,libraries7 ,,luther',s ,,epistle ,,sermons ,,trinity ,,sunday ,,to ,,advent4 ,,translated ,,with ,,the ,,help ,,of ,,others ,,by ,,prof4 ,,john ,,nicholas ,,lenker1 ,d4,d4 ,,author ,,of ,,lutherans ,,in ,,all ,,lands1 ,,translator ,,of ,,luther',s ,,works ,,into ,,english1 ,,and ,,president ,,of ,,the ,,national ,,lutheran ,,library ,,association ,,vol4 ,,iii4 7,volume ,,ix of ,luther's ,complete ,works47 ,third ,thousand ,the ,luther ,press ,,minneapolis1 ,,minn41 ,u4,s4,a4 #aiji4 ,dedication ,to all ,laymen of ,evangelical ,christendom interested in developing a deeper ,christian ,life1 on the basis of the spiritual classics of our ,protestant ,church ,fathers1 this volume of sermons that apply the pure doctrine of ,god's ,word to everyday life1 is prayerfully dedicated4 ,copyright1 #aiji1 by ,j4 ,n4 ,,lenker4 ,foreword ,here comes the ,english ,luther in his twelfth visit to your home4 ,in peasant boots1 decorated by no star of worldliness nor even by the cross of churchliness1 but by the ,book from heaven pressed to his heart in a firm attitude of earnest prayer1 he comes as the man of prayer and of the one ,book1 a familiar friend1 to help you to live the simple ,christian life4 ,this volume of twenty-four practical sermons from ,trinity ,sunday to ,advent marks an epoch in that it completes in an unabridged form one branch of ,luther's writings1 the eight volumes of his ,gospel and ,epistle ,postil4 ,they are bound in uniform size1 numbered as in the ,erlangen edition from the seventh to the fourteenth volume inclusive1 paragraphed for convenient reference according to the ,walch edition with summaries of the ,gospel sermons by ,bugenhagen4 ,the few subheads inserted in the text are a new feature for ,american readers4 ,these eight volumes of #age sermons and #c1aaj pages are the classic devotional literature of ,protestantism4 ,they were preached by its founder to the mother congregation of ,evangelical ,christendom in the birth-period of the greatest factor in modern civilization4 ,no collection of ,evangelical sermons has passed through more editions and been printed in more languages1 none more loved and praised1 none more read and prayed4 ,they will be a valuable addition to the meager sermon literature on the ,epistle texts in the ,english language4 ,english ,protestants will hereafter have no excuse for unacquaintance with ,luther's spiritual writings4 ,what ,luther's two ,catechisms were in the school room to teach the ,christian faith to the youth1 that these sermons were in the homes to develop the same faith in adults4 ,they have maintained their good name wherever translated until the present and their contents are above the reach of critics4 ,these ,epistle sermons especially apply the ,christian truth to everyday life4 ,the order in developing the ,christian life with the best help from the prince of the ,teutonic church fathers1 should be from the ,small to the ,large ,catechism and then to his ,epistle sermons4 ,blessed the pastor and congregation who can lead the youth to ,church ,postil ,reading--to read in harmony with their church-going4 ,blessed is the immigrant or diaspora missionary who finds his people reading them in the new settlements he visits4 ,next to the ,bible and ,catechisms no books did more to awaken and sustain the great ,evangelical religious movements under ,spener in ,germany1 ,rosenius in ,sweden1 and ,hauge in ,norway1 than these sermon books devoutly and regularly read in the homes of church members4 ,the transition of a people and church from a weak language into a stronger1 is easy and accompanied by gain2 while the opposite course from a strong into a weaker tongue is difficult2 and accompanied by loss4 ,while in our land the ,germans and ,scandinavians lose much in the transition ordeal1 all is not lost2 they have something to give4 ,it is a good sign that two-tongued congregations are growing in favor4 ,familiar thought in a strange language is not so strange as when both language and thought are foreign4 ,a church whose constituency is many-tongued should avoid becoming one-tongued4 ,church divisions are often more ethnological than theological4 ,if exclusively ,english pastors learned one-tenth as much ,german and ,scandinavian as these people do ,english1 unity would be greatly promoted4 ,as ,protestantism is far more divided in the ,english language than in ,german or ,scandinavian1 the enthusiasm over the unifying influence of ,english is misleading4 ,the hope is rather in the oneness of teaching and of spirit4 ,this treasure1 given first in ,hebrew1 ,greek and ,german1 can be translated into all languages4 ,who equals ,luther as a translator8 ,may his followers be inspired by his example and translate the ,evangelical classics of this prophet of the ,gentiles into all their dialects6 ,that these volumes may contribute to this end is our prayer4 ,the history of the writing of these sermons is found in volumes #aj1 #aa1 #ab and #ac of the ,gospel sermons of the ,standard ,edition of ,luther's ,works in ,english4 ,the ,german text will be readily found in the #abth volume of the ,walch and of the ,st4 ,louis ,walch editions1 and in the #ith volume of the ,erlangen edition of ,luther's works4 ,grateful acknowledgment is hereby made for translations to the following3 ,to ,pastor ,h4 ,l4 ,burry1 the first sermon for ,trinity ,sunday2 ,pastor ,w4 ,e4 ,tressel1 ,third ,sunday after ,trinity2 ,prof4 ,a4 ,g4 ,voigt1 ,d4 ,d41 the ,fifth and ,twenty-fourth ,sundays2 ,dr4 ,joseph ,stump1 ,sixth1 ,eighth and ,thirteenth ,sundays2 ,prof4 ,a4 ,w4 ,meyer1 ,eighteenth and ,nineteenth ,sundays2 and to ,pastor ,c4 ,b4 ,gohdes for revising the ,second ,sermon for ,trinity ,sunday and the sermons for the ,second1 ,tenth1 ,twelfth and ,sixteenth ,sundays after ,trinity4 ,next volumes to appear will be ,genesis ,vol4 ,,ii1 ,psalms ,vol4 ,,ii and ,galatians4 ,heartily do we thank all parts of the church for their complimentary1 suggestive and helpful coperation and earnestly hope our work may be worthy of its continuance4 ,j4 ,n4 ,,lenker4 ,home for ,young ,women1 ,minneapolis1 ,minn41 ,pentecost1 #aiji4 ,contents ,trinity ,sunday4--,the ,article of ,faith on the ,trinity4 ,the ,revelation of the ,divine ,nature and ,will4 ,romans #aa1 #cc-cf 4 4 #g ,second ,sermon4--,the ,trinity4 ,romans #aa1 #cc-cf 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #cf ,first ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,love4 ,god is ,love4 #a ,john #d1 #af-ba #dj ,second ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,exhortation to ,brotherly ,love4 #a ,john #c1 #ac-ah 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #da ,third ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,humility1 ,trust1 ,watchfulness1 ,suffering4 #a ,peter #e1 #e-aa 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #eg ,fourth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,consolation in ,suffering and ,patience4 ,waiting for the ,revealing of the ,sons of ,god4 ,romans #h1 #ah-bb 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #if ,second ,sermon4--,suffering1 ,waiting and ,sighing of ,creation4 ,romans #h1 #ah-bb 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #aji ,fifth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,exhortation to the ,fruits of ,faith4 ,duty of ,unity and ,love4 #a ,peter #c1 #h-ae 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #aai ,sixth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,exhortation to ,christian ,living4 ,life in ,christ4 ,romans #f1 #c-aa 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #ada ,seventh ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,exhortation to ,resist ,sin4 ,the ,wages of ,sin and the ,gift of ,god4 ,romans #f1 #ai-bc 4 4 4 4 4 4 #aef ,eighth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,exhortation to ,live in the ,spirit ,since ,we ,have ,become the ,children of ,god1 ,sons and ,heirs4 ,romans #h1 #ab-ag 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #afh ,ninth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,warning to ,christians ,against ,carnal ,security and ,its ,evils4 #a ,corinthians #aj1 #f-ac 4 4 4 4 #ahj ,tenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,spiritual ,counsel for ,church ,officers4 ,the ,use of the ,spiritual ,gifts4 #a ,corinthians #ab1 #a-aa 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #aig ,eleventh ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,paul's ,witness to ,christ's ,resurrection4 #a ,corinthians #ae1 #a-aj 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #bba ,twelfth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,the ,twofold ,use of the ,law and the ,gospel4 ,letter and ,spirit4 #b ,corinthians #c1 #d-aa 4 4 4 #bbc ,thirteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,god's ,testament and ,promise in ,christ1 and ,use of the ,law4 ,galatians #c1 #ae-bb 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #bdh ,fourteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,works of the ,flesh and ,fruits of the ,spirit4 ,galatians #e1 #af-bd 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #bee ,fifteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,conduct of ,christians to ,one ,another in ,church ,government4 ,sowing and ,reaping4 ,galatians #e1 #be-bf and #f1 #a-aj 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #beg ,sixteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,paul's ,care and ,prayer for the ,church ,that ,it ,may ,continue to ,abide in ,christ4 ,ephesians #c1 #ac-ba 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #bei ,seventeenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,exhortation to ,live ,according to the ,christian ,calling1 and in the ,unity of the ,spirit4 ,ephesians #d1 #a-f 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #bha ,eighteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,the ,treasure ,christians ,have in the ,preaching of the ,gospel4 ,the ,call to ,fellowship4 #a ,corinthians #a1 #d-i 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #bib ,nineteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,putting on the ,new ,man and ,laying ,off the ,old ,man4 ,ephesians #d1 #bb-bh 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #cjd ,twentieth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,the ,careful ,walk of the ,christian and ,redeeming the ,time4 ,ephesians #e1 #ae-ba 4 4 4 4 4 #cag ,twenty-,first ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,the ,christian ,armor and ,weapons4 ,ephesians #f1 #aj-ag 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #cbi ,twenty-,second ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,paul's ,thanks and ,prayers for ,his ,churches4 ,philippians #a1 #c-aa 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #ccj ,twenty-,third ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,the ,enemies of the ,cross of ,christ and the ,christian's ,citizenship in ,heaven4 ,philippians #c1 #ag-ba 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #cdc ,twenty-,fourth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,knowledge of ,god's ,will and ,its ,fruits4 ,prayer and ,spiritual ,knowledge4 ,colossians #a1 #c-ad #ceh ,twenty-,fifth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,christ ,will ,take ,both ,alike to ,himself1 the ,dead and ,living1 ,when ,he ,comes4 #a ,thessalonians #d1 #ac-ah 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #cgi ,twenty-,sixth ,sunday ,after ,trinity4--,god's ,righteous ,judgment in the ,future4 ,when ,christ ,comes4 #b ,thessalonians #a1 #c-aj 4 4 4 4 #chj ,trinity ,sunday ,text3 ,romans #aa1 #cc-cf4 #cc ,o the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of ,god6 ,how unsearchable are his judgments1 and his ways past tracing out6 #cd ,for who hath known the mind of the ,lord8 or who hath been his counsellor8 #ce or who hath first given to him1 and it shall be recompensed unto him again8 #cf ,for of him and through him1 and unto him1 are all things4 ,to him be the glory for ever4 ,amen4 ,,the ,,article ,,of ,,faith ,,on ,,the ,,trinity4 #a4 ,this epistle is read today because the festival of ,holy ,trinity1 or of the three persons of the ,godhead--which is the prime1 great1 incomprehensible and chief article of faith--is observed on this day4 ,the object of its observance is that1 by the ,word of ,god1 this truth of the ,godhead may be preserved among ,christians1 enabling them to know ,god as he would be known4 ,for although ,paul does not treat of that article in this epistle1 but touches on it only in a few words in the conclusion1 nevertheless he would teach that in our attempts to comprehend ,god we must not speculate and judge according to human wisdom1 but in the light of the ,word of ,god alone4 ,for these divine truths are too far above the reach of reason ever to be comprehended and explored by the understanding of man4 #b4 ,and although ,i have1 on other occasions1 taught and written on this article fully and frequently enough1 still ,i must say a few words in general concerning it here4 ,true1 it is not choice ,german1 nor has it a pleasing sound1 when we designate ,god by the word ,dreifaltigkeit 7nor is the ,latin1 ,trinitas1 more elegant72 but since we have no better term1 we must employ these4 ,for1 as ,i have said1 this article is so far above the power of the human mind to grasp1 or the tongue to express1 that ,god1 as the ,father of his children1 will pardon us when we stammer and lisp as best we can1 if only our faith be pure and right4 ,by this term1 however1 we would say that we believe the divine majesty to be three distinct persons of one true essence4 #c4 ,this is the revelation and knowledge ,christians have of ,god3 they not only know him to be one true ,god1 who is independent of and over all creatures1 and that there can be no more than this one true ,god1 but they know also what this one true ,god in his essential1 inscrutable essence is4 #d4 ,the reason and wisdom of man may go so far as to reach the conclusion1 although feebly1 that there must be one eternal divine being1 who has created and who preserves and governs all things4 ,man sees such a beautiful and wonderful creation in the heavens and on the earth1 one so wonderfully1 regularly and securely preserved and ordered1 that he must say3 ,it is impossible that this came into existence by mere chance1 or that it originated and controls itself2 there must have been a ,creator and ,lord from whom all these things proceed and by whom they are governed4 ,thus ,god may be known by his creatures1 as ,st4 ,paul says3 ,for the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen1 being perceived through the things that are made1 even his everlasting power and divinity4 ,rom #a1 #bj4 ,this is 7a posteriori7 the knowledge that we have when we contemplate ,god from without1 in his works and government2 as one1 looking upon a castle or house from without1 would draw conclusions as to its lord or keeper4 #e4 ,but from within 7a priori7 no human wisdom has been able to conceive what ,god is in himself1 or in his internal essence4 ,neither can anyone know or give information of it except it be revealed to him by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,for no one knoweth1 as ,paul says 7#a ,cor #b1 #aa71 the things of man save the spirit of man which is in him2 even so the things of ,god none knoweth save the ,spirit of ,god4 ,from without1 ,i may see what you do1 but what your intentions are and what you think1 ,i cannot see4 ,again1 neither can you know what ,i think except ,i enable you to understand it by word or sign4 ,much less can we know what ,god1 in his own inner and secret essence is1 until the ,holy ,spirit1 who searcheth and knoweth all things1 yea1 the deep things of ,god--as ,paul says above--reveals it to us3 as he does in the declaration of this article1 in which he teaches us the existence in the divine majesty of the one undivided essence1 but in such manner that there is1 first1 the person which is called the ,father2 and of him exists the second person called the ,son1 born from eternity2 and proceeding from both these is the third1 namely1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,these three persons are not distinct from each other1 as individual brothers or sisters are1 but they have being in one and the same eternal1 undivided and indivisible essence4 #f4 ,this1 ,i say1 is not discovered or attained to by human reason4 ,it is revealed from heaven above4 ,therefore1 only ,christians can intelligently speak of what the ,godhead essentially is1 and of his outward manifestation to his creatures1 and his will toward men concerning their salvation4 ,for all this is imparted to them by the ,holy ,spirit1 who reveals and proclaims it through the ,word4 #g4 ,those who have no such revelation1 and who judge according to their own wisdom1 such as the ,jews1 ,turks and heathen1 must consider the ,christian's declaration the greatest error and rankest heresy2 they must say that we ,christians are mad and foolish in imagining that there are three ,gods1 when1 according to all reason--yea1 even according to the ,word of ,god--there can be but one ,god4 ,it would not be reasonable1 they will say1 that there should be more than one householder over the same house1 more than one lord or sovereign over the same government2 much less reasonably should more than one ,god reign over heaven and earth4 ,they imagine that thus with their wisdom they have completely overthrown our faith and exposed it to the derision and scorn of all the world4 ,as if we were all blockheads and egregious fools and could not see their logic as well as they6 ,but1 thank ,god1 we have understanding equal to theirs1 and can argue as convincingly1 or more so1 than they with their ,alkoran and ,talmud1 that there is but the one ,god4 #h4 ,further1 we know1 from the testimony of ,holy ,writ1 that we cannot expound the mystery of these divine things by the speculations of reason and a pretense of great wisdom4 ,to explain this1 as well as all the articles of our faith1 we must have a knowledge higher than any to which the understanding of man can attain4 ,that knowledge of ,god which the heathen can perceive by reason or deduce from rational premises is but a small part of the knowledge that we should possess4 ,the heathen ,aristotle in his best book concludes from a passage in the wisest pagan poet1 ,homer3 ,there can be no good government in which there is more than one lord2 it results as where more than one master or mistress attempts to direct the household servants4 ,so must there be but one lord and regent in every government4 ,this is all rightly true4 ,god has implanted such light and understanding in human nature for the purpose of giving a conception and an illustration of his divine office1 the only ,lord and ,maker of all creatures4 ,but1 even knowing this1 we have not yet searched out or fathomed the exalted1 eternal1 divine ,godhead essence4 ,for even though ,i have learned that there is an only divine majesty1 who governs all things1 ,i do not thereby know the inner workings of this divine essence himself2 this no one can tell me1 except1 as we have said1 in so far as ,god himself reveals it in his ,word4 #i4 ,now we ,christians have the ,scriptures1 which we know to be the ,word of ,god4 ,the ,jews also have them1 from whose fathers they have descended to us4 ,from these1 and from no other source1 we have obtained all that is known of ,god and divine works1 from the beginning of the world4 ,even among the ,turks and the heathen1 all their knowledge of ,god--excepting what is manifestly fable and fiction--came from the ,scriptures4 ,and our knowledge is confirmed and proven by great miracles1 even to the present day4 ,these ,scriptures declare1 concerning this article1 that there is no ,god or divine being save this one alone4 ,they not only manifest him to us from without1 but they lead us into his inner essence1 and show us that in him there are three persons2 not three ,gods or three different kinds of divinity1 but the same undivided1 divine essence4 #aj4 ,such a revelation is radiantly shed forth from the greatest of ,god's works1 the declaration of his divine counsel and will4 ,in that counsel and will it was decreed from all eternity1 and1 accordingly1 was proclaimed in his promises1 that his ,son should become man and die to reconcile man to ,god4 ,for in our dreadful fall into sin and death eternal1 there was no way to save us excepting through an eternal person who had power over sin and death to destroy them1 and to give us righteousness and everlasting life instead4 ,this no angel or other creature could do2 it must needs be done of ,god himself4 ,now1 it could not be done by the person of the ,father1 who was to be reconciled1 but it must be done by a second person1 with whom this counsel was determined and through whom and for whose sake the reconciliation was to be brought about4 #aa4 ,here there are1 therefore1 two distinct persons1 one of whom becomes reconciled1 and the other is sent to reconcile and becomes man4 ,the former is called the ,father1 being first in that he did not have his origin in any other2 the latter is called the ,son1 being born of the ,father from eternity4 ,to this the ,scriptures attest1 for they make mention of ,god's ,son2 as1 for instance1 in ,psalm #b1 #g3 ,thou art my son2 this day have ,i begotten thee2 and again1 ,galatians #d1 #d3 ,but when the fulness of the time came1 ,god sent forth his ,son1 etc4 ,from this it necessarily follows that the ,son1 who is spoken of as a person1 must be distinct from the person of the ,father4 #ab4 ,again1 in the same manner1 the ,spirit of ,god is specifically and distinctively mentioned as a person sent or proceeding from ,god the ,father and the ,son3 for instance1 ,god says in ,joel #b1 #bh3 ,i will pour out my ,spirit upon all flesh1 etc4 ,here a spirit is poured out who is ,god's1 or a divine spirit1 and who must be of the same essence1 otherwise he could not say1 my ,spirit2 and yet he must be a person other than he who sent him or who pours out4 ,again1 because when he was sent he manifested himself1 and appeared in his descent in a visible form1 like that of a dove or tongues of fire1 he must be distinct in person from both the ,father and the ,son4 #ac4 ,but in this article of faith1 in which we say that the ,son of ,god became man and that he was of the same nature as we ourselves are1 in order that he might redeem us from sin and death and give us eternal life without any merit or worthiness of our own1 we give ,jews and ,turks no less occasion for laughter and mockery than when we speak of the three persons4 ,for this is a more absurd assertion by far1 in the estimation of human reason1 which speculates in its ,jewish and ,turkish--yea1 heathenish--teachings1 on this wise3 ,god is an only1 almighty ,lord of all1 who has created all men and given them the law according to which they are to live2 accordingly it follows that he will be merciful to the good and obedient1 but will condemn and punish the disobedient4 ,therefore1 he who does good works and guards himself against sin1 ,god will reward4 ,these are nothing but heathenish conclusions drawn from earthly1 worldly experience and observation1 as if ,god's government must be conducted on the same principles as that of a father among his children and domestics2 for those are considered good rulers and masters who make a distinction with regard to their own interests4 #ad4 ,such heathen ideas of wisdom1 holiness and service of ,god are taught and practiced by the ,pope4 ,and so we believed1 myself and others1 while we were under him1 not knowing any better2 otherwise we would have done and taught differently4 ,and1 in fact1 he who has not this revelation and ,word of ,god1 can neither believe nor teach other than pagan doctrine4 ,with such a faith1 how much better were we than the heathen and ,turks8 ,yea1 how could we guard ourselves against any deception and lying nonsense that might be offered as good works and as service of ,god8 ,then we had to follow every impostor who came with his cowl and cord1 as if ,christ were represented in him2 and we thought that in the observance of these things we would be saved4 ,so the whole world was filled with naught but false service of ,god--which the ,scriptures properly call idolatry--the product of human wisdom1 which is so easily deceived by that which pretends to be a good work and to be obedience to ,god4 ,for human wisdom knows no better2 and how could it know better without the revelation8 ,even when the revelation was proclaimed1 human wisdom would not heed it1 but despised it and followed its own fancies4 ,hence it continued to be hidden and incomprehensible to such wisdom1 as ,saint ,paul says3 ,for who hath known the mind of the ,lord8 #ae4 ,but to us this counsel and mind of ,god in giving his ,son to take upon himself our flesh1 is revealed and declared4 ,for from the ,word of ,god we have the knowledge that no man of himself can be righteous before ,god2 that our whole life and all our deeds are under wrath and condemnation1 because we are wholly born in sin and by nature are disobedient to ,god2 but if we would be delivered from sin and be saved1 we must believe on this mediator1 the ,son of ,god1 who has taken our sin and death upon himself1 by his own blood and death rendering satisfaction1 and has by his resurrection1 delivered us4 ,in this truth we will abide1 regardless of the ridicule heaped upon us because of such faith1 by heathen wisdom1 which teaches that ,god rewards the pious4 ,we understand that quite as well1 if not better1 than heathenism does4 ,but in these mysteries we need a higher wisdom than our own minds have devised or can devise1 a wisdom given to us by grace alone1 through divine revelation4 #af4 ,for it is not our intention thus to pry into the counsel1 thoughts and ways of ,god with our understanding and opinions1 and to be his counselors1 as they do who meddle in the affairs that are the prerogative of the ,godhead1 and who even dare1 in the face of this passage of ,saint ,paul1 to refuse to receive or learn of ,god1 but would impart to him that for which he must recompense again4 ,and thus they make gods after their own fancy1 as many gods as they have thoughts2 so that every shabby monastic cowl or self-appointed work1 in their estimation1 accomplishes as much and passes for as much as ,god the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,spirit1 in their eternal divine counsel1 determine and accomplish4 ,and they continue to be nothing but wearers of cowls and instructors in works1 which works even they can do who know nothing of ,god and are manifestly scoundrels4 ,and even though they have long been occupied with these things1 they still do not know how matters stand between themselves and ,god4 ,and it will ever be true as ,saint ,paul says3 ,for who hath known the mind of the ,lord1 or who hath been his counselor8 #ag4 ,for your own theories--which are no more than what anyone can arrive at1 conjecture or conceive in his own mind1 without divine revelation--are not a knowledge of the mind of ,god4 ,and what does it avail if you are not able to say more than that ,god is merciful to the good and will punish the wicked8 ,who will assure you that you are good and that you are pleasing to ,god with your papistic1 ,turkish monkery and holiness8 ,is it all that is necessary to assert3 ,god will reward with heaven such as are faithful to the order8 ,no1 dear brother1 mere presumption1 or an expression of your opinion1 will not suffice here4 ,i could do that as well as you4 ,indeed1 each may devise his own peculiar idea2 one a black1 and another a gray monk's cowl4 ,but we should hear and know what ,god's counsel is1 what is his will and mind4 ,this none can tell you by his own understanding1 and no book on earth can teach it except the ,scriptures4 ,these ,god himself has given1 and they make known to us that he has sent his ,son into the world to redeem us from sin and the wrath of ,god1 and that whosoever believes in him should have everlasting life4 ,,divine ,,mysteries ,,inexplicable ,,to ,,reason4 #ah4 ,behold1 ,paul's purpose in this epistle is to show ,christians that these sublime and divine mysteries--that is1 ,god's actual divine essence and his will1 administration and works--are absolutely beyond all human thought1 human understanding or wisdom2 in short1 that they are and ever will be incomprehensible1 inscrutable and altogether hidden to human reason4 ,when reason presumptuously undertakes to solve1 to teach and explain these matters1 the result is worthless1 yea1 utter darkness and deception4 ,if anything is to be ascertained1 it must be through revelation alone2 that is1 the ,word of ,god1 which was sent from heaven4 #ai4 ,we do not apply these words of ,paul to the question of divine predestination for every human being--who will be saved and who not4 ,for into these things ,god would not have us curiously inquire4 ,he has not given us any special revelation in regard to them1 but refers all men here to the words of the ,gospel4 ,by them they are to be guided4 ,he would have them hear and learn the ,gospel1 and believing in it they shall be saved4 ,therein have all the saints found comfort and assurance in regard to their election to eternal life2 not in any special revelation in regard to their predestination1 but in faith in ,christ4 ,therefore1 where ,saint ,paul treats of election1 in the three chapters preceding this text1 he would not have any to inquire or search out whether he has been predestinated or not2 but he holds forth the ,gospel and faith to all men4 ,so he taught before1 that we are saved through faith in ,christ4 ,he says 7,rom #aj1 #h73 ,the word is nigh thee1 in thy mouth1 and in thy heart1 and he explains himself by saying that this word should be proclaimed to all men1 that they may believe what he says in verses #ab and #ac3 ,for the same ,lord is ,lord of all1 and is rich unto all that call upon him3 for1 ,whosoever shall call upon the name of the ,lord shall be saved4 #bj4 ,but he speaks of the marvelous ruling of ,god in the ,church1 according to which they who have the name and honor of being the people of ,god1 and the ,church--the people of ,israel--are rejected on account of their unbelief4 ,others1 on the other hand1 who formerly were not ,god's people1 but were unbelieving1 are now1 since they have received the ,gospel and believe in ,christ1 become the true ,church in the sight of ,god1 and are saved4 ,consequently it was on account of their own unbelief that the former were rejected4 ,then the grace and mercy of ,god in ,christ was offered unto everlasting life1 and without any merit of their own1 to all such as were formerly in unbelief and sin1 if only they would accept and believe it4 ,he declares3 ,for ,god hath shut up all unto disobedience1 that he might have mercy upon all4 ,rom #aa1 #cb4 #ba4 ,hereupon follows the text1 which ,saint ,paul begins with emotions of profound astonishment at the judgment and dealings of ,god in his ,church1 saying3 ,o the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of ,god6 ,how unsearchable are his judgments1 and his ways past tracing out6 #bb4 ,sublime are the thoughts and counsel of ,god1 transcending by far the mind and comprehension of man1 yea of all creatures1 when he so richly pours forth his goodness and out of pure grace and mercy elects1 as beneficiaries of that goodness1 the poor and wretched and unworthy1 who are concluded under sin--that is1 those who acknowledge themselves before ,god to be guilty and deserving of everlasting wrath and perdition2 when he does all this that they might know him in his real divine essence1 and the sentiment of his heart--that through his ,son he will give all who believe everlasting life4 ,and1 again1 that they might know how he will reject and condemn the others--those who1 in pride and security1 boast of their own gifts and the fact that they are called the people of ,god in preference to all other nations2 who boast that they have special promises1 that they have the prophets1 the fathers1 etc42 who think that ,god will acknowledge no nation on earth but themselves as his people and his ,church4 ,he will reject them on account of their unbelief1 in which they are fettered by the pride and imaginations of their own wisdom and holiness4 #bc4 ,this is that rich1 inexpressible1 divine wisdom and knowledge which they possess who believe in ,christ1 and by which they are enabled to look into the depths and see what the purposes and thoughts of the divine heart are4 ,true1 in their weakness they cannot fully reach it2 they only can apprehend it in the revealed ,word1 by faith1 as in a glass or image1 as ,saint ,paul says4 #a ,cor #ac1 #ab4 ,but to blind1 unbelieving reason1 divine wisdom will be foreign and hidden2 nothing of it will enter reason's consciousness and thoughts1 nor will reason desire more though a revelation be given4 #bd4 ,that attitude ,saint ,paul encountered1 especially when the arrogant ,jews opposed themselves so sternly and stubbornly to the preaching of the ,gospel4 ,filled with astonishment1 he exclaimed3 ,what shall ,i say more8 ,i see indeed that it is but the deep unsearchable wisdom of ,god1 his incomprehensible judgment1 his inscrutable ways4 ,so he says elsewhere3 ,but we speak ,god's wisdom in a mystery1 even the wisdom that hath been hidden1 which ,god foreordained before the world unto our glory3 which none of the rulers of this world hath known4 #a ,cor #b1 #g-h4 #be4 ,this depth and richness of wisdom and knowledge1 we ,christians apprehend through faith2 for1 as ,saint ,paul says1 it cannot be apprehended nor comprehended otherwise4 ,though the world will not do it1 we will firmly believe that ,god is a true ,god and ,lord1 wise1 just and gracious1 whose riches and depth are ineffable4 ,we will glorify him with our whole heart1 therefore1 as he ought justly to be praised and glorified by every creature1 for his wonderful government of his ,church1 through his ,word and revelation4 ,whosoever will hear and receive the same shall have light that will turn them to him and give them a knowledge of their salvation--an experience which others can never realize4 ,and he is to be glorified because he manifests such unutterable goodness to all who are in sin and under ,god's wrath that he translates them1 though they are unworthy and condemned1 from the power of death and hell into the kingdom of eternal grace and life1 if they will only seek grace and believe on ,christ his ,son4 ,and1 on the other hand1 he is to be glorified because1 as a just judge1 he rightfully rejects and condemns those who will not believe the revelation and testimony of his will in his ,son2 who insist on1 and boast of1 their blind fancies1 of their own wisdom and righteousness4 ,being accordingly deprived of such light1 such grace and consolation1 they must forever be separated and cast forth from the kingdom of ,god1 regardless of what great name and fame may have been theirs when they were supposed to be the people and ,church of ,god4 #bf4 ,and such are ,god's unsearchable judgments and his ways past tracing out4 ,such are his government and works4 ,for by judgments is meant that which in his view is right or wrong2 what pleases or does not please him2 what merits his praise or his censure2 in short1 what we should follow or avoid4 ,again1 by his ways is meant that which he will manifest unto men and how he will deal with them4 ,these things men cannot and would not discover by their own reason1 nor search out by their own intellect1 and never should they oppose their judgments or speculations to ,god4 ,it is not for them to say what is right or wrong1 whether an act or ruling is divine4 ,they should humble themselves before him and acknowledge that they cannot understand1 they cannot teach ,god in such matters2 they should give him1 as their ,god and ,creator1 the honor of better understanding himself and his purposes than do we poor1 miserable worms4 ,for who hath known the mind of the ,lord8 or who hath been his counselor8 or who hath first given to him1 and it shall be recompensed unto him again8 #bg4 ,paul states three propositions which take away from the world all its boasting concerning divine things3 ,to know the mind of the ,lord--what are his thoughts and purposes1 or what he has determined within himself from eternity2 to be his counselor--advising or showing him what to do and how to do it2 to give to him--assisting him1 by one's own ability1 to accomplish his divine purpose4 ,all this is impossible to human nature2 it cannot know his mind1 and how much less will it be able1 with all of its wisdom and activity1 to counsel him or give him anything4 #bh4 ,therefore1 it is a shameful presumption on the part of the world to presume by its own powers to ascertain and discover ,god's essence1 his will and works1 and to counsel him as to his duties and pleasures2 and shameful is it that it presumes with its works to have merited something from him1 and to have earned a recompense2 shameful presumption to expect to be honored as having achieved much for ,god's kingdom and for the ,church--strengthening and preserving them and filling heaven with holiness6 #bi4 ,god must defeat minds so perverted4 ,in his administration he must disregard their opinions and attempts4 ,thus1 being made fools by their own wisdom1 they may stumble and be offended at it4 ,so would ,god1 by showing us the realities1 convince us of the futility of our own endeavors and lead us to acknowledge that we have not fathomed his mind1 his counsel and will1 and that we cannot counsel him4 ,no man or angel has ever yet first thought out for ,god his counsel1 or offered suggestion to him4 ,much less is he compelled to call us into counsel1 or recompense us for anything we have given to him4 ,,three ,,classes ,,of ,,people4 #cj4 ,there are three different kinds of people on earth1 among whom ,christians must live4 ,the first of these are that rude class which is unconcerned about the nature of ,god and how he rules4 ,they have no regard for ,god's ,word4 ,their faith is only in their mammon and their own appetites4 ,they think only of how they may live unto themselves1 like swine in the sty4 ,to such we need not preach anything of this text3 ,o the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of ,god4 ,they would understand nothing of it though we were to preach it to them everlastingly4 ,they would rather hear of the husks and swill with which they fill themselves4 ,therefore we will let them remain the swine that they are1 and separated from others as they are4 ,but it is exasperating to have to encounter them among ,christians4 #ca4 ,the second class are they who are still reasonable1 concerning themselves1 about ,god's purposes and their fulfilment1 and how we may be saved4 ,the heathen1 and even we ourselves when under the papacy1 contended1 according to reason1 over these things4 ,here is the beginning of all idolatry on earth2 everyone teaches of ,god according to his own opinion4 ,mohammed says3 ,he that believes his ,koran and its doctrines is pleasing to ,god4 ,a monk3 ,he that is faithful to the order and its regulations will be saved4 ,the ,pope3 ,he who observes his prescriptions and ritual1 who makes a pilgrimage to the apostles at ,rome1 buys himself an indulgence2 he has acquired the forgiveness of sins3 but he who neglects it is under the wrath of ,god4 ,these observances they call judgments and ways1 controlling consciences and directing them to eternal life2 and they imagine that they are ,god's judgments and ways4 #cb4 ,on the contrary1 the ,word declares that ,god wants none of these things2 that they are error and darkness and a vain service--idolatry1 which he hates and which provokes him to the utmost4 ,all must acknowledge who have practiced their own self-appointed observances for any length of time1 that they have no real assurance that ,god will be gracious unto them and take pleasure in them because of their lives and observances4 ,yet1 in their blind delusion and presumption1 they go on in their vagaries till ,god touches their hearts by a revelation of his law2 then1 alarmed1 they must admit that they have lived without a knowledge of ,god and of his will1 and that they have no counsel or help unless they lay hold on the words of the ,gospel of ,christ4 #cc4 ,we were all like that heretofore4 ,even ,i1 a learned doctor of divinity1 did not know better4 ,i imagined that with my monk's cowl ,i was pleasing to ,god and on the way to heaven4 ,i thought that ,i knew the mind of ,god well4 ,i wanted to be his counselor1 and to earn a recompense of him4 ,but now ,i realize that my belief was false2 it was blindness4 ,i know that ,i must learn from his ,word2 that nothing else avails before him but faith in the crucified ,christ1 his ,son2 and that in such faith we must live1 and do as our respective callings or positions require4 ,thus we may know right and wrong in ,god's sight2 for our knowledge is not of our own invention1 but we have it from revelation4 ,by revelation ,god shows us his mind2 as ,saint ,paul says 7#a ,cor #b1 #af73 ,we have the mind of ,christ4 ,and again 7verse #aj73 ,but unto us ,god revealed them through the ,spirit4 #cd4 ,the third class are those who transgress1 having knowledge4 ,they have the ,word of revelation4 ,i am not now speaking of those who knowingly persecute the truth--those of the first class1 who are unconcerned about ,god--but ,i am speaking of those who recognize the revelation but are led by the devil to override it and go around it4 ,they would conceive ways and judgments of ,god that he has not revealed4 ,if they were ,christians1 they would be satisfied and thank ,god for having given us his ,word1 in which he shows us what is pleasing to him and how we may be saved4 ,but instead1 they allow themselves to be led by the devil to seek for other revelations and to speculate on what ,god in his invisible majesty is1 and how he secretly governs the world1 and what he has determined in regard to the future of each particular individual4 ,and so presumptuous is our human nature that it would even interfere1 with its wisdom1 in ,god's judgment1 and intrude into his most secret counsel1 attempting to teach him and direct him4 ,it was because of his arrogance that the devil was cast out into the abyss of hell2 because he aspired to interference in the affairs of divine majesty1 and would drag down man in the fall with himself4 ,so did he cause man to fall in paradise1 and so did he tempt the saints2 and so he tempted ,christ himself when he set him on the pinnacle of the temple4 #ce4 ,against this third class ,saint ,paul directs his words1 in answer to the impudent questions of wise reason as to why ,god punished and rejected the ,jews1 as he did1 and allowed the condemned heathen to come into the ,gospel grace2 why he so administers justice as to exalt the godless and allow the godly to suffer and be oppressed2 why he elected ,judas as an apostle and afterwards rejected him and accepted a murderer and malefactor4 ,with these words ,saint ,paul would command the wise to cease their impertinent strivings after the things of the secret majesty1 and to confine themselves to the revelation he has given us2 for all such searching and prying will be in vain and harmful4 ,though you were to search forever you would nowhere attain the secrets of ,god's purposes1 but would only risk your soul4 #cf4 ,if you1 therefore1 would proceed wisely1 you cannot do better than to be interested in the ,word and in ,god's works4 ,in them he has revealed himself1 and in them he may be comprehended4 ,for instance1 he manifests his ,son1 ,christ1 to you1 on the cross4 ,this is the work of your redemption4 ,in it you may truly apprehend ,god1 and learn that he will not condemn you on account of your sins1 if you believe1 but will give you everlasting life4 ,so ,christ tells you3 ,god so loved the world1 that he gave his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth on him should not perish1 but have eternal life4 ,jn #c1 #af4 ,in this ,christ1 says ,saint ,paul 7,col #b1 #c71 are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden4 ,herein you will have more than enough to learn1 to study and ponder4 ,you will marvel at the wonderful revelation of ,god1 and you will learn to delight in and love him4 ,it is a mine which can never be exhausted in this life by study1 and in the contemplation of which1 as ,peter says 7#a ,pet #a1 #ab71 even the angels never tire1 but find unceasing joy and pleasure4 #cg4 ,i say this so that we may be prepared to instruct and direct those we may meet who1 assailed and tormented by such thoughts of the devil1 are led to tempt ,god4 ,they are beguiled by the devil to search and grope1 in his false ways1 after what may be the intention of ,god concerning them1 and thereby they are led into such apprehension and despair that they are unable to endure it4 ,such individuals must be reminded of these words1 and be reproved by