Qtnurnr~ttt m~tnln!lirttl :!InutlJly Continuing LEHRE UND WEHRE MAGAZIN FUER Ev.-LuTH. HOMILETIK THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLy-THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY Vol. V November, 1934 No. 11 CONTENTS Die Theologie Karl Barths. w. Kemner •••••••••••••••••• The Primitive Christians. E. G. Sibler ••••••••••••••••••• Die chronologische Reihenfolge der Weissagungen im Buche Jeremias'. P. E. Kretzmann ••••••••..•••••••••••••••• Melanchthon and Luther's Translation of the New Testa- Page 817 829 835 ment. H. O. Keinath. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 842 The Church Reform of Henry VITI a Product of the Renaissance. Theo. Hoyer. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 847 Sermon Study on Reb. 10, 32-39. Th. Laetsch. • • • • • • • • • •• 854 Der Schriftgrund fuer die Lehre von der satisfactio vicaria . • • • • • • • • • . . . • . . . . • . • • . . .. P. E. Kretzmann ••••••••••• 863 Sermons and Outlines ............................... 866 Miscellanea ........................................ 871 Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches .... 879 Book Review. - Literatur ........................... 889 Ein Predlger mU98 nicht alleID welMla, alao dass er die Schafe unterweise, wle ole reebte OhrIaten BOllen eeln, BOndem auch danehen den Woelfen 1D6hreA, dass ole die 8chafe nicht angreUen und mit faacher Lehre verfuehren und Irrtum eln- fuehren. - LuIMr-. Es 1st keln Ding, daB die Leute mehr hel der Klrche behaelt dean die cute Predigt. - ApolQgu, Arl.~. If the trumpet give an uncertain BOund, who shall prepare b1meelf to the battle f 1 Cor. ,lJ,8. PubUshed for the Ev. Luth. Synod of lItissouri, Ohio, and Other States OOJ!l'OOBDIA PU'BLISBING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo. 854 Sermon Study on Reb. 10, 32-39. against the king; but the Pope was far off; the king was right there; he had the advantage. That explains in part the evident fact that on the whole the clergy of England accepted Henry's changes willingly. Of course, the change was effected with a certain measure of deceit. It is fairly clear that the clergy consented to the first submission, 1532, partly, of course, because they were obviously guilty under the Statute of Praemunire, but partly because they expected to succeed to the Pope's power in England; but when it was too late, when the breach with Rome was certain, then Henry, quite unexpectedly, deprived the English clergy of their power; the second submission of the clergy, 1534, includes the stipulation that Oonvocation is to make no new laws, that their old laws are to be examined, and that both old and new laws must have the consent of the king. Very deftly Henry had placed himself in the Pope's place, and he could push this measure through Parlia- ment because he had the enthusiastic backing of nobles and commons against the clergy. But even then there is no real opposition. Why should there be ~ Many of the new bishops owed their living to Henry; most of the abbots of the dissolved monasteries were made bishops; the other bishops kept their places. There was no denial of the Pope's supremacy in spiritual things; he was shorn only of his temporal power. The parish priests went right on in the old accustomed service; the Mass was not changed; none of the sacra- ments were changed. The entire sacramental and doctrinal edifice of the Ohurch remained unchanged. TEEO. HOYER. (To be continued.) Sermon Study on Heb. 10,32-39. (Eisenach Epistle-lesson for the 25th Sunday after Trinity.) Jesus Ohrist, our great High Priest, is the theme so masterfully, so thoroughly, discussed in such classic language by the unknown author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. While his style in the nrst part, chap. 1-10, 18, is chiefly didactic, though with many a practical exhortation interspersed, beginning with 10, 19 the author assumes a tone prevailingly hortatory, though occasional doctrinal passages of exquisite beauty are found. He draws the practical conclusion from his long doctrinal discourse, viz., to accept Jesus as the one High Priest, 10,22; to remain faithful, v. 23; to help one another in re- taining their faith and faithfulness, 24. 25. In order to make his ad- monition the more impressive, he shows the dire consequences of wil- ful rejection of Jesus, the only High Priest, 26-31. In the lesson under consideration, 32--39, he directs the view of his readers back- ward, to their past experiences of the justifying, sanctifying, strength- Sermon Study on Reb. 10, 32-39. 