ®emeinbe boll unb gana edennen laWen, wa~ e~ bamit ifjm geloliil ~amit gelolii Mefe ®emeinbe, nie bon ®otte~ m50d au ttlei4jen, e~regelmiifJig in ifj:rem ®otte~fjaufe au fjo:ren unb au lernen, e~ au glaulien, ba:rau~ ~raft aum ~amj.Jf gegen Me @lunbe, :ir:roft in allen 2eiben, @liiide in allen me:rfu4jungen au fjolen, jj3f. 26, 6-8; 84,2.3. 2l:u4j in ben S)iiuiern unb iJamilien be:r ®emeinbe follen bie .8eugniife be~ S)@nn ba~ 2i4jt aUf bem 2elien~ttlege alle:r ifjre:r ®liebe:r fein, ~i. 119, 105. 2l:u4j anbere ttle:rbet ifjr au ®enoiien eu:re:r iJ:reube au ma4jen fu4jen, ba~ m50d ®otte~ au~li:reiten bu:r4j lBeteiligung an bem m5ed be:r WCiifion. @lelige 2eute ttle:rbet ifj:r fein, ttlenn ifj:r biei e~ eue:r ®elillibe i:reuli4j fjaltet. 2. ~e:r ~falmiit gelolii ferne:r, na4j ben lRe4jten, ben mo:ri4jriften, ben ®elioten be~ S)@:rrn au tun, iolange e:r lelit (:ire6t). @in eble:r, fje:r:rli4je:r mo:ria~ I ~a~ iei au4j fjeute ba~ ®elubbe unb be:r mo:rfa~ eine~ jeben ®liebe~ biefe:r ®emeinbel ~en m5ilIen ifj:re~ ®otte~ ali~ feinen .8eugniifen edennenb, gelolien ~fjriften bem S)@nn, na4j feinem m5ilIen ifj:r 2elien einau:ri4jten. ~a:rum e:rnfte:r ~amj.Jf gegen Me iJeinbe ifjre:r @leligfeit, :ireufer, m5elt unb iJleii4j, unb gegen alle falf4je 2efj:re, unb ein auf:ri4jtige~ lBei±:relien na4j be:r S)eiligung. 542 ~nt)lliirfe 3u @elegengcits-prcbigten. m:u§ eigenet ~taft aoer fonnen rotr ba§ nidjtj batum mit Z5@iiu leoen, bon ifjm ~taft im ®eoe± fjolen, ofjne ifjn nie etl1la§ oeginnen. @it 1ft un§ bon ®oU gemadjt aUt ~ei§fjeit, oUt ®etedjtigfeit, aUt ~emgung 1mb aUt @itIiifung. }illadjt iioet euclj feIO]t, bamit ifjr feine @5cljmadj bting± iiOet ba§ @ibcmgeHum, ba§ ifjr fjiirt, nodj iioer ben &;;>@ittn Z5@ifum, ben ifjt lieo±. ~Xoet nidjt nur aI§ einaeIne ®Iiebet, fonbern audj aHl ganae ®e~ meinbe fei fjeute euet feietHdje§ ®eIiiobe: 5te,l;t. ~ier gtone }illadjfam" feU unb ernf±e§ ®eoet noiig. ®tOne ®efafjren oebtofjen in biefen Iet>ten 5tagen bet }illeft auclj unfete Iutfjerifdjen ®emeinben: ®Ieidjgiirtigfeit gegen bie ,Beugniffe be§ ~@ittll, 5ttiigfjeit im mefennen, madjgeoen bet 5llieIt auHeoe ufl1l. ~enn Eutfjet fo gefonnen geluefen l1lute unb fo ge~ '!janbert fjatte, l1lie jett bide gef onnen finD unD bide fjanbeln, luiirDe et "!lie cine !Refotmation ber ~itclje fjetoeigcfiifjtt fjaticn. :.tIet ~eHanb fagt: :;-Sofj. 8, 31. 32. g:iir arIe ,Beiten, fUr arIe EanDer, fiit arIc Wlenfdjen gUt ;bas alte, aoet el1lig neue @ibangeIium bon Q:fjtifto, bern @5iinbetfjeiIanb, ~poft. 4, 12. IDliigen Die ,Beugniffe be§ ~@ittn eudj unb euten SHnbetn ein el1lige§ l@itoe fein, eute§ ~erilen§ ~onne, unb moge bet ~@itt Z5@ifu§ eudj arIen ~taft geoen, nadj feinen !Redj±en au tun oi§ an§ @inbeJ g:. ~. @i. Tenth Anniversary of a Congregation. JUDE 20.21. The apostle's exhortation "Keep yourselves in the love of God" is well expounded in John 15, 1-11. Keep Yourselves in the Love of God. 1. Building up yourselves on your most holy faith. A. The most holy faith. 1) The faith which is to be believed, the analogy of faith, the pure doctrine, the sincere milk of the Word, the faith for which we should earnestly contend, v. 3; 1 Pet. 2, 2; the foundation given and laid by God Himself, Eph. 2, 20; 1001'.3,11.- 2) It is most holy, because of its origin, purpose, power, and effect, 2 Tim. 3,15-17; R0ll1.1,16; lPet.l,5.-3) God has richly blessed this congregation with the most holy faith, and on this anniversary, as always, acknowledgment of this blessing should be made with true gratitude to God. A greater catastrophe than a terrific earthquake or surging flood if the congregation had never had, or were deprived of, the most holy faith. B. Building up yourselves. 