them4 ,so did ,paul reprove the ,jews and cavilers of his day when they presumed to comprehend ,god with their wisdom1 to instruct him as his counselors and masters1 to deal with him directly themselves1 without any mediator1 and to render him such service that he would owe them a recompense4 ,nothing will come of such searching4 ,against its endeavors he has erected barriers that1 with all your striving1 you will never be able to overcome4 ,and so infinite are his wisdom1 his counsel and riches1 that you will never be able to fathom nor exhaust them4 ,you ought to rejoice that he gives you some knowledge of his omnipotence in his revelation1 as follows3 ,for of him1 and through him1 and unto him1 are all things4 ,to him be the glory for ever4 #ch4 ,why should we boast1 he would say here1 when everything that has being--and our own wisdom and capabilities1 of course--did not originate itself but had its origin in him and must be preserved by him1 must exist through him8 ,he says 7,acts #ag1 #bh73 ,for in him we live1 and move1 and have our being4 ,and again 7,ps #ajj1 #c73 ,it is he that hath made us1 and not we ourselves4 ,that is1 what we are and are able to do1 and the fact that we live and have peace and protection--in short1 all the good or evil that happens to us--comes to pass not by accident or chance4 ,it all proceeds from his divine counsel and good pleasure4 ,he cares for us as his people and flock4 ,he governs us and gives us good things4 ,he aids and preserves us in every time of need4 ,therefore1 all honor and glory are due to him alone1 from his creatures4 ,,everything ,,is ,,of ,,god4 #ci4 ,but when he says1 ,of him1 through him1 in him1 are all things--he says in the simplest way that the beginning1 middle and end is of ,god2 that all creatures have their origin in him1 also their growth and their limitations4 ,to illustrate3 ,every little grain of corn has its beginning4 ,a root springs from the dead seed in the ground2 then a shoot comes forth and becomes a stalk1 a leaflet1 an ear of corn1 and here it pauses1 having the three parts it is intended to have4 ,all creatures also have their beginning1 their continuation and end1 filling up the period of their existence4 ,when this order ceases1 every creature will cease to exist4 ,that which has a beginning and grows but does not attain its end1 does not reach perfection1 is nothing4 ,to sum it all up1 everything must be of ,god4 ,nothing can exist without origin in him4 ,nothing that has come into being can continue to exist without him4 ,he has not created the world as a carpenter builds a house and1 departing1 leaves it to stand as it may4 ,god remains with and preserves all things which he has made2 otherwise they would not continue to exist4 #dj4 ,saint ,paul does not simply say--as he does elsewhere--,of him are all things4 ,he adds two other assertions1 making a triple expression1 and then unites the three thoughts into one whole when he says1 ,to him be the glory for ever4 ,no doubt it was his intention therewith to convey the thought of this article of faith and to distinguish the three persons of the ,godhead1 even though he does not mention them by name1 which is not necessary here4 ,the ancient teachers also looked upon this passage as a testimony to the ,holy ,trinity4 ,their analysis was3 ,all things are created by ,god the ,father through the ,son--even as he does all things through the ,son--and are preserved1 in ,god's good pleasure1 through the ,holy ,spirit4 ,so ,paul is wont to say elsewhere2 for example 7#a ,cor #h1 #f73 ,there is one ,god1 the ,father1 of whom are all things1 and we unto him2 and one ,lord1 ,jesus ,christ1 through whom are all things4 ,and concerning the ,holy ,spirit1 ,genesis #a1 #ca says3 ,and ,god saw everything that he had made1 and1 behold1 it was very good4 #da4 ,the ,scriptures teach us that all creation is the work of one ,god1 or the whole ,godhead2 and yet1 inasmuch as they make a distinction between the three persons of the one ,godhead1 we may properly say that everything had its origin1 everything exists and continues1 in the ,father as the first person2 through the ,son1 who is of the ,father2 and in the ,holy ,spirit1 who proceeds from both the ,father and the ,son2 which three1 nevertheless1 are comprehended in the one undivided essence4 #db4 ,but how such a distinction of persons exists in the divine essence from eternity is a mystery which we shall and must leave unsolved4 ,for we cannot1 with our crude understanding1 even fathom ,god's creatures2 no creature is wise enough to understand these three parts of itself--the beginning1 the middle and the end4 ,though they are distinct from each other1 nevertheless they are so closely connected that we cannot with our physical senses separate one from the other4 ,who has ever been able to discover or explain the process by which a leaflet grows from a tree1 or a tiny grain of corn becomes a root1 or a cherry grows from the blossom to wood and kernel8 ,again1 who can explain how the bodily members of a human being manifestly grow2 what the sight of the eye is2 how the tongue can make such a variety of sounds and words1 which enter1 with marvelous diversity1 into so many ears and hearts8 ,much less are we able to analyze the inner workings of the mind--its thoughts1 its meditations1 its memory4 ,why1 then1 should we presume1 with our reason1 to compass and comprehend the eternal1 invisible essence of ,god8 ,trinity ,sunday ,second ,sermon4 ,text3 ,romans #aa1 #cc-cf4 ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,the ,,trinity4#a ,footnote #a3 ,this sermon was first printed in #aece1 at ,wittenberg4 #a4 ,this festival requires us to instruct the people in the dogma of the ,holy ,trinity1 and to strengthen both memory and faith concerning it4 ,this is the reason why we take up the subject once more4 ,without proper instruction and a sound foundation in this regard1 other dogmas cannot be rightly and successfully treated4 ,the other festivals of the year present the ,lord ,god clothed in his works and miracles4 ,for instance3 on ,christmas we celebrate his incarnation2 on ,easter his resurrection from the dead2 on ,whitsunday the gift of the ,holy ,spirit and the establishment of the ,christian ,church4 ,thus all the other festivals present the ,lord in the guise of a worker of one thing or another4 ,but this ,trinity ,festival discloses him to us as he is in himself4 ,here we see him apart from whatever guise assumed1 from whatever work done1 solely in his divine essence4 ,we must go beyond and above all reason1 leaving behind the evidence of created things1 and hear only ,god's own testimony concerning himself and his inner essence2 otherwise we shall remain unenlightened4 #b4 ,upon this subject the foolishness of ,god and the wisdom of the world conflict4 ,god's declaration that he is one ,god in three distinct persons1 the world looks upon as wholly unreasonable and foolish2 and the followers of mere reason1 when they hear it1 regard every one that teaches or believes it as no more than a fool4 ,therefore this article has been assailed continually1 from the times of the apostles and the fathers down to the present day1 as history testifies4 ,especially the ,gospel of ,st4 ,john has been subjected to attack1 which was written for the special purpose of fortifying this dogma against the attacks of ,cerinthus the heretic1 who in the apostolic age already attempted to prove from ,moses the existence of but one ,god1 which he assigned as reason that our ,lord ,jesus cannot be true ,god on account of the impossibility of ,god and man being united in one being4 ,thus he gave us the prattle of his reason1 which he made the sole standard for heaven to conform to4 #c4 ,o shameless reason6 ,how can we poor1 miserable mortals grasp this mystery of the ,trinity8 we who do not understand the operation of our own physical powers--speech1 laughter1 sleep1 things whereof we have daily experience8 ,yet we would1 untaught by the ,word of ,god1 guided merely by our fallible head1 pronounce upon the very nature of ,god4 ,is it not supreme blindness for man1 when he is unable to explain the most insignificant physical operation daily witnessed in his own body1 to presume to understand something above and beyond the power of reason to comprehend1 something whereof only ,god can speak1 and to rashly affirm that ,christ is not ,god8 #d4 ,indeed1 if reason were the standard of judgment in such matters1 ,i also might make a successful venture2 but when the conclusions of even long and mature reflections upon the subject are compared with ,scripture1 they will not stand4 ,therefore we must repeat1 even though a mere stammering should be the result1 what the ,scriptures say to us1 namely3 that ,jesus ,christ is true ,god and that the ,holy ,spirit is likewise true ,god1 yet there are not three ,gods2 not three divine natures1 as we may speak of three brothers1 three angels1 three suns1 three windows4 ,there is one indivisible divine essence1 while we recognize a distinction as to the persons4 ,,scripture ,,proof ,,that ,,christ ,,is ,,god4 ,paul1 speaking of ,christ in ,hebrews #a1 #c1 refers to him as the express image of ,god's substance4 ,again1 in ,colossians #a1 #ae he says of ,christ3 ,who is the image of the invisible ,god1 the firstborn of all creation4 ,we must take these words for what they say--that all creatures1 even angels and men1 are ranked below ,christ4 ,this classification leaves room for ,god only3 taking away the creature1 only ,god remains4 ,it is one and the same thing1 then1 to say that ,christ is the firstborn of all creatures and that ,christ is true and essential ,god4 #e4 ,to make the matter as clear as possible ,paul uses the expression image of the invisible ,god4 ,if ,christ be the image of ,god he must be a person distinct from him whose image he is1 but at the same time in one divine essence with the ,father4 ,he and the ,father are not one person1 but two1 and yet ,christ could not be the express image of the ,father's person1 or essence1 if he were not equally divine4 ,no creature can be an image of the divine essence1 for it does not possess that essence4 ,to repeat1 ,christ could not be called the express image of ,god if he and the ,father were not distinct persons2 there must be one imaged and one who is the image4 ,expressed more clearly and according to ,scripture1 one person is the ,father1 who in eternity begets the other2 the other is the ,son1 begotten in eternity1 yet both are equally eternal1 mighty1 wise and just4 #f4 ,though the ,jews and ,turks ridicule our doctrine1 as if we taught the existence of three brothers in heaven1 it does not signify4 ,might ,i also cavil were it to serve any purpose here4 ,but they do us wrong and falsify our teaching2 for we do not conceive of the ,trinity as in the nature of three men or of three angels4 ,we regard it as one divine essence1 an intimacy surpassing any earthly unity4 ,the human body and soul are not so completely one as the ,triune ,god4 ,further1 we claim the ,holy ,scriptures teach that in the one divine essence1 ,god the ,father begot a son4 ,before any creature was made1 before the world was created1 as ,paul says1 before the foundation of the world1 in eternity1 the ,father begot a ,son who is equal with him and in all respects ,god like himself4 ,not otherwise could ,paul call ,christ the express image of the invisible ,god4 ,thus it is proven that the ,father and the ,son are distinct persons1 and that nevertheless but one ,god exists1 a conclusion we cannot escape unless we would contradict ,paul1 and would become ,jews and ,turks4 ,,paul ,,and ,,moses ,,agree ,,in ,,testimony4 #g4 ,again1 ,paul makes mention of ,christ in different phrase1 saying3 ,neither let us tempt ,christ1 as some of them also tempted1 and were destroyed of serpents4 #a ,cor #aj1 #i4 ,now1 keeping this verse in mind1 note how ,paul and ,moses kiss each other1 how clearly the one responds to the other4 ,for ,moses says 7,num #ad1 #bb73 ,all those men 444 have tempted me these ten times1 and have not hearkened to my voice1 and in this connection the speaker is represented by the term ,lord1 everywhere in the ,bible printed by us in capitals to indicate a name belonging only to the ,eternal1 applicable to none but the one true ,god4 ,other terms used to designate ,god are sometimes applied also to men1 but this word ,lord refers only to ,god4 ,now1 ,moses says3 ,and the ,lord ,adonai1 the true ,god said 444 ,all these men 444 have tempted me these ten times4 ,then comes ,paul explaining who this ,god is--saying they tempted ,christ4 ,crawl through this statement if you may2 the fact remains that ,paul declares it was ,christ who was tempted1 and ,moses makes him the one eternal and true ,god4 ,moreover1 ,christ was not at that time born2 no1 nor were ,mary and ,david4 ,nevertheless1 the apostle plainly says1 ,they tempted ,christ1 let us not also tempt him4 #h4 ,certainly enough1 then1 ,christ is the man to whom ,moses refers as ,god4 ,thus the testimony of ,moses long before is identical with that of ,paul4 ,though employing different terms1 they both confess ,christ as the ,son of ,god1 born in eternity of the ,father1 in the same divine essence and yet distinct from him4 ,you may call this difference what you will2 we indicate it by the term person4 ,true1 we do not make a wholly clear explanation of the mystery2 we but stammer when speaking of a ,trinity4 ,but what are we to do8 we cannot better the attempt4 ,so1 then1 the ,father is not the ,son1 but the ,son is born of the ,father in eternity2 and the ,holy ,spirit proceeds from ,god the ,father and ,god the ,son4 ,thus there are three persons1 and yet but one ,god4 ,for what ,moses declares concerning ,god ,paul says is spoken of ,christ4 #i4 ,the same argument substantially ,paul employs in ,acts #bj1 #bh1 when1 blessing the ,church of ,miletus and exhorting the assembled ministers concerning their office1 he says3 ,take heed unto yourselves1 and to all the flock1 in which the ,holy ,spirit hath made you bishops1 to feed the church of the ,lord which he purchased with his own blood4 ,this1 too1 is a significant text1 proving beyond all controversy that ,christ our ,lord1 who purchased the ,church with his blood1 is truly ,god1 and to him the ,church belongs4 ,for the apostle plainly asserts it was ,god who bought the ,church with his blood and that the ,church is his own4 ,now1 in view of the fact already established that the persons are distinct1 and of the further statement that ,god has purchased the ,church through his own blood1 we inevitably conclude that ,christ our ,saviour is true ,god1 born of the ,father in eternity1 and that he also became man and was born of the ,virgin ,mary in time4 #aj4 ,if such blood--the material1 tangible1 crimson blood1 shed by a real man--is truly to be called the blood of ,god1 then he who shed it must be actually ,god1 an eternal1 almighty person in the one divine essence4 ,in that case we truly can say the blood flowing from the side of the crucified ,one and spilled upon the ground is not merely the blood of an ordinary man1 but ,god's own4 ,paul does not indulge in frivolous talk4 ,he speaks of a most momentous matter2 and he is in dead earnest when he in his exhortation reminds us that it is an exalted office to rule the ,church and to feed it with the ,word of ,god4 ,lest we toy in the performance of such an office we are reminded that the flock is as dear to him as the blood of his dear ,son1 so precious that all creatures combined can furnish no equivalent4 ,and if we are indolent or unfaithful1 we sin against the blood of ,god and become guilty of it1 inasmuch as through our fault it has been shed in vain for the souls which we should oversee4 #aa4 ,there are many passages of similar import1 particularly in the ,gospel of ,john4 ,so we cannot evade the truth but must say ,god the ,father1 ,god the ,son and ,god the ,holy ,spirit are three individual persons1 yet of one divine essence4 ,we do not1 as the ,jews and ,turks derisively allege1 worship three ,gods2 we worship only one ,god1 represented to us in the ,scriptures as three persons4 ,christ said to ,philip 7,jn #ad1 #i71 ,he that hath seen me hath seen the ,father4 ,there ,christ claims unity and equality with the ,father in the one divine essence4 ,so does ,paul in ,colossians #a1 #ae1 where he calls ,christ the image of the invisible ,god1 at the same time indicating two distinct persons3 the ,father is not the ,son and the ,son is not the ,father1 yet they are one ,god4 ,such passages1 ,i say1 are frequent4 ,by means of them the sainted fathers valiantly maintained this dogma of the ,trinity against the devil and the world1 thus making it our heritage4 #ab4 ,now1 what care we that reason should regard it as foolishness8 ,it requires no skill to cavil over these things2 ,i could do that as well as others4 ,but1 praise ,god1 ,i have the grace to desire no controversy on this point4 ,when ,i know it is the ,word of ,god that declares the ,trinity1 that ,god has said so1 ,i do not inquire how it can be true2 ,i am content with the simple ,word of ,god1 let it harmonize with reason as it may4 ,and every ,christian should adopt the same course with respect to all the articles of our faith4 ,let there be no caviling and contention on the score of possibility2 be satisfied with the inquiry3 ,is it the ,word of ,god8 ,if a thing be his ,word1 if he has spoken it1 you may confidently rely upon it he will not lie nor deceive you1 though you may not understand the how and the when4 ,since1 then1 this article of the ,holy ,trinity is certified by the ,word of ,god1 and the sainted fathers have from the inception of the ,church chivalrously defended and maintained the article against every sect1 we are not to dispute as to how ,god the ,father1 the ,son and the ,holy ,spirit are one ,god4 ,this is an incomprehensible mystery4 ,it is enough that ,god in his ,word gives such testimony of himself4 ,both his nature and its revelation to us are far beyond our understanding4 ,,physical ,,life ,,inexplicable ,,to ,,reason4 #ac4 ,and why should you presume to comprehend1 to exactly understand1 the sublime1 inconceivable divine essence when you are wholly ignorant of your own body and life8 ,you cannot explain the action of your laughter1 nor how your eyes give you knowledge of a castle or mountain ten miles away4 ,you cannot tell how in sleep one1 dead to the external world1 is yet alive4 ,if we are unable to understand the least detail of our physical selves1 anything so insignificant as the growth of a mere hair1 for instance1 can we1 unaided by the revelation of ,god's ,word1 climb by reason--that reason so blind to things within its natural realm--into the realm of heavenly mysteries and comprehend and define ,god in his majesty8 ,if you employ reason from mere love of disputation1 why not devote it to questions concerning the daily workings of your physical nature8 for instance1 where are the five senses during sleep8 just how is the sound of your own laughter produced8 ,we might without sin occupy ourselves with such questions4 ,but as to the absolute truth in a matter such as this1 let us abide patiently by the authority of the ,word4 ,the ,word says that ,christ is the express image of the invisible ,god1 the firstborn of all creatures2 in other words1 he is ,god equally with the ,father4 #ad4 ,again1 ,john #e1 #bc testifies that all should honor the ,son as they honor the ,father4 ,and in ,john #ab1 #dd we read3 ,he that believeth on me1 believeth not on me1 but on him that sent me4 ,also1 ,john #ad1 #a3 ,believe in ,god1 believe also in me4 ,and again1 ,john #af1 #ae3 ,all things whatsoever the ,father hath are mine4 ,these and similar passages are armor that cannot be pierced3 for they are uttered by ,god1 who does not lie and who alone is qualified to speak the truth concerning himself4 ,thus the dogma of the ,trinity is thoroughly founded upon the holy ,scriptures4 ,,the ,,third ,,person ,,of ,,the ,,trinity4 #ae4 ,now1 having established the existence of ,christ in the ,trinity1 we must next consider the third person1 the ,holy ,spirit1 in ,scripture sometimes termed the ,spirit of ,god and sometimes his ,soul4 ,this person is not spoken of as born2 he is not born like the ,son1 but proceeds from the ,father and the ,son4 ,to express it differently1 he is a person possessing in eternity the divine essence1 which he derives from the ,father and ,son in unity in the same way the ,son derives it from the ,father alone4 ,there are1 then1 three distinct persons in one divine essence1 one divine majesty4 ,according to the ,scripture explanation of the mystery1 ,christ the ,lord is the ,son of ,god from eternity1 the express image of the ,father1 and equally great1 mighty1 wise and just4 ,all deity1 wisdom1 power and might inherent in the ,father is also in ,christ1 and likewise in the ,holy ,spirit1 who proceeds from ,father and ,son4 ,now1 when you are asked to explain the ,trinity1 reply that it is an incomprehensible mystery1 beyond the understanding of angels and creatures1 the knowledge of which is confined to the revelations of ,scripture4 #af4 ,rightly did the fathers compose the ,creed1 or ,symbol1 in the simple form repeated by ,christian children3 ,i believe in ,god the ,father ,almighty1 ,maker of heaven and earth1 and in ,jesus ,christ his only ,son 444 ,i believe in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this confession we did not devise1 nor did the fathers of former times4 ,as the bee collects honey from many fair and gay flowers1 so is this ,creed collected1 in appropriate brevity1 from the books of the beloved prophets and apostles--from the entire holy ,scriptures--for children and for unlearned ,christians4 ,it is fittingly called the ,apostle's ,symbol1 or ,apostle's ,creed4 ,for brevity and clearness it could not have been better arranged1 and it has remained in the ,church from ancient time4 ,it must either have been composed by the apostles themselves or it was collected from their writings and sermons by their ablest disciples4 #ag4 ,it begins ,i believe4 ,in whom8 ,in ,god the ,father4 ,this is the first person in the ,godhead4 ,for the sake of clear distinction1 the peculiar attribute and office in which each person manifests himself is briefly expressed4 ,with the first it is the work of creation4 ,true1 creation is not the work of one individual person1 but of the one divine1 eternal essence as such4 ,we must say1 ,god the ,father1 ,god the ,son and ,god the ,holy ,spirit created heaven and earth4 ,yet that work is more especially predicated of the person of the ,father1 the first person1 for the reason that creation is the only work of the ,father in which he has stepped forth out of concealment into observation2 it is the first work wrought by the divine ,majesty upon the creature4 ,by the word ,father he is particularly and rightly distinguished from the other persons of the ,trinity4 ,it indicates him as the first person1 derived from no other1 the ,son and the ,holy ,spirit having existence from him4 #ah4 ,continuing1 the ,creed says1 ,i believe in another who is also ,god4 ,for to believe is something we owe to no being but ,god alone4 ,who is this second person8 ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's only begotten ,son4 ,christians have so confessed for more than fifteen hundred years2 indeed1 such has been the confession of believers from the beginning of the world4 ,though not employing precisely these words1 yet this has been their faith and profession4 #ai4 ,the first designation of ,god the ,son makes him the only ,son of ,god4 ,although angels are called sons of the ,lord our ,god1 and even ,christians are termed his children1 yet no one of these is said to be the only or only-begotten ,son4 ,such is the effect of ,christ's birth from the ,father that he is unequaled by any creature1 not excepting even the angels4 ,for he is in truth and by nature the ,son of ,god the ,father2 that is1 he is of the same divine1 eternal1 uncreated essence4 #bj4 ,next comes the enumeration of the acts peculiar to him3 ,who was conceived by the ,holy ,spirit1 born of the ,virgin ,mary1 suffered under ,pontius ,pilate1 was crucified1 dead and buried4 ,he descended into hell2 on the third day he rose again from the dead2 he ascended into heaven1 and sits at the right hand of ,god the ,father ,almighty2 from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead4 ,the distinct personality of the ,son is thus demonstrated by acts peculiar to himself4 ,not the ,father and not the ,holy ,spirit1 but the ,son alone1 assumed human nature of flesh and blood1 like unto ours1 to suffer1 die1 rise again and ascend into heaven4 #ba4 ,in the third place we confess1 ,i believe in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,here again a distinct person is named1 yet one in divine essence with the ,father and the ,son2 for we must believe in no one but the true ,god1 in obedience to the first commandment3 ,i am ,jehovah thy ,god 444 ,thou shalt have no other gods before me4 ,thus briefly this confession comprehends the unity of the divine essence--we accept and worship only one ,god--and the revealed truth that in the ,trinity are three distinct persons4 ,the same distinction is indicated in holy baptism2 we are baptized into the faith of one ,god1 yet ,christ commands us to baptize into the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,spirit4 #bb4 ,the peculiarity of this third person is the fact that he proceeds from both the ,father and the ,son4 ,he is therefore called also the ,spirit of the ,father and the ,son2 he is poured into the human heart and reveals himself in the gathering of the ,church of ,christ in all tongues4 ,through the ,word of the ,gospel he enlightens and kindles the hearts of men unto one faith1 sanctifying1 quickening and saving them4 #bc4 ,so the ,creed confesses three persons as comprehended in one divine essence1 each one1 however1 retaining his distinct personality2 and in order that the simple ,christian may recognize that there is but one divine essence and one ,god1 who is tri-personal1 a special work1 peculiar to himself1 is ascribed to each person4 ,and such acts1 peculiar to each person1 are mentioned for the reason that thus a confusion of persons is avoided4 ,to the ,father we ascribe the work of creation2 to the ,son the work of ,redemption2 to the ,holy ,spirit the power to forgive sins1 to gladden1 to strengthen1 to transport from death to life eternal4 ,the thought is not that the ,father alone is the ,creator1 the ,son alone ,redeemer and the ,holy ,spirit alone ,sanctifier4 ,the creation and preservation of the universe1 atonement for sin and its forgiveness1 resurrection from the dead and the gift of eternal life--all these are operations of the one ,divine ,majesty as such4 ,yet the ,father is especially emphasized in the work of creation1 which proceeds originally from him as the first person2 the ,son is emphasized in the redemption he has accomplished in his own person2 and the ,holy ,spirit in the peculiar work of sanctification1 which is both his mission and revelation4 ,such distinction is made for the purpose of affording ,christians the unqualified assurance that there is but one ,god and yet three persons in the one divine essence--truths the sainted fathers have faithfully gathered from the writings of ,moses1 the prophets and the apostles1 and which they have maintained against all heretics4 #bd4 ,this faith has descended to us by inheritance1 and by his power ,god has maintained it in his ,church1 against sects and adversaries1 unto the present time4 ,so we must abide by it in its simplicity and not be wise4 ,christians are under the necessity of believing things apparently foolish to reason4 ,as ,paul says 7#a ,cor #a1 #ba73 ,it was ,god's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe4 ,how can reason adapt itself to comprehend that three are one1 and one is three2 that ,god became man2 that he who is washed with water in obedience to ,christ's command1 is washed with the blood of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ and cleansed from all sins8 ,such articles of faith appear utterly foolish to reason4 ,paul aptly calls the ,gospel foolish preaching wherewith ,god saves such as do not depend on their own wisdom but simply believe the ,word4 ,they who will follow reason in the things dealt with in these articles1 and will reject the ,word1 shall be defeated and destroyed in their wisdom4 #be4 ,now1 we have in the holy ,scriptures and in the ,creed sufficient information concerning the ,holy ,trinity1 and all that is necessary for the instruction of ordinary ,christians4 ,besides1 the divinity of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ and that of the ,holy ,spirit is also attested by miracles not to be lightly esteemed nor disregarded4 ,the ,lord our ,god brings to pass miraculous things for the ,christian's sake--for the strengthening of his faith--and not merely as a rebuke to false teachers4 ,were he to consider the false teachers alone1 he might easily defer their retribution to the future life1 since he permits many other transgressors to go unpunished for ten1 twenty or thirty years4 ,but the fact is1 ,god openly in this life lays hold upon leaders of sects who blaspheme and slander him with their false doctrines4 ,he inflicts upon them unusual punishments for the sake of warning others4 ,besides being openly convicted of blasphemy and having the condemnation of their own conscience1 the misguided ones receive testimony to the fact that these false leaders are instigators of blasphemy against ,god's name and his ,word4 ,all men are compelled to admit ,god can have no pleasure in their doctrine1 since he visits them with special marks of his displeasure1 destroying them with severer punishments than ordinarily befall offenders4 #bf4 ,history records that ,john the evangelist had as contemporary a heretic1 by the name of ,cerinthus1 who was the first to arise in opposition to the apostolic doctrine and in blasphemy against the ,lord ,jesus with the claim that ,jesus is not ,god4 ,this blasphemy spread to such an extent that ,john saw himself compelled to supplement the work of the other evangelists with his ,gospel1 whose distinct purpose it is to defend and maintain the deity of ,christ against ,cerinthus and his rabble4 ,a feature of ,john's ,gospel patent to all is the sublime beginning of his ,gospel which renders it distinct from the others4 ,he does not lay stress upon the miraculous doings of ,christ1 but upon his preaching1 wherein he reveals himself powerfully as true ,god1 born of the ,father from eternity1 and his equal in power1 honor1 wisdom1 righteousness and every other divine work4 ,with respect to ,john and ,cerinthus it is reported that the former1 having gone to a public bath with some of his disciples1 became aware that ,cerinthus and his rabble were there1 also4 ,without hesitation he told his disciples to be up and away1 and not to abide among blasphemers4 ,the disciples followed his advice and departed4 ,immediately after their departure the room collapsed1 and ,cerinthus with his followers perished1 not one escaping4 #bg4 ,we also read concerning the heretic ,arius1 the chief foe of his time toward the dogma of the deity of ,christ4 ,the injury done by this man to the cause of ,christ was such as to occupy the ,church for four centuries after his death2 and still today his heresy has not been altogether rooted out4 ,but the ,lord took the matter in hand by the performance of a miracle which could not but be understood4 ,history records that ,arius had ingratiated himself into the favor of ,constantine1 the emperor1 and his counselors4 ,with an oath he had succeeded in impressing them with the righteousness of his doctrine1 so that the emperor gave command that ,alexander1 bishop of ,constantinople1 should recognize him as a member of the ,christian ,church and restore him to the priestly office4 ,when the godly bishop refused to accede to this demand1 knowing full well the purpose pursued by ,arius and his followers1 ,eusebius and the other bishops who supported ,arius threatened him with the imperial edict and expressed the determination to drive him out by force and to have ,arius restored by the congregation as such4 ,however1 they gave him a day to think the matter over4 #bh4 ,the godly bishop was fearful4 ,the following of ,arius was large and powerful1 being supported by the imperial edict and the whole court4 ,the bishop1 therefore1 resolved to seek help from ,god1 where alone it is found in all things relating to ,god's honor4 ,he fell down upon his face in the church and prayed all night long that ,god should preserve his name and honor by methods calculated to stem the tide of evil purpose1 and to preserve ,christendom against the heretics4 ,when it was morning1 and the hour had come when ,alexander the bishop should either restore ,arius to office or be cast out of his own1 ,arius convened punctually with his followers4 ,as the procession was wending its way to the church1 ,arius suddenly felt ill and was compelled to seek privacy4 ,the pompous procession halted1 waiting his return1 when the message came that his lungs and liver had passed from him1 causing his death4 ,the narrative comments3 ,mortem dignam blasphema et foetida mente--a death worthy such a blasphemous and turpid mind4 #bi4 ,we see1 then1 that this dogma has been preserved by ,god first through the writings and the conflicts of the apostles1 and then by miracles1 against the devil and his blasphemers4 ,and it shall be preserved in the future likewise1 so that1 without a trace of doubt1 we may believe in ,god the ,father1 ,god the ,son1 ,god the ,holy ,spirit4 ,this is the faith which we confess with our children daily4 ,to guard against a mixing of persons or the abandonment of the tri-personality1 three distinct acts are predicated4 ,this should enable the common ,christian to avoid confusing the persons1 while maintaining the divine unity as to essence4 ,we proclaim these things on this ,sunday in order to call attention to the fact that we have not come upon this doctrine in a dream1 but by the grace of ,god through his ,word and the holy apostles and ,fathers4 ,god help us to be found constant and without blemish in this doctrine and faith to our end4 ,amen4 ,first ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #a ,john #d1 #af-ba4 #af ,god is love2 and he that abideth in love abideth in ,god1 and ,god abideth in him4 #ag ,herein is love made perfect with us1 that we may have boldness in the day of judgment2 because as he is1 even so are we in this world4 #ah ,there is no fear in love3 but perfect love casteth out fear1 because fear hath punishment2 and he that feareth is not made perfect in love4 #ai ,we love1 because he first loved us4 #bj ,if a man say1 ,i love ,god1 and hateth his brother1 he is a liar3 for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen1 cannot love ,god whom he hath not seen4 #ba ,and this commandment have we from him1 that he who loveth ,god love his brother also4 ,,god ,,is ,,love4 ,this epistle text is amply expounded in the ,explanation of ,certain ,epistles of the ,apostles printed in other volumes4 ,those who wish may read there one or more sermons for themselves or their people4 ,they are too long to insert here4 ,second ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #a ,john #c1 #ac-ah4 #ac ,marvel not1 brethren1 if the world hateth you4 #ad ,we know that we have passed out of death into life1 because we love the brethren4 ,he that loveth not abideth in death4 #ae ,whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer3 and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him4 #af ,hereby know we love1 because he laid down his life for us3 and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren4 #ag ,but whoso hath the world's goods1 and beholdeth his brother in need1 and shutteth up his compassion from him1 how does the love of ,god abide in him8 #ah ,my little children1 let us not love in word1 neither with the tongue2 but in deed and truth4 ,,exhortation ,,to ,,brotherly ,,love4 #a4 ,the ,epistles and ,gospels selected for the ,pentecost cycle of ,sundays have love as their general theme4 ,they deal not only with the love we owe to ,christ and ,god1 which is only to be thankful for the unspeakable blessing of forgiveness of sins and salvation through ,christ's blood and death1 but also of the love we owe our neighbor2 not a love in return for favors1 but one that unceasingly gives1 forgives and works all good even when unrequited4 #b4 ,john here admonishes the ,christian to exercise the virtue of love4 ,considering the evident rarity of love among men1 this admonition is necessary4 ,he particularly warns ,christians not to wonder at the world's hatred and desire for their death4 ,such was the hate of ,cain for his brother1 of which the apostle has just spoken4 ,the world's hate1 it must be admitted1 repels love and powerfully obstructs its exercise4 #c4 ,is it not surpassing strange that one can hate those who love him and from whom he has received only kindness8 ,such wickedness is almost inconceivable1 we say4 ,what incentive is there for any to render the world service when in ingratitude it rewards love with hatred8 ,but let us examine ourselves1 who are baptized and have received the ,gospel1 and confess how we requite the supreme love of ,god in giving us his ,son4 ,what a beautiful example of glad gratitude we display6 ,for the shame of it we ought to despise ourselves before ,god and his angels4 ,and what shall we say of those who will not endure the preaching of the glorious message of ,god's grace and blessing1 but condemn it as heresy8 to whom they who seek to serve1 to benefit and save the world by declaring the good news1 must be1 as ,paul says1 as the filth of the world1 the offscouring of all things1 #a ,cor #d1 #ac4 ,indeed1 no criminal receives more wretched and ignominious treatment and execution1 of which the ,pope and his followers are a case in point4 ,,the ,,world',s ,,hatred4 #d4 ,while experience has proven this otherwise incredible fact1 ,john vouchsafes the admonition notwithstanding3 ,marvel not1 brethren1 if the world hateth you4 ,if we are not to wonder at this1 is there anything in the world to incite wonder8 ,i should truly think the hearing of a single sermon on the grace of ,christ would suffice to bring the world to receive the ,gospel with intense joy and never to forget the divine mercy and blessing4 ,it would be no wonder should the earth suddenly open and engulf mankind because of its ingratitude to ,god who has given his ,son to become man for the purpose of redeeming us condemned mortals from sin and death and restoring us to life and salvation4 ,is it not a horrible thing that any man should shun and oppose such a ,savior and his doctrine even more than he does the devil himself8 #e4 ,but what is ,god's attitude toward such conduct8 ,well does he say to the ,jews through the prophet3 ,o my people1 what have ,i done unto thee8 and wherein have ,i wearied thee8 testify against me4 ,for ,i brought thee up out of the land of ,egypt1 and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage2 and ,i sent before thee ,moses1 ,aaron1 and ,miriam4 ,o my people1 remember now what ,balak1 king of ,moab1 devised2 and what ,balaam1 the son of ,beor1 answered him2 remember from ,shittim unto ,gilgal1 that ye may know the righteous acts of ,jehovah4 ,mic #f1 #c-e4 ,and well does ,christ say to his ungrateful people3 ,o ,jerusalem1 ,jerusalem1 that killeth the prophets1 and stoneth them that are sent unto her6 how often would ,i have gathered thy children together1 even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings1 and ye would not6 ,mt #bc1 #cg4 ,as if he would say1 ,i surely did not come to effect your death and condemnation by my message4 ,i am about to suffer death and ,god's wrath for your sins4 ,i bring you ,god's endless grace and blessing for time and eternity4 ,then why this bitter hatred against me and my message8 #f4 ,since the world hates even ,god for his kindness1 argues ,john1 marvel not1 my beloved1 that you suffer the same fate4 ,what does it signify that ,i show my love by hazarding life and limb to sustain this doctrine of the ,gospel and help my neighbor8 ,mine is but a poor1 mean1 uncouth1 offensive love in comparison with the love that led ,christ to die for me and to redeem me from eternal death4 ,if ,god's supreme1 unfathomable love fails to awaken the gratitude of the world1 what wonder if the world hates you for all your kindness8 ,why will you bring down your fist and stamp your foot in anger at such ingratitude8 ,you are yourselves of that race for whom the ,son of ,god had to die4 ,and even were you to die for the ,gospel1 your sacrifice would be as nothing in comparison to the fact that ,god1 for the sake of the world1 spared not his own ,son but permitted the world to put him to death4 #g4 ,but whence arises the world's hatred8 ,john tells us in verse twelve when he mentions the incident of ,cain1 who1 he says1 was of the evil one1 and slew his brother4 ,and wherefore slew he him8 ,because his works were evil1 and his brother's righteous4 ,an excellent reason1 indeed1 for hating--the hater and murderer is evil and the benefactor good6 ,in civil and domestic affairs it is the evil-doers and disobedient who incur displeasure and receive punishment2 and such reward is just4 ,but whenever ,god has dealings with the world1 it shows what a rotten fruit it is by hating1 persecuting1 and putting to death as evil-doers and impostors its very benefactors4 ,this trait it inherits1 ,john tells us1 from its ancestor ,cain1 the great fratricide saint4 ,he is a true picture of the world of all times1 and ever its spirit and fashion is patterned after him4 #h4 ,when mother ,eve1 the dear1 godly woman1 bore her first son1 she declared in her joy and her hope of ,god's promise of the future seed that should bruise the serpent's head3 ,i have gotten a man with the help of ,jehovah 7,gen #d1 #a72 and she named him ,cain1 which means obtained1 as if she would say1 ,i have obtained the true treasure4 ,for she had not before seen a human being born2 this was the first1 precious fruit of man4 ,over ,cain she rejoiced1 pronouncing herself blessed4 ,this son was trained in the hope that he should be a savior of the future race1 a comfort to his brothers and sisters with all their offspring4 ,nor was he unaware of these proud hopes4 ,proudly he lorded it over his brother1 who in contrast had to bear the ignominious name of ,abel1 meaning nothing1 or vanity1 as if voicing the thought of the parents' hearts3 ,alas6 this one has no future4 ,cain is the rightful heir to the blessing ,god has promised man2 he is lord and master of his brethren4 #i4 ,it is likely that the godly father and mother for many years drew their solace from the hope placed in their first-born son1 as they looked forward with intensest longing to the redemption from their deplorable fall4 ,doubtless they trained both sons very carefully and instructed them concerning their own sin and fall and the promise ,god had given them1 until they were fully grown and had entered into the priestly office4 ,cain the first-born was particularly zealous in that respect1 desiring to be first inasmuch as he offered his first fruits of the earth1 given by ,god and obtained by his own labor1 as he no doubt had seen his father offer4 ,abel1 however1 the inferior1 the poor shepherd1 offered the firstlings of his sheep1 given him of ,god and obtained without effort and toil of his own4 ,now1 ,god in a wonderful way manifested his preference concerning the gifts upon the altar4 ,fire descended from heaven and consumed ,abel's offering1 but ,cain's remained4 ,the fire was the sign of ,god's favor4 ,the text says3 ,and ,jehovah had respect unto ,abel and to his offering3 but unto ,cain and to his offering he had not respect4 ,gen #d1 #d-e4 #aj4 ,thereupon ,adam and ,eve saw that the hope and solace centering in their first-born son1 were a delusion4 ,they began to learn the wonderful judgments of ,god1 who gave precedence to ,abel1 the male counterpart of ,cinderella--which is all he was in his own sight when he compared himself with his brother4 ,now ,cain1 with full confidence in his position1 spoiled by the delusion of his parents that as the first-born he was ,god's preference1 felt himself outraged4 ,his hypocrisy1 hitherto masked1 comes to the surface4 ,he burns with secret hate against ,god1 with hate and anger against his brother1 which he takes no trouble whatever to disguise4 ,the parents rebuke him1 but effect nothing4 ,the flame of his resentment rises higher1 and meeting him alone upon the field1 he fells him to the ground4 ,far from contemplating amendment of life or seeking grace from ,god1 he has no mercy upon the only brother he has on earth1 who has done him no harm whatever4 ,he cannot forgive him and leave him in unenvied possession of the grace