855 ening power of their High Priest, and forward, to the approach of the day of their final redemption. Their past experience will connt for naught, and their future hope will not be realized, if they will not remain faithful to their High Priest. "But call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye were illuminated, yo endured a great fight of afflictions," v. 32. "Call to remembrance," be recalling to yonr mind. The apostle uses the present tense in order to point out the necessity of unceasing, con- tinuous calling into memory those glorious days of the past as an aid to perseverance in faithfulness. "The former days," ne6UeOlJ being used adverbially, as in 1 Pet. 1, 18, the days before, the days past. The reafiOn why this remembrance of past days is so necessary is stated in the words "in which, after yo were illuminated," etc. rJ.!wu(J{}tyu., enlightened, illumined, in Biblical usage often is used of spiritual enlightenment; cpo Eph. 1, 18, "the eyes of your understanding," literally, your hoart, the seat of life, of intellect, emotion, and will. In this passage enlighte=ent is used side by side with the giving of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, Eph. 1, 17. By being given this Spirit our hearts are illumined; and the purpose achieved by such illumination is the "knowledge of Him," v. 17, of God and His Word and will. Such knowledge of God is possible only "in the face of Jesus Christ," 2 Cor. 4, 6; John 17, 3; 1, 18, and can be wrought only by God Himself, 2 Cor. 4, 6. 7, through His Gospel, v.4, which is preached by such as have been illumined, v. 5. 6. Enlightened by God Himself, the Light Eternal, illumined by Him in whose light one sees light, Ps. 36, 9, Christians see light where darkness, dense, dismal, terrifying darkness, ruled before. No longer do they walk in the night of sin and separation from God, in the dreary gloom of hopelessness and despair. Over them shines the snn of God's grace and loving-kindness; they are surrounded by the bright light of His forgiveness and pardon; their way through life is bright- ened by the knowledge, Ps. 23,4. 6. How often does God remind us of our enlightenment, Is. 9, 2; 60, 1, etc. How grateful should we be for this light! Col. 1, 12. 13. How powerful an inducement to faithful- ness and perseverance! Rom. 13, 12; Eph. 5, 8; 1 John 1, 7; 2,8-11. The readers of the Letter to the Hebrews had experienced the mar- velous, life-changing power of God's enlighte=ent. Having been made children of light, they could do what was impossible as long as they were darkness, they "endured a great fight of afflictions." ''Fight,'' 1J.{}).'10lq, the struggle, or contest, of an athlete. How fre- quently do the New Testament writers make use of metaphors taken from athletic games and sports! A hint to every preacher to illustrate the eternal truths by examples from the life surrounding us. A con- test of "afflictions," sufferings. Sufferings, how bitter, how loathsome, how hateful, to man! Physical affiictions, mental sufferings, - how 856 Sermon Study on Reb. 10, 32-39. many have been driven by them to despair, to insanity, to suicide! Yet, though the struggle with afflictions was a "great" struggle, great as to intensity and to duration (cf. vv. 33. 34), they did not despair. They "endured"; vno{tevEw, to remain behind, to remain; not to recede, not to flee. When afflictions arose to wrestle with them, they did not shirk the combat; they remained in the arena; without complaining, they bravely bore the sufferings, endured the hardships; they per- severed in the strugg'le no matter how severe it grew; they remained in the field even after sufferings had tried their utmost to conquer them. That was possible only because they had been "illuminated." They had come to the knowledge of their High Priest and to the understanding of the reason for their sufferings. As the Oaptain of their salvation was made perfect through suffering, what else could they, the children who were being brought unto glory, expect than like suffering? Reb. 2, 10. If their High Priest learned obedience by the things which He suffered, dared they shirk suffering? 5, 7. 