1) The most holy faith is the foun- dation upon which a congregation is to be built up, not on the quick- sand of human tradition and of unbelief, against which this epistle is directed and which God hates and rejects. The Ohurch should G'n±l1.1iitfe 3U ®t1egen~citsvrebigten. 543 grow spiritually and numerically, 1 Pet. 2, 2; Mark 16, 15; Eph. 2, 21, heresy-proof against the fires of hell and the waters of affliction.- 2) Yourselves, individually and collectively. True, only God builds. But God has given the means of grace, and in the text He encourages us to make proper and diligent use of this means. Negatively, neglect or rejection of the means of grace, unionism, indifference of the last times (context) to the true faith, unscriptural and uncharitable prac- tise, results in the loss of the most holy faith and collapse of the con- gregation. - 3) Ten years of building' up, of pastoral service, peace- ful edification, of contending for the faith, 1 Cor. 1, 31, - is it worth. while to celebrate this anniversary? C. In this mannel' keep yourselves in the love of God. Continue in that faith and life which is of God. Heed this warning, hold to His. promises, Rev. 2, 25; 3, 11; John 8, 31. 32. 2. Praying in the Holy Ghost. A. Prayer. Ps. 19, 14; 27,8; Matt. 7, 7. 8; Ps. 50, 15. Reference may be made chiefly to the collects and other prayers offered by this. congregation to God these many years in behalf of His church and its. members and in behalf of all mankind, to which not only their own. helplessness, but God's command and promise induced them. E. The emphasis is on the injunction: "In the Holy Ghost." Rom. 8,14-16.26,27; Luke 11, 13; Ps. 145, 18, 19. Compare prayers in the Holy Ghost with the abominations offered to God by the uncivilized and civilized heathen. C. In this manner keep yourselves in the love of God. Whenever the congregation hears the invitation to prayer, let it remember 1 Tim. 2, 8, which refers to public worship; Ps. 26, 12; Eccl. 5, 1; Ps. 26, 6-8; hymns of prayer. As prayer ceases, the congregation will by its own fault have less evidence of God's loving care and guidance. Use therefore the privilege of God's children, open your hearts to God, muse on His great love, as David did in the 119th Psalm. For ten years this cong-regation has had access to the Throne of Grace, and every prayer has been heard. ''Pray without ceasing." 3. Looking for the mercy of our L01'd Jesus Christ. A. "The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." 1) EVel'ything, from first to last, also the final glorification of the Church, is the result of Christ's mercy and grace, vv. 24. 25. - 2) Our life is a consistent waiting in hope for the life to come, Phil. 3,20. 21; Rom. 8, 18-25. Though unbelief mocks, the Christians contemplate, and rejoice in, the lively hope, 1 Pet. 1, 3-7. - 3) In this manner keep yourselves in the love of God, 1 Pet. 1, 8. 9. Abandonment of this hope is a contradiction and denial of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and apostasy from the love of God. 544 ~ntlllilrfe 3U @efegenfJeitsprebigten. B. This congregation has waited; it is waiting still. Meanwhile the general trend of our time draws man away from God; cpo vv. 7. 8. 10--13. }'fay this congregation flourish while waiting! Rom. 12, 11-13; Luke 12, 32-37; 1 Cor. 15, 58. G. H. SMUKAL. Pastor's Anniversary. 2 OOR. 1, 3-5. Rom. 5, 1-5. But why allude on this festival occaSIOn also to tribulation and distress? The Faithful Pastor's Gratitude to God on His Anniversary. 