of ,god4 #aa4 ,such was the solace and joy poor ,adam and ,eve lived to experience in their first children6 ,from this time on their earthly life was fraught with gloom and sorrow1 particularly since they could not but see the source of these in their own fall and they would have pined to death had not ,god comforted them with another son4 ,for when it became evident that the hope they had placed in ,cain was a delusion1 and that they were deprived of the son who1 beyond a doubt1 possessed the grace of ,god1 they1 without another son1 would not have known where to look for the solace of the promised seed4 ,,cain ,,the ,,world1 ,,abel ,,the ,,church4 #ab4 ,note1 in this man ,cain is pictured the world in its true1 characteristic colors2 in him its true spirit stands reflected4 ,certainly his equal has never been4 ,in him are unquestionably prefigured the very flower1 the very quintessence1 of holiness on earth--the most pious servants of ,god4 ,on the other hand1 that poor1 wretched1 abject male counterpart of ,cinderella1 ,abel1 well represents the obscure little brotherhood1 the ,church of ,christ4 ,she must yield to ,cain the lord the distinction of being everything before ,god1 of being the recipient of every gift of ,god1 of being entitled to all honor and every privilege4 ,he feels important in his imagined dignity1 permits this spirit to pervade his sacrifices and his worships1 and thinks that ,god cannot but favor and accept his offering rather than that of his brother4 ,meanwhile1 the pious ,abel goes his way1 meekly suffering his brother's contempt4 ,he willingly yields ,cain the honor1 esteems himself vastly inferior and beholds no consolation for himself aside from the pure mercy and goodness of ,god4 ,he believes in ,god and hopes for the promised future seed4 ,in such faith he performs his sacrifice as a confession1 a sign1 of his gratitude4 #ac4 ,this illustration is intended by ,god as solace for his little throng2 for the incident is not written for ,abel's sake but for the sake of the humble children of ,god1 whose condition is like that of ,abel4 ,god has not forgotten them1 though they are haughtily ignored by proud ,cain1 who regards them as nothing in his presence4 ,god graciously looks upon them and rejects proud ,cain with his birthright and offering4 #ad4 ,innocent ,abel becomes the object of anger and hatred when the ,word of ,god lays hold of ,cain revealing ,god's displeasure where he had fancied himself worthy1 and ,god's unwillingness to regard his offering and devotion as superior to this of his brother and more meritorious4 ,cain begins bitterly to hate and persecute his brother4 ,he finds no rest until ,abel is laid low and cut off from the earth4 ,now you have the cause of the world's hatred and anger against ,christians2 simply this1 as ,john says of ,cain3 ,because his works were evil1 and his brother's righteous4 #ae4 ,what offense had godly ,abel committed against his brother to be so hated8 ,he had even regarded that brother as the first-born1 as vastly superior to himself1 and had done him all honor and loved him as became a brother4 ,he was easily satisfied1 desiring simply the grace of ,god4 ,he prayed for the future seed1 that is1 for the salvation and happiness of his parents1 his brother and the entire human race4 ,how could ,cain be unmerciful and inhuman enough in his frenzy to murder his own flesh and blood8 ,the answer is found in the fact that the devil had filled ,cain's heart with pride and vanity over his birthright4 ,he considered himself a man of distinction1 with every claim upon ,god's favor and sinless1 whilst his brother was nothing whatever4 ,cain's heart is devoid of true brotherly love2 he has only contempt for ,abel4 ,he cannot endure ,god's manifest favor toward his brother1 and will not be moved by the injunction to humble himself and seek ,god's grace4 ,anger and envy possess him to the extent that he cannot tolerate his brother alive4 ,in violation of ,god's commandment and his own conscience1 he becomes a murderer1 and then goes his way as if he had done right4 #af4 ,this is what ,john means when he says that ,cain had no other cause for his crime than that his own works were evil and his brother's righteous4 ,similarly1 that obedient daughter of ,saint ,cain1 the world1 hates the ,christians2 and for no other reason than the latter's love and goodness of heart4 ,witness the examples of the holy patriarchs1 the prophets and1 most of all1 of ,christ himself4 #ag4 ,what sin against the world did the beloved apostles commit8 ,they desired the injury of none1 but went about in extreme poverty and toil1 teaching mankind how1 through faith in ,christ1 to be saved from the devil's kingdom and from eternal death4 ,this the world will not hear and suffer2 hence the hue and cry3 ,kill1 kill these people6 ,away with them from off the earth6 ,show them no mercy6 ,why this hostility8 ,because the apostles sought to relieve the world of its idolatry and damnable doings4 ,such good works the world could not tolerate4 ,what it desires is nothing but praise and commendation for its own evil doings1 expecting from ,god the impossible endorsement1 ,your deeds are good and well-pleasing to me4 ,pious children of mine are you4 ,just keep on cheerfully killing all who believe and preach my ,word4 #ah4 ,in the same way does the world conduct itself today with reference to our ,gospel4 ,for no other reason are we hated and persecuted than because we have1 through ,god's grace1 proclaimed his ,word that recovered us from the blindness and idolatry in which we were sunken as deeply as the world1 and because we desire to rescue others4 ,that is the unpardonable sin by which we have incurred the world's irreconcilable anger and its inextinguishable hatred4 ,it cannot permit us to live4 ,we preach no other doctrine than faith in ,christ1 which our children pray and they themselves confess in words4 ,we differ only in our claim that ,christ having been crucified for us and having shed his blood to redeem us from sin and death1 our salvation is not effected by our own works1 or holiness or devotion4 ,the fact that we do not regard their faithless worship equal to ,christ himself1 but teach men to trust in the grace of ,god and not their own worthiness1 and to render him gratitude for his grace--this fact is intolerable to the world4 ,it would be well for our adversaries if they would receive such teaching1 since it would render them more than ever what they profess to be3 our superiors in wisdom1 knowledge and reputation--a claim we are willing to concede4 ,but ,cain's works are evil and ,abel's righteous4 ,the world simply cannot tolerate the ,gospel1 and no unity or harmony is ever to be hoped for4 ,the world will not forsake its idolatry nor receive the faith4 ,it would force us to renounce the ,word of ,god and praise its ,cain-like worship1 or take death at their hands4 #ai4 ,therefore1 ,john says1 ,marvel not1 brethren1 if the world hateth you1 for it is compelled to act according to the nature inherited from its father ,cain4 ,it would have all merits and concede to ,abel none4 ,the world comprises the exalted1 the wise1 the learned1 the mighty4 ,the ,scriptures represent these as under necessity to hate and persecute the poor throng of the ,church of ,christ by reason of the good works done by them4 ,they can under no consideration tolerate the idea of being taught by this despised and humble throng the doctrine of salvation through the grace and mercy of ,god alone1 not through man's own merits4 ,they cannot endure the teaching that their offering--the mass1 regarded by the ,papists as a work of superlative merit and holiness--avails nothing before ,god4 #bj4 ,in the text the nature of the world is portrayed for our recognition4 ,so to understand the world as to know what may be expected from it is essential and valuable knowledge for the ,christian4 ,thus armed he will not be dismayed and become impatient of suffering1 nor permit its malice and ingratitude to mislead him to hate and desire for revenge4 ,he will keep his faith and love1 suffering the world to go its way if it refuse to hear his message4 ,the ,christian should expect nothing better from the world than its bitter persecution in return for his good works and love4 ,the ,church of ,christ on earth1 let him remember1 is never to have an easier lot4 ,he is not to judge according to show and appearance1 thinking3 ,they are the great throng1 the wisest and cleverest people on earth2 how is it possible that they should all be in error and under condemnation8 #ba4 ,it is necessarily true that discipline and peace are impossible without the most excellent1 exalted1 erudite1 clever people--royal1 princely1 noble in achievement and honor4 ,cain is never plain and lowly4 ,he is always eminently clever1 wise1 holy and in every way vastly ,abel's superior4 ,in fact1 he must in himself represent all desirable things1 as his name indicates4 ,and the same characteristic is manifest in his children1 who are ingenious in the invention of every variety of art4 ,deplorable the fact that a man of ,cain's qualifications1 born of godly parents and signally honored of ,god1 should display such hatred and inhumanity toward poor ,abel merely because of ,god's ,word and ,abel's faith4 #bb4 ,such knowledge is comforting to the godly little company of ,christians1 who are confident they have ,god's favor and know it to be the occasion of their persecution2 they have no protection and succor but are exposed to the same fate as ,abel4 ,if they fare better1 they may thank ,god for it4 ,but they are ever to abide in love toward ,god1 whose love they have received and felt1 and likewise toward men1 their enemies not excepted4 ,this was ,abel's way2 could he have lived again1 he would have kept his brotherly love for his murderer1 forgiving him and even imploring ,god's forgiveness for him4 ,we know that we have passed out of death into life1 because we love the brethren4 ,,love ,,moves ,,christians4 #bc4 ,to abide in love should be the motive for us ,christians4 ,john contrasts it with the motive of the world in hating us--its wickedness4 ,the world's hatred of you1 as ,john's words imply1 is not strange4 ,the contrast between you and the world is exceedingly great4 ,through its own evil works1 unbelief1 pride1 contempt for the ,word and grace of ,god1 and the persecution of the godly1 the world has become by this time the victim of ,satan and eternal death4 ,it spurns all counsel and aid directed toward its rescue4 ,stiff-necked and hardened1 under evident condemnation by its own conscience1 it has chosen to persist in its doom4 ,but we believers in ,christ1 ,god be praised6 are different people4 ,we have come forth from death2 we have passed through death and entered into life through the knowledge and faith of the ,son of ,god1 who has loved us and given himself for us4 #bd4 ,such grace and goodness of ,god1 says the apostle1 should prompt you not to be offended and vanquished by the world's ingratitude1 hate and malice1 and thus to cease from holy endeavor and become likewise1 evil1 which course will result in the loss of your treasure4 ,it is yours1 not by your own effort1 but by grace alone2 for at one time you as well as they languished in the kingdom and power of death1 in evil works1 far from faith and love4 ,remember to comfort yourselves1 therefore1 with the thought of this great blessing1 an advantage you enjoy above the others4 ,what if the world1 abiding in death1 does hate and persecute you who abide in life8 ,whom can its hatred injure8 ,it cannot take from you the life which it lacks while you possess it1 nor deliver you to death1 from which you have passed1 through ,christ4 ,when it does its worst it may perhaps falsely slander you1 or deprive you of your property1 or destroy your corrupt body--the final home of maggots and in any event doomed to corruption--and thus through the death of the body help you gain true life4 ,thus vengeance will be yours rather than its own4 ,yours will be the joy of being transplanted from death into life1 whereas the world must abide in death4 ,while they of the world think to deny you both the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of earth1 they themselves lose body and soul4 ,what more terrible retribution could their hatred and envy receive8 ,for the sake of denying gratification to the devil and the world1 and much more for your own welfare1 you must not allow your persecutions to rob you of your peace and salvation1 nor to lead you to lose your faith through impatience and desire for revenge4 ,rather1 pity their wretchedness and doom4 ,you lose nothing by their oppression2 yours is the gain1 theirs the loss4 ,for the slight grief inflicted upon you with reference to body and time1 it shall dearly pay both here and hereafter4 #be4 ,how do we know we have passed from death unto life8 ,john says1 because we love the brethren4 ,just what does he mean8 ,is it not our doctrine that ,christ first loved us1 as ,john elsewhere says8 that before we ever loved him he died and rose again for us8 ,when we fully believe in our ,savior's love1 then our own hearts respond with perfect love to ,god and our neighbor4 ,why1 then1 does ,john say1 ,we have passed out of death into life1 because we love the brethren8 #bf4 ,the explanation is found in the words ,we know4 ,john says plainly1 ,from the fact that we love the brethren1 we know we have passed out of death into life4 ,love of the brethren is the test whereby we may ascertain who are the true believers4 ,the apostle directed this epistle especially against false ,christians2 many there are who extol ,christ1 as did unbelieving ,cain1 and yet fail to bear the fruit of faith4 ,john's reference is not to the means whereby we pass from sin and death to life1 but to the proof whereby we may know the fact--not to the cause1 but to the effect4 #bg4 ,it is not sufficient to boast of having passed from death into life2 there must be evidence of the fact4 ,faith is not an inactive and lifeless thing4 ,when there is faith in the heart1 its power will be manifest4 ,where power is not in evidence1 all boasting is false and vain4 ,when the human heart1 in its confidence in divine mercy and love1 is thrilled with spiritual comfort1 and also warmed into kindness1 friendliness1 humility and patience towards the neighbor1 envying and despising none but cheerfully serving all and ministering unto necessity even to hazarding body and life--when this is the case1 then the fruits of faith are manifest4 ,such fruits are proof that the believer has truly passed from death into life4 ,had he not true faith1 but doubted ,god's grace and love1 his heart would not prompt him1 by reason of his love and gratitude to ,god1 to manifest love for his neighbor4 ,where man has faith1 and where he realizes ,god's infinite mercy and goodness in raising him from death to life1 love is enkindled in his heart1 and he is prompted to do all manner of good1 even to his enemies1 as ,god has done to him4 #bh4 ,such is the right interpretation and understanding of ,john's expression3 ,we know that we have passed out of death into life1 because we love the brethren4 ,it leaves in its integrity the foundation1 justification1 or deliverance from death1 through faith alone4 ,this is the first element of ,christian doctrine4 ,granting that faith does justify1 the next question is whether the faith is real or simulated1 being merely a deceptive show and unsupported claim4 ,the clear information imparted by the apostles is1 that love1 indeed1 does not deliver from death1 but that deliverance from death and the presence of life becomes a matter of sight and knowledge in that love has been wrought4 ,with true faith we must have come to the point where we no longer1 like ,cain1 in our pride and conceit1 despise our neighbor2 where we are not filled with envy1 hatred and bitterness2 where we desire1 and to the extent of our power1 promote the interests of our neighbor and work him all good4 #bi4 ,john draws to a close by showing the opposite side of the picture1 in that he addresses earnest words that recho like peals of thunder to those who make the carnal boast of being ,christians while destitute of love4 ,he cites several facts as evidence that where love is lacking1 necessarily faith and deliverance from death are absent1 likewise4 ,thus no opportunity is given for self-deception or a frivolous excuse based upon wordy boasting of one's faith4 ,the reality of the inner life is known by the presence of love1 which in turn attests the presence of faith in the heart4 ,i4 ,he that loveth not abideth in death4 #cj4 ,here1 in clear1 decisive words1 the conclusion is expressed that no man may boast of life unless he has love4 ,if it is true that faith must be active1 it is conversely true that the absence of fruitage demonstrates one's continuance in the old ,cain-like manner of existence1 torpid and dead1 bereft of solace and the experience of ,god's grace and life4 ,let no one presume to think he has passed into life so long as he is devoid of love and the fruits of faith4 ,let him become serious1 and in alarm make ready to become a true believer1 lest he remain in eternal death and under greater condemnation than those who have never heard the ,gospel4 ,,ii4 ,whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer3 and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him4 #ca4 ,still clearer and stronger becomes the argument that lack of love means continuance in death4 ,the stern and frightful judgment is here expressed that the unloving person is no better than ,cain the fratricide4 ,his heart is under the influence of deadly hate and murderous malice against the brother who refuses to be subservient to his desires4 ,kindling rage will prove its existence by appropriate works unless restrained by the fear of disgrace and punishment4 ,he wishes his brother nothing good1 but rejoices in his misfortune4 ,all this1 however1 is impossible for one who believes that he has been delivered from death4 ,one who knows the wretchedness and misery of death from experience1 but has entered upon life with its solace and joy1 blessings he seeks to maintain--such a person will desire for others the same blessing2 he cannot rejoice in another's death4 ,therefore it is true conversely3 ,we know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him4 ,,hatred ,,natural ,,to ,,human ,,reason4 #cb4 ,thus we see the nature of the human heart without faith and the knowledge of ,christ2 at bottom it is but the heart of a ,cain1 murderous toward its neighbor4 ,nor can anything better be expected from him who is not a ,christian4 ,the ,scriptures repeatedly denounce such faithless hypocrites as bloodthirsty and deceitful4 ,jehovah abhorreth the bloodthirsty and deceitful man4 ,ps #e1 #f4 ,for their feet run to evil1 and they make haste to shed blood4 ,prov #a1 #af4 ,see also verse #aa4 ,all mankind are by nature the children of the murderer ,cain4 ,they are1 of course1 no better than their father4 ,while ,cain was a man most magnificent1 intelligent and wise1 being the first fruit born of those holy parents ,adam and ,eve1 and in his superior endowment with natural virtues infinitely superior to all who come after him1 he was nevertheless an unbeliever before ,god4 ,hence he became the murderer of his brother4 ,,iii4 ,hereby know we love1 because he laid down his life for us3 and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren4 ,but whoso hath the world's goods1 and beholdeth his brother in need1 and shutteth up his compassion from him1 how doth the love of ,god abide in him8 #cc4 ,these words delineate true ,christian love and hold up the sublime example1 or pattern1 of ,god's love manifest in ,christ4 ,christ's blood and death is ,god's own blood and death4 ,paul in ,acts #bj1 #bh1 speaks of ,god having purchased the ,church with his own blood4 ,the heart of man by faith receives and apprehends this sacrifice4 ,under its transforming influence he is disposed to work good to his neighbor as he has himself received good4 ,he even jeopardizes his life to that end1 being conscious of his redemption from eternal death1 and knowing physical death powerless to affect his eternal life4 ,but the heart that fails to appropriate ,christ's sacrifice is without faith and insensible to ,god's love and eternal life4 #cd4 ,john uses an illustration plain enough for anyone to understand1 and from which we may judge that the soul found wanting in small duties will be deficient in great ones4 ,according to the apostle1 if one possesses this world's goods and sees his neighbor want1 he being able to render assistance without injury to himself1 and yet closes his heart against that neighbor1 not assisting him with even the slightest work of love1 how can the love of ,god dwell in him since he appreciates it so little that he will not spare his needy brother a penny8 ,how can he be expected1 then1 to render a greater service--to even lay down his life for his brother8 ,what right has such a soul to boast--how can he know--that ,christ has laid down his life for him and delivered him from death8 #ce4 ,how frequently are such people to be found6 ,having this world's goods and being able to help the needy1 they close their hearts against the unfortunate1 as did the rich glutton toward poor ,lazarus4 ,where shall we find in imperial courts1 among kings1 princes and lords1 any who extend a helping hand to the needy ,church1 or give her so much as a crust of bread toward the maintenance of the poor1 of the ministry and of schools1 or for other of her necessities8 ,how would they measure up in the greater duty of laying down their lives for the brethren1 and especially for the ,christian ,church8 ,note the terrible judgment that they who are devoid of brotherly love are in ,god's sight murderers and cannot have eternal life4 #cf4 ,but the merely selfish may well escape our censure in comparison with those who not only close their purses to the poor but shamelessly and forcibly deprive and rob their needy neighbor of his own by overreaching1 by fraud1 oppression and extortion2 who take from the ,church the property rightfully hers and especially reserved for her1 snatching the bread from her mouth1 so to speak4 ,not only is the papistical rabble today guilty of such sin1 but many who would be known as evangelical practice the same fraud with reference to the parochial estates and general property of the ,church1 and1 in addition1 tyrannically harass and torment the poor ministers4 ,but oh1 how heavy and terrible the impending judgment for those who have denied to ,christ the ,lord in his thirst even the cup of cold water6 ,,iv4 ,my little children1 let us not love in word1 neither with the tongue2 but in deed and truth4 #cg4 ,the world and the false ,christians in word pretend great love2 but in practice1 when love should manifest itself in deeds1 it is found to be insincere4 ,so ,john admonishes that where our love is not ardent enough to lead us to lay down our lives for our brethren1 however much we may profess ,christ1 that love is assuredly only a vain show1 a false pretense1 wherewith we deceive ourselves and remain in infidelity and death1 and in a more deplorable condition than those who are wholly ignorant of the ,gospel4 ,therefore1 let him who would proceed safely and prove himself a ,christian remember to prove himself such by his deeds and works4 ,then men will know that he does not1 a murderer and liar1 like others1 follow the devil4 ,they will know1 on the contrary1 that he truly and with the heart clings to the ,word of ,god1 having passed from death to life4 ,third ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #a ,peter #e1 #e-aa4 #e ,likewise1 ye younger1 be subject unto the elder4 ,yea1 all of you gird yourselves with humility1 to serve one another3 for ,god resisteth the proud1 but giveth grace to the humble4 #f ,humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of ,god1 that he may exalt you in due time2 #g casting all your anxiety upon him1 because he careth for you4 #h ,be sober1 be watchful3 your adversary the devil1 as a roaring lion1 walketh about1 seeking whom he may devour3 #i whom withstand stedfast in your faith1 knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world4 #aj ,and the ,god of all grace1 who called you unto his eternal glory in ,christ1 after that ye have suffered a little while1 shall himself perfect1 establish1 strengthen you4 #aa ,to him be the dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,,humility1 ,,trust1 ,,watchfulness1 ,,suffering #a4 ,this is the conclusion of ,saint ,peter's epistle4 ,it is an exhortation to good works1 such as a ,christian1 or believer1 should practice4 ,it is evident that the doctrine of the ,gospel is not such as is charged by some1 forbidding good works1 or not earnestly commanding and urging them4 ,most diligently and repeatedly it urges the doctrine of works--such works as are1 indeed1 good works4 ,there are in this epistle four natural heads which furnish us four good sermons4 ,i4 ,,humility4 #b4 ,the apostle has1 in the verses immediately preceding our text1 exhorted the elders1 that is1 preachers1 to be in their lives ensamples to the flock1 not lording it over the charge allotted to them1 but using their office for the service of others4 ,and here in our text he exhorts the others1 especially the young1 to be subject unto the elder4 ,and1 in general1 he admonishes all to gird themselves with humility1 to serve one another4 ,so ,paul likewise admonishes that we should honor one another4 ,humility is the noblest and sweetest virtue love brings forth1 and it is the most essential to peace and discipline4 ,but especially does it become and adorn the young1 making them pleasing and precious to ,god and men1 bringing forth an abundance of good fruits4 #c4 ,if mankind could be led so to believe this that the virtue of humility would be generally practiced1 it would be well everywhere4 ,this would be a beautiful world1 filled with discipline and good works4 ,i would much prefer to see a city in which the young are reared in this virtue than a hundred monasteries of barefooted and ,carthusian friars1 though they lived ever so strictly4 ,alas6 the greatest and most frequent complaint heard anywhere is concerning the disobedience1 wantonness and pride of the younger generation found among all ranks4 ,therefore it is necessary to use all diligence that this exhortation be instilled into the hearts of the young and urged upon them1 in the hope that it may benefit them4 #d4 ,first of all1 ,peter presents the divine command4 ,we are not left to our own good pleasure in the matter--to show humility or not1 as we please4 ,god earnestly asks it of us1 and asks that we do it lovingly and willingly4 ,otherwise his anger will be poured out upon us and we will have no happiness nor favor1 not even among men4 ,for everyone is a foe to pride and arrogance4 ,these offenses are condemned by the whole world1 even by strangers whom they do not concern4 ,one may be guilty of pride and not see his own shame1 yet he cannot suffer it in another2 he will hate and condemn that one4 ,this vice hurts no one save himself4 ,he makes himself hateful and contemptible before ,god and men4 ,everyone calls him a great1 proud bag of filth and cries shame upon him4 ,god metes out judgment and scorn to him1 witnessing that he will not let this vice go unpunished1 but will put the offender to shame4 ,as ,peter here says3 ,god resisteth the proud4 #e4 ,men should be moved by the examples which daily come to light in fulfilment of this passage4 ,if we should have no regard for our own honor and standing before the world1 neither for the contempt and the curses of all men2 if the illustrious example of the noble character and eternal majesty of ,god's ,son1 our ,lord1 should not stir us 7which ought to move us if we have one spark of ,christianity in us71 as we behold his unspeakable and incomprehensible humility which1 rightly viewed1 should melt the ,christian's heart--if all this does not move us1 we should be humbled by the many awful examples of ,god's fearful wrath which1 from the beginning1 he has hurled against pride4 #f4 ,what is more terrible than the eternal1 irreparable fall and banishment of once lofty angelic nature that resulted when the devil robbed himself of the honor and glory enjoyed by the noble blessed spirits1 and of the contemplation of eternal ,god1 and brought upon himself everlasting and intolerable damnation by seeking to make himself equal with ,god1 and through similar pride1 led the human race to its awful fall8 ,but what a blind1 condemned creature are you1 who1 with your filthy1 shameful pride and haughtiness1 become like the spirit of evil1 thereby turning all the world into your enemy and opposing yourself to the divine majesty1 before which even the angels must tremble6 ,if you have no fear of losing the favor and prayers of mankind1 at least be afraid lest ,god send down upon your head his lightning and thunder1 with which he crushes iron1 rocks1 and mountains1 and hurl you forever into the abyss1 as he hurled down the proud spirit and his angels4 #g4 ,saint ,peter exhorts both those who are in the office of the ministry1 and other ,christians1 to whom ,god has given something1 that they abide in their calling and office and conduct the same humbly1 gladly obeying and serving others4 ,right here this vice of pride is the most hurtful to ,christianity4 ,for its whole government1 life and essence are so ordered by ,god that no one should exalt himself and lord it over others1 as the ,pope1 the true ,antichrist has done4 ,only humility and deeds of ,christian love and service should prevail in all classes and in all offices and works4 ,,pride ,,opposed ,,to ,,the ,,first ,,table4 #h4 ,pride in this order of the ,church is really and directly opposed to the first table of the law4 ,it is a genuinely devilish pride in ,god's name and ,word on the part of such people as would be wise in matters of faith and would lord it over ,god's ,word4 ,they puff themselves up if1 forsooth1 they have a gift more than others1 and they hold ,god and all men as nothing4 ,this vice is common among the great1 learned and wise bishops and preachers4 ,it prevails among those who learn of them and cling to them1 especially beginners who1 inexperienced and undisciplined1 are brought into prominence4 ,such puff themselves up and boast3 ,i also am a learned doctor4 ,i love the ,spirit and other gifts just as well as1 and even in greater measure than1 these preachers4 ,so they think they deserve to be heard and honored above others4 ,they consider themselves so wise that all the world1 in comparison1 are geese and fools4 ,and the greater one's gifts1 the greater and more harmful such pride4 ,it is common in other professions1 also4 ,he who has a little ability1 or bears the title of doctor1 makes much ado about it1 and despises others4 ,he acts as if what he has were not given him by ,god1 but as if it were his by nature and birth1 and therefore he deserves the praise and worship of all men4 ,such persons do not realize they are acting in opposition to ,god1 and that they will themselves plunge into the abyss of hell before they can hurl ,god down from his heavenly throne4 #i4 ,see1 from the examples of our own time1 how ,god has overthrown such people4 ,thomas ,mnzer1 with his tumultuous prophets1 and later the ,anabaptist faction1 were proud of heart1 would not listen to admonition1 and lo6 suddenly they went down to ruin1 not only in utter disgrace1 but to their own miserable and eternal loss and that of many people who had been misled by them4 ,so1 too1 there are at the present day many proud spirits4 ,some dare not yet publicly show themselves4 ,such as have perceived that they are learned1 or are held in regard by men1 thereupon grow boastful and1 despite all their skill and learning1 abide without the ,spirit and without fruit1 even if they do not work more harm in addition to bringing themselves into condemnation4 #aj4 ,thus it is in all kinds of gifts and offices where men are not ,god-fearing and humble4 ,for example1 those who are intrusted with the civil government--princes1 counselors1 lawyers 7where they are not theologians1 that is1 ,christians7--are so insolent and proud that they imagine themselves alone to be the people1 whom others are to reverence as gods4 ,in their pride1 they despise ,god and men1 and by their arrogance they lead the land and the people to destruction4 ,these have already the judgment upon themselves that they1 as ,god's enemies1 must be hurled down4 ,for they have cut themselves loose from ,god's kingdom and grace2 and the blessings of baptism and of ,christ1 with his suffering and blood1 are lost upon them4 #aa4 ,we have now shown how pride conflicts with the demands of the first table of the law4 ,men do not employ the spiritual treasures and gifts to ,god's honor nor to the good of their neighbors4 ,thus they mar these gifts and1 in their wicked course1 go to the devil1 into whose likeness they have grown4 ,,pride ,,opposed ,,to ,,the ,,second ,,table4 #ab4 ,further1 this vice is just as general in the sphere of the second table of the law--among the common people and in the temporal life of the world1 each one boasting of himself and despising others4 ,prince and nobleman think that all the world is nothing in comparison with themselves4 ,commoner and peasant1 puffed up because they have much wealth1 imagine they must defy everybody1 and do good to nobody4 ,these deserve to be spit upon by all men4 ,such pride does not become them better than ornaments of gold or silver would become an image of stone or a wooden block4 ,finally1 the women1 with their foolish pride of dress1 must not be forgotten4 ,one prides herself on being better or more beautifully adorned than her neighbor4 ,she is1 in truth1 a finely decorated goose4 ,she imagines that no other woman equals her4 ,yea1 there is scarcely a house-servant or maid but brags over others4 #ac4 ,in short1 we have come to the point where all men1 with their insolence and boastfulness1 seek to lord it over others4 ,none will humble himself to another4 ,each thinks he has full right to act as he does1 and is under no obligation to yield to others4 ,and the civil government has grown so weak that there is no hope of restraining the haughtiness of all classes1 from the highest to the lowest4 ,at last1 ,god must strike with thunder and lightning to prove to us that he resists such people and will not tolerate pride4 ,therefore the young1 who can still be led1 should be exhorted and trained1 as far as possible1 to guard themselves against this vice4 #ad4 ,peter uses for his purpose a peculiar term when he says1 ,gird yourselves with humility4 ,gird has the meaning of being bound or joined together most firmly2 or1 as a garment1 most carefully woven through and through so that it cannot tear4 ,he illustrates by this term how ,christians1 with all diligence1 should strive after the virtue1 and manifest and practice it among themselves1 as if upon them as a band it was a special obligation4 ,thus1 he says1 must you be twined together and bound to each other1 and your hands clasped together4 ,so must you be joined by humility1 which cannot be dissolved1 dismembered1 or torn1 even though occasion be given one1 here and there1 incited by the devil1 or the evil word of someone else1 to fly into a passion1 and grow defiant and boastful1 as if to say3 ,must ,i suffer such things at the hands of this man8 ,but rather say to yourselves4 ,we are ,christians1 and must bear with each other and yield1 in many things2 for we are all one body1 and we are placed together here on earth for the sole reason that we may1 through love1 serve one another4 #ae4 ,and each should recognize his own weakness4 ,he should remember that ,god has given others also something and can give them yet more1 and that therefore he should gladly serve and yield to others1 remembering that he needs their help4 ,each one is created for the sake of others1 and we are all to serve one another4 ,god gives the same grace and salvation to all1 so that none may exalt himself above his neighbor2 or1 if he lift himself up1 that he lose the grace conferred and fall into deeper condemnation4 ,therefore we must hold fast to this humility1 so that the unity may not be destroyed4 ,for ,satan seeks to destroy this also1 and uses every possible means to lead people to despise each other and to be proud and insolent in their treatment of each other4 ,and these are things to which flesh and blood1 even without special incitement1 are inclined4 ,thus humility is easily and quickly lost if men are not alert to fight against the devil and their own flesh4 ,,the ,,beauty ,,of ,,humility4 #af4 ,humility is one of the beautiful garments and ornaments with which ,christians should adorn themselves before ,god and the world4 ,paul1 in ,colossians #c1 #ab1 says1 ,put on humility4 ,he regards this virtue as more precious than all earthly crowns and splendor4 ,this is the true spiritual life4 ,it is not to be sought elsewhere1 by running into the cloisters or the deserts1 by putting on gray gown or cowl4 ,peter here admonishes all classes to cultivate this virtue4 ,this sermon on good works concerns every station in every house1 city or village4 ,it is for all churches and schools4 ,children1 servants and the youth should be humbly obedient to parents1 superiors and the aged4 ,on the other hand1 it is for those in the higher stations of life who serve their inferiors1 even the lowest4 ,if all men so observed this virtue the world would be full of good works4 ,for it is impossible that humility should do evil4 ,it is profitable and pleasant to all men4 #ag4 ,by this virtue1 true saints and ,christians can better be known than by monastic seclusion and holiness4 ,it requires no great effort to wear a gray cowl4 ,it is not even such a great trial to lie on the ground at night and to arise at midnight2 scoundrels1 thieves1 and murderers must often do the same4 ,but to wear and hold fast to this angelic garment1 humility--this the world is not so willing to accept as monasticism and its works4 ,and thus it comes to pass that flesh and blood do not strive after this holy life4 ,each man seeks an easy life1 in which he can live to himself and need serve no one nor suffer anything at the hands of others2 just as the monks have sought and chosen4 #ah4 ,peter adds to this admonition the reason3 ,for ,god resisteth the proud1 but giveth grace to the humble4 ,as ,i have said above1 he strives to show the earnestness of ,god's command4 ,the command is accompanied by a threat4 ,he does not simply say1 ,god punishes the proud1 or ,god is hostile to them2 but he resisteth them1 he sets himself against them4 ,now1 what is the pride of all men toward ,god8 ,not so much as a poor1 empty bubble4 ,their pride puffs itself up and distends itself as though it would storm the sky and contend against the lightning and thunder1 that can shatter heaven and earth4 ,what can the combined might of all creatures accomplish if ,god oppose himself thereto8 ,and how does a miserable man1 whose heart is overwhelmed by a small pestilence1 rise against the majesty of heaven which can1 any moment1 cast him down into the abyss8 ,what are earth and ashes proud of8 says ,sirach1 #aj1 #i4 #ai4 ,is it not enough and more than enough that other sin and disobedience are laid to our account1 by which we anger ,god and merit heavy punishment1 without our trying further to provoke him with our pride and haughtiness1 so that he must arise in his majesty and resist us8 ,with other sins he can have patience1 that he may exhort and incite us to repentance4 ,but if1 in hardened impenitence1 we defy and oppose him1 he cannot but rise up against us4 ,who is there that will bear it1 or be able to stand1 when ,god sets his countenance and his power against a poor man already subject1 every moment1 to death and the power of the devil8 ,,the ,,consequence ,,of ,,pride4 #bj4 ,from the beginning1 innumerable instances in history have proved the truth of this saying1 ,god resisteth the proud4 ,they show how he has always overthrown and destroyed the proud world and has cast down the haughty1 scornful kings and lords4 ,the great king of ,babylon1 ,nebuchadnezzar1 was humbled when banished from his royal throne to the companionship of the beasts of the field and compelled to eat grass with them1 ,dan #d1 #cj;ff4 ,again1 remember how suddenly the great king ,alexander was hurled down1 when after the victory and good fortune ,god had given him1 he began to grow proud1 and wanted to be reverenced as a god8 ,again1 there was ,king ,herod ,agrippa1 ,acts #ab1 #bc4 ,the proud1 learned emperor ,julian1 a virulent mocker and persecutor of ,christ1 whom he had denied--how soon was he drowned in his own blood6 ,and since then1 what has become of all the proud1 haughty tyrants1 who proposed to oppress and crush ,christianity8 #ba4 ,the ,pope1 also1 has ever1 in devilish pride1 exalted himself1 and in the temple of ,god set himself forth as ,god4 ,further1 in worldly pomp and pride he has lifted himself above all others4 ,he has even learned1 from heathen emperors1 as ,diocletian and other tyrants1 to have men kiss his feet4 ,yea1 he has forced emperors and kings to submit to this humiliating act4 ,what open1 inhuman insolence and pride ,pope ,alexander the ,third practiced when1 by threatening against him his empty ban1 he compelled the pious and mighty ,german emperor1 ,frederick ,barbarossa1 to prostrate himself at his feet while he stepped upon him and said1 ,thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder2 and when the emperor protested against such shameful pride and said1 ,non tibi1 sed ,petro 7,not to thee1 but to ,peter71 the ,pope1 with increasing scorn1 replied1 ,et mihi1 et ,petro 7,both to me1 and to ,peter74 ,this is pride carried almost to its highest point4 #bb4 ,the ,turk1 too1 is prouder now than ever1 and1 ,i hope1 has reached the heights of pride1 beyond which he cannot and shall not proceed4 ,meantime1 may he not attack and humble us6 ,but it will come to pass1 in the end1 that ,god will overthrow both pope and ,turk through his divine power1 and1 as ,daniel says1 without the aid of men4 ,this word will not fail1 ,god resisteth the proud4 ,its truth must appear in human events1 so that men may see what is meant by the declaration1 ,god resisteth2 otherwise no one would believe it4 ,though the ,turk and all the world should be a thousand times more proud and powerful1 this should not help them when he who is above sees and grows angry1 and lifts his hand4 ,he asks as little about the power of all ,turkish emperors and of the ,pope as about a dead fly4 #bc4 ,it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living ,god1 ,heb #aj1 #ca4 ,this1 however1 is nothing else than with scorn and defiance to oppose his will1 so that he1 in turn1 must set himself against man and must lift his hand4 ,therefore1 let everyone beware lest he boast and grow defiant in the presence of the divine majesty4 ,not only must he beware1 that he may not awaken ,god's anger1 but that he may have grace and blessing in the things he ought to do4 ,for1 if thou beginnest something in thine own power1 and wisdom1 and haughtiness1 think not he will grant thee success and blessing to carry out thy purpose4 ,on the other hand1 if thou humblest thyself1 and beginnest aught in accordance with his will1 in the fear of ,god and trusting in his grace1 there is given thee the promise1 ,he giveth grace to the humble4 ,so1 then1 thou shalt not only have favor with men1 but success shall crown thine efforts4 ,thou shalt prove a useful man1 both to ,god and to the world1 and shalt complete and maintain thy work despite the resistance of the devil4 ,for where ,god's grace is1 there his blessing and protection must follow1 and his servant cannot be overthrown or defeated4 ,though he be oppressed for a time1 he shall finally come forth again and be exalted4 ,so ,peter concludes by saying3 ,humble yourselves1 therefore1 under the mighty hand of ,god1 that he may exalt you in due time4 #bd4 ,peter shows in these words what true humility is and whence it comes4 ,the heart1 through knowledge of its sin1 becomes terrified in the presence of ,god's anger and anxiously seeks grace4 ,thus a humility is born1 not merely external and before men1 but of the heart and of ,god1 from fear of ,god and knowledge of one's own unworthiness and weakness4 ,he who fears ,god and trembles at his word 7,is #ff1 #e71 will surely defy or hector or boast against nobody4 ,yea1 he will even manifest a gentle spirit toward his enemies4 ,therefore1 he finds favor both with ,god and men4 #be4 ,the cause of this1 ,peter says1 shall be the mighty hand of ,god4 ,as though he would say3 ,ye may not do nor leave undone this thing for the sake of men1 but ye ought to humble yourselves under the hand of ,god4 ,god's hand is powerful and mighty in a twofold respect3 ,it dashes down and overthrows