8. He was their omnipotent High Priest, able to save to the uttermost, 7,25, their merciful High Priest, full of compassion, 2, 18; 5, 2. illumined by this knowledge, they persevered though fierce the struggle, intense the contest. "Remember your illumination; remember that because of your illumination you have endured in the former days. Did those struggles harm you 1 Did they not strengthen your faith and in- crease your ability to wrestle with, and overcome, even the greatest of hardships? Oall that to your minds, and will you grow weary in the struggle?" Thus the apostle exhorts his readers, and by his very exhortation, which is the living Word of the God of Light, he rouses them to remembrance and to renewed activity. The fact that the apostle speaks of the struggle of former days does not warrant the conclusion that at the time of his writing they were free from suffering. Ohapters 12 and 13 prove the contrary. Yet there may have been a temporary lull in the persecutions and afflic- tions, and their renewal may have seemed the harder to endure, just as after a cool spell interrupting a long period of hot weather the recurring heat seems even more unbearable. For that reason the apostle calls their attention to the vehemence of their former struggle. In order to persevere in the present struggle, it will prove helpful to remember how severe the trials were through which they persevered in days past. "Partly, whilst ye were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used," v. 33. In a twofold manner they had carried on success- fully their great struggle. In the first place, they had become a "gaz- ing-stock," a theatrical spectacle, exposed to the gaze of all the world, through, or by, reproaches and revilings. The vilest slanders were spread about the Ohristians. If the Jews refrained not from heaping Sermon Study on Reb. 10, 32-39. 857 reproaches on Jesus, why should they not revile the followers of this crucified criminaH And what a struggle these revilings must have caused to the believers! To be cursed by one's own father and mother, to be excommunicated as a heretic, regarded as a veritable son of hell by one's friends and former playmates, to be shunned as a leper, an unclean person, by one's own brothers and sisters - what a hardship that must have been! Before the world they were regarded as crim- inals. Op. Acts 24, 5. 6; 27, 7; 2 001'. 6, 8. Yet, though these evil re- proaches must have hurt them to the quick, they endured and per- severed in faithfulness to their Savior. What an example to modern Ohristians who are afraid to confess their faith if there is the slightest danger of ridicule on the part of the world! A mere shrug of the shoulder, a mere sneering remark, and many a Ohristian has failed miserably in his duty to confess his great High Priest. Not only revilings, but actual affiictions, trials, oppressions, persecutions, had to be undergone by the Ohristians of those days. How many were dis- owned and disinherited, persecuted, imprisoned, put to a cruel and shameful death! Read what Saul did to the Ohristian congregations, Acts 8, 3; 9,1.2; 22,4. 19; 26,10. 11. Op. also 1 Thess. 2, 14. 15. But though they were reviled, though they were oppressed, through re- proaches and persecutions they had steadfastly adhered to their glorious Redeemer. While, on the one hand, they had been made a gazing-stock through reproaches and affiictions, on the other hand, they "became," manifested themselves as, "companions of them that were so used," .OOY o{hw; &.vacr.(!srpopivwv, literally, that so walked, whose mode of life was of such nature. The life of a Ohristian, his conversation, is one not of ease and comfort, not a path strewn with lilies and roses, not a pilgrimage through pleasant scenery, but ac- cording to Acts 14, 22 the Ohristian must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. On the way to heaven many a muddy road, many an inconvenience and discomfort, many a rainstOTm and tempest, many a annoying detour is encountered. Op. Mark 9, 23 ; John 16, 1-4. These trials and persecutions, disagreeable as they are to natural man, seemed perfectly natural to these Ohristians, followers of the great High Priest, who Himself was made perfect through suf- fering. Such revilings and persecutions they regarded as an integral part of their Ohristian life, and far from being dissatisfied, they re- joiced in these persecutions, knowing that then indeed they were truly blessed, Matt. 5, 10-12. Op. Rom. 5, 3; Acts 16,25; Phil. 1,29. 