1. He thanks God for the comfort received /l'om Him; 2. He praises God for the aptitude to comfort others. 1. Text. a) The apostle and his coworker needed comfort. God comforts all Ohristians, and His comfort incites them to gratitude. Our text, however, is specifically applicable to the servants of the Word, the relation of the apostles to the Oorinthians being well de- fined in vv. 4a. 6 as that of the comforter to the comforted. The same relation exists between God as the Oomforter and the apostle as the comforted. Where comfort is necessary, there is tribulation. ".All our tribulation" is confined and peculiar to Paul and his coworker in their pastoral office, cpo vv. 8. 9 a; 4, 8. 9; 6,4. 5. 9. 10; 11, 23-29. These are the sufferings of Christ abounding in them to this degree and in this great measure because they are Ohrist's messengers. Note also Paul's need of comfort against his own personal infirmities and imperfections, 2001'.12,7; Rom. 7, 24. b) The apostle received comfort: aa) against his personal in- sufficiency, which he deplored, which he would overcome, 1001'.4,4; 2 001'. 12, 9. 10; bb) in his sufferings in the service of Christ, v. 5 ; cc) from God, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, v. 3; dd) sufficient in every need (cp. "all" our tribulation, v.4, and "all" comfort, v. 3; "abounding" sufferings, "abounding" consolation, v. 5). Hence spiritual, divine, unmerited consolation abounding by Ohrist, vv. 9. 10. 20-22; 2001'.3,4-6; 4,17.18; 12,9; Acts 18,9. 10. c) For this Paul and Timothy thank God, v.3. They do not whine or complain. Application. 1) All our tribulation, sufferings of Ohrist. May all unfaithful pastors cringe under the curse of the Law and be de- prived of all comfort until they repent! Every faithful pastor is dis- turbed by his own sin, the sin of others, opposition to the cause, failure, supposed or otherwise, by official, personal, financial cares of &ntitliitfe 3U @eregen~eitsllrebigten. 545 all kinds. Yet he should mount the pulpit and in word and deed practise and exemplify Rom. 12, 12-21 and the pastoral epistles. He may feel that he stands alone. How often, 1 Kings 19,4! Amts- muedig7ceit. Tentatio. The sufferings of Ohrist, v.5, abound also to-day. Blessed is the faithful pastor; for 2) he shall be comforted, not by self-confidence, shallow words, or the lapse of time, but by God, the merciful Oomforter, who operates through the means of grace and cum affectu et effeciu reminds the pastor of His mercy, cf His grace already granted him in his baptism, sealed in Holy Oom- munion, and 1 Pet. 1, 3-5, and all the consolations and promises in the pastoral epistles, and by the assurance of success, 2 Oar. 1, 11. 12; 2,14-17, and by offering a reward of grace, Matt. 25, 21. 23. 3) For this the faithful pastor thanks God, v. 3. The purpose of the celebra- tion of this anniversary is to bless God. The pastor, his congregation, his brethren in the ministry, praise God for the comfort he and every faithful pastor receive of Him. 2. a) Paul realizes that other Ohristians also are in trouble and must be comforted by the same comfort that he had received, v.4. If the same comfort is necessary and effective, then the afil.ictions peculiar to him are endured by all Ohristians (cp. vv. 6.7), 1 Pet. 4,13; 5,9. b) God had called Paul and his fellow-workers in His name to preach the Gospel to the poor, Luke 4, 18. 19; 2 001'. 