the proud and self-secure1 however hard and iron their heads and hearts may be4 ,they must languish in dust and ashes2 yea1 must lie despondent and desperate in the anguish and torments of hell1 if he touch them but a little with the terrors of his anger4 ,these are experiences through which the saints also pass1 and concerning whose severity they make lamentation4 ,for thine arrows stick fast in me1 and thy hand presseth me sore4 ,there is no soundness in my flesh because of thine indignation1 ,ps #ch1 #b-c4 ,for ,i have eaten ashes like bread1 and mingled my drink with weeping4 ,because of thine indignation and thy wrath3 for thou hast taken me up1 and cast me away1 ,ps #ajb1 #i-aj4 ,i am consumed by the blow of thy hand4 ,when thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity1 thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth1 ,ps #ci1 #aj-aa4 ,,the ,,reward ,,of ,,humility4 #bf4 ,in the second place1 ,god's hand is mighty to raise1 to comfort and strengthen the humbled and the fearful1 and1 as ,peter says here1 to exalt them4 ,those who in terror have been cast down should not1 therefore1 despair1 or flee before ,god1 but rise again1 and be comforted in ,god4 ,god wants it preached and published that he never lays his hand upon us in order that we may perish and be damned4 ,but he must pursue this course in order to lead us to repentance2 otherwise we would never inquire about his ,word and will4 ,and if we seek grace1 he is ready to help us up again1 to grant us forgiveness of sins1 the ,holy ,spirit1 and eternal life4 ,the ,psalms and the ,prophets here and there speak of this4 ,jehovah hath chastened me sore2 but he hath not given me over unto death1 ,ps #aah1 #ah4 ,jehovah raiseth up them that are bowed down1 ,ps #adf1 #h4 #bg4 ,god will exalt you in due time1 says ,peter4 ,though ,god's help be delayed1 and the humbled and suffering seem to lie oppressed all too long under ,god's hand1 and on that account to languish1 nevertheless1 let them hold to the promise ,paul has given3 ,god will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able1 #a ,cor #aj1 #ac1 but he will hear your cry1 and will1 at the right time1 help2 and with this let them be comforted4 ,but again1 let the proud fear1 even though he permit them to go unpunished and to continue in their boastful course for a time4 ,he watches their lives1 and1 when the proper time comes1 he will descend all too heavily upon them1 so that they cannot bear it4 ,he has already stretched forth his mighty hand1 both to cast down the godless and to exalt the humble4 ,,ii4 ,casting all your anxiety upon him1 because he careth for you4 #bh4 ,what will become of him who lives a ,god-fearing and humble life1 suffering the insolence1 pride and wantonness of the world8 ,or1 where will he find protection and defense1 to abide in his godly ways8 ,we see daily how the pious are harassed and persecuted1 and are trod on by the world4 ,the ,apostle says3 ,ye ,christians must endure temptation and adversity1 want and need1 both physical and spiritual1 in the world1 and your heart is oppressed with anxiety and cares1 and ye think within yourselves3 ,o1 what will become of me8 ,how shall ,i be supported8 ,what if ,i should die8 7,the world only concerns itself about how it may be enriched and be filled1 and anxious1 unbelieving consciences would1 through themselves and their own good works1 seek to have a gracious ,god and to die in peace47 ,in view of all this1 he says1 only hearken1 ,i will counsel and instruct you aright as to what disposition you should make of your troubles4 ,there is a brief passage in the #eeth ,psalm1 verse #bb1 which reads3 ,cast thy burden upon ,jehovah1 and he will sustain thee3 he will never suffer the righteous to be moved4 ,follow ye this advice4 ,let not your burden rest upon yourselves2 for ye cannot bear it1 and must finally perish beneath its weight4 ,but1 confident and full of joy1 cast it from you and throw it on ,god1 and say3 ,heavenly ,father1 thou art my ,lord and ,god1 who didst create me when ,i was nothing2 moreover hast redeemed me through thy ,son4 ,now1 thou hast committed to me and laid upon me1 this office or work1 and things do not go as well as ,i would like4 ,there is so much to oppress and worry1 that ,i can find neither counsel nor help4 ,therefore ,i commend everything to thee4 ,do thou supply counsel and help1 and be thou1 thyself1 everything in these things4 #bi4 ,such a prayer is pleasing to ,god1 and he tells us to do only what we are commanded1 and throw upon him all anxiety as to the issue and what we shall accomplish4 ,as also other passages of ,scripture declare3 ,commit thy way unto ,jehovah1 trust also in him1 and he will bring it to pass1 ,ps #cg1 #e4 ,no heathen1 philosopher1 jurist1 if he have not ,god's ,word1 can throw his care and complaint upon ,god4 ,he thinks that all the world1 especially the great1 the wise1 who rule1 must accomplish everything by their own planning and circumspection4 ,and where trouble arises--for it is quite common for even the greatest and wisest people to make mistakes--he becomes a madman or a fool1 and begins to murmur and argue against ,god and his government1 as though ,god's rule merited criticism4 ,but such men receive their deserts when ,god permits their calculations and hopes to fail1 and lets the reverse obtain4 ,for they will not admit they have need of him4 ,they think they have sufficient wisdom and power1 and that ,god must respect their plans4 ,thus1 they spend their lives in many vain1 useless cares and projects1 and must1 in the course of their experience1 learn and confess1 many a time1 that the very opposite of their judgment is the truth4 #cj4 ,christians have the rare faculty1 above all other people on earth1 of knowing where to place their care1 whilst others vex and torture themselves and at length must despair4 ,such must be the consequence of unbelief1 which has no ,god and would provide for itself4 ,but faith understands this word ,peter quotes from the ,scriptures3 ,because he careth for you4 ,it joyfully meditates thereon and does and suffers faithfully4 ,for faith knows this to be its duty4 ,its trouble1 however1 it commits to ,god1 and proceeds with vigor against all that opposes4 ,it can call upon ,god as a father1 and it says3 ,i will do what ,god has commanded me and leave the result with him4 #ca4 ,the ,christian must take this course if he would proceed safely and happily in matters of the highest import4 ,in time of danger and in the hour of death1 when1 with all his worrying1 he cannot discover where he is or how he is journeying1 he must1 with eyes1 senses and thoughts closed to the world1 surrender himself in faith and confidence and cast himself upon ,god's hand and care and protection1 and say3 ,god has permitted me to live until this hour1 without my solicitude4 ,moreover1 he has given me his beloved ,son as a treasure and sure pledge of eternal life4 ,therefore1 my dear soul1 journey on in joy4 ,thou hast a faithful ,father and ,savior1 who has taken thee into his own hand1 and will preserve thee4 #cb4 ,the ,christian ,church collectively must so proceed in the discharge of its high spiritual office1 of which ,peter speaks here1 that no man or creature1 by his own wisdom and power1 can sustain or accomplish any work4 ,no power1 might1 or protection that can comfort1 or upon which one may rely1 is to be sought in the world4 ,wholly in ,god1 and in ,god alone1 must help be sought4 ,by his divine power ,god must uphold the ,church4 ,he has1 from the beginning1 always and wonderfully preserved it in the world1 in the midst of great weakness1 in disunion occasioned by schismatics and heretics1 in persecution by tyrants4 ,and the government is wholly his1 though he commits the office and service to men1 whom he would summon and use to administer his ,word and sacrament4 ,therefore1 each ,christian1 especially if he fills such an office and partakes of this fellowship1 should be intent1 in that whereunto ,god has called and appointed him1 upon serving ,god faithfully and doing that which is commanded him4 ,the anxiety respecting the ,church's continued existence and her preservation against the devil and the world1 can be left to the ,lord4 ,he has taken this upon himself and thus has removed the burden from our shoulders1 that we might be certain of the permanence of the ,church4 ,if its preservation were committed to human counsel1 might and will1 the devil1 with his power1 would soon overthrow and destroy it4 #cc4 ,likewise1 in every office and station1 each one should follow this counsel of ,saint ,peter4 ,a prince should seek to protect his land and people1 to promote ,god's ,word1 to maintain discipline and peace1 to do justice to every man1 to punish the disobedient1 etc4 ,councils1 officials1 and those in authority should faithfully advise and direct to this end4 ,pastors and preachers should rightly and fearlessly declare ,god's ,word and truth4 ,every citizen and subject should be intent upon his work and duty1 and whatever1 in connection therewith1 is unusual he must simply commit to ,god4 ,but the world does not pursue this course4 ,each one says3 ,why should ,i incur so much danger1 opposition and hostility8 ,again1 why should ,i labor and toil for naught8 ,i will not accomplish my work at any rate4 ,in this spirit of fear and worry1 his proper office and work are delayed1 or he is always careless4 ,but let such people know that they are not ,christians1 nor do they promote ,god's kingdom or profit the offices conferred on them4 ,if they do not propose to mend their ways1 they should give up the office bestowed on them by ,god4 ,it is not enough to simply sit at ease in one's office and accept the plaudits of men4 ,we all like to render esteem and honor to office and station4 ,but know this1 that you are not in office to parade about in beautiful garments1 to sit in the front row1 and be called ,gracious ,master and ,esquire4 ,you are to conduct faithfully the office with which ,god has clothed and honored you1 regardless of human honor and profit1 shame or injury4 #cd4 ,but men are not generally inclined to believe and trust ,god4 ,they are not inclined to remember that he cares for us2 that he has assumed and must bear the greatest of burdens1 which no man on earth can bear2 that he cared for us before we were born1 and could still1 of himself1 execute all things dispensing with all human help1 but he prefers to accomplish his purpose through human means1 and to employ us as instruments in these divine works--governing1 punishing1 teaching1 comforting4 #ce4 ,the world is particularly culpable in this matter of pride4 ,when divinely charged with some great work1 it always seeks to determine1 in advance1 by its own wisdom1 all future danger and accidents1 and tries to anticipate them4 ,the world looks for man's help1 and seeks friendship and assistance wherever it can4 ,it makes alliances1 and resorts to other schemes4 ,it puts its trust in these and then considers itself strong enough to meet opposition1 and is sure of its cause by reason of its own efforts4 ,this is not showing faith in ,god4 ,it is not committing our cause and all care for ourselves to him4 ,it is maintaining the cause through one's own anxiety and forethought4 ,it is ignoring and disbelieving the fact that nothing can be accomplished by one's own vexed effort4 ,no human wisdom has power to foresee the future4 ,if we looked back at the examples furnished by history1 we should learn how woefully human wisdom is deceived when it relies upon itself4 ,the results are not what was expected1 but the very opposite4 #cf4 ,the ,scriptures give many pertinent examples of the kings of ,judah and ,israel1 whom the prophets often and severely rebuked because they sought refuge and help among strange nations and kings4 ,the prophets warned them that they should not trust in human aid1 but should do according to ,god's ,word and command4 ,they told them he would protect and uphold them4 ,but the kings would not hear4 ,they continued to form friendships and alliances with the kings of ,egypt1 ,syria1 ,babylon and ,assyria1 and thus invited them as guests into the land1 whereupon the heathen kings came with force and led away captive the inhabitants and laid everything desolate4 ,that was their reward for not heeding ,god's ,word2 for not believing that he cared for them1 and desired to protect and defend them if they would but trust and obey him4 ,the wisest and most eminent1 even among the heathen1 have lamented1 in the light of their own experience1 that they have been shamefully deluded by their counsels1 even though founded on the most careful deliberations4 ,nor can it be said that the world has grown wiser in consequence of its own or others' sufferings4 #cg4 ,this exhortation is preached to no one except the few who are ,christians4 ,they have regard for ,god's ,word1 and1 now humbled1 have learned that they should not rely on their own wisdom and reason1 or upon human help and comfort4 ,they have come to the belief that ,god cares for them4 ,so they do what they know is right and are in duty bound to do1 and suffer themselves not to be hindered by such fears as possess the world concerning dangers1 injuries1 and adversities4 ,they commend all such things to ,god1 and at his word go right through with courage4 #ch4 ,let me illustrate from my own experience4 ,what should ,i have done when ,i began to denounce the lies of the indulgence system1 and later the errors of the papacy1 if ,i had listened and given heed to the terrible things all the world wrote and said would happen to me8 ,how often ,i heard it said that if ,i wrote against such and such eminent people ,i would provoke their displeasure1 which would prove too severe for me and the whole ,german nation4 ,but1 since ,i had not begun this work of myself1 being driven and led thereto by reason of my office 7otherwise ,i should have preferred to keep silence71 ,i must continue4 ,i commended the cause to ,god and let him bear the burden of care1 both as to the result of the work and also as to my own fate4 ,thus ,i advanced the cause farther1 despite tumultuous opposition1 than ,i had ever before dared to think or hope4 #ci4 ,oh1 how much good would ,god accomplish through us if people could be persuaded1 especially the eminent lords and kings1 that what ,peter here says is true3 ,he careth for you6 ,how much he could do if they believed that truth instead of seeking1 through their own wisdom and reason1 to equip1 strengthen1 and compose themselves by aid of human might and assistance1 friendship and alliance1 for the accomplishment and maintenance of their cause6 ,it is apparent that mortal plans fail and have always failed1 and that they accomplish nothing4 ,god hinders and resists man's work when he will not trust him4 ,hence ,god can grant no success or favor to that which is founded on human wisdom or on trust in human powers4 ,this is a truth men must finally perceive by experience1 and they must lament because they would not believe it4 #dj4 ,let him who would be a ,christian learn to believe this4 ,let him practice and exhibit faith in all his affairs1 bodily and spiritual1 in his doing and his suffering1 his living and his dying4 ,let him banish cares and anxious thoughts4 ,courageous and cheerful1 let him cast them aside2 not into a corner1 as some vainly think to do1 for when burdens are permitted to conceal themselves in the heart they are not really put away4 ,but let the ,christian cast his heart and its anxieties upon ,god4 ,god is strong to bear and he can easily carry the burden4 ,besides1 he has commanded that all this be put upon himself4 ,the more thou layest upon him1 the more pleasing it is to him4 ,and he gives thee the promise that he will carry thy cares for thee1 and all things else that concern thee4 #da4 ,this is a grand promise1 and a beautiful1 golden saying1 if men would only believe it4 ,if a powerful ruler here on earth were to give such a promise1 and were to demand that we let him have all the concern about gold and silver and the needs of this life1 how cheerfully and contentedly would every one cling to such promise6 ,but now a greater lord says all this1 one who is almighty and truthful1 who has power over the body and life1 and who can and will give us everything we need1 both temporal and eternal4 ,we should have in all this1 if we only believed it1 half of heaven1 yea1 a perfect paradise on earth4 ,for what is better and nobler than a quiet1 peaceful heart8 ,for this all men are striving and laboring4 ,so have we been doing hitherto1 running to and fro after it4 ,yet it is found nowhere except in ,god's word1 which bids us cast our cares and burdens on ,god and thus seek peace and rest4 ,it counsels us to throw upon him everything that threatens to oppress and worry us4 ,god would not have anxiety dwell in our hearts1 for it does not belong there2 it is put there by the devil4 #db4 ,therefore1 a ,christian1 even though obliged to suffer all manner of adversity1 temptation and misfortune1 can cheerfully go forward and say3 ,dear ,lord ,god1 thou hast commanded me to believe1 to teach1 to govern and to act2 this ,i will attempt in thy name1 and ,i will commend to thee whatever may happen to me in the course of duty4 ,there you have a man who is equal to any task1 and can do much good4 ,for he is freed from the greatest misfortune and has laid the heaviest weight upon ,god1 whilst another man does nothing except fill his heart with anxiety and gloom4 ,this other can apply himself to no good work4 ,he becomes unfit both to do and to suffer4 ,he is afraid of every trifle and1 because of his vexation or impatience1 can do nothing worth mentioning4 ,what is the world doing now8 ,princes1 lords1 counselors1 citizens1 and peasants--all want only power1 honor1 and wealth4 ,none desires to render service4 ,everyone fears that this or the other thing might happen to him4 ,though the world never needed more careful rule than at the present time1 lords and princes1 simply because they are such1 idly sit adorned with beautiful crowns1 though they have received their trust from ,god to discharge their princely office4 ,for the world must be governed1 the youth must be educated1 the wicked must be punished4 ,but if thou desirest the honor only1 and art not willing to step in the mire1 to suffer people's displeasure1 and through it all learn to trust ,god and for his sake do everything1 thou art not worthy of the grace given for the accomplishment of a good and praiseworthy work4 ,in punishment1 resting under ,god's wrath1 thou must remain unfit for every good work4 ,,iii4 ,be sober1 be watchful3 your adversary the devil1 as a roaring lion1 walketh about1 seeking whom he may devour3 whom withstand stedfast in your faith4 #dc4 ,the apostle has set forth two things to be practiced throughout the ,christian life2 namely1 ,christian humility--which is fear of ,god--and faith and confidence in ,god4 ,now he admonishes his readers to battle and warfare1 that these blessings may be preserved4 ,he shows us our enemy and adversary who seeks to rob us of our treasure and deprive us of our salvation and eternal blessedness4 ,hence he would say3 ,be not concerned about living a life of earthly glory1 and let not anxious cares fill your soul4 ,but be intent on humbling yourselves before ,god4 ,trust in him4 ,let this be your care1 that you may abide in the grace of humility4 ,let it never be wrested from you4 ,for the devil seeks to instill these forbidden cares1 and to produce disobedience against ,god1 that he may tear faith and ,god's ,word out of your heart4 ,,watchfulness ,,enjoined4 ,therefore1 you must not ignore these facts1 and meanwhile strive after something else4 ,you are not to go along in false security or sleep and snore as though there were no danger4 ,you must rather know that you have not been placed in a garden of roses here1 but in the midst of heavy conflicts1 where you must be on your guard1 always watchful and prepared for resistance4 ,for you have an adversary who is not insignificant or to be despised1 but is strong1 mighty1 and moreover wicked and ferocious4 ,he does not fight with stone and wood1 destroying rocks and trees1 but he has his eye fixed on you ,christians4 ,he never grows tired or weary1 but without rest and ceasing he pursues you2 not only to spy upon you and to harass you1 in which he can be withstood1 but he desires utterly to devour you4 #dd4 ,his sole purpose and plan is to murder and destroy men1 spiritually and bodily2 even as1 at the beginning1 when man had been created1 he led and cast him into death4 ,he practices his schemes with awful and deadly effect in the world against those who do not believe in ,christ1 and he will never stop until the judgment day4 ,one can perceive his incessant activity4 ,he bustles about and openly raves and roars against all ,christendom4 ,he uses for his purpose the ,turks1 and other tyrants and godless people1 not to speak of the sorrow and murder he works by so possessing people that in their frenzy they do themselves injury1 or without cause murder others4 ,he otherwise1 through wicked and shameful snares1 leads men into misfortune and sorrow4 ,in short1 the world is nothing else than the devil's murderous cave1 both spiritually and physically4 ,god1 in order to somewhat hinder and restrain physical murder1 has ordained temporal government1 parental and other authority4 ,these in their office are to be sober1 watchful1 and diligent4 ,we ought to thank ,god for his preservation of such authority1 for otherwise there would be no peace--everywhere on earth nothing but murder4 ,nevertheless1 the awful murder the devil perpetrates on those who are without ,god's ,word and faith1 is not thereby checked4 #de4 ,some other defense and protection1 then1 another kind of watchfulness1 must be sought1 in order that men may remain undestroyed and unharmed in the presence of this bloodthirsty murderer4 ,of this ,peter speaks here to the little company of ,christians1 and says3 ,ye1 through ,christ's blood and death rescued from the devil's lies and murderous intent1 have been made alive and have been transplanted into the heavenly life1 like your beloved fathers1 ,adam1 ,abel1 and others4 ,they are no longer under bondage to ,satan1 but live in ,christ1 though the body lie for a time in the earth and truth and life must be supplied to their body and soul4 ,but because ye still dwell in the world1 ye are exposed to all danger4 ,physically1 ye are yet in the murderer's house2 therefore ye must take good heed1 that he may not kill you again1 and murder your souls dwelling in these mortal bodies4 ,it shall harm you none that the soul was ruined and the body is yet subject to death4 ,because ,i live1 says ,christ 7,jn #ad1 #ai71 ye shall live also4 ,however1 ye must struggle if ye are to abide in the truth and life4 ,to this ye are appointed whilst ye live here on earth2 otherwise ye would already be in ,paradise4 ,but the devil has not yet been consigned wholly to the punishment of his damnation1 which will be at the last day1 when he will finally be cast down from his airy height1 and from the earth1 into the abyss of hell4 ,then he will no more be able to attack us1 and there will no longer be cloud or veil between us and ,god and the angels4 ,,soberness ,,essential4 #df4 ,in order1 now1 he continues1 that ye may be saved from his murderous designs1 and may preserve the life you have begun1 ye must be sober and watchful2 not only mindful of the body1 but much rather of the mind and soul4 ,it is true that a ,christian who is to resist the devil must be physically sober1 for a full hog and drunkard cannot be watchful nor can he plan defense against the devil4 ,yet must a ,christian much more guard himself1 lest the soul become sleepy or drunken4 ,as the soul is burdened by the body when the latter is overwhelmed by drunkenness1 so1 when the soul is watchful and sober1 the body also is temperate and prepared to hear ,god's ,word4 ,but where the body is oppressed by drunkenness1 there the soul must first have been a drunkard1 not heeding ,god's ,word nor giving attention to prayer4 ,where the soul is drunken and drowned in such security1 it will not avail that the body suffer hurt by strict fasting and self-mortification1 after the fashion of the ,carthusians and hermits4 #dg4 ,saint ,peter1 then1 forbids not only bodily drunkenness1 but also drunkenness of the soul4 ,one's soul is drunk when he lives in carnal security1 without thought and anxiety as to whether he have and hold ,god's ,word or not2 when he asks no questions1 either about ,god's wrath or his grace2 and when he1 moreover1 lets himself be filled with the sweet poison of false doctrine through the mob of evil spirits ,satan employs for this purpose1 until he grows numb1 loses faith and clear judgment and finally becomes overfull of drunkenness and spews it out upon others4 #dh4 ,the same thing results when men begin to be wise in divine things by following human reason4 ,saint ,peter aptly describes this false doctrine with the expression1 cunningly devised fables1 #b ,pet #a1 #af4 ,he says3 ,we did not follow cunningly devised fables1 when we made known unto you the power and coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,such are the beautiful words and sermons which make a great show of wisdom and holiness1 and naturally please men4 ,for instance it is a cunningly devised fable when one with the aid of philosophy1 which reason can understand1 sets forth in grandiloquent words what a fine thing it is for a man to live honorably1 chastely1 and to practice good works and virtues4 ,the aim is1 with such pretense1 to have us believe that we1 through these works 7not alone through faith71 are justified before ,god2 that is1 are redeemed from sin and death4 #di4 ,again1 other factious spirits travel about with worthy sayings which they have heard from us--externals do not help souls2 the ,spirit must do the work--and then they proceed to fling contempt on baptism and the ,lord's ,supper4 ,so ,thomas ,mnzer1 with his seditious peasants1 and the ,anabaptist rabble1 went about1 with great demonstration1 preaching about the shameful1 wicked life of the world1 especially of the authorities1 declaring that these were godless people and tyrants1 and deserved ,god's wrath and punishment2 that therefore men should depose and execute them1 and establish a new government1 of only pious and holy people4 ,these and similar things ,peter calls cunningly devised fables4 ,they are exaggeratingly pretended to be the product of great wisdom and art1 and are rendered sweet and palatable to reason4 ,so has all idolatry1 heresy1 and false doctrine1 from the beginning on1 prevailed1 being fashioned and most beautifully adorned by people learned and wise and held in the esteem of the world4 #ej4 ,how admirable did the position of ,arius and his adherents appear in comparison with the true faith concerning the divinity of ,christ1 when they declared that though ,christ should be exalted above all angels and creatures1 and that all honor1 dominion and power in heaven and on earth belong to him1 yea1 that he is quite equal to ,god--all this1 yet he is not homo-ousios2 that is1 he is not in one undivided1 divine1 eternal essence1 which is of such unity that it could be imparted to no one else4 ,it would be too much to say that a man is ,god1 etc4 ,with such pretense was a great multitude of ,christians seduced4 ,even few bishops remained in the pure doctrine and faith4 ,and afterward this poison prevailed among the wise people of ,asia and ,greece1 until ,mohammed1 with his ,saracens and ,turks1 had miserably corrupted the greatest part of the world4 #ea4 ,likewise the ,pope has adorned and colored with a glorious form his abominations and idolatry1 claiming for his order of service that it is a meritorious and beautiful thing4 ,again1 he calls attention to the serviceableness of the beautiful1 orderly government and power of the ,church1 with its well regulated gradations of office and position--bishops superior to the ordinary priests1 and over the bishops ,saint ,peter's chair at ,rome4 ,in that chair is vested the authority for the convocation of general councils so often as these may be necessary4 ,these councils are to judge and decide in all matters of faith1 and their decisions everyone must follow and obey4 ,again1 he boasts what great service and consolation to the whole world is the work of the priests in the mass1 when they daily renew and offer to ,god the sacrifice made by ,christ on the cross4 ,this is the sweet wine in the golden cup of the scarlet harlot of ,babylon1 with which she has made drunken all kings and nations1 ,rev #ag1 #b-d4 #eb4 ,where the devil finds those who give ear to such fables1 he takes them captive and so fills them with these falsehoods that they neither see nor hear anything else4 ,they think their belief is the only one1 and they will not suffer themselves to be instructed out of ,god's ,word4 ,and so1 in their madness1 without rightful intelligence of faith and all principles of pure doctrine1 they continue in their darkened mind1 with their fantastic1 lying prattle1 without repentance and amendment1 having no grace to learn or do anything good4 ,this is amply proved by the example of all seditious spirits4 #ec4 ,therefore1 ,peter admonishes us to be sober and watchful1 especially in spirit1 and to guard ourselves against this sweet poison and these beautiful1 adorned lies and fables of the devil4 ,he teaches us how to equip and defend ourselves against his wicked devices4 ,whom withstand stedfast in your faith4 #ed4 ,the true defense and resistance1 in which we are to be sober and watchful1 is to be well grounded in ,god's ,word and cling firmly thereto when the devil seeks1 with his cunningly devised fables1 born of human understanding and reason1 to overthrow our faith4 ,reason is the devil's bride1 and always vaunts itself wise and skilful in divine things1 and thinks what it holds to be right and good must be accounted so before ,god4 ,but faith holds to ,god's ,word alone4 ,it knows that before ,god1 human wisdom1 skill and power1 and whatever gifts and virtues man may have1 count for nothing4 ,only his grace and the forgiveness of sins in ,christ has value4 ,therefore1 faith can repel and defeat all these fine pretensions and cunning fables4 #ee4 ,worldly dominion and authority boasts before ,god in this fashion3 ,my crown is a crown in ,god's sight1 for my power and sovereignty have been given me by ,god4 ,therefore1 whatever ,i say he must respect and regard as valid1 and everyone must endorse my words and actions4 ,the wise philosopher or jurist would thus give expression to his boasts and pretensions3 ,we are the learned1 the wise rulers of the world1 and have admirable laws and statutes4 ,we have superior and beautiful doctrines concerning good works and virtues4 ,men must listen to us and allow our judgment to have precedence4 ,he who can do1 or does1 such things as we have done is1 in ,god's sight1 superior to others4 ,,faith1 ,,not ,,worldly ,,wisdom1 ,,essential4 #ef4 ,no1 dear man1 says faith to this1 ,i grant that the things of which thou boastest have been ordained and confirmed by ,god2 but they are not of value save for this temporal life4 ,the world regards it a crown to be known as wise4 ,but in the presence of ,god thou shouldst lay aside thy crown1 let thy might and power1 thy law and wisdom1 go1 and say3 ,god1 be merciful to me a poor sinner6 ,reason has this advantage1 that it is equipped and adorned with ,god's promise to confirm its rule here on earth and to be pleased therewith2 but with the provision that reason shall not interfere in ,god's government1 or boast over against him4 ,let it be known that what is called wisdom and prudence on earth1 is foolishness before ,god4 ,what in the sight of the world is commended and honored as beautiful1 valuable1 as of honor and virtue1 is before ,god sin1 and subject to his wrath4 ,what on earth is called life1 is before ,god nothing but death4 #eg4 ,if1 now1 the parental1 governmental1 and other authority which he1 himself1 has arrayed and through his word established1 and which is even administered by ,christians1 does not endure before him in that other life1 how much less will he allow that to stand which man has devised or subtly contrived out of his own head and heart6 ,wouldst thou be wise and prudent1 then cultivate these virtues in the sphere appointed thee1 in thy home1 the ,state1 and whatever office thou hast4 ,in these temporal things1 rule as well as thou canst4 ,thou wilt find little enough to help in all thy books1 thy reason and wisdom4 ,but when thou beginnest to devise out of thine own reason the things of ,god1 though they may all seem trustworthy wisdom1 yet1 as ,peter says1 they are nothing else than fables and lies4 #eh4 ,for example1 a monk's words3 ,whoever dons a cowl can lead a holy life1 for he is cut off from the world1 can banish all care and sorrow1 and can undisturbed1 in peace and quietness1 serve ,god--these words appear wisely spoken1 but at bottom they are nothing but unreliable and useless chatter4 ,this is proved from ,god's ,word1 which teaches that ,god has forbidden us to invent our own worship2 also1 that ,god would have us serve him in our ordinary life and station and not by fleeing therefrom4 ,hence1 such monkery can not be a holy1 godly life4 ,in ,psalm #aai1 #he1 we read3 ,the proud have digged pits for me1 who are not according to thy law4 ,that is1 they preach to me about praiseworthy things1 and represent their cause as most worthy1 in order to overcome me4 ,but when ,i look at their words aright1 ,i do not find them to be in accord with thy ,word and commandments1 which 7says he7 are faithful4 ,a lie is always beautiful4 ,it attracts and pretends to be truth4 ,it has1 further1 the advantage that it can adorn itself from the wardrobe of ,god's ,word1 and1 perverting the ,word1 can use it in an uncertain sense4 ,on the other hand1 the truth does not so glitter1 because it does not make itself plain to reason4 ,for example1 a common ,christian1 a type of the brethren1 hears the ,gospel1 believes1 uses the sacraments1 leads a ,christian life at home with wife and children--that does not shine as does the fascinating lie of a saintly ,carthusian or hermit1 who1 separated from his fellow men1 would be a holier servant of ,god than other people4 ,yet the latter is useful to nobody4 ,he lets others preach and rule1 and labor in the sweat of their brows4 ,,god',s ,,word ,,the ,,christian',s ,,guide4 #ei4 ,the one important thing1 then1 is to see to it that we have ,god's ,word1 and that we regulate all the teachings and claims of men in accordance therewith4 ,we will thus distinguish between the true and the false4 ,we must remember1 also1 that human reason holds a far inferior position to faith and is not to be acknowledged as trustworthy1 save as it is authorized by ,god for temporal authority4 ,he who has faith can easily perceive when reason conflicts with ,god's ,word or seeks1 in its wisdom1 to rise superior thereto2 just as1 in worldly things1 each one in his station1 office1 or calling1 knows full well1 when another attempts the same work1 whether he does it right or not4 ,so every householder well understands that in his home wantonness and wrong-doing on the part of the servants are not to be tolerated4 ,however1 in divine things1 reason can so attire and adorn itself as not to be recognized except by one who1 guided by faith1 has a right knowledge of ,god's ,word4 ,reason will not refrain from intruding1 with its wisdom and prudence1 into the affairs of ,god1 where it has no orders4 ,thus the devil creates endless misery1 as he did at the beginning in the case of our first parents4 ,and yet reason will not permit1 in its own domain1 the slightest interference of one unskilled in reason's code4 #fj4 ,if a cobbler were to arise in the ,church and censure the people because they did not wear his make of shoes1 and should try to convince people that such a procedure was necessary to salvation1 they would pursue him out of the ,church with shoes and slippers1 and cry after him3 ,stay at home in your shop with your shoes and lasts6 ,what does that concern the spiritual estate8 ,but when a factious spirit stands up and in his supposed wisdom grunts forth3 ,i am a holy1 pious man4 ,i have a special illumination from the spirit4 ,therefore do not believe what the others say1 which is nothing but the dead letter1 that one person can be ,god and man2 that a virgin can be a mother2 that a man can be cleansed from sin by water and the spoken ,word1 etc41--when he does this1 then there is no one to offer resistance4 ,reason then gains the victory if it only claims the glory of guidance by the ,spirit1 of a holy life1 etc41 even though ,god's ,word and faith are not present in their purity4 ,behold1 what mischief the ,turk1 with his ,mohammed1 has wrought and is still working1 solely by claiming the honor of worshipping the one ,god1 and asserting that he alone has the true ,god6 ,he declares that only he and his followers are ,god's people on earth1 to honor which ,god they war and fight against the ,christians4 ,he presses his cause the more vigorously because he has such large fortune and victory2 so even many ,christians who come among them adopt their faith and become ,turks4 ,but none of the ,turks turn ,christian4 #fa4 ,therefore1 no other counsel can be offered for resisting the devil and escaping destruction by him1 than this1 that we remain firm in faith1 says ,saint ,peter4 ,one must have a heart which holds fast to ,god's ,word and fully understands the same and holds it to be true4 ,for faith cannot exist or endure without the ,word1 nor can it hear or understand aught else4 ,one must separate the ,word far from all reason and wisdom1 placing it above these4 ,he must hold reason as nothing--yea1 as dead--in matters pertaining to ,god's government and to how man is to escape sin and eternal death4 ,reason must keep silent and give to ,god's ,word alone the honor which belongs to the truth1 bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of ,christ1 as ,saint ,paul says1 #b ,cor #aj1 #e4 ,if reason is to be my teacher in these things1 what need is there of faith8 ,and why should ,i not throw away all the ,scriptures8 ,we ,christians1 says ,paul 7#a ,cor #a1 #bj-ba71 preach something else and higher than reason comprehends1 for the wisdom of the world is mere folly4 ,if reason taught me that the mother of ,christ is a virgin1 the angel ,gabriel might have remained in heaven and kept silent concerning the matter4 ,your faith1 says ,paul again 7#a ,cor #b1 #d71 should not stand in the wisdom of men1 but in the power of ,god4 ,now you have seen the tricks and wiles of the devil with which he seeks to devour you1 which he bases on reason as opposed to ,god's ,word4 #fb4 ,peter admonishes all ,christians1 especially the preachers1 how to defend themselves against the devil's intrigues and artifices1 with which he seeks to capture them4 ,in order that ,christians may be properly equipped1 ,saint ,peter calls attention to two things3 ,first1 we must know the enemy and realize his purpose2 second1 we must be armed to meet him and defend ourselves1 that we may stand before him and conquer4 ,he is a terrible1 mighty foe1 says ,peter1 and is the god of this world4 ,he has more wisdom and more deceptive snares than all men1 and can so blind and unsettle reason that it will cheerfully believe and follow him4 ,he is1 moreover1 a wicked and bitter enemy to you who in ,christ have life4 ,he cannot bear to see you ,christ's4 ,he thinks and plots about nothing else than your overthrow4 ,and think not that he is far from you1 or that he will pursue you from a distance4 ,he has encamped close to you and right around you2 yea1 in your own territory--that is1 in your flesh and blood4 ,there he seeks how to reach you1 and overtake you when unguarded1 attempting now this1 now that4 ,misguided faith1 doubt1 anger1 impatience1 covetousness1 evil passions1 etc41 are points of attack--any place where he finds an opening or discovers that you are weak4 ,therefore1 think not that he is simply jesting4 ,he is more furious and hungry than a famished and angry lion4 ,he does not purpose merely to wound or prick you1 but wholly to consume you1 so that nothing of body or soul will remain4 #fc4 ,whoever would withstand such a foe must be equipped with other armor and weapons than those furnished by human wit and understanding1 by human powers or ability4 ,your defense is nothing else1 says ,peter1 than faith1 which holds and grasps ,god's ,word4 ,and because the believer holds fast to this1 the devil can gain nothing4 ,it is ,god's truth and power1 before which1 with his lying and murdering1 he cannot stand2 he must yield and flee4 ,therefore ,ephesians #f1 #af says3 ,taking up the shield of faith1 wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one4 ,these fiery darts are chiefly those he hurls into the heart through the beautiful thoughts of human reason4 ,he thus transforms himself into an angel of light1 to displace right thoughts and faith1 and to introduce human whims and false faith4 ,his aim is1 also1 to lead into doubt1 distrust1 hatred1 and anger toward ,god4 ,thus it is1 too1 in the other temptations and trials of life1 when ,satan drives men into sin and disobedience against ,god's commandment1 into such sins as avarice1 usury1 anger1 revengefulness1 unchastity1 and other vices4 ,here he uses the same insidious arts1 first tearing ,god's ,word out of the heart1 then blinding reason with sweet and beautiful thoughts4 ,he says3 ,the thing proposed is not so wicked4 ,god will not be so angry with you4 ,he can afford to be patient with you1 you still love the ,gospel4 ,with such suggestions as these he carries you away and plunges you under ,god's fearful anger and condemnation4 #fd4 ,if you would withstand these wiles1 there can be no other plan or counsel than this3 ,fight with ,god's ,word in firm faith against these suggestions and allurements4 ,further1 keep in mind both your former misery and your present treasures of grace4 ,remember how you were once under ,god's wrath when1 without fear of ,god and without faith1 you were the devil's own1 subject to all his will1 and must have perished had not ,god1 in boundless goodness1 forgiven you your sin and bestowed on you his grace4 ,and now give heed that you may not lose this treasure1 to which end the ,holy ,spirit has been promised you4 ,you need not succumb if you remain in faith4 ,again1 if you experience weakness and suffer want1 you are bidden to call upon him1 certain that he will hear you4 ,the promise is3 ,if ye shall ask anything of the ,father1 he will give it you in my name1 ,jn #af1 #bc4 ,also3 ,if ye abide in me1 and my words abide in you1 ask whatsoever ye will1 and it shall be done unto you1 ,jn #ae1 #g4 #fe4 ,peter would1 with his admonitions1 make ,christians bold and confident for resisting the temptations of the devil and defending themselves4 ,he would not have us feel terrified nor despair before ,satan1 even though that wicked one press us hard through the instrumentality of the world and of our own flesh1 as well as by his direct onslaughts4 ,we are not to fear though he seem too strong for us1 and though surrender to his prowess seems inevitable4 ,we are to have a manly heart and fight valiantly through faith4 ,we must be assured that1 if we remain firm in the faith1 we shall have strength and final victory4 ,the devil shall not defeat us2 we shall prove superior to him4 ,we have been called of ,god and made ,christians to the end that we renounce the devil and contend against him1 and thus maintain ,god's name1 ,word1 and kingdom against him4 ,christ1 our head1 has already1 in himself1 smitten and destroyed for us the devil and his power4 ,in addition1 he gives us faith and the ,holy ,spirit1 whereby we can wholly defeat ,satan's further wickedness and his attempts to overthrow us4 #ff4 ,a ,christian should bear all this in mind1 ,i say1 and learn to experience the strength and power of faith4 ,so will he not yield to temptation and enticement4 ,nor will he1 from love of the devil or the world1 to his own eternal hurt1 and for the sake of small temporal advantage1 pleasure1 or honor1 cast from him ,god's grace and the ,holy ,spirit1 and put himself again under ,god's eternal anger and condemnation4 ,,iv4 ,knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world4 #fg4 ,this is a very precious and comforting passage1 the truth of which ,peter learned not only by inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit1 but from his own experience4 ,one instance of his experience was when1 in the high-priest's house1 he thrice denied his ,lord1 and soon thereafter fell into such anxiety and despair that he would have followed the traitor ,judas had not ,christ turned and looked on him4 ,it was for this reason that ,christ1 so soon after his resurrection1 first of all commanded