30. The Ohristians in the former days had become, shown by their actions that they were not ashamed to be, "companions," partners, sharers, of such as led this manner of life. In what manner they became partners is brought out in the next verse. "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven 858 Sermon Study on Reb. 10, 32-39. a better and an enduring substance," v.34. Again the apostle brings out a twofold manner of companionship, one an inner, the other an outer mode. In the first place, they had compassion "of me in my bonds." The English Bible follows the textus receptus. The better reading seems to be Wtr; oEaf'io/r;, prisoners. For practical purposes there is little difference whether they had compassion with the author, of whom we know practically nothing, or with prisoners. The fact remains that they showed that true pity and compassion for which Paul pleads in 2 Tim. 1, 8. The fact that his fellow-Ohristians, in- stead of sympathizing with him in his imprisonment by word and deed, had not so much as visited him for fear of like persecution had saddened his heart and added another burden to his many griefs (cp. 2 Tim. 1, 15; 4, 10-16), while it had been a source of great comfort to him that Onesiphorus was not ashamed of his (Paul's) chain, but showed by word and deed that he had compassion upon him, 2 Tim. 1, 16-18. In like manner the readers of our epistle had taken pity on such as had been imprisoned and by their very twmpathy, by their words and deeds, had shown that they were indeed their partners and companions. And their partnership with these persecuted witnesses of Ohrist had gone still farther. They also "took joyfully the spoil- ing of their goods." IIeoaoEXEai}al, to take to oneself, to accept as a gift. Even the loss of their property they regarded as a gift, as some- thing that they were to take, and did accept, out of the hand of the Ruler of all the world. .And they accepted this loss not grumblingly and grudgingly, but with joy, knowing that they themselves had "a better and more enduring substance," or possession. We find a number of variants in this verse. The textus receptus, followed by the AuthOTized Version, reads tV eavToir;, within yourselves. The possessions you lost were riches without, outside, yourselves. This possession, the better and lasting one, is within, implanted in your hearts. Other manuscripts read iavTot" for yourselves, for your own benefit and enj oyment. Still others read eavTov<;, you yourselves; in contrast to those men enriched by the spoliation of your goods you yourselves possess better, etc. Some of the oldest manuscripts omit "in heaven"; but if omitted by the author, heaven is certainly not excluded from our substance; and if we read it, the possession in heaven certainly includes heaven on earth, the foretaste of that true bliss granted to the citizens of the kingdom of heaven already on this earth, whieh they themselves (EavTOv.), they for themselves (eav7:oi.), they in themselves (Bv eavroi,), possess. Hence all these variants, while slightly a:ffecting the nuance, do not materially change the meaning, of this verse. The readers knew that they had a "better substance," or property, far excelling in usefulness and serviceability those possessions of which they had been robbed. Deprived of monetary riches, what Sermon Study on Reb. 10, 32-39. 859 wealth still remained theirs! Is. 55, 1-3; 61,10; Rom. 5,1 ff. Did their friends forsake them? What a Friend they had in Jesus ! Were they slandered, defamed, reviled? What mattered it, since their names were written in heaven! Luke 10, 20. Did the enemies deprive them of their liberty? Stone walls do not a prison make nor iron bars a jail if one has that liberty wherewith Christ has made us free (Gal. 5,1), - fl'eedom from sin, its guilt, its penalty, its power. Did trials and tribulations cause SOl'TOW and tears? They could not deprive them of that joy and peace (Is. 55, 12) which they possessed in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4, 7). Theirs was, furthermore, an "enduring" possession, lasting, remaining, indestructible in itself (1 Pet. 1,4), and remain- ing in their possession (1 Pet. 1,4 b. 5; Rom. 8, 35-39). Cpo Hymn 273,4. Surely, therefore, they had every reason to obey the admonition of the author: "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward," V. 35. "Confidence," 3ra(2(!'fjo{a, literally, saying all; hence the confidence to speak openly, unreservedly; ut- most faith, full trust, unlimited confidence, in their High Priest that He will save them to the uttermost, Heb. 7, 25. There is no rea sou why a Christian should fear or doubt. His salvation rests on the solemn oath of the almighty