5, 18-6, 2. They were to comfort His people in all their tribulation by that very Gospel, v. 4. c) One end and aim of God in comforting Paul and Timothy was that they might be able to comfort others, to sympathize with such as suffer, to excel in that particular habih/'s practicus theosdo- tos, v. 4. d) Paul and Timothy praise God because He exercised them in the aptitude to comfort others. Application. 1) The Gospel of Jesus Christ offers the only true comfort. In the pulpit, at the font, at the altar, at his desk, in the sick-room, in public, everywhere, the pastor is to be the comforter, comforting particularly those in whom the sufferings of Ohrist abound. To comfort with the Gospel is his life-work, the very purpose of his further existence in this world. Oh, is not this a most desirable gift to become more and more apt and practical in the life-giving and life-saving task of comforting? - 2) Oomforting others, the pastor himself will be comforted. He may feel at times as if he were over- burdened with tribulations. His afil.iction, however, will be easier to bear if he enters the homes of his parishioners, his school, hospitals, conferences with the brethren, and the sanctuary of the Word, Reb. 35 546 G:nttviirfe 311 ®clcgell~eitsprebigten. 12,2 ff., and the sanctuary of heaven by prayer, Reb. 12, 12. 13. Com- forting, he will be comforted; for that comfort which he applies has reflex influence. - 3) To this end God has comforted this pastor and brother that he may be comforted and that he may be able to comfort, v. 4. Day after day he is engaged in applying with tender care and compassion and wisdom the Gospel of Christ. - 4) Blessed be God, v. 3, who grants this sufficiency. Every parishioner has been benefited by the aptitude of the pastor and joins him in his gratitude to God. G. R. S~fUKAL. ~aijte~feft einc~ ~rauenbetciu~. ~poft. 9, 36-42 . .;5~r feiert ~eute iJa§ .;5a~re§feft eure§ {Stauenbcrein§. ~ieiJerum fjaot i~r iJurd) ®oite§ ®naiJe ein gan3e§ .;5a~r lang d)riftIid)e ~oqrtiitig~ feit an ~rmen uniJ illotreiiJeniJen, an ~aifenHniJetn, armen ~d)iUetn uniJ ~tuiJenten ufm. iloen iJilrfen. :Ila§ aIIe§ ~aot i~r getan, oqne bid ~efen§ iJabon ilU mad)en; iJenn i~r qaM e§ getan uniJ tun tooUen aUein ilur C§~re eure§ ®otte§ uniJ aum :Ilienf± eure§ illiid)ften. .;5ljr iJanft iJem ~C§ttn filr feine ®naiJe uniJ fUr fetnen ~egen uniJ oiUet iljn, er moge eud) aud) fernerfjin freunblid) fein uniJ iJa§ ~etf eurer ~iiniJe fegnen. Ea13t mid) eud) nun, um end) 3um red)ten C§ifer filr bie ~erfe d)rift~ Hd)er ~oqrtiitigfeit 3U ermuntern, iJa§ C§~empd iJer ftommen ~aoea in unferm ~e~t borljarten. 'itn6en ein nadj nljmnng~lUette~ ~ot6Hb flit diriftfidje tytnncn. 1. ~ i e 11) a rein e g r ii u 0 i g e ~ il n g e ri n iJ e § ~ C§ tt n. 2. ~ie tat im ®!auoen bide gute ~ede. 1. ~aoea mar cine .;5ilngerin be§ ~C§ttn, lB. 36. ~ie glauote an .;5C§fum, iqren ~eiIanb. ~ie qatte iljn au§ feinem C§bangeIium fennen~ geIernt. :Ilurd) iljn mar fie ein Iieoe§ ®oite§finb gemorben. .;5n iqm qaite fie lBergeoung iljrer ~ilnben gefunben, i~n IieMe fie bon gan3em ~eraen. :Ila§ mar ba§ ~od)fte, toa§ an iljr ilU rilljmen mar. :Ilarin ift ~aoea ein nad)aljmung§merte§ lSoroiIb fUr d)riftrid)e {Srauen. ~ud) euer {Stauenberein foU eine ~d)ar gIiiuviger .;5ilngerinnen be§ ~C§ttn fein. :Ilas fei euer erfter unb ljod)fter mufjm. ~ud)' iljr ljaot in euren ~erilen iJie {Sreunblid)feit iJc§ ~C§ttn .;5C§fn gefd)mecU. .;5ljr grauM an euren ~eiIanb, ber aU0 unenbIid)er Eieoe au eud) fein Eeven filr eud) gefaffen, eud) bon ~ilniJen erIoft unb mit @loti berfoljnt qat . .;5ljr ljangt iljm unberrilcft an, iljr feib entfd)loffen, oei iljm au orcioen uniJ iljm nad)ilufolgen.