that the glad tidings should be announced to ,peter4 ,christ also said to him1 before all this happened3 ,simon1 444 ,i made supplication for thee1 that thy faith fail not2 and do thou1 when once thou hast turned again1 establish thy brethren1 ,lk #bb1 #ca-cb4 ,,conduct ,,in ,,suffering4 ,peter makes faithful use of the present passage for his readers' comfort3 ,ye must expect1 in the world1 says he1 to suffer many and severe things1 both in temptations of soul and body1 against the first and the second table of the law1 ,satan lying in wait for you with his deceitful and murderous arts4 #fh4 ,weak ,christians suffer beyond measure because they are plagued and beset so constantly by the devil4 ,their afflictions so sorely oppress them that they conclude that no one suffers so severely as do they4 ,especially does this seem the case in the great spiritual temptations which come to those endowed with peculiar gifts and who are called to positions of prominence in the ,church4 ,so ,paul often laments his great temptations1 which the common people do not understand and cannot endure4 ,god1 moreover1 is careful to lay on each one just the cross he is able to carry4 ,still these sufferings are such that even the great and strong must languish and wither beneath them were it not for the comfort ,god bestows4 ,these troubles grip the heart1 and consume the very marrow1 as the ,psalms often lament4 #fi4 ,some of those living in cloisters1 and other pious1 tender consciences1 have learned by experience how hard such burdens are to bear1 especially in the darkness of the papacy1 where they receive but little genuine comfort4 ,there are1 also1 some inexperienced and forward spirits who have seen but have not understood these things1 and who yet desire to be regarded as people of large experience4 ,when1 however1 the test comes1 they are found wanting4 ,it is related of one of this class1 who heard others bemoaning their temptations1 that he prayed ,god to let temptation visit him also2 whereupon ,god permitted him to be tempted with carnal lust4 ,but when he found he could not bear it1 he again prayed ,god1 asking that the burden of his brother1 whom he regarded inferior to himself1 be given him4 ,but when this request was granted1 he prayed yet more earnestly that ,god would give him back his former burden4 #gj4 ,amid such temptations ,peter comforts suffering ,christians by telling them that they are not the first1 nor the only ones1 to be thus assailed4 ,they are not to feel as if it were a wonderful1 rare1 unheard of cross which they bear1 or that they bear it alone4 ,they are to know that their brethren1 the ,christians of all times1 and scattered through all the world1 must1 because they are in the world1 suffer the same things at the hand of ,satan and his minions4 ,it assuages and comforts beyond measure for the sufferer to know that he does not suffer alone1 but with a great multitude4 #ga4 ,it is true that in external temptations this comfort is easily grasped1 because of the knowledge of others' experiences4 ,but when ,satan assails thee alone with his poisonous darts--for example1 when he tempts thee to doubt ,god's grace1 as if thou alone hadst been cast off2 or when he suggests horrible blasphemies1 hatred of ,god1 condemnation of his government1 and so tortures and fills with anguish thy heart that thou art led to think that no man on earth is more fearfully assailed than thyself--then there is need to make use of this comfort which ,peter offers thee and all ,christians4 ,in other words1 ,peter would say3 ,my friend1 let not the devil and thy sufferings terrify thee or lead thee to despair4 ,thou shouldst know this for a certainty1 that thou sufferest not alone4 ,no matter how shamefully he attacks thee1 he has done and is doing the same to others4 ,the devil seeks1 not only our own destruction1 but also that of all ,christendom4 ,it is ever his purpose to tear out of men's hearts1 in the midst of their sufferings1 ,god's ,word and faith4 ,he would rob them of their comfort in ,christ1 and depict ,god in the most horrible and hostile light1 that the heart may have not one kind thought regarding him4 ,and he can do this2 not only with lofty1 refined1 subtle thoughts1 but also by gross suggestions from without1 before which a man must fear and shudder4 ,i1 myself1 saw and heard a girl who complained of a temptation of this nature2 namely1 that while she stood in the church and saw the sacrament elevated1 the thought occurred to her3 ,lo1 what a big knave the priest is elevating4 ,and she was suddenly so frightened at the terrible thought that she sank to the floor4 #gb4 ,such terror and anxiety proceed from the fact that one imagines that no one else has ever experienced such dreadful assaults4 ,he thinks he has a special1 strange1 and unusual affliction4 ,although it is true that men's temptations differ and come from different sources and one may imagine his own a peculiar kind1 yet the sufferings and temptations of all ,christians are alike in this1 that the devil tries to drive them all from the fear and confidence of ,god into unbelief1 contempt1 hatred1 and blasphemy against ,god4 ,therefore1 the apostles are accustomed to call ,christians' sufferings a fellowship in pain and tribulations4 ,they point all men who suffer to the agonies of ,christ our ,lord1 as the head and exemplar4 ,peter says in his first epistle1 ch4 #a1 #aa3 ,the ,spirit of ,christ 444 testified beforehand the sufferings of ,christ1 and the glories that should follow them4 ,and ,paul says1 ,i fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of ,christ in my flesh1 ,col #a1 #bd4 #gc4 ,if one would speak of specially severe sufferings1 surely no human heart can comprehend1 much less tell1 how great and heavy were the anxiety and sorrow of our first parents on account of their miserable fall4 ,and what sorrow must ,adam have witnessed during the nine hundred years of his life in the experiences of his first son ,cain1 and his children6 ,no man has ever borne such a burden as lay on both parents for nearly a hundred years after ,abel's death1 until their third son was born4 ,truly1 these nine hundred years were a period of sorrow and misery4 ,perhaps1 on the last day1 we shall discuss with this our father the solitary suffering of that time1 of which we know nothing4 ,and we shall willingly confess that in sorrow's school he stands far above us and we have been only insignificant pupils4 ,it must have been most severe and dangerous for him1 since he had no example before him of similar suffering with which to comfort himself4 #gd4 ,likewise1 if thou couldst rightly understand what the other holy patriarchs1 the prophets and apostles--especially ,paul and ,peter--and later all the beloved martyrs and saints1 have endured thou wouldst be forced to say that all thy temptation and suffering are nothing in comparison4 ,but above all these must we reckon the experiences of the ,lord ,christ1 whose heart was so pierced by ,satan's fiery darts and bitter thrusts that the bloody drops of sweat were pressed out of his body4 ,he has gone before and surpassed us on the way of sorrow4 ,we1 with all our suffering1 can only follow his footsteps4 ,,of ,,temptation4 #ge4 ,therefore1 learn well this saying of ,peter1 and think not that thou alone endurest this severe1 fearful temptation and these onslaughts of the devil4 ,remember that thy brethren1 not only they who are dead--who also have set thee a good example--but also those who live with thee in the world1 have suffered and do suffer such terror and distress4 ,for they have the very same enemy ,christ and all ,christendom have4 ,thou canst be glad and shout3 ,god be praised6 ,i am not the only one that suffers1 but with me there is a great multitude1 all ,christians on earth1 my beloved brothers and sisters1 even down to the last who shall walk this earth4 ,and in this passage ,peter comforts and strengthens me1 as ,christ commanded him1 who also has tasted of these sorrows1 and1 indeed1 in far greater measure than ,i and others have4 #gf4 ,i have at times thought1 in my trials1 that ,i should like to argue with ,peter and ,paul as to whether they were tried more severely than ,i4 ,for1 when he can do nothing else1 the devil resorts to the plan of leading a man to fix his attention solely on his own affliction1 and oppresses him with the thought3 ,no man has been so cast off by ,god1 or has sunk so deep into anxiety and distress4 ,the devil has often so wearied me with such arguments that at length ,i could offer no further opposition to him1 but simply turned him over to ,christ1 who can quickly silence him with arguments4 ,if we have not ,christ with us1 ,satan proves far too strong for us4 ,we cannot silence him4 ,he soon renders helpless all our skill1 and slays us with our own sword4 #gg4 ,ah1 these seditious leaders and other self-secure spirits are poor1 miserable people1 who know nothing at all of this conflict6 ,they drown in their own imaginations1 and think they are perfect4 ,and some of them are so shameless and without fear as to blaspheme1 saying that ,god himself could not take their virtue from them4 ,the devil simply strengthens them in these thoughts1 and hardens them the more4 ,this very thing is a sign that they do not yet know the devil2 they are already blinded and taken captive by him1 so that he can ruin them when he pleases4 #gh4 ,genuine ,christians are not thus self-confident and boastful when they are attacked4 ,in severe conflicts and anxieties they labor that the devil may not deprive them of the sword4 ,i know that ,i am learned and have seen something of what the devil can do2 but ,i must bear him witness1 from my daily experience1 that he can overcome me unless ,i am well established in faith and have ,christ in my heart4 ,thomas ,mnzer was so firm and inflexible1 as he thought1 that he dared to say that he would not behold ,christ1 if he did not himself wish to speak with him4 ,but at last1 when the devil began to attack him1 men saw what his pride and boasts were4 ,no1 they are not the ones to accomplish anything1 who go about so boastful1 as if they had consumed the devil4 ,they do not see that they1 themselves1 were long since devoured seven times over by him and are held fast in his jaws4 #gi4 ,the heretic ,arius was also secure and proud enough against the pious bishops and ,christians4 ,yea1 when he was punished for his error by his bishop1 and admonished to desist1 he became the more obstinate4 ,he complained about the bitter persecution to which he was subjected4 ,but his suffering was that they would not approve his horrible blasphemy4 ,just so in every age the heretics and blasphemers1 yea1 even open murderers and tyrants1 pose as martyrs when they are not permitted to run against ,god's ,word and against pious people4 ,so confident do they try to be that they have no fear of ,god4 ,they count the devil a dead bee until1 at length1 he suddenly seizes and destroys them in a moment4 #hj4 ,but the poor1 tempted ,christians have need of the comfort and the strength furnished by ,god's ,word4 ,they must anxiously contend lest they lose1 in their hours of severe temptation1 ,god1 ,christ1 faith1 and ,our ,father4 ,therefore1 the mission intrusted to ,peter1 to strengthen his brethren1 is most needful4 ,so the same comfort was necessary in his own temptations1 and he was even given it beforehand by ,christ1 who declared that he had prayed for him that his faith might not be extinguished nor fail1 which faith1 however1 from the time of his denial on to the third day did almost die1 and scarcely the smallest spark remained4 ,hence he now1 as a true apostle1 comforts those who are in the like fears and straits of a sinking and expiring faith4 ,he says to all the suffering and comfortless3 ,my dear brother1 think not that thou alone sufferest distress and temptation4 ,many of thy brethren have suffered quite as heavily1 perhaps more heavily4 ,i1 myself1 have been as weak as thou canst ever be4 ,if thou dost not believe this1 look and see what occurred in the house of ,caiaphas1 the high-priest1 when ,i1 who protested my readiness to go with ,christ into prison and death1 at a word spoken to me by a maid1 fell1 and denied and abjured most shamefully my beloved ,lord4 ,for three whole days ,i lay in misery4 ,i had no one to comfort me and none who suffered equally with myself4 ,i had no consolation except that my dear ,master gave me1 with his eyes1 one friendly look4 #ha4 ,therefore1 no one should regard his distress and need as too heavy and fearful1 as if it were an entirely new thing1 something which had never been experienced by others4 ,to thee it may be something new and untried4 ,but look about thee1 at the great multitude of the ,church1 from the beginning until this hour4 ,the ,church has been set in the world to suffer the attacks of the devil1 and without ceasing it must be sifted as wheat1 as ,christ's words suggest1 ,luke #bb1 #ca4 ,my friend1 thou hast not yet seen nor experienced what our first parents endured their whole life long1 and after them all the holy fathers until ,christ4 ,peter1 also1 has been farther in this school than ,i and thou1 and ,i would say that the same temptation as his could hardly be found4 ,paul says of him and the beloved apostles 7#a ,cor #d1 #i73 ,for1 ,i think1 ,god hath set forth us the apostles last of all1 as men doomed to death3 for we are made a spectacle unto the world1 both to angels and men--so that ,satan may torment us according to his will1 and thus work out his pleasure upon us4 ,and what are the sufferings of all men combined when compared with ,christ's agony and conflict1 in that he sweat blood for thee8 #hb4 ,when the devil plagues and assails thee with his manifold temptations1 refer him to ,christ1 with whom to dispute about the severe temptations1 the death struggle1 the anguish of hell1 etc4 ,comfort thyself that thou art one of a great company of sufferers1 past present and future4 ,o beautiful1 glorious company6 ,all under one lord and head1 who took from the devil his power and hell-fire4 ,in short1 thy affliction cannot prove so great that thou wilt not find it paralleled in the lives of the apostles1 prophets1 patriarchs and all the saints1 especially of ,christ himself2 with whom1 if we suffer1 let us not doubt1 says ,paul1 that we shall be also glorified1 ,rom #h1 #ag4 ,fourth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,romans #h1 #ah-bb4 #ah ,for ,i reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward4 #ai ,for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the revealing of the sons of ,god4 #bj ,for the creation was subjected to vanity not of its own will1 but by reason of him who subjected it1 in hope #ba that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of ,god4 #bb ,for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now4 ,,consolation ,,in ,,suffering1 ,,and ,,patience4#a ,footnote #a3 ,this sermon was first printed in #aece1 at ,wittenberg4 #a4 ,paul's language here is peculiar4 ,he speaks in a manner wholly different from the other apostles4 ,there is something particularly strange about the first sentences of the passage4 ,his words must be faithfully studied and their meaning learned by personal experience4 ,the ,christian life consists altogether in the practice and experience of what the ,word of ,god tells us4 ,he who has no experimental knowledge of the ,word will have but little conception and appreciation of ,paul's words here4 ,indeed1 they will be wholly unintelligible to him4 #b4 ,up to the point where our text begins1 ,paul has been assuring us in this epistle that through faith in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ we attain the high privilege of calling ,god our ,father2 that the ,holy ,spirit bears witness in our hearts of our sonship1 and makes us bold enough to come1 by faith in ,christ the ,mediator1 joyfully before ,god1 trusting him to fill and bless us4 ,then ,paul draws the conclusion1 first1 that we are children of ,god2 next1 he says3 ,if children1 then heirs2 heirs of ,god1 and joint-heirs with ,christ4 ,the second conclusion is the outcome of the first4 ,for the reason that we have the boldness and assurance to call ,god our ,father in sincerity and nothing doubting1 we are become not only children but heirs1 heirs of ,god and brethren to ,christ1 joint-heirs with him4 ,but all this1 as ,paul says1 is true if so be that we suffer with him 7verse #ag74 #c4 ,the high prerogative of heirship1 ,paul faithfully enjoins1 is dependent on a sacred duty4 ,let him who would be ,christ's brother1 and joint-heir with him1 remember he must also be a joint-martyr and joint-sufferer with ,christ4 ,the apostle's meaning is3 ,many are the ,christians1 indeed1 who would be joint-heirs with ,christ and gladly enjoy the privilege of sharing his inheritance1 but who object to suffering with him2 they separate themselves from him because unwilling to participate in his pain4 ,but ,paul says this will not do4 ,the inheritance follows only as a consequence of the suffering4 ,since ,christ1 our dear ,lord and ,savior1 had to suffer before he could be glorified1 we must be martyrs with him1 with him be mocked by the world1 despised1 spit upon1 crowned with thorns and put to death1 before the inheritance will be ours4 ,it cannot be otherwise4 ,a consistent sympathy is essential to ,christian faith and doctrine4 ,he who would be ,christ's brother and fellow-heir must also suffer with him4 ,he who would live with ,christ must first die with him4 ,the members of a family not only enjoy good together but also share in their ills4 ,as the saying is1 ,he who would be a companion in eating must also be a companion in labor4 #d4 ,paul would earnestly admonish us not to become false ,christians who look to find in ,christ mere pleasure and enjoyment1 but to remember that if we are to participate in the eternal weight of glory we must first bear the light affliction1 which is for the moment4 #b ,cor #d1 #ag4 ,by the words if so be that we suffer with him the writer means that we are to do more than exercise the sympathy that grieves over another's misfortune1 though such sympathy is binding upon ,christians and is a superior ,christian virtue1 a work of mercy3 we ourselves must suffer1 non solum affectu1 sed etiam effectu1 that is1 we are overwhelmed by like sufferings4 ,as ,christ our ,lord was persecuted1 we also must endure persecution4 ,as the devil harassed him1 we also must be harassed unceasingly4 ,and so ,satan does torment true ,christians4 ,indeed1 were it not for the restraining hand of the ,lord our ,god1 the devil would suffer us to have no peace4 ,paul has reference to a heartfelt sympathy intense enough to enter into actual suffering4 ,he says to the ,hebrews 7ch4 #aj1 #cb-cc73 ,ye endured a great conflict of sufferings2 partly1 being made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions4 #e4 ,and in the verse preceding our text he tells us that as our blissful inheritance through brotherhood and joint-heirship with ,christ is not a mere fancy and false hope of the heart1 but a real inheritance1 so our sympathy must amount to real suffering1 which we take upon ourselves as befitting joint-heirs4 ,now ,paul comforts the ,christian in his sufferings with the authority of one who speaks from experience1 from thorough acquaintance with his subject4 ,he seems to view this life as through obscurities1 while beholding the life to come with clear and unobstructed vision4 ,he says3 ,for ,i reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward in us4 #f4 ,notice how he turns his back to the world and his face to the future revelation1 as if seeing no suffering anywhere1 but all joy4 ,even if it does go ill with us1 he would argue1 what indeed is our suffering in comparison with the unspeakable joy and glory to be revealed in us8 ,it is too insignificant to be compared and unworthy to be called suffering4 ,we fail to realize the truth of these words because we do not see with our bodily eyes the supreme glory awaiting us2 because we fail to grasp fully the fact that we shall never die but shall have a body that cannot suffer nor be ill4 ,if one could conceive the nature of this reward he would be compelled to say3 ,were it possible for me to suffer ten deaths by fire or flood1 that would be nothing in comparison to the future life of glory4 ,what is temporal suffering1 however protracted1 contrasted with eternal life8 ,it is not worthy to be called suffering or to be esteemed meritorious4 #g4 ,in this light does ,paul regard suffering1 as he says1 and he admonishes ,christians to look upon it similarly4 ,then shall they find the infinite beyond all comparison with the finite4 ,what is a single penny measured by a world of dollars8 though this is not an appropriate comparison since the things compared are both perishable4 ,the suffering of the world is always to be counted as nothing measured by the glorious and eternal possessions yet to be ours4 ,i entreat you1 therefore1 beloved brethren1 ,paul would say1 to fear no sufferings1 not even should it be your lot to be slain4 ,for if you are actually joint-heirs1 it must be your fortune1 a part of your inheritance1 to suffer with others4 ,but what is your pain measured by the eternal glory prepared for you and obtained by the sacrifice of your ,savior ,jesus ,christ8 ,it is too insignificant to be contrasted4 ,so ,paul makes all earthly suffering infinitely small--a drop1 a tiny spark1 so to speak2 but of yonder hoped-for glory he makes a boundless ocean1 an illimitable flame4 #h4 ,why cannot we take his view of the insignificance of our afflictions and the magnitude of the future glory8 ,the extravagance of our conduct is apparent in the fact that but a harsh word uttered by one to his fellow will make the injured one ready to overturn mountains and uproot trees in his resentment4 ,to them who are so unwilling to suffer1 ,paul's word of encouragement here is wholly unintelligible4 ,christians are not to conduct themselves in this impatient manner4 ,it ill becomes them to make extravagant complaint and outcry about injustice4 ,but1 you say1 ,i have truly suffered injustice4 ,very well1 so be it4 ,but why do you make so much of your sufferings and never give a thought to what awaits you in heaven8 ,why not exalt the future glory also8 ,if you desire to be a ,christian1 truly it will not do to conduct yourself in this impatient manner4 ,if you must air your grievances1 surely you may do it quietly and decorously4 #i4 ,in this life it must be otherwise than in the life of glory4 ,if you essay to be a joint-heir with the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and do not suffer with him1 to be his brother and are not like unto him1 ,christ certainly will not at the last day acknowledge you as a brother and fellow-heir4 ,rather he will ask where are your crown of thorns1 your cross1 the nails and scourge2 whether you have been1 as he and his followers ever have from the beginning of time1 an abomination to the world4 ,if you cannot qualify in this respect1 he cannot regard you as his brother4 ,in short1 we must all suffer with the ,son of ,god and be made like unto him1 as we shall see later1 or we shall not be exalted with him in glory4 #aj4 ,upon this same topic ,paul addresses also the ,galatians 7ch4 #f1 #ag73 ,henceforth let no one confuse me1 say nothing to me about the doctrine that friendship is rewarded on earth2 for ,i bear branded on my body the marks of my ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,his reference is to the signs in ancient paintings of ,christ1 where the ,savior was represented as bearing his cross upon his shoulders1 with the nails1 the scourge1 the crown of thorns and other emblems in evidence4 ,these marks or signs1 ,paul instructs1 all ,christians as well as himself must exhibit1 not painted on a wall but branded in their flesh and blood4 ,they are made when inwardly the devil affrights and assails us with all manner of terrors and overwhelming afflictions1 and at the same time outwardly the world slanders us as heretics1 laying her hand to our throats whenever possible and putting us to death4 ,,the ,,reward4 ,such marks1 or scars1 for ,christ the ,lord1 ,paul admonishes all ,christians to exhibit4 ,thus he encourages them not to be terrified though they suffer every conceivable wrong1 such as our brethren here and there have suffered now for several years4 ,but brighter days are in store for us when once the hour of our enemies and the power of darkness shall come4 ,our adversaries annoy us now with malignant words and slanderous writings1 and indeed they may take our lives4 ,so be it4 ,we must in any event suffer if we are ever to attain true glory4 ,but what they will secure by putting us to death they certainly shall experience4 #aa4 ,in ,paul's reference to the glory that shall be revealed in us there is a hint as to the cause of man's unwillingness to suffer3 faith is yet weak and fails to descry the hidden glory2 that glory is yet to be revealed in us4 ,could we but behold it with mortal vision1 what noble1 patient martyrs we should be6 ,suppose one stood on yonder side of the ,elbe with a chest full of gold1 offering it to him who should venture to swim across for it4 ,what an effort would be made for the sake of that tangible wealth6 #ab4 ,take the case of the adventurous officer4 ,for a few dollars per month he defies spears and guns1 exposing himself to almost certain death4 ,the merchant hurries to and fro in the world in a frenzied effort to amass riches1 hazarding life and limb1 apparently careless of physical cost so long as ,god's mercy preserves to him but the shattered hulk of a body4 ,and what must not one endure at court before he realizes1 if he ever does1 the fulfilment of his ambition8 ,in temporal things man can do and suffer everything for the sake of honor1 wealth and power1 because these are manifest to earthly vision4 ,but in the spiritual conflict1 because the reward is not discernible to the senses it is very difficult for the old man in us to believe that ,god will finally grant us glorious bodies1 pure souls and hearts of gladness1 and make us superior to any earthly king4 ,indeed1 the very reverse of this condition obtains now4 ,here is one condemned as a heretic2 there one is burned or in some other way put to death4 ,glory1 wealth and honor are not in evidence now4 ,so it seems hard for us to resign ourselves to suffering and wait for the redemption and glory yet unrevealed4 ,again1 no hardship is too great for the world to undergo for the sake of sordid gain2 it willingly suffers whatever comes for that which moth and rust consume and thieves steal4 #ac4 ,paul means to say3 ,i am certain there is reserved for us exceeding glory1 in comparison wherewith all earthly suffering is actually of no consideration2 only it is not yet manifest4 ,if we have to face the slightest gale of adversity1 or if a trifling misfortune befalls us1 we begin to make outcry1 filling the heavens with our false complaint of a terrible calamity4 ,were our faith triumphant1 we would regard it but as a small inconvenience to suffer1 even for thirty or forty years or longer2 indeed1 we should think our sufferings too trifling to be taken into account4 ,may the ,lord our ,god only forbear to reckon with us for the sins we have committed6 ,why will we have so much to say about great sufferings and their merits8 ,how utterly unworthy we are of the free grace and ineffable glory which are ours in the fact that through ,christ we become children and heirs of ,god1 brethren and joint-heirs with ,christ6 ,well may we resolve3 ,i will maintain a cheerful silence about my sufferings1 boasting not of them nor complaining about them4 ,i will patiently endure all my merciful ,god sends upon me1 meanwhile rendering him my heartfelt gratitude for calling me to such surpassing grace and blessing4 ,but1 as ,i said1 the vision of glory will not enter our hearts because of our weak and miserable flesh1 which allows itself to be more influenced by the present than by the future4 ,so the ,holy ,spirit must be our schoolmaster to bring the matter home to our hearts4 #ad4 ,note particularly how ,paul expressly states that the glory is to be revealed in us4 ,he would remind us that not only such as ,peter or ,paul are to participate in the blessing1 as we are prone to believe1 but that we and all ,christians are included in the word us4 ,indeed1 even the merest babe obtains at death1 wherein it is a joint-sufferer with mankind1 this unspeakable glory1 which the ,lord ,jesus into whose death it was baptized has purchased and bestowed upon it4 ,though in the life beyond one saint may have more glory than another1 yet all will have the same eternal life4 ,here on earth men differ in point of strength1 comeliness1 intellect1 yet all enjoy the same animal life4 ,so in the other life there will be degrees of radiance or glory1 as ,paul teaches 7#a ,cor #ae1 #da71 yet all will share the same eternal happiness and joy2 there will be one glory for all1 for we shall all be the children of ,god4 #ae4 ,now the first point of consolation is that we turn our backs upon all suffering1 saying3 ,what is all my pain1 though it were tenfold greater1 compared to the eternal life unto which ,i am baptized1 to which ,i am called8 ,my sufferings are not worthy to be so termed in connection with the exceeding glory to be revealed in me4 ,paul magnifies the future glory to make the temporal sufferings the more insignificant4 ,then follows3 ,for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the revealing manifestation of the sons of ,god4 ,for the creation was subjected to vanity1 not of its own will1 but by reason of him who subjected it1 in hope3 ,for the creature was made subject to vanity1 not willingly1 but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope2 #af4 ,here is the second point of consolation4 ,paul holds up as an example to us the condition of the whole creation4 ,he exhorts us to endure patiently1 as the creature does1 all the violence and injustice we suffer from the devil and the world1 and to comfort ourselves with the hope of future redemption4 ,remarkable doctrine this1 unlike anything elsewhere found in the ,scriptures1 that heaven and earth1 sun1 moon and stars1 leaf and blade1 every living thing1 waits with sighing and groaning for the revelation of our glory4 ,,the ,,travail ,,of ,,creation4 #ag4 ,such sighing and agony of the creature is not audible to me1 nor is it to you4 ,but ,paul tells us he sees and hears it1 not expressed by one creature alone1 but by all ,god has made4 ,what does he mean8 ,what is the sighing and longing of creation8 ,it is not that annually the leaves wither and the fruits fall and decay3 ,god purposes that every year new fruits shall grow2 he decrees the shattering of the fallen tree4 ,but ,paul refers to the creature's unwilling subjection to the ungodly2 subject to vanity1 he phrases it4 ,for instance1 the blessed sun1 most glorious of created things1 serves the small minority of the godly1 but where it shines on one godly man it must shine on thousands and thousands of knaves1 such as enemies of ,god1 blasphemers1 persecutors1 with whom the world is filled2 also murderers1 robbers1 thieves1 adulterers4 ,to these it must minister in all their ungodliness and wickedness1 permitting its pure and glorious influence to benefit the most unworthy1 most shameful and abandoned profligates4 ,according to the apostle1 this subjection is truly painful1 and were the sun a rational creature obeying its own volition rather than the decree of the ,lord ,god who has subjected it to vanity against its will1 it might deny every one of these wicked wretches even the least ray of light2 that it is compelled to minister to them is its cross and pain1 by reason of which it sighs and groans4 ,just as we ,christians endure many kinds of injustice and consequently sigh for and implore help and deliverance in the ,lord's prayer1 so do the creatures sigh4 ,although they have not human utterance1 yet they have speech intelligible to ,god and the ,holy ,spirit1 who mark the creatures' sighs over their unjust abuse by the ungodly4 #ah4 ,nowhere else in the ,holy ,scriptures do we find anything like ,paul's declaration here concerning the earnest expectation and waiting of the creatures for the revelation of the children of ,god2 which waiting the apostle characterizes as a sighing in eager desire for man's redemption4 ,a little later he compares the state of the creature to a woman in travail1 saying it cries out in its anguish4 ,the sun1 moon and stars1 the heavens and earth1 the bread we eat1 the water or wine we drink1 the cattle and sheep1 in short1 all things that minister to our comfort1 cry out in accusation against the world because they are subjected to vanity and must suffer with ,christ and his brethren4 ,this accusing cry is beyond human power to express1 for ,god's created things are innumerable4 ,rightly was it said from the pulpit in former times that on the last day all creatures will utter an accusing cry against the ungodly who have shown them abuse here on earth1 and will call them tyrants to whom they were unjustly subjected4 #ai4 ,paul presents this example of the creatures for the comfort of ,christians4 ,his meaning is3 ,be not sorrowful because of your sufferings2 they are small indeed when the ensuing transcendent glory is considered4 ,you are not alone in your tribulation and your complaint at injustice2 the whole creation suffers with you and cries out against its subjection to the wicked world4 ,every bleat of the flock1 every low of the herd1 is an outcry against the ungodly as enemies of ,god and not worthy to enjoy the creatures' ministrations2 not even to receive a morsel of bread or a drink of water4 ,along this line ,st4 ,augustine is eloquent4 ,a miserly wretch1 he says1 is unworthy the bread he eats1 for he is an enemy of ,god4 ,paul tells us the whole creation groans and travails with us1 as if desiring relief from anguish2 that it suffers like a woman in travail4 ,for instance3 the heavenly planets would gladly be freed from serving1 yes1 in the extent of their anguish would willingly suffer eclipse2 the earth would readily become unfruitful2 all waters would voluntarily sink from sight and deny the wicked world a draught2 the sheep would prefer to produce thorns for the ungodly instead of wool2 the cow would willingly yield them poison rather than milk4 ,but they must perform their appointed work1 ,paul says1 because of him who has subjected them in hope4 ,god will finally answer the cry of creation2 he has already determined that after the six thousand years of its existence now passed1 the world shall have its evening and end4 #bj4 ,had not our parents sinned in paradise1 the world would never be dissolved4 ,but since man has fallen in sin1 we all--the whole creation--must suffer the consequence2 because of our sins1 creation must be subjected to vanity and dissolution4 ,during the six thousand years1 which are as nothing compared to eternal life1 all created things must be under the power of a condemned world1 and compelled to serve with all their energies until ,god shall overthrow the entire world and for the elect's sake purify again and renew the creature1 as ,peter teaches4 #b ,pet #c1 #ac4 #ba4 ,the sun is by no means as gloriously brilliant as when created4 ,because of man's ungodliness its brightness is to an extent dimmed4 ,but on the day of visitation ,god will cleanse and purify it by fire 7#b ,pet #c1 #aj71 giving it a greater glory than it had in the beginning4 ,because it must suffer in our sins1 and is obliged to shine as well for the worst knave as the godly man1 even for more knaves than godly men1 it longs intensely for the day when it shall be cleansed and shall serve the righteous alone with its light4 ,neither would the earth produce thistles nor thorns were it not cursed for our sins4 ,so it1 with all creatures1 longs for the day when it shall be changed and renewed4 #bb4 ,this is the explanation of ,paul's remarkable declaration concerning the earnest expectation of the creation4 ,the creature continually regards the end of service1 and freedom from slavery to the ungodly4 ,this event will not take place before the revealing of the sons of ,god2 therefore the earnestly expectant creation desires that revelation to come without delay1 at any moment4 ,until such manifestation the world will not consider godly souls as children of the ,father1 but as children of the devil4 ,so it boldly abuses and slanders1 persecutes and puts to death1 ,god's beloved children1 thinking it thereby does ,god service4 ,in consequence the whole creation cries3 ,oh1 for a speedy end of this calamity1 and the dawning of glory for the children of ,god6 #bc4 ,we have plain authority for the interpretation of the groaning of creation in ,paul's further words1 the creation was subjected to vanity1 not of its own will4 ,he thus makes all creation--sun and moon1 fire1 air1 water1 heaven and earth with all they contain--merely poor1 captive servants4 ,and whom do they serve8 ,not our ,lord ,god2 not for the most part his children1 for they are a minority among those ministered unto4 ,to whom1 then1 is their service given8 ,to the wicked--to vanity4 ,the created things are not1 as they would be1 in righteous service4 ,the sun1 for instance1 would choose to shine for ,paul1 ,peter and other godly ones4 ,it begrudges to wicked characters like ,judas1 ,pilate1 ,herod1 ,annas and ,caiaphas the least ray of light2 for it is useless service1 yielding no good4 ,to serve ,peter and ,paul would be productive of pleasure and profit2 well may its benefit be bestowed upon these godly ones4 ,but the sun must shine as well for the wicked as for the ungodly4 ,indeed1 where it fittingly serves one godly individual1 thousands abuse its service4 ,the case is similar with gold and other minerals1 and with all the articles of food1 drink and clothing4 ,to whom do these minister8 ,wicked desperadoes1 who in return blaspheme and dishonor ,god1 condemn his holy ,gospel and murder his ,christians4 ,this is wasted service4 #bd4 ,so ,paul says1 ,the creature was made subject to vanity2 it must render service against its consent1 having no pleasure therein4 ,the sun does not shine for the purpose of lighting a highway robber to murder4 ,it would light him in godly deeds and errands of mercy2 but since he follows not these things the service of the blessed sun is abused and that creature ministers with sincere unwillingness4 ,but how is it to avoid service8 ,a wicked tyrant1 a shameful harlot1 may wear gold ornaments4 ,is the gold responsible for its use8 ,it is the good creature of the ,lord our ,god and fitted to serve righteous people4 ,but the precious product must submit to accommodating the wicked world against its will4 ,yet it endures in hope of an end of such service--such slavery4 ,therein it obeys ,god4 ,god has imposed the obligation1 that man may know him as a merciful ,god and ,father1 who1 as ,christ teaches 7,mt #e1 #de71 makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good4 ,for the ,father's sake the blessed sun serves wickedness1 performing its service and bestowing its favors in vain4 ,but ,god in his own good time will reckon with those who abuse the glorious sunlight and other creatures1 and will richly recompense the created things for their service4 #be4 ,beloved1 ,paul thus traces the holy cross among all creatures2 heaven and earth and all they contain suffer with us4 ,so we must not complain and excessively grieve when we fare ill4 ,we must patiently wait for the redemption of our bodies and for the glory which is to be revealed in us2 especially when we know that all creatures groan in anguish1 like a woman in travail1 longing for the revealing of the sons of ,god4 ,for then shall begin their redemption1 when they shall not be slaves to wickedness but shall willingly and with delight serve ,god's children only4 ,in the meantime they bear the cross for the sake of ,god1 who has subjected them in hope4 ,thus we are assured that captivity will not endure forever1 but a time must come when the creatures will be delivered4 ,do ye likewise1 beloved ,christians1 ,paul would advise1 and reflect that as the creature will rejoice with you on the last day1 so does it now mourn with you2 that not you alone must suffer1 but the whole creation suffers with you and awaits your redemption1 a redemption so great and glorious as to make your sufferings unworthy to be considered4 ,fourth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,second ,sermon4 ,text3 ,romans #h1 #ah-bb4 ,,redemption ,,of ,,the ,,creatures4 #a4 ,we have heard how ,paul comforts the ,christians in their sufferings1 pointing them to the future inconceivable and eternal glory to be revealed in us in the world to come2 and how he has1 for our greater consolation1 reminded us that the whole creation as one being suffers in company with the ,christian ,church4 ,we have noted how he sees1 with the clear1 keen eye of an apostle1 the holy cross in every creature4 ,he brings out this thought prominently1 telling us it is not strange we ,christians should suffer1 for in our preaching1 our reproving and rebuking1 we easily merit the world's persecution2 but creation must suffer being innocent1 must even endure forced subjection to the wicked and the devil himself4 #b4 ,could the sun voice its experience from ,adam's time down1 what misery it has witnessed and endured1 undoubtedly it would tell of its heavy cross in being compelled to serve innumerable adulterers1 thieves1 murderers1 in fact1 the devil's whole kingdom4 ,yet it is a noble and admirable work of creation1 fit to serve only ,god1 angels and pious ,christians1 who thank ,god for it4 ,but it must serve those who blaspheme and dishonor ,god and who are guilty of all wickedness and lawlessness4 ,notwithstanding its dislike of such service1 it is with every other created thing obedient to ,god4 #c4 ,this is a fine and comforting thought of the apostle's1 that all creatures are martyrs1 having to endure unwillingly every sort of injustice4 ,the creatures do not approve the conduct of the devil and of the wicked in their shameful abuse of creation1 but they submit to it for the sake of him who has subjected them to vanity1 at the same time hoping for a better dispensation in the fulfilment of time1 when they shall again be rightly received and abuse be past4 ,hence ,paul points to another life for all creation1 declaring it to be as weary of this order as we are and to await a new dispensation4 ,by his reference to the earnest expectation of the creature he means that it does not expect to remain in its present condition1 but with us looks toward heaven and hopes for a resurrection from this degraded life into a better one where it will be delivered from the bondage of corruption1 as he says later4 #d4 ,by these sayings ,paul gives us to understand that all creation is to attain a perfection far beyond its present state where with us it must be subject to tyrants4 ,these tyrants wantonly abuse our characters1 our bodies1 our property rights1 just as the devil abuses our souls4 ,but we must suffer our lot1 remembering that mankind is captive on earth in the kingdom of the devil1 and all creation with it4 ,the earth must submit to be trodden and to be cultivated by many a wicked one1 to whom it must yield subsistence4 ,likewise is this submission true of the elements--air1 fire1 water--all creation having its cross1 yet hoping for the end of the dispensation4 #e4 ,there is a refined and comforting perception in the apostle's exposition where he represents the entire creation as one being1 with us looking forward to entrance upon another life4 ,we are satisfied that our present life is not all1 that we await another and true life4 ,likewise the sun awaits the restoration coming to it1 to the earth and all creatures1 when they shall be purified from the contaminating abuse of the devil and the world4 #f4 ,and this condition is to come about when the children of ,god are revealed4 ,true1 they are ,god's children on earth1 but they have not yet entered into their glory4 ,similarly1 the sun is not now in possession of its real glory1 for it is subject to evil2 it awaits the appointed time when its servitude shall cease4 ,with all creation and with the true saints it waits and longs1 being meanwhile subject to vanity--that is1 the devil and the wicked world--for the sake of ,god alone1 who subjects1 yet leaves hope that the trial shall not continue forever4 #g4 ,we are children of ,god now on earth4 ,we are blessed if we believe and are baptized1 as it is written3 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved4 ,mk #af1 #af4 ,and again3 ,as many as received him1 to them gave he the right to become children of ,god1 even to them that believe on his name4 ,jn #a1 #ab4 ,baptism is a visible rite and we behold with mortal vision those who receive it2 the ,word of the ,gospel we hear1 and we have in ourselves the