God, on the redemption wrought by the Lord of Glory through His own blood. This great High Priest, to- gether with His Holy Spirit, leads and guides and protects them at all times. Why should they not at all times be confident, unwavering in their hope of eternal life? The only way to lose salvation is by wil- fully casting it away, by wilfully sinning. Would you be willing to throwaway that confidence which "hath great recompense of reward"? Mu]{}anol!oo{a, literally, the payment of wages due; hence recompense, reward. Our faith has great recompense, not because we have earned life either by our works or by OUl' faith. That were impossible. No; this recompense is promised to faith only because God has pledged Himself to give to all believers that eternal life which was prepared long before we were born, which Christ Jesus earned through His vicarious life and suffering, which is offered to us in the Gospel, which God Himself makes OUl' own by bringing us to faith. Where, then, is any merit on our part? It is a reward solely by grace. And it is a "great" reward, embracing time and eternity: salvation, joy, and peace on earth, bliss and perfection in heaven. Would they be willing to discard their whole Christian past as one would discard a precious, serviceable, indispensable garment, because one tires of the old-fashioned dress, merely because one is fascinated by a :flimsy gossamer web, which cannot serve to cover one's nakedness nor protect one against the ravages of storm and cold? Shall all their past suffering be rendered futile, yea, and all their past victories of no effect? Shall it be in vain that their High Priest has 860 Sermon Study on Heb. 10, 32-39. granted them strength to endure for so many years? Shall they leave the company of those heroes of faith and join the throng of mockers and revilers? Shall they wilfully extinguish the light which was kindled in them by God Himself and again walk in darkness and night? Shall all the rich recompense of reward attributed to faith, which they had in former days experienced in so bountiful a manner, be recklessly thrown aside? And, moreover, there is awaiting their faith still greater recompense of reward: the perfection of heaven, perfect freedom from sin, flawless righteousness, unalloyed joy, the beatific vision, beholding Jesus, seeing their God, no longer as in a glass, darkly, in His works and in His words only, but seeing Him as He is, 1 John 3, 2. Are they willing to lose this recompense of reward? Then, "cast not away your confidence," for there is but one High Priest. Without faith in Him, vv.26b-31; with Him a better and an enduring substance. "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might recAive the promise," v, 36. "For of patience ye have need." In order to persevere in their present affiiction, all that is needed is patience, no more, but no less than was needed to endure during the great struggle of former days. Such patience is needed in order that they may "receive the promise." K0f.'{!;etV, to care for, take up for the purpose of caring, to carry away; the middle voice: for one's self. H you wish to carry away for yourselves "the promise," the thing promised (cp. 6,12.15) i. e., future life, eternal salvation, you must be patient. This promised life the High Priest has earned by His own blood. He, as our Surety, has already entered into the heavenly glory, 1,3; 8,1.2; 10,12-14. He will give it to you on the Last Day, 9,28. Is not so great a promise worthy of patient per- severance? "Mter ye have done," having done, "the will of God." This will of God is that good and gracious will which wills the eternal salvation, the rcgeneration, the preservation, of all mcn, Ezek. 33, 11; 1 Tim. 2, 4; John 6, 39. 40; 10, 28. 29; 17,24; that will which wills also our sanctification not only in so far as it engenders, strengthens, and preserves in us the willingness to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments, Eph. 2, 10, but in so far also as He would have all His children on earth to make use of the strength, which He so freely and abundantly offers and bestows in and through His Gospel, to lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb. 12, 1. Having done this will of God, we shall receive the promise, that promise of eternal salvation given to all that believe. But for this purpose patience is needed. Patience, because the enemies of our soul's salvation beset us on every side, so that our life is a constant, unintermitting battle and strife; patience also, because the promise, though holding forth a great weight of glory, is yet, for an appointed time, in the future, Sermon Study on Reb. 10, 32-39. 