witness of the ,holy ,spirit that our faith1 however weak1 is acceptable to ,god4 ,but who among men recognizes us as children of ,god8 ,who will apply the term to a class imprisoned and tortured and tormented in every conceivable way1 as if they were children of the devil1 condemned and accursed souls8 #h4 ,not without significance is ,paul's assertion that the glory of ,god's children is now unmanifest but shall be revealed in them4 ,in ,colossians #c1 #c-d he declares3 ,ye died1 and your life is hid with ,christ in ,god4 ,when ,christ1 who is our life1 shall be manifested1 then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory4 ,so long as ,god's children are here upon earth they are not arrayed in the garb of his own1 but wear the livery of the devil4 ,it would be fitting for the children of the devil to be bound1 fettered and imprisoned and to suffer all manner of misfortune2 but it does not so come to pass4 ,they have the world's pleasures4 ,they are wealthy and powerful1 have honor and money in plenty and withal bear ,god's name and wear the garb of his children1 as if having his approval4 ,meanwhile they regard us as heretics and enemies of ,god4 ,thus the rightful order of things is reversed3 they who are ,god's appear to be the devil's1 and the devil's to be ,god's4 ,this condition is painful to the pious4 ,indeed1 heaven and earth and all creatures cry out in complaining protest1 unwilling to be subject to evil and to suffer the abuse of the ungodly2 to endure that dishonor of ,god that opposes the hallowing of his name1 the extension of his kingdom and the execution of his will on earth as in heaven4 #i4 ,because ,god's children are thus unrevealed and denied their true insignia1 all creation1 as ,paul says1 cries out with them for the ,lord ,god to rend the heavens and come down to distinguish his children from those of the devil4 ,considering the unrevealed state of ,god's own on earth1 the ungodly in their great blindness are not able to discern them4 ,the doctrine of the righteous which magnifies ,god's grace manifest in ,christ is by the wicked termed error1 falsehood1 heresy and diabolical teaching4 ,so ,paul says the whole creation waits for the manifestation of the children of ,god4 ,,the ,,christian',s ,,glory ,,to ,,be ,,revealed4 ,john1 also1 says3 ,beloved1 now are we children of ,god1 and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be4 ,we know that1 if he shall be manifested1 we shall be like him4 #a ,jn #c1 #b4 ,that is1 when our ,lord ,jesus ,christ comes with his loved angels and we are drawn up into the clouds to meet him in the air1 he will bring to ,god's children a glory consistent with their name4 ,they will be far more splendidly arrayed than were the children of the world in their lifetime1 who went about in purple and velvet and ornaments of gold1 and as the rich man1 in silk4 ,then shall they wear their own livery and shine as the sun in the kingdom of their ,father4 ,such is the wonderful glory of the revelation that the radiant beauty of poor ,lazarus who lay in wretchedness at the rich man's gate surpasses all expectation4 ,upon this topic1 see ,wisdom of ,solomon1 chapter #e1 #b;ff4 #aj4 ,the hope of this wonderful glory1 ,paul says1 is ours and that of all creation with us1 for creation is to be purified and renewed for our sakes4 ,then will we be impressed with the grandeur of the sun1 the majesty of the trees and the beauty of the flowers4 ,having so much in prospect1 we should1 in the buoyancy of our hope1 attach little importance to the slight suffering that may be our earthly lot4 ,what is it compared to the glory to be revealed in us8 ,doubtless in yonder life we shall reproach ourselves with the thought3 ,how foolish ,i was6 ,i am unworthy to be called the child of ,god1 for ,i esteemed myself all too highly on earth and placed too little value upon this surpassing glory and happiness4 ,were ,i still in the world and with the knowledge ,i now have of the heavenly glory1 ,i would1 were it possible1 suffer a thousand years of imprisonment1 or endure illness1 persecution or other misfortunes4 ,now ,i have proven true that all the sufferings of the world are nothing measured by the glory to be manifested in the children of ,god4 #aa4 ,we find many1 even among nominal ,christians1 with so little patience they scarce can endure a word of criticism1 even when well deserved4 ,rather than suffer from the world some slight reproach1 some trifling loss1 for the sake of the ,gospel1 they will renounce that ,gospel and ,christ4 ,but how will it be in the day of revelation8 ,beloved1 let us be wise now and not magnify our temporal sufferings2 let us patiently submit to them as does creation1 according to ,paul's teaching4 ,we may imagine the earth saying3 ,i permit myself to be plowed and cultivated for man's benefit1 notwithstanding the ,christians whom ,i bless are in the minority1 the great mass of those profiting by me being wicked men4 ,what am ,i to do8 ,i will endure the conditions and permit myself to be tilled because my ,creator so orders2 meanwhile ,i hope for a different order eventually1 when ,i shall no longer be subject to wickedness and obliged to serve ,god's enemies4 #ab4 ,peter also alludes to the new order of creation1 saying3 ,the heavens shall pass away with a great noise1 and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat 444 ,but according to his promise1 we look for new heavens and a new earth1 wherein dwelleth righteousness4 #b ,pet #c1 #aj and #ac4 ,in other words3 ,here on earth men as a rule are dishonorable and wicked and obey not the will of the ,lord ,god as it is done in heaven2 but the day will come when only righteousness and holiness shall dwell on the earth--none but godly1 righteous souls4 ,as in heaven all is righteousness1 the devil being banished1 so on the last day1 ,satan and all the ungodly shall be thrust from the earth4 ,then will there be none but holy ones in both heaven and earth1 who will in fullness of joy possess all things4 ,these will be the elect4 ,this is ,peter's meaning in the words1 ,according to his promise1 we look for new heavens and a new earth1 wherein dwelleth righteousness4 ,paul adds that all creation waits with us for the revelation1 groaning and crying out in anguish4 #ac4 ,but ,paul protects the creature from condemnation and reproach for sinful submission to abuse4 ,he says1 in effect3 ,true1 it is subject to vanity1 yet not willingly4 ,likewise ,i do not desire to suffer reproach as a heretic and a deceiver1 but ,i endure it for ,god's sake1 who permits it4 ,this attitude on my part does not make me partaker of the sin committed against me by enemies of the truth who reproach me4 ,the case is the same as that of the creature suffering abuse for the sake of him who has subjected it4 ,and you ,christians are to imitate the example of creation4 ,the sun seems to say3 ,great ,god1 ,i am thy creature2 therefore ,i will perform1 ,i will suffer1 whatsoever is the divine will4 ,so when the ,lord ,god sends upon you some affliction and says1 ,endure a little suffering for my sake2 ,i will largely repay it1 you are to say3 ,yes1 gladly1 blessed ,lord4 ,because it is thy will1 ,i will suffer it with a willing heart4 ,,of ,,hope4 ,it also belongs to the consolation against suffering to be conscious that the suffering will not last forever1 but will sometime have an end--on the day of judgment1 when the godless shall be separated from the godly4 ,for this life on earth is nothing else than a masquerade where people walk in masks1 and one sees another different than he is4 ,he who appears to be an angel is a devil1 and those considered the children of the devil are angels and the children of our dear ,lord4 ,hence it is that they are attacked1 plagued1 martyred and put to death as heretics and children of the devil4 ,this masquerade must be tolerated until the day of judgment2 when the wicked will be unmasked and will no longer be able to pass as holy people4#a ,the text now continues3 ,that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of ,god4 ,because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of ,god4 ,footnote #a3 ,this paragraph is from the pamphlet edition of #aece4 #ad4 ,we ,christians are not the only beings to receive deliverance1 ,paul declares2 the creature in bondage has the same hope of release as the poor1 enslaved human being4 ,sun1 moon and every other created thing is captive to the devil and to wicked people1 and must serve them in every form of sin and vice4 ,hence these sigh and complain1 waiting for the manifestation of the children of ,god1 when the devil and the ungodly shall be thrust into hell1 and for all eternity be denied sight of sun and moon1 the enjoyment of a drop of water or a breath of air1 and forever deprived of every blessing4 #ae4 ,so the apostle tells us1 ,creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption4 ,in other words1 creation must now subserve most shameful ends4 ,sun1 moon and all creatures must be slaves to the devil and the ungodly because ,god so desires4 ,he wills for his beautiful creation to lie at the feet of ,satan and his adherents and to serve them for the present4 ,likewise many a sensitive heart is compelled to obey a tyrant or a ,turk because the ,lord has imposed that servitude upon it4 ,some may even have to clean the ,turk's boots1 or perform still more menial duties1 and in addition suffer all sorts of indignities from that individual4 #af4 ,these words1 ,creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption1 signify that all created things must until the final reckoning be servants and menials1 not to the godly1 but to the devil and wicked men4 ,paul himself regards with pity the sun and other creatures because of their forced service to ,satan and to tyrannical beings4 ,the created works no more desire such servility than we desire subjection to the ,turk4 ,nevertheless1 they submit and wait--for what8 ,the glorious liberty of the children of ,god4 ,then shall they be released from slavery and be no longer bound to serve the wicked and worthless4 ,more than that1 in their freedom they will have a grandeur far in excess of their present state and shall minister only unto ,god's children4 ,they will be done with bondage to the devil4 ,for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now4 #ag4 ,paul uses forcible language here4 ,creation is aware1 he says1 not only of its future deliverance from the bondage of corruption1 but of its future grandeur4 ,it hopes for the speedy coming of its glory1 and waits with the eagerness of a maiden for the dance4 ,seeing the splendor reserved for itself1 it groans and travails unceasingly4 ,similarly1 we ,christians groan and intensely desire to have done at once with the ,turks1 the ,pope1 and the tyrannical world4 ,who would not weary of witnessing the present knavery1 ungodliness and blasphemy against ,christ and his ,gospel1 even as ,lot wearied of the ungodliness he beheld in ,sodom8 ,thus ,paul says that creation groaneth and travaileth while waiting for the revelation and the glorious liberty of the children of ,god4 #ah4 ,and not only so1 he adds1 but ourselves also1 who have the firstfruits of the ,spirit1 even we ourselves groan within ourselves1 waiting for our adoption1 to wit1 the redemption of our body4 ,we pray1 we cry with great longing1 in the ,lord's ,prayer1 ,thy kingdom come1 meaning3 ,help1 dear ,lord1 and speed the blessed day of thy second advent1 that we may be delivered from the wicked world1 the devil's kingdom1 and may be released from the awful distress we suffer--inwardly from our own consciences and outwardly from the wicked4 ,afflict to the limit these old bodies of ours so long as we may obtain others not sinful1 as these2 not given to iniquity and disobedience2 bodies that can never know illness1 persecution or death2 bodies delivered from all physical and spiritual distress and made like unto thine own glorified body1 dear ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,thus may we finally realize our glorious redemption4 ,amen4 #ai4 ,paul uses a peculiar word here in the text1 which we cannot render by any other in our language than travail4 ,it carries the idea of pains and pangs such as a woman knows in childbirth4 ,the mother's ardent desire is to be delivered4 ,she longs for it with an intensity that all the wealth1 honor1 pleasure and power of the world could not awaken4 ,this is precisely the meaning of the word ,paul applies to creation4 ,he declares it to be in travail1 suffering pain and anguish in the extremity of its desire for release4 ,but who can discern the anguish of creation8 ,reason cannot believe1 nor human wisdom imagine1 the thing4 ,it is impossible1 declares reason4 ,the sun cannot be more glorious1 more pleasing and beneficent4 ,and what is lacking with the moon and stars and the earth8 ,who says the creature is in travail or unwillingly suffers its present state8 ,the writer of the text1 however1 declares creation to be weary of present conditions of servitude1 and as eager for liberation as a mother for deliverance in the hour of her anguish4 ,truly it is with spiritual sight1 with apostolic vision1 that ,paul discerns this fact in regard to creation4 ,he turns away from this world1 oblivious to the joys and the sufferings of earthly life1 and boasts alone of the future1 eternal life1 unseen and unexperienced4 ,thus he administers real and effectual comfort to ,christians1 pointing them to a future life for themselves and all created things after this sinful life shall have an end4 #bj4 ,therefore1 believers in ,christ are to be confident of eternal glory1 and with sighs and groans to implore the ,lord ,god to hasten the blessed day of the realization of their hopes4 ,for so ,christ has taught us to pray in the ,lord's ,prayer1 ,thy kingdom come4 ,may he who has commanded give us grace and strength to perform1 and a firm faith in our future glory4 ,our faith is not to be exercised for the attainment of earthly riches1 but as a means to bring us into another life4 ,we are not baptized unto the present life1 nor do we receive the ,gospel as ministering to our temporal good2 these things are to point us to yonder eternal life4 ,god grant the speedy coming of the glad day of our redemption1 when we shall realize all these blessings1 which now we hear of and believe in through the ,word4 ,amen4 ,fifth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #a ,peter #c1 #h-ae4 #h ,finally1 be ye all like-minded1 compassionate1 loving as brethren1 tender-hearted1 humble-minded3 #i not rendering evil for evil1 or reviling for reviling2 but contrariwise blessing2 for hereunto were ye called1 that ye should inherit a blessing4 #aj ,for1 ,he that would love life1 ,and see good days1 ,let him refrain his tongue from evil1 ,and his lips that they speak no guile3 #aa ,and let him turn away from evil1 and do good2 ,let him seek peace1 and pursue it4 #ab ,for the eyes of the ,lord are upon the righteous1 ,and his ears unto their supplication3 ,but the face of the ,lord is upon them that do evil4 #ac ,and who is he that will harm you1 if ye be zealous of that which is good8 #ad ,but even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake1 blessed are ye3 and fear not their fear1 neither be troubled2 #ae but sanctify in your hearts ,christ as ,lord4 ,,exhortation ,,to ,,the ,,fruits ,,of ,,faith4 #a4 ,here you have enumerated again a long list of eminently good works enjoined upon ,christians who believe and have confessed their faith in the ,gospel4 ,by such fruits is faith to be manifest4 ,peter classifies these works according to the obligations of ,christians to each other1 and their obligations to enemies and persecutors4 #b4 ,immediately preceding the text1 ,peter has been instructing concerning the domestic relations of husband and wife2 how they should live together as ,christians in love and companionship1 giving due honor and patiently and reasonably bearing with each other4 ,now he extends the exhortation to ,christians in general1 enjoining them to live together in ,christian love1 like brothers and sisters of a household4 ,in the rehearsal of many preminently noble virtues and works1 he portrays the ideal church1 beautiful in its outward adornment1 in the grace wherewith it shines before men4 ,with such virtues the ,church pleases and honors ,god1 while angels behold with joy and delight4 ,and what earthly thing is more desirable to man's sight8 ,what happier and more pleasing society may he seek than the company of those who manifest a unity of heart1 mind and will2 brotherly love1 meekness1 kindliness and patience1 even toward enemies8 ,surely1 no man is too depraved to command such goodness and to desire companionship among people of this class4 #c4 ,the first virtue is one frequently mentioned by the apostles4 ,paul1 for instance1 in ,romans #ab1 #af1 says3 ,be of the same mind one toward another4 ,also in ,ephesians #d1 #c3 ,giving diligence to keep the unity of the ,spirit in the bond of peace4 ,harmony is the imperative virtue for the ,christian ,church4 ,before the other virtues--love1 meekness--can be manifest1 there must first be concord and unity of heart among all4 ,it is impossible that outward circumstances of human life be always the same2 much dissimilarity in person1 station1 and occupation is inevitable4 ,to this very unlikeness and to the natural depravity of flesh and blood is due the discord and disagreement of men in this world4 ,let one become conscious of personal superiority in point of uprightness1 learning1 skill or natural ability1 or let him become aware of his loftier station in life1 and he immediately grows self-complacent1 thinks himself better than his fellows1 demands honor and recognition from all men1 is unwilling to yield to or serve an inferior and thinks himself entitled to such right and privilege because of his superiority and virtue4 #d4 ,pride is the common vice of the world1 and the devil fosters it among his numerous followers thereby causing every sort of misery and unhappiness1 corrupting all ranks and stations1 and rendering men vicious1 depraved and incapable of executing good4 ,in opposition to this vice the apostles diligently admonish ,christians to be of one mind1 regardless of station or occupation1 since every individual must remain in the position to which he has been ordained and called of ,god4 ,all ranks and stations cannot be one4 ,particularly is this true in the ,church2 for in addition to the outward difference of person1 station1 and so on1 there are manifold divine gifts unequally distributed and varyingly imparted4 ,yet these many dissimilarities1 both spiritual and secular1 are to be amenable to the unity of the spirit1 as ,paul calls it1 or a spiritual unity4 ,just as the members of the physical body have different offices and perform different functions1 no one member being able to do the work of the other1 and yet all are in the unity of one bodily life2 so also ,christians1 whatever the dissimilarity of language1 office and gift among them1 must live1 increase and be preserved in unity and harmony of mind1 as in one body4 #e4 ,this matter of harmony is the first and most necessary commandment enjoined by the doctrine of faith2 ay1 this virtue is the first fruit which faith is to effect among ,christians1 who are called in one faith and baptism4 ,it is to be the beginning of their ,christian love4 ,for true faith necessarily creates in all believers the spirit that reasons3 ,we are all called by one ,word1 one baptism and ,holy ,spirit1 to the same salvation2 we are alike heirs of the grace and the blessings of ,god4 ,although one has more and greater gifts than another1 he is not on that account better before ,god4 ,by grace alone1 without any merit of ours1 we are pleasing to ,god4 ,before him none can boast of himself4 #f4 ,how can ,i think myself better than another by reason of my person or my gifts1 rank or office8 ,or what more than ,i has another to boast of before ,god concerning himself8 ,no one has a different baptism or sacrament1 a different ,christ1 from mine1 or grace and salvation other than ,i have4 ,and no individual can have another faith than have ,christians in general1 nor does he hear any other ,gospel or receive a different absolution1 be he lord or servant1 noble or ignoble1 poor or rich1 young or old1 ,italian or ,german4 ,when one imagines himself different from or better than his fellows1 desiring to exalt and glorify himself above others1 he is truly no longer a ,christian2 because he is no longer in that unity of mind and faith essential to ,christians4 ,christ with his grace is always the same1 and cannot be divided or apportioned within himself4 #g4 ,not without reason did the beloved apostles urge this point4 ,they clearly saw how much depends upon it1 and what evil and harm result from disregard of the commandment4 ,where this commandment is dishonored1 schisms and factions will necessarily arise to corrupt pure doctrine and faith1 and the devil will sow his seed1 which afterwards can be eradicated only with difficulty4 ,when once self-conceit rules1 and one1 pretending more learning1 wisdom1 goodness and holiness than his fellows1 begins to despise others and to draw men to himself1 away from the unity of mind which makes us one in ,christ1 and when he desires the first praise and commendation for his own doctrine and works1 his own preaching1 then the harm is already done2 faith is overthrown and the ,church is rent4 ,when unity becomes division1 certainly two sects cannot both be the true ,church4 ,if one is godly1 the other must be the devil's own4 ,on the other hand1 so long as unity of faith and oneness of mind survives1 the true ,church of ,god abides1 notwithstanding there may be some weakness in other points4 ,of this fact the devil is well aware2 hence his hostility to ,christian unity4 ,his chief effort is to destroy harmony4 ,having that to contend with1 he tells himself1 my task will be a hard and wearisome one4 #h4 ,therefore1 ,christians should be all the more careful to cherish the virtue of harmony1 both in the ,church and in secular government4 ,in each instance there is of necessity much inequality4 ,god would have such dissimilarity balanced by love and unity of mind4 ,let everyone be content1 then1 with what ,god has given or ordained for him1 and let him take pleasure in another's gifts1 knowing that in eternal blessings he is equally rich1 having the same ,god and ,christ1 the same grace and salvation2 and that although his standing before ,god may differ from that of his fellows1 he is nevertheless in no way inferior to them1 nor is anyone for the same reason at all better than or superior to himself4 #i4 ,in temporal affairs1 every inequality in the world can be harmonized by a unity of mind and heart4 ,in relations other than spiritual there is mutual love and friendship4 ,how great the outward dissimilarity between man and wife--in person1 nature and employment6 likewise between masters and their subjects4 ,yet1 in mutual conscientiousness they mutually agree and are well satisfied with each other4 ,so it would be possible to enjoy life upon earth in peace and happiness were it not that the devil cannot suffer it4 ,he must divide hearts and alienate love1 allowing no one to take pleasure in another4 ,he who is illustrious1 of noble birth1 or has power or riches1 feels bound to despise others as silly geese or witless ducks4 ,,sympathy ,a ,,christian ,,virtue4 #aj4 ,the other virtues enjoined by ,peter are easily recognized--,compassionate1 loving as brethren1 tenderhearted1 and humbleminded ,luther translates friendly--courteous4 ,these particularly teach that ,christians should esteem one another4 ,god has subjected them all to love and has united them1 with the design that they shall be of one heart and soul1 and each care for the other as for himself4 ,peter's exhortation was especially called for at that time1 when ,christians were terribly persecuted4 ,here a pastor1 there a citizen1 was thrown into prison1 driven from wife1 child1 house and home1 and finally executed4 ,such things happen even now1 and may become yet more frequent considering that unfortunate people are harassed by tyrants1 or led away by the ,turks1 and ,christians are thus dispersed in exile here and there4 ,wherever by his ,word and faith ,god has gathered a church1 and that spiritual unity1 the bond of ,christianity1 exists in any measure1 there the devil has no peace4 ,if he cannot effect the destruction of that church by factiousness1 he furiously persecutes it4 ,then it is that body1 life and everything we have must be jeopardized--put to the stake--for the sake of the ,church4 #aa4 ,christians1 according to ,peter1 should1 in the bond of a common heart and mind1 sympathetically share the troubles and sufferings of their brethren in the faith1 whoever and wherever the brethren may be4 ,they are to enter into such distresses as if themselves suffering1 and are to reason3 ,behold1 these suffer for the sake of my precious faith1 and standing at the front1 are exposed to the devil1 while ,i have peace4 ,it does not become me to rejoice in my security and to manifest my pleasure4 ,for what befalls my dear brethren affects me1 and my blessings are the cause of their misfortune4 ,i must participate in their suffering as my own4 ,according to the admonition of ,hebrews #ac1 #c3 ,remember them that are in bonds1 as bound with them2 that is1 as if in the same bonds and distress4 ,remember them that are illtreated1 as being yourselves also in the body2 as members of the same body4 #ab4 ,we are all bound to one another1 just as in the body one member is bound to another4 ,as you know by your own physical experience1 ,whether one member suffereth1 all the members suffer with it2 or one member is honored1 all the members rejoice with it1 as ,paul says in #a ,corinthians #ab1 #bf4 ,note how1 when a foot is trodden upon or a finger pinched1 the whole body is affected3 eyes twitch1 nose is contorted1 mouth cries out--all the members are ready to rescue and help4 ,no one member can forsake the others4 ,in reality not the foot or the finger is injured1 but the whole body suffers the accident4 ,on the other hand1 benefit received by one member is pleasing to all1 and the whole body rejoices with it4 ,now the same principle should hold in the ,church1 because it likewise is one body of many members with one mind and heart4 ,such unity naturally entails the participation by each individual in the good and evil of every other one4 #ac4 ,this virtue of sympathy1 resulting as it does from a unity of mind and faith1 is impossible to the world4 ,in the world every man looks only upon what benefits himself and regards not how others1 especially the godly1 fare4 ,indeed1 the world is capable of scornful smiles and extreme pleasure at sight of ,christians in poverty and distress1 and in their sufferings it can give them vinegar and gall to drink4 ,but you who claim to be a ,christian1 should know it is yours to share the sufferings of your brethren and to prove your heartfelt sympathy with them4 ,if you cannot do more1 at least show it with comforting words or prayer4 ,their suffering concerns you as well as themselves1 and you must expect the same afflictions from the devil and the wicked world4 ,,of ,,love4 #ad4 ,loving as brethren4 ,this virtue must prevail among ,christians everywhere4 ,they are to manifest toward one another the love and faithfulness of brothers according to the flesh4 ,it is a law of nature that brothers have a peculiar confidence in one another1 being of the same blood and flesh and having a common inheritance4 ,particularly is this true when in distress4 ,although they may not be united in other respects1 yet when stranger blood assails and necessity comes1 they of the same flesh and blood will take one another's part1 uniting person1 property and honor4 #ae4 ,likewise ,christians should exercise a peculiar brotherly love and faithfulness toward one another1 as having one ,father in heaven and one inheritance1 and in the bond of ,christianity being of one faith1 united in heart and mind4 ,none may despise another4 ,them among us who are still weak1 frail and eccentric in faith and morals1 we are to treat with gentleness1 kindness and patience4 ,they must be exhorted1 comforted1 strengthened4 ,we should do by them as do the brothers and sisters of a household toward the member who is weak or frail or in need4 ,indeed we cannot otherwise dwell in peace4 ,if we are to live together we must bear with one another much weakness1 trouble and inconvenience2 for we cannot all be equally strong in faith and courage and have equal gifts and possessions4 ,there is none without his own numerous weaknesses and faults1 which he would have others tolerate4 ,,of ,,mercy4 #af4 ,tenderhearted1 humbleminded friendly4 ,here ,peter has in mind mankind in general--friends and enemies1 ,christians and persecutors4 ,owing to original sin1 man is naturally disposed to seek revenge1 especially upon those who injure him without cause4 ,if he can do no more1 he at least maliciously invokes evil upon his enemy and rejoices in his misfortune4 ,now1 ,christians more than any others in this world are innocently persecuted1 injured1 oppressed and aggrieved1 even by those having the name and honor of ,christians1 a thing of frequent occurrence today4 ,god's people are aggrieved by such treatment1 and if the natural instinct of flesh and blood could have its way1 they would gladly revenge themselves2 just as they of the world mutually exercise their revenge1 not content until passion is cooled4 #ag4 ,but a ,christian should not1 and indeed consistently he cannot1 be unmerciful and vindictive1 for he has become a child of ,god1 whose mercy he has accepted and therein continues to live4 ,he cannot seek pleasure in injury to his neighbor or enjoy his misfortune4 ,he cannot maintain a bitter or hard and stubborn heart toward him4 ,rather he is disposed to show mercy even to his hostile neighbor1 and to pity his blindness and misery2 for he recognizes that neighbor as under ,god's wrath and hastening to everlasting ruin and condemnation4 ,thus the ,christian is already more than revenged on his enemy4 ,therefore he should be friendly towards the hostile neighbor and do him every kindness he will permit1 in an effort to lead him to repentance4 #ah4 ,yet1 in showing mercy1 as frequently enjoined heretofore we are not to interfere with just and ordained punishments4 ,god's ,word does not teach us to demand mercy or commend kindness where sin and evil practices call for punishment1 as the world would have us believe when their sins merit rebuke1 particularly the vices of those in high places4 ,these transgressors claim that when reproved their honor is assailed and occasion is given for contempt of their office and authority1 and for rebellion1 a thing not to be tolerated4 ,this is not true4 ,the lesson teaches the duty of each individual toward all other individuals1 not toward the ,god-ordained office4 ,office and person must be clearly distinguished4 ,the officer or ruler in his official capacity is a different man from what he is as ,john or ,frederick4 ,the apostle or preacher differs from the individual ,peter or ,paul4 ,the preacher has not his office by virtue of his own personality2 he represents it in ,god's stead4 ,now1 if any person be unjustly persecuted1 slandered and cursed1 ,i ought to and will say3 ,thank ,god2 for in ,god ,i am richly rewarded for it4 ,but if one dishonors my baptism or sacrament1 or the ,word ,god has commanded me to speak1 and so opposes not me but himself1 then it is my duty not to be silent nor merciful and friendly1 but to use my ,god-ordained office to admonish1 threaten and rebuke1 with all earnestness1 both in season and out of season--as ,paul says in #b ,timothy #d1 #b--those who err in doctrine or faith or who do not amend their lives2 and this regardless of who they are or how it pleases them4 #ai4 ,but the censured may say3 ,nevertheless you publicly impugn my honor2 you give me a bad reputation4 ,i answer3 ,why do you not complain to him who committed the office to me8 ,my honor is likewise dear to me1 but the honor of my office must be more sacred still4 ,if ,i am silent where ,i ought to rebuke1 ,i sully my own honor1 which ,i should maintain before ,god in the proper execution of my office2 hence ,i with you deserve to be hanged in mid-day1 to the utter extinguishment of my honor and yours4 ,no1 the ,gospel does not give you authority to say the preacher shall not1 by the ,word of ,god1 tell you of your sin and shame4 ,what does ,god care for the honor you seek from the world when you defy his ,word with it8 ,to the world you may seem to defend your honor with ,god and a good conscience1 but in reality you have nothing to boast of before ,god but your shame4 ,this very fact you must confess if you would retain your honor before him2 you must place his honor above that of all creatures4 ,the highest distinction you can achieve for yourself is that of honoring ,god's ,word and suffering rebuke4 #bj4 ,yes1 but still you attack the office to which ,i am appointed4 ,no1 dear brother1 our office is not assailed when ,i and you are reminded of our failure to do right1 to conduct the office as we should4 ,but the ,word of ,god rebukes us for dishonoring that divinely ordained appointment and abusing it in violation of his commandment4 ,therefore you cannot call me to account for reproving you4 ,however1 were ,i not a pastor or preacher1 and had ,i no authority to rebuke you1 then it would be my duty and my pleasure to leave your honor and that of every other man unscathed4 ,but if ,i am to fill a divine office and to represent not my own but ,god's dignity1 then for your own sake ,i must not and will not be silent4 ,if you do wrong1 and disgrace and dishonor come upon you1 blame yourself4 ,thy blood shall be upon thine own head1 says ,scripture1 #a ,kings #b1 #cg4 ,certainly when a judge sentences a thief to the gallows1 that man's honor is impugned4 ,who robs you of your honor but yourself1 by your own theft1 your contempt of ,god1 disobedience1 murder1 and so on8 ,god must give you what you deserve4 ,if you consider it a disgrace to be punished1 then consider it also no honor to rob1 steal1 practice usury and do public wrong2 you disgrace yourself by dishonoring ,god's commandment4 #ba4 ,this much by way of reminder of the difference between official rebuke and personal anger and revenge4 ,it must constantly be kept before us because of the artfulness of flesh and blood1 which ever seeks to disregard that difference4 ,true1 ,god would have all men to be merciful and friendly1 to forgive and not to avenge wrong2 but the office1 which is ordained for the punishment of the wicked1 will not always admit of that course4 ,few are willing to forgive1 and therefore ,god must enforce his government over the merciless4 ,they must be punished without mercy4 ,this divine principle must not be restricted4 ,neither must it be applied beyond measure4 ,every official must be careful not to exceed the demands of his office1 exercising his own revenge1 his own envy and hatred1 in the name and under pretense of that position4 #bb4 ,peter continues to expatiate upon this topic--the good works he has been discussing3 gentleness1 mercy1 friendliness--citing beautiful passages of ,scripture and using other exhortations--to incite ,christians to practice these virtues4 ,he says3 ,not rendering evil for evil1 or reviling for reviling2 but contrariwise blessing3 for hereunto were ye called1 that ye should inherit a blessing4 #bc4 ,we have now seen whose prerogative it is to avenge1 rebuke and punish evil4 ,this passage does not refer to official duty4 ,when the judge declares sentence of execution upon a thief we have truly an instance of vengeance and reproach1 and a public and extreme reflection upon honor4 ,but it is ,god's judgment and his doing1 with which we are not here concerned4 ,the ,christian of true faith and innocent life1 who confesses his doctrine and belief1 and as he is commanded rebukes opposing forces1 will provoke the devil and the world1 and will be persecuted1 oppressed and harassed in the name of office and right1 even by individuals whose official duty it is to protect the godly and restrain unjust power4 ,if these cannot do more1 they will at least annoy1 hinder and oppose that ,christian as far as possible4 ,if the ,christian be quick-tempered and fail to curb his anger and impatience1 he will effect no good4 ,he will only bring upon himself that disquiet of heart which consumes and worries itself with thoughts of revenge and retaliation upon the offender2 which when the devil perceives1 he rejoices4 ,he so urges and instigates as to cause more mischief on both sides4 ,thus he doubly injures the ,christian--through his enemy and through the anger wherewith the ,christian torments himself and spoils his own peace4 ,,of ,,patience4 #bd4 ,what then shall we do1 you say1 when we must suffer such abuse and without redress8 ,the only resource1 ,peter says1 is to possess your heart in patience and commit the matter to ,god4 ,this is all that remains when they whose duty it is will not help you1 nor restrain and punish the wrong1 but even do you violence themselves4 ,if the evil receive not judicial punishment1 let it go unpunished until ,god looks into it4 ,only see that you keep a quiet conscience and a loving heart1 not allowing yourself1 on account of the devil and wicked men1 to be disturbed and deprived of your good conscience1 your peaceful heart and your ,god-given blessing4 ,but if in your official capacity you are commanded to punish the evil1 or if you can obtain protection and justice from rightful authorities1 avail yourself of these privileges without anger1 hatred or bitterness1 ay1 with a heart that prompts to give good for evil and blessing for reviling4 #be4 ,such conduct is becoming you as ,christians1 the apostle says1 for you are a people called to inherit a blessing4 ,oh1 wonderful and glorious fact1 that ,god has decreed and appropriated to you this blessing whereby all the riches of his grace and everything good are yours6 and that he will abundantly give you his ,spirit to remain with you1 blessing body and soul1 if only you hold fast his grace and do not allow yourselves to be deprived of it4 ,what price would you not gladly pay for this blessing1 were it purchasable1 instead of being freely given1 without your merits1 and were you privileged thus to buy the assurance of having a ,god so gracious1 one willing to bless you in time and eternity8 ,who would not willingly give even body and life1 or joyfully undergo all suffering to have the perfect assurance of heart which says3 ,i know ,i am a child of ,god1 who has received me into his grace and ,i live in the sure hope that ,i will be eternally blessed and saved4 ,think1 ,peter says1 what a vast difference ,god makes between you and others because you are ,christians4 ,he has appointed you to be heirs of everlasting grace and blessing and of eternal life4 ,but they who are not ,christians--what have they but a terrible sentence like a weight about their necks8 the sentence pronouncing them children of the curse and of eternal condemnation4 #bf4 ,if men would take this to heart1 it would be easy by teaching and persuasion to win them to friendship and kindness toward their fellow-men2 to induce them not to return evil or reviling from motive of revenge1 but when their own privileges and protection and the punishment of evil cannot be obtained1 quietly and peaceably to suffer injury rather than lose their eternal comfort and joy4 ,christians have excellent reason1 a powerful motive1 for being patient and not revengeful or bitter in the fact that they are so richly blessed of ,god and given that great glory whereof1 as ,peter afterwards remarks1 they cannot be deprived1 nor can they suffer its loss1 if only they abide in it4 ,the apostle emphasizes this fact and further persuades ,christians by citing the beautiful passage in ,psalm #cd1 #ab-af3 ,he that would love life1 and see good days1 let him refrain his tongue from evil1 and his lips that they speak no guile3 and let him turn away from evil1 and do good2 let him seek peace1 and pursue it4 ,for the eyes of the ,lord are upon the righteous1 and his ears unto their supplication3 but the face of the ,lord is upon them that do evil4 #bg4 ,these words the ,holy ,spirit uttered long ago through the prophet ,david1 for the instruction and admonition of all saints and children of ,god4 ,david presents to us the matter as he daily saw it in his own life and learned from his own experience1 and as he gathered from examples of the dear fathers from the beginning of the world4 ,come hither1 dear children1 he would say1 if you will be taught and advised1 ,i will give you sound instruction as to how we are to fear ,god and become his children4 ,who desires peace and comfort8 ,oh1 who would not desire peace and comfort8 cries the world4 ,for these everyone seeks and strives1 and all the efforts of the world are directed toward this end4 ,,the ,,christian',s ,,peace4 #bh4 ,there are two ways to the goal of peace4 ,one is that chosen by the world4 ,the world seeks to obtain peace by preserving its own with violence4 ,it desires the death of all who oppose it and will suffer injury or evil in word or deed from no one4 ,this method1 it is true1 is appointed to governmental authority4 ,it is the duty of civil rulers to faithfully employ it to arrest and hinder evil as far as possible4 ,but they can never wholly restrain evil nor punish every offense4 ,much wickedness will remain1 particularly secret evil1 which must punish itself1 either by repentance here or in hell hereafter4 ,by this procedure ,christians will not accomplish for themselves any personal advantage2 the world is too wicked and it will not give them support4 #bi4 ,therefore1 if you desire peace for yourself personally1 particularly as a ,christian1 you must choose another way4 ,the ,psalm shows it to you when it says3 ,refrain thy tongue from evil1 and thy lips that they speak no guile4 ,this injunction really applies to doctrine1 meaning that we are to abide by the true ,word of ,god and not to allow ourselves to be seduced by false teaching4 ,but ,peter here extends the application to the outward life and conduct of ,christians in the work1 the circumstances being such as to call for this admonition in the matter of refraining the tongue4 ,on account of the faith and confession for which men are called ,christians1 they must suffer much2 they are endangered1 hated1 persecuted1 oppressed and harassed by the whole world4 ,christ foretold 7,mt #aj1 #bb73 ,ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake4 ,easily1 then1 ,christians1 might believe they have cause to return evil1 and being still flesh and blood mortals1 they are inevitably moved to be angry and to curse1 or to forsake their confession and doctrine and with unbelievers to join the false church with its idolatrous teaching4 ,here the ,psalm admonishes3 ,dear ,christian1 let not all this move you to rave1 curse1 blaspheme and revile again1 but abide in the blessing prepared for you to inherit2 for you will not by violence remedy matters or obtain any help4 ,the world will remain as it is1 and will continue to hate and persecute the godly and believing4 ,of what use is it for you to hate1 chafe and curse against its attitude8 ,you only disturb your own heart with bitterness1 and deprive yourself thereby of the priceless blessing bestowed upon you4 #cj4 ,we have the same teaching in the fourth verse of ,psalm #d1 which comforts saints and strengthens them against the temptation and provocation to anger and impatience which they must experience in the world4 ,be ye angry1 ,david says1 and sin not3 commune with your own heart upon your bed1 and be still4 ,that is1 although according to the nature of flesh and blood you fret because you are compelled to witness the prosperity of the world in its ungodly life and wickedness1 and how it spites1 despises and persecutes you with pride and insolence1 nevertheless let not yourselves be easily provoked2 let wrong1 displeasure1 vexation and worry remain outside the inner life2 let them affect only the outward life1 body and possessions4 ,by no means let them become rooted in your heart4 ,still your hearts and content yourselves1 and regard all this vexation as not worth losing sleep over4 ,if you desire to serve ,god truly and to render acceptable sacrifice to him1 then with faith in his ,word place your hope in him as your dear ,father who cares for you1 hears you and will wondrously support you4 ,,guarding ,,the ,,lips4 #ca4 ,but the psalmist's additional words1 ,refrain your lips that they speak no guile1 refer1 as ,i have said1 primarily to confession of the doctrine2 but there is another thought3 ,when one is prompted to anger and to complaint about injury and wrong1 in his impatience and irritation he cannot speak fairly concerning the