861 a promise of things unseen, 2 001'. 4, 17. 18; Rom. 8, 24. Yet such patience, though difficult, should be willingly exercised by all be- lievers; for, aside from the fact that the same God that wills also works this patience, the fulfilment of God's promise is both sure and near. "For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry," v. 36. Mtxeov 060V 060V, literally, yet a little, how very, how very! Expositor's Greek Testament: "A little, how very, very little." The Septuagint has the same expression in Is. 26, 20. On the thought cpo John 16, 19. The apostle now quotes almost verbatim the Septuagint version of Hab. 2, 3. 4, inserting the article before e(!xOflEvO' and transposing the two clauses of v. 4. "He that shall come," rather the Ooming One, was already in the Old Testament, and especially in the time of Ohrist, a common designation of the Messiah; cpo Mal. 3, 1; Matt. 11, 3; John 6, 14; 11, 27. So Ohrist promised that after His death He would again come to His disciples, John 14,18, and so He will come to judge the quick and the dead, Acts 1, 11; 1 Thess. 5, 2. He is indeed the Ooming One. Nor will His promise fail. As He fulfilled the promise given in the Old Testa- ment times "Behold, He cometh," so He certainly, unfailingly, will fulfil this New Testament pledge "I shall come to you"; for He is the Ooming One, who will not tarry. Already He is on the way. In His own time, at His own appointed hour, not a minute earlier, but not a minute later, punctually, He shall come, 1 Pet. 3, 8. 9. As the time separating the believers from the final consummation of their hopes was already in Isaiah's time a little, a very little, Is. 26,20, how much less was it in the day of the apostles! And it is still less in our day. Already the day is dawning. Luke 21, 28. "Now, the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him," v. 38. 'Ex n(61;sw.} out of faith the just lives. Whatever of spiritual life the just possesses is the direct outcome of faith, of his trust in the Messiah promised by God. Only by this faith he lives, for no one can by his own efforts fulfil the Law, which promises life only to such as perfectly keep it. But out of this faith surely and certainly he lives. For this faith con- nects and unites with the Prince of Life, the Oaptain of Salvation. And out of this faith, because of this faith, he is just, righteous, be- cause this faith lays hold of, and appropriates, that perfect righteous- ness which the Savior has earned for all men. Since faith unites with the life that is Ohrist (John 1,4; 14,6; 001.3,4), out of this faith flows not only spiritual life in this world, but life eternal in the world to come. The just shall live by faith. "But if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." The Septuagint translation does not follow the present Mas- oretic text, retained by the Authorized Version, which reads: ''Behold, S62 Sermon Study on Reb. 10, 32-39. his soul, which is lifted up, is not upright in him." In contrast to the just who implicitly trusts God and lives eternally, how can the proud and haughty Ohaldean soul, lifted up, not upright, please God and have life ~ Hence, both the Masoretic text and the Septuagint text express practically the same truth. Since, however, the wording -of the Septuagint so eminently suited the purpose of the author and was so familiar to his readers, he retains it. A man that draws back, .shirks the battle, seeks to avoid the struggle, is not a man of faith, but -of unbelief. Faith is conviction, assurance, Heb. 11,1. Faith con- quers the world, 1 John 5, 4. A man drawing back loses that which alone makes him pleasing in God's eyes, loses his faith, loses his im- puted righteousness, is an abomination in God's eyes, an abhorrence to His soul. Shall we draw back? Shall we lose everything that we have gained and all that is in store for us? So sure is the apostle that his admonition will be heeded that he clothes it in the words of con- fidence and assurance: "But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul," v. 39. Drawing back is unto perdition. An athlete, shrinking, cowering, withdrawing in fear, has no chance for victory; for him there is only shameful, disgraceful defeat. A Ohristian, cowardly shirking the con- test, cringing before his foes, cannot possibly gain the victory. Destruc- tion, ruin, will be his fate; for shrinking is unto ruin (cp. Matt. 16, 26), while believing faith is to the saving of the soul (Matt. 16, 25). God grant that we be not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul! This admonition to patient perseverance offers splendid oppor- tunity to present to our congregations the need of patience in the vicissitudes and trials of life. We offer a number of outlines to indi- cate how this needful lesson may be taught from various viewpoints.