matter of offense1 but invariably exaggerates4 ,so it is with anger and retaliation4 ,one receiving but a pin-point wound will fly into a passion and be ready to break the offender's head4 ,the individual that suffers a single adverse word immediately proceeds to abuse and slander in the extreme his opponent4 ,in short1 an angry heart knows no moderation and cannot equally repay1 but must make of a splinter1 even a mote1 a great beam1 or must fan a tiny spark into a volcano of flame1 by retaliating with reviling and cursing4 ,yet it will not admit that it does wrong4 ,it would1 if possible1 actually murder the offender1 thus committing a greater wrong than it has suffered4 #cb4 ,so wicked and unjust is human nature that when offended it stops not with equal measure in retribution2 it goes beyond and in its anger and revenge spares neither the neighbor's honor nor his body and life4 ,james #a1 #bj says3 ,the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of ,god2 that is1 it suffers not a man to abide in his faith and good conscience4 ,but official indignation1 which is ,god's wrath1 does not so4 ,it seeks not the destruction of man1 but only the punishment of the actual fault4 ,man's anger and revenge1 so wicked and insatiable are they1 return ten blows for one1 or even double that number1 and repay a single abusive word with a hundred4 #cc4 ,so ,peter admonishes you to restrain your tongues1 to curb them1 lest they suddenly escape your control and sin with wicked words1 doing injury double that you have received4 ,guard your lips that your mouth utter not guile or falsehood through your anger1 and that it may not calumniate1 abuse and slander your neighbor contrary to truth and justice and in violation of the eighth commandment4 ,such conduct is1 before ,god and man1 unbecoming a ,christian and leads to that most disgraceful vice of slander1 which ,god supremely hates4 ,it is the devil's own1 whence he has his name of liar or slanderer--diabolus1 or devil4 ,,good ,,works4 #cd4 ,the ,psalm says further3 ,turn away from evil and do good2 that is1 beware lest on account of the wickedness of another you also become wicked1 for anger and revenge meditate only harm and wickedness4 ,therefore be all the more diligent to do good1 if you can1 that your heart may retain its honor and joy and that you may abide in righteousness1 and not fall from ,god's grace and from obedience to him into the service of the devil4 ,by anger and revenge the devil tempts you1 endeavoring to get you again into his toils and to embitter your heart and conscience until you shall exceed others in sin4 #ce4 ,seek peace and pursue it1 continues the apostle4 ,this is a sublime exhortation1 and faithful1 divine counsel4 ,you must not think1 ,peter would say1 that peace will run after you1 or that the world--much less the devil--will bring it into your house4 ,rather you will find the very opposite true4 ,from without strife will be carried to you in bales1 and within your own heart will be kindled anger and bitterness to fill you with everlasting disquiet4 ,therefore if you desire peace1 wait not until other people help you to obtain it1 nor until you create it for yourself by force and revenge4 ,begin with yourself4 ,turn from the evil to the good4 ,even undergo suffering to provide your heart with the peace which endures in spite of all that would rob you of it4 ,strive ever to keep your heart firm in the resolve3 ,i will not be angry nor seek revenge1 but will commit my affairs to ,god and to those whose duty it is to punish evil and wrong-doing4 ,as for my enemy1 may ,god convert and enlighten him4 ,and however much more of violence and wrong ,i may suffer1 ,i will not allow my heart to be robbed of its peace4 #cf4 ,notice1 the way to preserve peace and to see good days even in evil times is to keep a silent tongue and a quiet heart through the comfort of divine grace and blessing4 ,no outward occasion may be given for strife1 but always peace is to be sought with good words1 works and prayers4 ,we must even pursue peace1 follow after it1 with genuine and strong suffering4 ,thus we preserve it by force4 ,in no other way can a ,christian see good days and hold fast his blessing4 ,remember you must make strenuous effort if you would not reject your blessing nor be influenced by another to carelessly lie and otherwise sin with your tongue4 ,flesh and blood are weak and sluggish in the matter of preserving peace1 therefore ,peter strengthens his exhortation and further encourages us by the promise of ,god's help and protection for the faithful and his punishment of their enemies4 ,he says3 ,for the eyes of the ,lord are upon the righteous1 and his ears unto their supplication4 #cg4 ,inscribe this verse upon your heart in firm faith and see if it does not bring you peace and blessings4 ,try to believe that ,god sits above1 sleepless and with his vigilant eye ever upon you4 ,with watchful vision he beholds the righteous as they suffer violence and wrong4 ,why will you complain and become discouraged by reason of the harm and grief you experience1 when the gracious eyes of the true ,judge and ,god are upon you and his intent is to help you8 ,all the wealth of the world would ,i give1 if ,i might1 to purchase that watchful care1 or rather to obtain the requisite faith2 for surely the lack is not in his regarding1 but in our faith4 ,,god ,,over ,,all4 #ch4 ,more than this1 ,god's ears1 the apostle tells us1 are also open to the prayers of the righteous4 ,as he looks upon you with gracious1 winning eyes1 so also are his ears alert to even the faintest sound4 ,he hears your complaint1 your sighing and prayer1 and hears1 too1 willingly and with pleasure2 as soon as you open your mouth1 your prayer is heard and answered4 #ci4 ,again1 ,peter says3 ,the face of the ,lord is upon them that do evil4 ,true1 ,god's eyes are upon the righteous1 but nevertheless he sees also the others4 ,in this case he beholds not with a friendly look or gracious countenance1 but with a displeased and wrathful face4 ,when a man is angry the forehead frowns1 the nostrils dilate and the eyes flash4 ,such a manifestation of anger are we to understand by the ,scripture when it refers here to the face of the ,lord4 ,on the other hand it illustrates the pleased and gracious aspect of ,god by the eyes of the ,lord4 #dj4 ,now1 why is the face of the ,lord upon evil-doers and what is its effect8 ,certainly ,god's purpose is not to heed or to help them1 to bestow blessing or success upon their evil-doing4 ,his purpose is1 according to the succeeding words in the psalm1 to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth4 ,this is a terrible1 an appalling sentence1 before which a heart may well be prostrated as from a thunderbolt4 ,and ungodly hearts would be thus appalled were they not so hardened as to despise ,god's ,word4 #da4 ,notwithstanding the indifference of the wicked1 the sentence is passed4 ,verily it is no jest with ,god4 ,it illustrates how sincerely he cares for the righteous and how he will avenge them on the wicked1 toward whom his countenance bespeaks punishment in due time and the cutting off of their memory from the earth4 ,in contrast1 the righteous1 because they have feared ,god and abode in their piety though suffering for it1 shall1 even here upon earth1 live to see blessing and prosperity upon their children's children4 ,although for a time the company of the wicked conduct themselves with pride upon the earth1 and imagine themselves secure beyond the possibility of being unseated1 nevertheless when their hour comes they are suddenly hurled down from earth into the abyss of hell and must suffer the righteous to remain in possession of the earth4 ,so testifies ,christ in ,matthew #e1 #e1 and ,psalm #cg more fully explains the matter4 #db4 ,it is proven by all the examples of ,scripture and also by the experience of the whole world from the beginning1 that ,god casts down those who seek only to injure4 ,they who have despised ,god's threats and angry countenance with security and defiance have at last experienced the fulfillment of these warnings and perished thereby4 ,king ,saul thought to destroy godly ,david1 to exterminate his root and branch and blot out his name as if he had been a rebellious1 accursed man4 ,but ,god effected the very opposite4 ,because ,david in his sufferings and persecution walked in the fear of ,god and trusted him with simplicity1 desiring no harm to his enemy1 ,god's gracious eye was ever upon him and preserved him from that enemy4 ,on the other hand1 the angry face of ,god was bent upon ,king ,saul1 and before ,david was aware of it the king had fallen1 and his whole family met ruin with him2 they were obliged to surrender crown and kingdom to the persecuted ,david4 #dc4 ,christians should strengthen their faith with the comforting thought that ,god's gracious countenance is over them and he turns eye and ear toward them2 and that on the other hand he looks with angry face upon their enemies and those seeking to injure1 and will take a hand in their game1 obliging them either to refrain from their evil-doing1 or to perish by it4 ,such retribution is certain4 ,no one can live long without proving by his own experience and that of other men the truth of the proverb1 ,right will assert itself4 ,however1 we lack in faith and cannot wait ,god's hour4 ,we think he delays too long and that we suffer too much4 ,but in reality his time will come speedily1 and we can well wait and endure if we believe in ,god1 who but grants our enemies a brief opportunity to be converted4 ,but their appointed hour is already at hand and they will not escape if it overtakes them without repentance4 ,and who is he that will harm you1 if ye be zealous of that which is good8 ,but even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake1 blessed are ye4 #dd4 ,according to ,peter's words here1 you have a very great advantage over all your enemies1 whoever they be1 in being richly endowed by ,god with eternal blessing4 ,you know he will protect1 support and avenge you1 hence you abide in your faith and godliness4 ,although your adversaries think to trouble and harm you1 they can do you no real injury whatever they effect4 ,for wherein can persecution harm if you strive for godliness and abide in it8 ,not by malice1 might and violence can your enemies take from you1 or diminish1 your piety and ,god's grace1 his help and blessing4 ,and even from all the bodily and temporal harm they can inflict1 you suffer no loss4 ,for the more they seek to injure you1 the more they hasten their own punishment and destruction1 and the greater is your recompense from ,god4 ,by the very fact that they slander1 disgrace1 persecute and trouble you1 they multiply your blessing with ,god and further your cause1 for ,god must the sooner consider your case1 supporting you and overthrowing them4 ,they but prepare your reward and benefit by their wicked1 venomous hatred1 their envy1 anger and fury4 ,at the same time they effect for themselves conditions the very reverse4 ,being condemned by their own evil consciences1 they cannot in their hearts enjoy one good day1 one peaceful hour2 and they heap up for themselves ,god's wrath and punishment4 #de4 ,indeed1 you are all the more blessed1 temporally and eternally1 ,peter declares1 for the very reason that you suffer for righteousness' sake4 ,you are so to regard the situation and to praise and thank ,god for your suffering4 ,the apostle looks upon tribulation in this light and exalts it as supreme blessedness and a glorious thing4 ,christ says in ,matthew #e1 #aa-ab3 ,blessed are ye when men shall reproach you1 and persecute you1 and say all manner of evil against you falsely1 for my sake4 ,rejoice and be exceeding glad3 for great is your reward in heaven4 ,oh1 your adversaries should purchase a little of this comfort regardless of cost and boast of suffering a little for the sake of righteousness6 ,could they understand the promise and be worthy of it1 how intensely might they desire to have suffered all and much more than they thought to inflict upon you1 if only they might be blessed and prove the comfort of this precious1 divine promise6 ,fear not their fear1 neither be troubled2 but sanctify in your hearts ,christ as ,lord4 #df4 ,here again ,peter resorts to ,scripture and cites a verse from the prophet ,isaiah 7ch4 #h1 #ab-ac7 where he admonishes ,god's people not to be terror-stricken by the wrath and threats of men1 but firmly and confidently to trust in ,god4 ,the prophet speaks similarly in chapter #ea1 verse #g3 ,fear ye not the reproach of men1 neither be ye dismayed at their revilings4 ,as if he would say3 ,why will you permit yourselves to be disturbed by the persecutions of men1 however great1 mighty and terrible enemies they may be1 when you are blessed and happy in ,god to the extent that all creatures must pronounce you blessed8 ,moreover1 you know the eyes of your ,god behold you and his ears are open to your cry1 and whatever you desire and pray for is heard and granted4 ,more than this1 your adversaries are threatened by his angry face4 ,what are all men--tyrants1 pope1 ,turk1 ,tartars1 ay1 the devil himself--compared to this ,lord1 and what can they do against him1 when and wheresoever he chooses to show his power8 ,they are but as a straw to a mighty thunderbolt which makes the earth tremble4 ,therefore1 if you are indeed ,christians and believe in ,god you ought in no wise to fear all these adversaries1 but rather1 joyfully and with scornful courage to despise their defiance1 their threatening and rage1 as something utterly harmless to you2 they are but effecting their own destruction in hurling themselves at the ,majesty before which all creatures must tremble4 ,,trust ,,in ,,god ,,enjoined4 #dg4 ,but this you are to do3 ,sanctify ,god2 that is1 regard and honor him as holy4 ,this is nothing else than to believe his ,word2 be confident that in ,god you have truly one who1 if you suffer for righteousness' sake1 neither forgets nor forsakes1 but graciously looks upon you and purposes to give his support and to revenge you on your enemies4 ,such faith and confession honors him as the true ,god1 upon whom man can confidently and joyfully call for help1 reposing his whole trust in him upon the authority of his sure ,word and promise1 which cannot deceive or fail4 #dh4 ,in contrast1 unbelievers cannot sanctify ,god2 they cannot render him due honor1 although they may talk much of him and display much divine worship4 ,they do not accept ,god's ,word as the truth1 but always remain in doubt4 ,in the hour of suffering they deem themselves utterly forgotten and forsaken by the ,lord4 ,therefore they murmur and fret1 being very impatient and disobedient toward ,god4 ,they rashly seek to protect and revenge themselves by their own power4 ,that very conduct betrays them as beings without a ,god1 as blind1 miserable1 condemned heathen4 ,such are the great multitude of ,turks1 ,jews1 ,papists and unbelieving saints today throughout the world4 ,sixth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,romans #f1 #c-aa4 #c ,or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into ,christ ,jesus were baptized into his death8 #d ,we were buried therefore with him through baptism into death3 that like as ,christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the ,father1 so we also might walk in newness of life4 #e ,for if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death1 we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection2 #f knowing this1 that our old man was crucified with him1 that the body of sin might be done away1 that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin2 #g for he that hath died is justified from sin4 #h ,but if we died with ,christ1 we believe that we shall also live with him2 #i knowing that ,christ being raised from the dead dieth no more2 death no more hath dominion over him4 #aj ,for the death that he died1 he died unto sin once3 but the life that he liveth1 he liveth unto ,god4 #aa ,even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin1 but alive unto ,god in ,christ ,jesus4 ,,exhortation ,,to ,,christian ,,living4 #a4 ,in this epistle lesson ,paul gives ,christians instruction concerning the ,christian life on earth1 and connects with it the hope of the future and eternal life1 in view of which they have been baptized and become ,christians4 ,he makes of our earthly life a death--a grave--with the understanding1 however1 that henceforth the risen man and the newness of life should be found in us4 ,and he treats of this doctrine because of an error that always prevails3 ,when we preach that upon us is bestowed grace and the forgiveness of sins1 without any merit on our part1 people are disposed to regard themselves as free from obligation and will do no works except those to which their own desires prompt them4 ,this was ,saint ,paul's experience when he so strongly commended the grace of ,christ and its consolation 7ch4 #e1 #bj71 declaring that where sin abounded1 grace did abound more exceedingly1 and that where there are many and great sins1 there also reigns great1 abundant and rich grace4 ,the rude crowd cried3 ,oh1 is it true that great grace follows upon great sin8 ,in that case we will cheerfully load ourselves with sin so that we may receive the greater grace4 ,,grace ,,does ,,not ,,give ,,license ,,to ,,sin4 #b4 ,such argument ,paul now confutes4 ,he says3 ,it is not the intention of the ,gospel to teach sin or to allow it2 it teaches the very opposite--how we may escape from sin and from the awful wrath of ,god which it incurs4 ,escape is not effected by any doings of our own1 but by the fact that ,god1 out of pure grace1 forgives us our sins for his ,son's sake2 for ,god finds in us nothing but sin and condemnation4 ,how then can this doctrine give occasion or permission to sin when it is so diametrically opposed to it and teaches how it is to be blotted out and put away8 #c4 ,paul does not teach that grace is acquired through sin1 nor that sin brings grace2 he says quite the opposite--that the wrath of ,god is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men1 ,rom #a1 #ah4 ,but because the sins of men which are taken away are so grievous and numerous1 the grace which drowns and destroys them must be mighty and abundant also4 ,where there is great thirst1 a great draft is needed to quench it4 ,where there is a mighty conflagration1 powerful streams of water are necessary to extinguish it4 ,in cases of severe illness1 strong medicine is essential to a cure4 ,but these facts do not give us authority to say3 ,let us cheerfully drink to satiety that we may become more thirsty for good wine2 or1 ,let us injure ourselves and make ourselves ill that medicine may do us more good4 ,still less does it follow that we may heap up and multiply sins for the purpose of receiving more abundant grace4 ,grace is opposed to sin and destroys it2 how then should it strengthen or increase it8 #d4 ,therefore he begins his sermon by inquiring1 in this sixth chapter 7verses #a-c73 ,what shall we say then8 ,shall we continue in sin1 that grace may abound8 ,god forbid4 ,we who died to sin1 how shall we any longer live therein8 ,in other words3 ,how is it possible that because grace should destroy sin ye should live unto sin8 ,and then1 further to illustrate this1 he says3 ,or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into ,christ ,jesus were baptized into his death8 #e4 ,he speaks here in figurative language to clearly and forcibly impress this matter upon us2 ordinarily it would have been sufficient for him to ask3 ,we who died to sin1 how shall we any longer live therein8 that is to say1 ,inasmuch as ye have been saved from sin through grace1 it is not possible that grace should command you to continue in sin1 for it is the business of grace to destroy sin4 ,now1 in the figurative words above quoted1 he wishes to vividly remind us what ,christ has bestowed upon us4 ,he would say to us3 ,do but call to mind why you are ,christians--you have been baptized into ,christ4 ,do you know why and whereunto you have been baptized1 and what it signifies that you have been baptized with water8 ,the meaning is that not only have you there been washed and cleansed in soul through the forgiveness of sins1 but your flesh and blood have been condemned1 given over unto death1 to be drowned1 and your life on earth to be a daily dying unto sin4 ,for your baptism is simply an overwhelming by grace--a gracious overwhelming--whereby sin in you is drowned2 so may you remain subjects of grace and not be destroyed by the wrath of ,god because of your sin4 ,therefore1 if you let yourself be baptized1 you give yourself over to gracious drowning and merciful slaying at the hands of your ,god1 and say to him3 ,drown and overwhelm me1 dear ,lord1 for gladly would ,i henceforth1 with thy ,son1 be dead to sin1 that ,i may1 with him1 also live through grace4 ,,the ,,power ,,of ,,baptism4 #f4 ,when he says1 ,all we who were baptized into ,christ ,jesus were baptized into his death1 and again1 ,we were buried therefore with him through baptism into death1 he speaks in his own ,pauline style concerning the power of baptism1 which derives its efficacy from the death of ,christ4 ,by his death he has paid for and taken away our sins2 his death has been an actual strangling and putting to death of sin1 and it no longer has dominion over him4 ,so we1 also1 through his death have obtained forgiveness of sins2 that sin may not condemn us1 we die unto sin through that power which ,christ--because we are baptized into him--imparts to and works in us4 #g4 ,yea1 he further declares that we are not only baptized into his death1 but1 by the same baptism1 we are buried with him into death2 for in his death he took our sins with him into the grave1 burying them completely and leaving them there4 ,and it follows that1 for those who through baptism are in ,christ1 sin is and shall remain completely destroyed and buried2 but we1 through his resurrection--which1 by faith1 gives us the victory over sin and death and bestows upon us everlasting righteousness and life--should henceforth walk in newness of life4 #h4 ,having these things through baptism1 we dare no longer obey--live unto--the sin which still dwells in our flesh and blood in this life2 we must daily strangle it so that it may have no power nor life in us if we desire to be found in the estate and life of ,christ4 ,for he died unto sin1 destroying it by his death and burying it in his grave2 and he acquired life and the victory over sin and death by his resurrection1 and bestows them upon us by baptism4 ,the fact that ,christ himself had to die for sin is evidence of the severe wrath of ,god against sin4 ,sin had to be put to death and laid away in the grave in the body of ,christ4 ,thereby ,god shows us that he will not countenance sin in us1 but has given us ,christ and baptism for the purpose of putting to death and burying sin in our bodies4 #i4 ,thus ,paul shows us in these words what has been effected by ,christ's death and burial1 and what is the signification of our being buried with him4 ,in the first place1 ,christ was buried that he might1 through forgiveness1 cover up and destroy our sin1 both that which we have actually committed and that which is inherent in us2 he would not have it inculpate and condemn us4 ,in the second place1 he was buried that he might1 through the ,holy ,spirit1 mortify this flesh and blood with its inherent sinful lusts2 they must no longer have dominion over us1 but must be subject to the ,spirit until we are utterly freed from them4 #aj4 ,thus1 we still lie with ,christ in the grave according to the flesh4 ,although it be true that we have the forgiveness of sins1 that we are ,god's children and possess salvation1 yet all this is not perceptible to our own senses or to the world4 ,it is hidden in ,christ by faith until the judgment day4 ,for we do not yet experience in ourselves such righteousness1 such holiness1 such life and such salvation as ,god's ,word describes and as faith expects to find4 ,wherefore ,paul says in ,colossians #c1 #c-d 7as we have heard in the ,easter sermons71 ,your life is hid with ,christ in ,god4 ,when ,christ1 who is our life1 shall be manifested1 then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory4 #aa4 ,on the other hand1 we are outwardly oppressed with the cross and sufferings1 and with the persecution and torments of the world and the devil1 as with the weight of a heavy stone upon us1 subduing our old sinful nature and checking us against antagonizing the ,spirit and committing other sins4 ,for if we have become united planted together with him in the likeness of his death1 we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection2 knowing this1 that our old man was crucified with him1 that the body of sin might be done away1 that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin2 for he that hath died is justified from sin4 #ab4 ,this is another distinctly apostolic discourse4 ,being baptized into ,christ's death and buried with him1 to which ,paul had just referred1 he here calls being united1 or planted together1 with ,christ in the likeness of his death4 ,christ's death and resurrection and our baptism are intimately united with1 and related to1 one another4 ,baptism is not to be regarded a mere empty sign1 as ,anabaptists erroneously hold4 ,in it is embodied the power of both ,christ's death and resurrection4 ,hence ,paul says1 we are planted together with him1 engrafted into him as a member of his body1 so that he is a power in us and his death works in us4 ,through baptism he dedicates us to himself and imparts to us the power of his death and resurrection1 to the end that both death and life may follow in us4 ,hence our sins are crucified through his death1 taken away1 that they may finally die in us and no longer live4 #ac4 ,being placed under the water in baptism signifies that we die in ,christ4 ,coming forth from the water teaches1 and imparts to1 us a new life in him1 just as ,christ remained not in death1 but was raised again to life4 ,such life should not and can not be a life of sin1 because sin was crucified before in us and we had to die to it4 ,it must be a new life of righteousness and holiness1 ,christ through his resurrection finally destroyed sin1 because of which he had to die1 and instead he brought to himself the true life of righteousness1 and imparts it to us4 ,hence we are said to be planted together with ,christ or united with him and become one1 so that we both have in us the power of his death and resurrection4 ,the fruits and results of this power will be found in us after we are baptized into him4 #ad4 ,the apostle speaks consolingly of the death of the ,christian as a being planted1 to show that the ,christian's death and sufferings on earth are not really death and harm1 but a planting unto life2 being redeemed1 by the resurrection1 from death and sin1 we shall live eternally4 ,for that which is planted is not planted unto death and destruction1 but planted that it may sprout and grow4 ,so ,christ was planted1 through death1 unto life2 for not until he was released from this mortal life and from the sin which rested on him and brought him into death on our account1 did he come into his divine glory and power4 ,since this planting begins in baptism1 as said1 and we by faith possess life in ,christ1 it is evident that this life must strike root in us and bear fruit4 ,for that which is planted is not planted without purpose2 it is to grow and bear fruit4 ,so must we prove1 by our new conversation and by our fruits1 that we are planted in ,christ unto life4 ,,christian ,,growth4 #ae4 ,paul gives the reason for new growth4 ,he says3 ,knowing this1 that our old man was crucified with him1 that the body of sin might be done away1 that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin4 ,it does not become us1 as baptized ,christians1 to desire to remain in our old sinful estate4 ,that is already crucified with ,christ2 the sentence of condemnation upon it has been pronounced and carried out4 ,for that is what being crucified means4 ,just so1 ,christ1 in suffering crucifixion for our sins1 bore the penalty of death and the wrath of ,god4 ,christ1 innocent and sinless1 being crucified for our sins1 sin must be crucified in our body2 it must be utterly condemned and destroyed1 rendered lifeless and powerless4 ,we dare not1 then1 in any wise serve sin nor consent to it4 ,we must regard it as actually condemned1 and with all our power we must resist it2 we must subdue and put it to death4 #af4 ,paul here makes a distinction4 ,he says1 ,our old man was crucified with him ,christ1 and that the body of sin might be done away4 ,he intimates that the old man and the body of sin are two different things4 ,by the term old man he means not only the body--the grossly sinful deeds which the body commits with its five senses--but the whole tree with all its fruits1 the whole man as he is descended from ,adam4 ,in it are included body and soul1 will1 reason and understanding4 ,both inwardly and outwardly1 it is still under the sway of unbelief1 impiety and disobedience4 ,man is called old1 not because of his years2 for it is possible for a man to be young and strong and vigorous and yet to be without faith or a religious spirit1 to despise ,god1 to be greedy and vainglorious1 or to live in pride or the conceit of wisdom and power4 ,but he is called the old man because he is unconverted1 unchanged from his original condition as a sinful descendant of ,adam4 ,the child of a day is included as well as the man of eighty years2 we all are thus from our mother's womb4 ,the more sins a man commits1 the older and more unfit he is before ,god4 ,this old man1 ,paul says1 must be crucified--utterly condemned1 executed1 put out of the way1 even here in this life4 ,for where he still remains in his strength1 it is impossible that faith or the spirit should be2 and thus man remains in his sins1 drowned under the wrath of ,god1 troubled with an evil conscience which condemns him and keeps him out of ,god's kingdom4 #ag4 ,the new man is one who has turned to ,god in repentance1 one who has a new heart and understanding1 who has changed his belief and through the power of the ,holy ,spirit lives in accordance with the ,word and will of ,god4 ,this new man must be found in all ,christians2 it begins in baptism or in repentance and conversion4 ,it resists and subdues the old man and its sinful lusts through the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,paul declares1 ,they that are of ,christ ,jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts1 ,gal #e1 #bd4 #ah4 ,now1 although in those who are new men1 the old man is crucified1 there yet1 ,paul says1 remains in them in this life the body of sin4 ,by this we understand the remaining lusts of the old man1 which are still felt to be active in the flesh and blood1 and which would fain resist the spirit4 ,but inasmuch as the head and life of sin are destroyed1 these lusts cannot harm the ,christian4 ,still the ,christian must take care not to become obedient to them1 lest the old man come to power again4 ,the new man must keep the upper hand2 the remaining sinful lusts must be weakened and subdued4 ,and this body of ours must finally decay and turn to dust1 thereby utterly annihilating sin in it4 #ai4 ,now1 he says1 if ye be dead to sin under the reign of the spirit and the new man1 and adjudged to death under the reign of the body1 ye must no longer permit sin to bring you under its dominion1 lest it inculpate and condemn you4 ,but ye must live as those who are wholly released from it1 over whom it no longer has any right or power4 ,for we read1 ,he that hath died is justified from sin4 ,this is said of all who are dead4 ,he that has died has paid for his sin2 he need not die for it again1 for he no longer commits sin and evil deeds4 ,if sin be destroyed in man by the ,spirit1 and the flesh also is dead and gone1 man is completely released and freed from sin4 #bj4 ,paul comprehends the whole existence of the ,christian on earth in the death of ,christ1 and represents it as dead and buried1 in the coffin2 that is1 the ,christian has ceased from the life of sin1 and has nothing more to do with it4 ,he speaks of sin as being dead unto the ,christian and of the latter as being dead unto sin for the reason that ,christians no longer take part in the sinful life of the world4 ,and1 too1 they are doubly dead4 ,first1 spiritually they are dead unto sin4 ,and this1 though painful and bitter to flesh and blood1 is a blessed1 a comfortable and happy dying1 sweet and delightful1 for it produces a heavenly life1 pure and perfect4 ,secondly1 they are physically dead--the body dies4 ,but this is not really death2 rather a gentle1 soothing sleep4 ,therefore ye are1 ,paul would say1 beyond measure happy4 ,in ,christ ye have already escaped death by dying unto sin2 that death ye need die no more4 ,it--the first death1 which ye have inherited from ,adam through sin--is already taken away from you4 ,that being the real1 the bitter and eternal death1 ye are consequently freed from the necessity of dying4 ,at the same time there is a death1 or rather only the semblance of one1 which ye must suffer because ye are yet on earth and are the descendants of ,adam4 ,,spiritual ,,and ,,physical ,,resurrection4 #ba4 ,the first death1 inherited from ,adam1 is done away with1 changed into a spiritual dying unto sin1 by reason of which the soul no longer consents to sin and the body no longer commits it4 ,thus1 in place of the death which sin has brought upon us1 eternal life is already begun in you4 ,ye are now freed from the dreadful damning death2 then accept the sweet1 holy and blessed death unto sin1 that ye may beware of sin and no longer serve it4 ,such is to be the result of the death of ,christ into which ye are baptized2 ,christ has died and has commanded you to be baptized in order that sin might be drowned in you4 #bb4 ,the other1 the little death1 is that outward1 physical death4 ,in the ,scriptures it is called a sleep4 ,it is imposed upon the flesh1 because1 so long as we live on earth1 the flesh never ceases to resist the spirit and its life4 ,paul says3 ,the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit1 and the ,spirit against the flesh2 for these are contrary the one to the other2 that ye may not do the things that ye would4 ,gal #e1 #ag4 ,the spirit1 or soul1 says3 ,i am dead unto sin and will not sin any more4 ,but the flesh says3 ,i am not dead and must make use of my life while ,i have it4 ,the spirit declares3 ,i believe that ,god has forgiven my sins and taken them away from me through ,christ4 ,but the flesh asks3 ,what do ,i know of ,god or his will8 ,the spirit resolves3 ,i must be meek1 pure1 chaste1 humble1 patient1 and seek the future life4 ,but the flesh in reply makes a loud outcry3 ,away with your heaven6 if only ,i had enough of bread and money and property here6 ,thus the flesh does continually1 as long as it lives here2 it draws and drags sin after itself2 it is rebellious and refuses to die4 ,therefore ,god must finally put it to death before it becomes dead unto sin4 #bc4 ,and after all1 it is but a gentle and easy death4 ,it is truly only a sleep4 ,since soul and spirit are no longer dead1 the body shall not remain dead2 it shall come forth again1 cleansed and purified1 on the last day1 to be united with the soul4 ,then shall it be a gentle1 pure and obedient body1 without sin or evil lust4 #bd4 ,these words of ,paul are an admirable ,christian picture of death1 representing it not as an awful thing1 but as something comforting and pleasant to contemplate4 ,for how could ,paul present a more attractive description than when he describes it as stripped of its power and repulsiveness and makes it the medium through which we attain life and joy8 ,what is more desirable than to be freed from sin and the punishment and misery it involves1 and to possess a joyful1 cheerful heart and conscience8 ,for where there is sin and real death--the sense of sin and ,god's wrath--there are such terror and dismay that man feels like rushing through iron walls4 ,christ says1 in ,luke #bc1 #cj1 quoting from the prophet ,hosea 7ch4 #aj1 v4 #h71 that such a one shall pray that the mountains and the hills may fall on him and cover him4 #be4 ,that dreadful death which is called in the ,scriptures the second death is taken away from the ,christian through ,christ1 and is swallowed up in his life4 ,in place of it there is left a miniature death1 a death in which the bitterness is covered up4 ,in it the ,christian dies according to the flesh2 that is1 he passes from unbelief to faith1 from the remaining sin to eternal righteousness1 from woes and sadness and tribulation to perfect eternal joy4 ,such a death is sweeter and better than any life on earth4 ,for not all the life and wealth and delight and joy of the world can make man as happy as he will be when he dies with a conscience at peace with ,god and with the sure faith and comfort of everlasting life4 ,therefore truly may this death of the body be said to be only a falling into a sweet and gentle slumber4 ,the body ceases from sin4 ,it no longer hinders or harasses the spirit4 ,it is cleansed and freed from sin and comes forth again in the resurrection clothed with the obedience1 joy and life which the spirit imparts4 #bf4 ,the only trouble is that the stupid flesh cannot understand this4 ,it is terrified by the mask of death1 and imagines that it is still suffering the old death2 for it does not understand the spiritual dying unto sin4 ,it judges only by outward appearance4 ,it sees that man perishes1 decays under the ground and is consumed4 ,having only this abominable and hideous mask before its eyes1 it is afraid of death4 ,but its fear is only because of its lack of understanding4 ,if it knew1 it would by no means be afraid or shudder at death4 ,our reason is like a little child who has become frightened by a bugbear or a mask1 and cannot be lulled to sleep2 or like a poor man1 bereft of his senses1 who imagines when brought to his couch that he is being put into the water and drowned4 ,what we do not understand we cannot intelligently deal with4 ,if1 for instance1 a man has a penny and imagines it to be a five-dollar gold piece1 he is just as proud of it as if it were a real gold piece2 if he loses it he is as grieved as if he had lost that more valuable coin4 ,but it does not follow that he has suffered such loss2 he has simply deluded himself with a false idea4 #bg4 ,thus it is not the reality of death and burial that terrifies2 the terror lies in the flesh and blood1 which cannot understand that death and the grave mean nothing more than that ,god lays us--like a little child is laid in a cradle or an easy bed--where we shall sweetly sleep till the judgment day4 ,flesh and blood shudders in fear at that which gives no reason for it1 and finds comfort and joy in that which really gives no comfort or joy4 ,thus ,christians must be harassed by their ignorant and insane flesh1 because it will not understand its own good or harm4 ,they must verily fight against it as long as they live1 at the cost of much pain and weariness4 #bh4 ,there is none so perfect that he does not flee from and shudder at death and the grave4 ,paul complains and confesses of himself1 and in his own person of all ,christians3 ,for that which ,i do ,i know not3 for not what ,i would1 that do ,i practice4 ,rom #g1 #ae4 ,in other words3 ,by the spirit1 ,i am well aware that when this body comes to die ,god simply lays me to rest in sweetest slumber1 and ,i would gladly have my flesh to understand this2 but ,i cannot bring it to it4 ,the spirit indeed is willing and desires bodily death as a gentle sleep4 ,it does not consider it to be death2 it knows no such thing as death4 ,it knows that it is freed from sin and that where there is no sin there is no death--life only4 ,but the flesh halts and hesitates1 and is in constant dread lest ,i die and perish in the abyss4 ,it will not allow itself to be tamed and brought into that obedience and into that consoling view of death which the spirit exercises4 ,even ,saint ,paul cries out in anxiety of spirit3 ,wretched man that ,i am6 who shall deliver me out of the body of this death8 ,rom #g1 #bd4 ,now we see what is meant by the statement1 ,the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit4 ,the flesh must be dragged along and compelled by the spirit to obediently follow1 in spite of its resistance and trembling4 ,it must be forced into submission until it is finally overcome4 ,just so the mother so deals with the child that is fretful and restless that she constrains it to sleep4 #bi4 ,paul says1 ,knowing this1 that our old man was crucified--that is1 we know that1 in soul and spirit1 we are already dead unto sin--that the body of sin might be done away4 ,the meaning is3 ,because the body does not willingly and cheerfully follow the spirit1 but resists and would fain linger in the old life of sin1 it is already sentenced1 compelled to follow and to be put to death that sin may be destroyed in it4 #cj4 ,he does not say that the body is destroyed as soon as a man has been baptized and is become a ,christian1 but that the body of sin is destroyed4 ,the body which before was obstinate and disobedient to the spirit is now changed2 it is no longer a body of sin but of righteousness and newness of life4 ,so he adds1 that we should no longer be in bondage to sin4 ,but if we died with ,christ1 we believe that we shall also live with him2 knowing that ,christ being raised from the dead dieth no more2 death no more hath dominion over him4 ,for the death that he died1 he died unto sin once2 but the life that he liveth1 he liveth unto ,god4 #ca4 ,here he leads us out of the death and grave of sin to the resurrection of spirit and body4 ,when we die--spiritually unto sin1 and physically to the world and self--what doth it profit us8 ,is there nothing else in store for the ,christian but to die and be buried8 ,by all means yes1 he says2 we are sure by faith that we also shall live1 even as ,christ rose from death and the grave and lives4 ,for we have died with him1 or1 as stated above1 we have become united with him in the likeness of his death4 ,by his death he has destroyed our sin and death2 therefore we share in his resurrection and life4 ,there shall be no more sin and death in our spirit or body1 just as there is no more death in him4 ,christ1 having once died and been raised again1 dieth no more4 ,there is nothing to die for4 ,he has accomplished everything4 ,he has destroyed the sin for which he died1 and has swallowed up death in victory4 ,and that he now lives means that he lives in everlasting righteousness1 life and majesty4 ,so1 when ye have once passed through both deaths1 the spiritual death unto sin and the gentle death of the body1 death can no more touch you1 no more reign over you4 #cb4 ,this1 then1 is our comfort for the timidity of the poor1 weak flesh which still shudders at death4 ,if thou art a ,christian1 then know that thy ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 being raised from the dead1 dieth no more2 death hath no more dominion over him4 ,therefore1 death hath no more dominion over thee1 who art baptized into him4 ,satan is defied and dared to try all his powers and terrors on ,christ2 for we are assured1 ,death no more hath dominion over him4 ,death may awaken anger1 malice1 melancholy1 fear and terror in our poor1 weak flesh1 but it hath no more dominion over ,christ4 ,on the contrary1 death must submit to the dominion of ,christ1 in his own person and in us4 ,we have died unto sin2 that is1 we have been redeemed from the sting and power1 the control1 of death4 ,christ has fully accomplished the work by which he obtained power over death1 and has bestowed that power upon us1 that in him we should reign over death4 ,so ,paul says in conclusion3 ,even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin1 but alive unto ,god in ,christ ,jesus4 #cc4 ,reckon ye also yourselves1 he says4 ,ye1 as ,christians1 should be conscious of these things1 and should conduct yourselves in all your walk and conversation as those who are dead to sin and who give evidence of it to the world4 ,ye shall not serve sin1 shall not follow after it1 as if it had dominion over you4 ,ye shall live in newness of life1 which means that ye shall lead a godly life1 inwardly by faith and outwardly in your conduct2 ye shall have power over sin until the flesh--the body--shall at last fall asleep1 and thus both deaths be accomplished in you4 ,then there will remain nothing but life--no terror or fear of death and no more of its dominion4 ,seventh ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,romans #f1 #ai-bc4 #ai ,i speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh3 for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity1 even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification4 #bj ,for when ye were servants of sin1 ye were free