- Oast Not Away Your Oonfidence. 1) Oall to remembrance the former days of endurance. 2) Fix your eyes firmly on the great recompense of reward. - In the introduction define illumination. Theme: The Wonderful Effects of Illumination. 1) It sheds its light on the path- way of life, enabling us to endure its afRictions. 2) It opens up visions of eternal salvation, strengthening us to patient perseverance. - The Just Shall Live by Faith. 1) By this faith alone he is illuminated, v. 32 (spiritual life engendered). 2) By this faith alone he is strength- ened to endure. (His spiritual life preserved and strengthened. Mter illumination we endure, v. 32; for by faith we know a better substance, v. 34, the hope of future reward, vv. 35. 36, enabling us to persevere.) 3) To this faith is given the crown of eternal life. (The salvation promised to faith, v. 36, eternal salvation as opposed to perdition, v. 39, will surely come at the appointed time, v. 37; without faith no life, v. 38.) - Would You be Numbered among Those that Believe unto the Saving of the Soul? 1) Then cast not away your confidence. i)et 5d)tiftgtunb fUt bie Xle~te bon bet satisfactio vicaria. 863 2) Then patiently await the promise. - The Christian Virtue of Per- severance. 1) It is a gift of God (only if illuminated by Him, are we' capable of patience). 2) It enables us to endure. 3) It has great recompense of reward. - Ye Have Need of Patience. 1) For only by patience will you be heroes of faith. 2) Only by patience will you receive the promise. - Be Patient. 1) For by patience you can en- dure. 2) A great reward awaits you. 3) It is but a little while.- Our Great Fight of Afflictions. 1) A severe fight; 2) a victorious fight; 3) a fight with a glorious issue. - To God All Glory. 1) With- out His grace no illumination. 2) Without illumination no en- durance. 3) Without endurance no crown. TH. LAETSCH. ~et 5djtiftgtuub flit bie £e~u tum bet satisfactio vicaria. il1eben bex Eegxe bon bex 9'tedjtfextigung allein au~ ®naben, urn ~gxifti romen, buxdj ben ®lauben, unb mit igx aUf ba~ innigfte bex" bunben, ftegt bie Eegxe bon bex ftellberixetenben ®enugtuung ~tifH. lffiie abex bie Eegte bon bet 9'tedjtfextigung bon ieget bie Bielfdjeilie mannigfadjet ®efdjoffe be~ bofen ~einbe~ gemefen iit, fo audj bie bon bex satisfactio vicaria. Unb getabe in ben {etten SDeaennien gaben bie ~einb'e bet lffiagxgeit e~ gleidjiam batauf abgeiefjen, bieie Eefjxe au bet" btefjen unb au setitoten. man ftem mit motliebe ~fjtiftum alS ben gtollen .2efjxet, al~ ben bollfommenen menfdjen fjin, belien Eeben bet gansen lffiel± aI~ motbiIb bienen foIl, bamit menfdjen haft be~ szrn" ttiebe~, bex in bem einsigariigen mUftex xugt, fidj feIbex bie @dofung betfdjaffen, tefjJ. fidj felbex ba~ eltJige Eeben etmetben lonnen. lffiie bex ungliiubige @Jdjtiftftellet ~gade~ &;;lall ~ett~ e~ lettfjin au~gebrilcfi gat: "How He [Christ] died is of small consequence compared to how He lived. Other men and women have died as cruelly, with like bravery and charity. But no other had the heroism to live as He." szrbgefefjen bon bem ~unbamentCi:litttum, bet in biefet lUtsen SDax" legung entljarten itt, fjaben roit giet unbedennbaxe ~jJuten anbexer ~bixrungen bon ben ®runbmafjtfjeiten, Me ba~ &;;laUjJtdjaraUexiftifnm bet mobemen ~fjeoIogie finb. Unb batum roirb e~ fid)< mofjI bet miifje Ioljnen, ballmir u~ einmal bie &;;laujJtftellen bet @Jdjtift, namentridj be~ il1euen ~eftament§, anfefjen, Me bOn bet mittletfdjaft ~fjtifti fjanbeln. SDa~ foIl fo gefdjefjen, ball roix Me @Jtellen in igxem Bufammengang anfegen unb e;t;egetifdj beganbeIn. lffiir teiIen Me @Jtellen, Me giet in !Be±tadjt lommen, in smorf ®xujJjJen ein, fo baj3 Me ~xbeit menigften~ einigermaj3en ein f~ftematifdje~ ®ejJtiige exgiil±. 1. G:~tiftu~ ber WHttfet. ®aI. 3, 20: SDex mittIet abet ift nidjt cine~, abet @ 0 t tift cinet. SDiefe @Jtelle ganbelt nidjt, ltJie mandje szru~leget, baruntet audj einige lutljetifdje ~;t;egeten, gemeint gaben, bon bet