in regard of righteousness4 #ba ,what fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed8 for the end of those things is death4 #bb ,but now being made free from sin and become servants to ,god1 ye have your fruit unto sanctification1 and the end eternal life4 #bc ,for the wages of sin is death2 but the free gift of ,god is eternal life in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,,exhortation ,,to ,,resist ,,sin4 #a4 ,the text properly should include several verses preceding4 ,paul has not yet concluded the subject of the epistle for last ,sunday4 ,there he urges that since we are baptized into ,christ and believe1 we should henceforth walk in a new life2 that we are now dead to sin because we are in ,christ1 who by his death and resurrection has conquered and destroyed sin4 ,he illustrates the power of ,christ's death and resurrection by saying3 ,for sin shall not have dominion over you3 for ye are not under law1 but under grace4 ,that is1 being in ,christ and possessed of the power of his resurrection--in other words1 having ,god's grace and the forgiveness of sins--you can now readily resist sin4 ,although you may not perfectly fulfill the letter of the ,law in its demands1 yet it cannot condemn you as a sinner nor subject you to ,god's wrath4 ,,good ,,works ,,not ,,forbidden4 #b4 ,then ,paul presents again the question raised by the obstinate world when it encounters this doctrine4 ,what then8 he asks1 shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace8 ,it is the perversity of the world that1 when we preach about forgiveness of sins by pure grace and without merit of man1 it should either say we forbid good works1 or else try to draw the conclusion that man may continue to live in sin and follow his own pleasure2 when the fact is1 we should particularly strive to live a life the very reverse of sinful1 that our doctrine may draw people to good works1 unto the praise and honor and glory of ,god4 ,our doctrine1 rightly apprehended1 does not influence to pride and vice1 but to humility and obedience4 #c4 ,in affairs of temporal government1 whether domestic or civil1 judge or ruler1 it is understood that he who asks for pardon confesses himself guilty1 acknowledges his error and promises to reform--to transgress no more4 ,for instance1 when the judge extends mercy and pardon to the thief deserving of the gallows1 the law is canceled by grace4 ,suppose now the thief continues in wrong-doing and boasts1 ,now that ,i am under grace ,i may do as ,i please1 ,i have no law to fear2 who would tolerate him8 ,for though the law is indeed canceled for him and he receives not merited punishment1 though grace delivers him from the rope and the sword1 life is not granted him that he may continue to steal1 to murder2 rather he is supposed to become honest and virtuous4 ,if he does not1 the law will again overtake him and punish him as he deserves4 ,in short1 where grace fulfills the law1 no one is for that reason given license to continue in wrong-doing2 on the contrary1 he is under increased obligation to avoid occasions of falling under condemnation of the law4 #d4 ,everyone can readily comprehend this principle in temporal things2 no one is stupid enough to tolerate the idea of grace being granted to extend opportunity to do wrong4 ,it is only the ,gospel doctrine concerning ,god's grace and the forgiveness of sin that must suffer the slanderous misrepresentation that makes it abolish good works or give occasion for sin4 ,we are told how ,god1 in his unfathomable grace1 has canceled the sentence of eternal death and hell fire which1 according to the ,law and divine judgment1 we deserved1 and has given us instead the freedom of life eternal2 thus our life is purely of grace4 ,yet certainly we are not pardoned that we may live as before when1 under condemnation and wrath1 we incurred death4 ,rather1 forgiveness is bestowed that we in appreciation of the sublimity and sanctity of ,god's unspeakably great blessing which delivers us from death unto life1 should henceforth take heed that we lose it not2 that we fall not from grace to pass again under judgment and the sentence of eternal death4 ,we are to conduct ourselves as men made alive and saved4 #e4 ,so ,paul says in verse #af1 ,know ye not1 that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience1 his servants ye are whom ye obey2 whether of sin unto death1 or of obedience unto righteousness8 ,meaning1 ,since you now have1 under grace1 obtained forgiveness of sin and are become righteous1 you owe it to ,god to live in obedience to his will4 ,necessarily your life must be obedient to some master4 ,either you obey sin1 to continue in the service of which brings death and ,god's wrath1 or you obey ,god1 in grace1 unto a new manner of life4 ,so1 then1 you are no more to obey sin1 having been freed from its dominion and power4 ,paul continues the topic in this ,sunday's epistle text1 saying3 ,,good ,,and ,,evil ,,after ,,the ,,manner ,,of ,,men4 ,i speak after the manner of men1 because of the infirmity of your flesh3 for as ye presented your members as members to uncleanness1 etc4 #f4 ,heretofore he had been speaking1 under the inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit1 in language unusual and unintelligible to the world4 ,to the gentiles it was a strange and incomprehensible thing he said about dying with ,christ unto sin1 being buried and planted into his death1 and so on4 ,but now1 since his former words are obscure to the natural understanding1 he will1 he says1 speak according to human reason--after the manner of men4 #g4 ,even reason and the laws of all the gentiles1 he goes on to say1 teach we are not to do evil2 rather to avoid it and do good4 ,all sovereigns establish laws to restrain evil and preserve order4 ,how could we introduce through the ,gospel a doctrine countenancing evil8 ,though the wisdom of the ,gospel is a higher gift than human reason1 it does not alter or nullify the ,god-implanted intelligence of the latter4 ,hence it is a perversion of our doctrine to say it does not teach us to love good works and practice them4 ,now1 if you cannot understand this truth from my explanation1 ,paul would say--that through faith you have1 by baptism1 died to the sinful life1 even been buried--then learn it through your accustomed exercise of reason4 ,you know for yourselves that pardon for former transgression and release from lawful punishment gives no one license to do evil--to commit theft or murder4 #h4 ,it is a commonly recognized fact among men that pardon does not mean license4 ,god's ,word confirms the same4 ,yet the disadvantage is that although reason teaches1 through the ,law1 good works and forbids evil1 it is unable to comprehend why its teachings are not fulfilled4 ,it perceives from the results which follow dishonoring of the ,law1 that to honor is best1 that it is right and praiseworthy not to steal and commit crime4 ,but it fails to understand why1 given the teachings at first1 they are not naturally fulfilled4 ,nor1 again1 does it know how existing conditions may be removed or bettered4 ,it resorts to this expedient and that to restrain evil1 but it cannot attain the art of uprooting and destroying it4 ,with the sword1 rack and gallows the judge may restrain public crime1 but he cannot punish more than what is known and witnessed to before the court4 ,whatever is done secretly and never comes before him1 he cannot punish or restrain4 ,the ,word of ,god1 however1 takes hold of the difficulty in a different manner4 ,it teaches how to crush the head of the serpent and to slay the evil4 ,then the judge and the executioner are no longer necessary4 ,but where we may not control the cause of the wrong1 we should1 nevertheless1 restrain so far as possible its manifest workings4 ,now1 the utmost reason can teach is that we are not to do evil even in thought or desire1 and the extent of its punishment relates only to outward works2 it cannot punish the thought and inclination to do evil4 #i4 ,but we preach another doctrine1 ,paul means to say1 a doctrine having power to control the heart and restrain the will4 ,we say you believers in ,christ1 who are baptized into his death and buried with him1 are not only to be reckoned dead1 but are truly dead unto sin4 ,a ,christian has certain knowledge that through the grace of ,christ his sins are forgiven--blotted out and deprived of condemning power4 ,because he has obtained and believes in such grace1 he receives a heart abhorrent of sin4 ,although feeling within himself1 perhaps1 the presence of evil thoughts and lusts1 yet his faith and the ,holy ,spirit are with him to remind him of his baptism4 ,notwithstanding time and opportunity permit me to do evil1 he says to himself1 and though ,i run no risk of being detected and punished1 yet ,i will not do it4 ,i will obey ,god and honor ,christ my ,lord1 for ,i am baptized into ,christ and as a ,christian am dead unto sin1 nor will ,i come again under its power4 ,so acted godly ,joseph1 who1 when tempted by his master's wife1 left his garment in her hand1 and fled1 and got him out 7,gen #ci1 #ab72 whereas another might have been glad of the invitation4 ,he was but flesh and blood and naturally not insensible to her inducement1 to the time and opportunity1 the friendship of the woman and the offered enjoyment2 but he restrained himself1 not yielding even in thought to the temptation4 ,such obedience to ,god destroys indeed the source of evil--sin4 ,reason and human wisdom know nothing of it4 ,it is not to be effected by laws1 by punishment1 by prison and sword4 ,it can be attained only by faith and a knowledge of ,christ's grace1 through which we die to sin and the world1 and restrain the will from evil even when detection and punishment are impossible4 #aj4 ,now1 such doctrine is not to be learned from human reason2 it is spiritual and taught of the ,scriptures4 ,it reveals the source of evil and how to restrain it4 ,since1 then1 we teach restraint of evil and show withal a way higher and more effectual than reason can find1 the accusation that we prohibit good works and license sin is sufficiently answered and disproved4 ,but ,paul would say to the ,romans1 ,if you cannot comprehend our superior doctrine as to the questions raised1 then answer them according to the teachings of your own reason1 for even that will tell you--and no man will dispute it--we are to do no wrong4 ,the ,word of ,god confirms this doctrine4 #aa4 ,the apostle says he will speak of the point they raise1 after the manner of men4 ,that does not mean according to corrupt flesh and blood1 which are not capable of speaking anything good1 but according to natural reason as ,god created it1 where some good still remains1 for there are to be found many upright individuals who make just laws4 ,i speak thus because of the infirmity of your flesh1 ,paul declares4 ,as if he would say1 ,i have not yet said as much as reason1 the teachers of the ,law and the jurists would demand1 but ,i will go no further because you are yet too weak spiritually1 and too unaccustomed to my manner of speech1 for all of you to understand it4 ,i must come down to your apprehension and speak according to your capacity4 ,now1 ,i want to say1 ask your own statutes1 your own laws1 whether they authorize the prohibition of good works2 if they license evil1 though they may not be able to prevent it4 ,thus ,i convince you that such a pretense regarding our doctrine is not to be tolerated4 ,,the ,,teachings ,,of ,,reason4 ,even reason teaches that your lives must conform to your business2 each is in duty bound to obey him whom he serves4 ,as ,christians you are obliged to render another service than that you gave when under the dominion of sin1 and obedient to it2 when you were unable to escape its power and to do any work good before ,god4 ,you have now come out of bondage and are relieved from obedience to sin1 through grace1 having devoted yourselves to the service of ,god1 to obeying him4 ,therefore1 assuredly you must change your manner of life4 #ab4 ,truly1 ,paul here argues reasonably and within the scope of man's natural understanding4 ,we preach the same truths1 but1 presenting them in the form of ,christian doctrine1 we necessarily employ different language and a loftier tone1 lest it be offensive to the world4 ,we may say that theft1 murder1 envy1 hate and other crimes and vices are transgressions1 yet we cannot remedy the evils by the mere prohibitions of the law4 ,the remedy must be effected through ,god's grace1 and is accomplished in the believer1 not by our power1 but by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,but when we so explain1 the stupid world immediately blurts out1 ,oh1 if it be true that our works do not remedy evils1 let us enjoy ourselves and not bother about good works6 #ac4 ,that their implication is false and a wanton perversion of the true doctrine is manifest from the fact that we exalt and endorse the command of ,god1 and also the doctrine of reason1 that teach us to do good and avoid evil4 ,indeed1 we assist reason1 which is powerless to remedy evil4 ,if reason were itself sufficient1 men would not permit themselves to be deceived by their own visionary ideas and false doctrines about worthless and vain works1 as are followers of the papacy and of all false worship4 ,no doubt such error has its rise in the principle that we are to do good and avoid evil4 ,the principle fundamentally is true1 and accepted by all men2 but when it comes to the theories we build upon it1 the speculations as to how it is to be put into practice1 there is disagreement4 ,only the ,word of ,god can show how to accomplish it4 ,reason is easily blinded on this point and deceived by false appearances1 being led by anything merely called good4 ,even when it has performed all it believes to be right1 it is still uncertain of acceptance4 ,indeed1 it perceives no fruits1 no benefit1 to result from its teaching2 for at best its achievements extend no farther than outward works--the object being to make the doer appear righteous and respectable before men--while inward sinfulness is unrestrained and the soul remains captive to its former life1 obedient to the lusts of sin4 ,and the motive of such a one is not sincere2 he would conduct himself quite otherwise were he not restrained by fear of shame and punishment4 ,,gospel ,,higher ,,than ,,reason4 #ad4 ,we present a higher doctrine--the ,gospel4 ,the ,gospel teaches first how sin in ourselves is1 through ,christ1 slain and buried4 ,thus we obtain a good conscience1 a conscience hating and opposing sin1 and become obedient to another power4 ,being delivered from sin we would serve ,god and exert ourselves to do his pleasure1 even though no fear1 punishment1 judge or executioner existed4 ,with this point accepted--with the settlement of this minor subject of controversy as to how we are delivered from sin and attain to truly good works1 we unite once more on the fundamental principle that good is to be done and evil avoided4 ,therefore1 we immediately conclude3 ,since we are free from sin and converted to ,god1 we must in obedience to him do good and live no more in sin4 #ae4 ,thus does ,paul make use of the ,law1 and of human reason so far as it is able to interpret the ,law1 to resist them who speak falsely and pervert the right doctrine4 ,evidently1 then1 the doctrine of the ,gospel does not oppose the doctrine of good works1 but transcends it4 ,for it reveals the source and inspiration of good works--not human reason1 not human ability1 but the grace and power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,now ,paul deduces the point3 ,for as ye presented yielded your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity1 even so now present yield your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification holiness4 ,,body ,,not ,,to ,,serve ,,sin4 #af4 ,even reason teaches that1 being no more subject to sin and unrighteousness1 you are no longer to serve them with your body and members--your whole physical life4 ,and further1 having yielded yourselves to obey ,god and righteousness1 you are in duty bound to serve them with body and life4 ,to put it concisely and clearly1 ,let him who formerly was evil and lived contrary to his own conscience and to ,god's will1 now become godly and serve the ,lord with a good conscience4 ,or1 as ,paul says1 ,let him that stole steal no more1 ,eph #d1 #bh4 #ag4 ,formerly1 he tells them1 their members--eyes1 ears1 mouth1 hands1 feet--even the whole body1 served uncleanness4 ,for vice he uses this term uncleanness1 readily intelligible to reason and inclusive of all forms of sin4 ,you permitted your members to serve unrighteousness1 he would say1 and devoted them to every sort of unholy life1 every wicked work1 committing one iniquity after another and exercising all manner of villainy that can be named4 ,now reverse the order4 ,reasoning according to your own logic3 while before you willingly witnessed1 heard and uttered things shameful and unchaste1 and sought lewdness1 lending your bodies to it1 let impurity now be distressing to your sight and hearing2 let the body flee from it2 be pure in words and works4 ,all the members of the body1 all its functions1 are to be devoted to righteousness4 ,thus your members1 your whole bodies1 are to become holy--to be ,god's own--and given over solely to his service4 ,the longer and the more ardently they serve1 the more cheerfully will they honor and obey ,god1 being devoted to all that is divine1 praiseworthy1 honorable and virtuous4 ,the instructions ,god has written upon your own heart would teach you this principle1 even were there no ,word of ,god4 ,it is useless for you to protest3 ,yes1 but you have taught that good works do not save1 for that doctrine is not inconsistent1 but beyond your understanding4 ,indeed1 it is the true light whereby you may fulfill the teachings of reason4 ,for when ye were servants of sin1 ye were free in regard of free from righteousness4 #ah4 ,all these expressions ,paul uses after the manner of men1 adapting them from the laws and customs of the times concerning slavery1 service and freedom4 ,then servants were bondmen1 purchased by their masters1 with whom they must abide until set at liberty by those owners1 or otherwise freed4 ,his allusion to a former service of unrighteousness and a present service of righteousness implies two conditions of servitude and consequently two conditions of freedom4 ,he who serves sin1 the apostle teaches1 is free from righteousness2 that is1 he is captive under sin1 unable to attain to righteousness and to do righteous works4 ,even reason can comprehend the principle that he is free who does not serve--who is not servant4 ,again1 servants of righteousness means service and obedience to righteousness1 and freedom from sin4 ,,fruits ,,of ,,two ,,kinds ,,of ,,service4 ,paul now puts the matter a little differently1 contrasting the experience of the ,romans in the two forms of service4 ,he leaves it with them to determine which has been productive of benefit and which of injury1 and to choose accordingly as to future service and obedience4 ,what fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed8 for the end of those things is death4 ,but now being made free from sin and become servants to ,god1 ye have your fruit unto sanctification holiness1 and the end eternal life4 #ai4 ,rather recall your manner of life when you were free from righteousness and obeyed only the urgings and enticements of sin4 ,what pleasure or gain had you in it8 ,none1 except that for which you are now ashamed4 ,further1 had you remained in it you would at last have found death4 ,only these two grand results--shame and death4 ,nothing better have you earned in its service4 ,munificent reward indeed for him who1 choosing freedom from righteousness1 lives to his own pleasure4 ,he is deceived into thinking he has chosen a highly desirable life1 for it gratifies the fleshly desires1 and he thinks to go unpunished4 ,but gratification is succeeded by two severe punishments3 ,first1 shame--confession of disgrace before ,god and the world4 ,thus ,adam and ,eve in ,paradise1 when they chose to violate ,god's command and1 enticed by the devil1 followed their desire for a forbidden thing1 were made to feel the disgrace of their sin2 they were in their hearts ashamed to appear in the presence of ,god4 ,the other and added punishment is eternal death and the fires of hell1 into which also fell our first parents4 #bj4 ,is it not better1 then1 to be free from the service of sin and to serve righteousness8 ,so doing1 you would never suffer shame nor injury but would receive a double blessing3 ,first1 a clear conscience before ,god and all creatures1 proof in itself that you live a holy life and belong to ,god2 second and chief1 the rich and incorruptible reward of eternal life4 #ba4 ,in all these observations ,paul is still speaking after the manner of men2 in a way comprehended and accepted by reason1 even without knowledge of ,christ4 ,it is universally true in the world that evil-doers--thieves1 murderers and the like--are punished in addition to the public disgrace they feel4 ,similarly1 they who do good receive1 in addition to the honor of men1 all manner of happy reward4 ,for the wages of sin is death2 but the free gift of ,god is eternal life in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 #bb4 ,it seems a strange saying1 that evil-doers are to receive wages1 seemingly implying right and deserving action on their part4 ,ordinarily the term wages signifies a good reward1 given to those who acquit themselves righteously and bravely4 ,paul uses the word to discomfit them who pervert his teaching4 ,for they say1 ,ah1 ,paul preaches of grace alone1 yet he promises wages to sin4 ,yes1 ,paul would respond1 boast as you will1 you will receive a reward--death and hell-fire4 ,you must confidently expect it if you interpret the ,gospel to teach that ,god shall reward you who serve sin4 ,with the convincing words of the text1 ,paul would undeceive those who advocate1 or suffer themselves to believe1 that man can serve ,god in sin and can receive a happy reward4 ,he chooses words familiar to them4 ,yes1 if1 as you maintain1 wages must be the reward of every service1 you will of course receive yours--death and hell4 ,these any may have who desire them and regard them precious4 #bc4 ,paul says further1 ,the free gift of ,god is eternal life4 ,observe his choice of words4 ,he does not here use the term wages1 because he has previously taught that eternal life is not the reward of our works1 but is given of pure grace1 through faith and for ,christ's sake4 ,so he speaks of it as a free gift of ,god1 through ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,the soul possessing eternal life is furnished with power to crush the serpent's head1 and none can deprive him of his priceless blessing4 ,he has also power to avoid sin and to constantly crucify his flesh4 ,these are things not to be effected by any law1 any human ability2 faith is requisite4 ,through faith we are incorporated into ,christ and planted with him in the death of sin1 unto eternal life and truly good works4 ,eighth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,romans #h1 #ab-ag4 #ab ,so then1 brethren1 we are debtors1 not to the flesh1 to live after the flesh3 #ac for if ye live after the flesh1 ye must die2 but if by the ,spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body1 ye shall live4 #ad ,for as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 these are sons of ,god4 #ae ,for ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear2 but ye received the spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father4 #af ,the ,spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are children of ,god3 #ag and if children1 then heirs2 heirs of ,god1 and joint-heirs with ,christ2 if so be that we suffer with him1 that we may be also glorified with him4 ,,living ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,as ,,god',s ,,children4 #a4 ,this text1 like the preceding one1 is an exhortation to ,christian life and works4 ,the language employed1 however1 is of different construction4 ,the hateful machinations of the devil1 by which he produces so much disaster in the world1 make it necessary to urge this exhortation in many different forms upon those who have become ,christians4 ,for when ,god out of grace1 without any merit on our part1 bestows upon us the forgiveness of sins which we ourselves are unable to buy or acquire1 the devil instigates men at once to conclude and exclaim3 ,oh1 in that case we need no longer do good6 ,whenever1 therefore1 the apostle speaks of the doctrine of faith1 he is obliged continually to maintain that grace implies nothing of that kind4 ,for our sins are not forgiven with the design that we should continue to commit sin1 but that we should cease from it4 ,otherwise it would more justly be called1 not forgiveness of sin but permission to sin4 #b4 ,it is a shameful perversion of the salutary doctrine of the ,gospel and great and damnable ingratitude for the unfathomable grace and salvation received1 to be unwilling to do good4 ,for we ought in fact to be impelled by this very grace to do1 with all diligence and to the utmost of our knowledge and ability1 everything that is good and well-pleasing to ,god1 to the praise and glory of his name4 #c4 ,of this ,paul reminds and admonishes us here1 in plain and simple but earnest and important words1 in which he points out to us how much we owe to ,god for that which we have received from him1 and what injury we shall suffer if we do not value it as we should1 and act accordingly4 ,he says3 ,we are debtors1 not to the flesh1 to live after the flesh4 #d4 ,because we have been redeemed from the condemnation we deserved by our sins1 and now have eternal life through the ,spirit of ,christ dwelling in us 7he speaks of this in the preceding verses71 therefore we are debtors to live after the ,spirit and obey ,god4 ,this ,paul declares also in the text for last ,sunday3 ,now being made free from sin and become servants to ,god1 ye have your fruit unto sanctification4 ,rom #f1 #bb4 ,therefore1 he says1 ye are debtors2 your new calling1 station1 and nature require of you that1 since ye have become ,christians and have the ,holy ,spirit1 ye should live as the ,holy ,spirit directs and teaches4 ,it is not left to your own caprice to do or to leave undone4 ,if ye desire to glory in the possession of grace and the ,holy ,spirit1 ye must confess yourselves debtors to live1 not after the flesh1 the only desire of which is to continue in sin1 but after the ,spirit2 the ,spirit shows you that1 having been baptized and redeemed from sin1 ye must turn from sin to the new life of righteousness and not from that new life to sin4 ,for if ye live after the flesh1 ye must die4 #e4 ,here judgment is plainly and tersely pronounced on the pretensions of those foolish people who seek to make the freedom of grace a pretext for giving license to the flesh4 ,the apostle speaks these words that he may deter them from presumption1 lest in place of the life and grace in which they pride themselves1 they bring upon themselves again eternal wrath and death4 ,it would be utterly inconsistent in you who are now saved and freed from eternal death to desire henceforth to live after the flesh4 ,for if ye do that1 ye need not imagine that ye shall retain eternal life2 ye will be subject to death and condemned to hell4 ,for ye know that it was solely because of your sins that ye lay under the wrath of ,god and had incurred death1 and that it was because ye lived after the flesh that ye deserved condemnation4 ,most assuredly ,christ has not died for those who are determined to remain in their sins2 he has died that he might rescue from their sins those who would gladly be released but cannot liberate themselves4 #f4 ,therefore1 let him that is a ,christian take care not to be guilty of such nonsense as to say3 ,i am free from the ,law1 therefore ,i may do as ,i please4 ,rather let him say and do the contrary4 ,let him1 because he is a ,christian1 fear and shun sin1 lest he fall from his freedom into his former state of bondage to sin under the ,law and ,god's wrath2 or lest the life1 begun in ,god1 lapse again into death4 ,for here stands the express declaration1 ,if ye live after the flesh1 ye must die2 as if the apostle meant3 ,it will not avail you that ye have heard the ,gospel1 that ye boast of ,christ1 that ye receive the sacraments1 so long as ye do not1 through the faith and ,holy ,spirit received1 subdue your sinful lusts1 your ungodliness and impiety1 your avarice1 malice1 pride1 hatred1 envy and the like4 #g4 ,for the meaning of living after the flesh has been repeatedly stated and is readily understood4 ,it includes not only the gross1 sensual lust of fornication or other uncleanness1 but everything man has inherited by his natural birth2 not only the physical body1 but also the soul and all the faculties of our nature1 both mental and corporal--our reason1 will and senses--which are by nature without the ,spirit and are not regulated by ,god's ,word4 ,it includes particularly those things which the reason is not inclined to regard as sin2 for instance1 living in unbelief1 idolatry1 contempt of ,god's ,word1 presumption and dependence on our own wisdom and strength1 our own honor1 and the like4 ,everything of this nature must be shunned by ,christians 7who have the ,holy ,spirit and are hence able to judge what is carnal7 as a fatal poison which produces death and damnation4 ,,putting ,,to ,,death ,,sin4 ,but if by the ,spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body1 ye shall live4 #h4 ,here the apostle confesses that even in the ,christian there is a remnant of the flesh1 that must be put to death--all manner of temptation and lusts in opposition to ,god's commandments4 ,these are active in the flesh and prompt to sin4 ,they are here called the deeds of the body4 ,of this nature are thoughts of unbelief and distrust1 carnal security and presumption instead of the fear of ,god1 coldness and indolence with respect to ,god's ,word and prayer1 impatience and murmurings under suffering1 anger and vindictiveness or envy and hatred against our neighbor1 avarice1 unchastity and the like4 ,such inclinations as these dwell in flesh and blood and cease not to move and tempt man4 ,yea1 because of human infirmity they at times overtake him when he is not careful enough about transgression4 ,they will certainly overpower him unless he resolutely opposes them and1 as here stated1 puts to death the deeds of the body4 ,to do this means a severe struggle1 a battle1 which never abates nor ceases so long as we live4 ,the ,christian dare never become slothful or negligent in this matter4 ,he must arouse himself through the ,spirit so as not to give place to the flesh4 ,he must constantly put to death the flesh lest he himself be put to death by it4 ,the apostle declares1 ,if ye live after the flesh1 ye must die1 and again comforts us1 ,if by the ,spirit ye put to death mortify the deeds of the body1 ye shall live4 ,for the ,christian receives the gift of the ,holy ,spirit that he may become willing and able to mortify these sinful lusts4 #i4 ,this mortifying of sin through the ,spirit is accomplished on this wise3 ,man recognizes his sin and infirmity1 at once repents1 remembers ,god's ,word1 and1 through faith in the forgiveness of sins1 strengthens himself against sin1 and so resists it that he does not consent to it nor permit it to come to deeds4 #aj4 ,this constitutes the difference between those who are ,christians and sanctified and those who are without faith and the ,holy ,spirit or who grieve and lose the ,spirit4 ,for although believers1 as well as unbelievers1 are not wholly free from the sinful lusts of the flesh1 they yet remain in repentance and the fear of ,god2 they hold fast to the belief that their sins are forgiven1 for ,christ's sake1 because they do not yield to them but resist them4 ,therefore they continue under forgiveness1 and their remaining infirmity is not fatal nor damning to them as it is to those who1 without repentance and faith1 go on in carnal security and purposely follow their evil lusts against their own conscience2 who thus cast away from themselves both faith and the ,holy ,spirit4 #aa4 ,so ,paul admonishes the ,christians to remember what they have received1 and whereunto they are called4 ,having received the forgiveness of sins and the ,holy ,spirit1 they are to be careful not to lose these again2 they must use them in contending against the sinful lusts of the flesh4 ,they are to comfort themselves with the fact that they have the ,holy ,spirit1 that is1 have help and strength by means of which they can resist and mortify sin4 ,these things are impossible to those who have not faith4 ,therefore ,paul declares further3 ,for as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 these are the sons of ,god4 #ab4 ,like ourselves1 ,paul had to deal with two classes of people1 the true and the false ,christians4 ,there is not so much danger from the adversaries of the doctrine2 for instance1 from popery3 their opposition is so open that we can readily beware of them4 ,but since the devil sows even among us his seed--they are called ,christians and boast of the ,gospel--it behooves us to take heed1 not to the mouth1 but to the works1 of those who claim to be ,christians4 ,not what they say1 but what they do1 is the question4 ,it is easy enough to boast of ,god and of ,christ and of the ,spirit4 ,but whether such boasting has any foundation or not1 depends on whether or not the ,spirit so works and rules in one as to subdue and mortify sin4 ,for where the ,spirit is1 there assuredly the ,spirit is not idle nor powerless4 ,he proves his presence by ruling and directing man and prevailing on man to obey and follow his promptings4 ,such a man has the comfort that he is a child of ,god1 and that ,god so reigns and works in him that he is not subject to death2 he has life4 ,,meaning ,,of ,,led ,,by ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,god4 #ac4 ,to be led by the ,spirit of ,god means1 then1 to be given a heart which gladly hears ,god's ,word and believes that in ,christ it has grace and the forgiveness of sins2 a heart which confesses and proves its faith before the world2 a heart which seeks1 above all things1 the glory of ,god1 and endeavors to live without giving offense1 to serve others and to be obedient1 patient1 pure and chaste1 mild and gentle2 a heart which1 though at times overtaken in a fault and it stumble1 soon rises again by repentance1 and ceases to sin4 ,all these things the ,holy ,spirit teaches one if he hears and receives the ,word1 and does not wilfully resist the ,spirit4 #ad4 ,on the other hand1 the devil1 who also is a spirit1 persuades the hearts of the worldlings4 ,but it soon becomes evident that his work is not that of a good spirit or a divine spirit4 ,for he only leads men to do the reverse of that which the ,spirit of ,god leads them to do2 then they find no pleasure in hearing and obeying ,god's ,word1 but despise ,god1 and become proud and haughty1 avaricious1 unmerciful4 #ae4 ,let every one therefore take heed that he do not deceive himself4 ,for there are many who claim to be ,christians and yet are not4 ,we perceive this from the fact that not all are led by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,some spirit there must be by which men are led4 ,if it is not the ,spirit of ,god leading them to oppose the flesh1 then it must be the other and evil spirit leading them to give way to the flesh and its lusts and to oppose the ,spirit of ,god4 ,they must1 therefore1 either be ,god's own1 his dear children1 his sons and his daughters1 called to eternal life and glory2 or they must be rejected and abandoned1 children of the devil1 and with him heirs of eternal fire4 #af4 ,paul takes occasion to speak more at length on the words sons of ,god1 and proceeds in beautiful and comforting words to describe the nature and glory of this sonship4 ,he only begins the subject1 however1 in today's text4 ,he says3 ,for ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear2 but ye received the spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father4 #ag4 ,this is a noble and comforting text1 worthy of being written in letters of gold4 ,because ye now through faith1 he means to say1 have the ,holy ,spirit and are led by him1 ye are no longer in bondage as ye were when under the ,law2 ye need no longer be afraid of its terrors and its demands1 as if ,god would condemn and reject you on account of your unworthiness and the remaining infirmity of your flesh4 ,on the contrary1 ye have the consolation that1 through faith1 ye have the assurance of ,god's grace1 and may consider ,god your ,father and call upon him as his children4 ,,two ,,kinds ,,of ,,preaching ,,and ,,of ,,works4 #ah4 ,thus he contrasts the two kinds of works which spring from the two kinds of preaching and doctrine--of the ,law and of the ,gospel--and which constitute the difference between the ,christians and those still without faith and the knowledge of ,christ4 ,they who have nothing and know nothing but the ,law1 can never attain to true1 heartfelt trust and confidence in ,god1 though they do ever so much and exercise themselves ever so earnestly in the ,law4 ,for when the ,law shines upon them in real clearness and they see what it demands of them and how far they come short of its fulfilment1 when it thus discloses to them ,god's wrath1 it produces in them only a terror1 a fear and dread1 of ,god under which they must at last perish if they be not rescued by the ,gospel4 ,this is what ,paul here terms the spirit of bondage1 one that produces only fear and dread of ,god4 ,but1 on the other hand1 if the heart grasps the preaching of the ,gospel1 which declares that1 without any merit or worthiness on our part1 ,god forgives us our sins1 for ,christ's sake1 if we believe in him--then it finds in ,god's grace comfort against the terrors of the ,law2 then the ,holy ,spirit enables it to abide in that confidence1 to hold fast to that comfort1 and to call upon ,god sincerely in that faith1 even though it feels and confesses to be still weak and sinful4 ,this is what is meant by receiving the spirit of adoption4 #ai4 ,paul speaks of the spirit of bondage and the spirit of adoption according to the customs of his times4 ,in those days men-servants and maid-servants were the property of the master of the house in the same sense that a cow was his property4 ,he bought them with his money2 he did with them as he pleased1 just as with his cattle4 ,they were afraid of their master and had to expect stripes1 imprisonment and punishment even unto death4 ,they could not say1 ,so much of my master's property belongs to me1 and he must give it to me4 ,but they had always to reflect3 ,here ,i serve for my bread only2 ,i have nothing to expect but stripes1 and must be content to have my master cast me out or sell me to someone else whenever he chooses4 ,they could never have a well-grounded hope of release from such fear and bondage and coercion4 #bj4 ,such a slavish spirit1 such a captive1 fearful and uncertain spirit1 ye do not have1 says the apostle4 ,ye are not compelled to live continually in fear of wrath and condemnation as are the followers of ,moses and all who are under the ,law4 ,on the contrary1 ye have a delightful1 free spirit1 one confident and contented1 such as a child entertains toward its father1 and ye need not fear that ,god is angry with you or will cast you off and condemn you4 ,for ye have the ,spirit of his ,son 7as he says above and in ,galatians #d1 #f7 in your heart and know that ye shall remain in his house and receive the inheritance1 and that ye may comfort yourselves with it and boast of it as being your own4 ,,children ,,of ,,god4 #ba4 ,on this spirit of adoption1 that is on what the apostle means when he says whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father1 ,i have spoken at some length in my sermon on the text ,galatians #d1 #f1 where the same words are used4 ,in short1 ,paul describes here the power of the kingdom of ,christ1 the real work and the true exalted worship the ,holy ,spirit effects in believers3 the comfort by which the heart is freed from the terror and fear of sin and given peace1 and the heartfelt supplication which in faith expects of ,god an answer and his help4 ,these blessings cannot be secured through the ,law or our own holiness4 ,by such means man could never obtain the comfort of ,god's grace and love to him2 he would always remain in fear and dread of wrath and condemnation1 and1 because of such doubt1 would flee from ,god1 not daring to call upon him4 ,but where there is faith in ,christ1 there the ,holy ,spirit brings the comfort spoken of1 and a childlike trust which does not doubt that ,god is gracious and will answer prayer1 because he has promised all these--grace and help1 comfort1 and answer to prayer--not for the sake of our worthiness1 but for the sake of the name and merit of ,christ1 his ,son4 #bb4 ,of these two works of the ,holy ,spirit1 comfort and supplication1 the prophet ,zechariah 7ch4 #ab1 #aj7 said that ,god would establish a new dispensation in the kingdom of ,christ when he should pour out the spirit of grace and of supplication4 ,the spirit he speaks of is the same who assures us that we are ,god's children1 and desires us to cry to him with heartfelt supplications4 #bc4 ,the ,hebrew word ,abba--which1 as the apostle himself interprets it1 means ,father--is the word which the tiny heir lisps in childlike confidence to its father1 calling him ,ab1 ,ab2 for it is the easiest word the child can learn to speak3 or1 as the old ,german language has it1 almost easier still1 ,etha1 ,etha4 ,such simple1 childlike words faith uses toward ,god through the ,holy ,spirit1 but they proceed out of the depth of the heart and1 as afterwards stated1 with groanings which cannot be uttered4 ,rom #h1 #bf4 ,especially is this the case when the doubtings of the flesh and the terrors and torments of the devil bring conflict and distress4 ,man must defend himself against these and cries out3 ,o dear ,father6 ,thou art1 indeed1 my ,father1 for thou hast given thine only and beloved ,son for me4 ,thou wilt not be angry with me or disown me4 ,or3 ,thou seest my distress and my weakness2 do thou help and save me4 ,the ,spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are children of ,god4 #bd4 ,that we are children of ,god and may confidently regard ourselves as such1 we do not learn from ourselves nor from the ,law4 ,we learn it from the witness of the ,spirit1 who1 in spite of the ,law and of our unworthiness1 testifies to it in our weakness and assures us of it4 ,this witness is the experience within ourselves of the power of the ,holy ,spirit working through the ,word1 and the knowledge that our experience accords with the ,word and the preaching of the ,gospel4 ,for thou art surely aware whether or no1 when thou art in fear and distress1 thou dost obtain comfort from the ,gospel1 and art able to overcome thy doubts and terror2 to so overcome that thy heart is assured of ,god's graciousness1 and thou no longer fleest from him1 but canst cheerfully call upon him in faith1 expecting help4 ,where such a faith exists1 consciousness of help must follow4 ,so ,saint ,paul says1 ,rom #e1 #d-e3 ,stedfastness worketh approvedness2 and approvedness1 hope3 and hope putteth not to shame4 #be4 ,this is the true inward witness by which thou mayest perceive that the ,holy ,spirit is at work in thee4 ,in addition to this1 thou hast also external witnesses and signs3 for instance1 it is a witness of the ,holy ,spirit in thee that he gives thee special gifts1 acute spiritual understanding1 grace and success in thy calling2 that thou hast pleasure and delight in ,god's ,word1 confessing it before the world at the peril of life and limb2 that thou hatest and resistest ungodliness and sin4 ,those who have not the ,holy ,spirit are neither willing nor able to do these things4 ,it is true1 that even in the ,christian1 these things are accomplished in great weakness2 but the ,holy ,spirit governs them in their weakness1 and strengthens in them this witness1 as ,paul says again3 ,the ,spirit also helpeth our infirmity4 ,rom #h1 #bf4 ,,heirs ,,of ,,god4 ,and if children1 then heirs2 heirs of ,god1 and joint-heirs with ,christ2 if so be that we suffer with him1 that we may be also glorified with him4 #bf4 ,here1 then1 thou hast the high boast1 the honor and the glory of the ,christian4 ,leave to the world its splendor1 its pride and its honors1 which mean nothing else--when it comes to the point--than that they are the children of the devil4 ,but do thou consider the marvel of this1 that a poor1 miserable sinner should obtain such honor with ,god as to be called1 not a slave nor a servant of ,god1 but a son and an heir of ,god6 ,any man1 yea the whole world1 might well consider it privilege enough to be called one of ,god's lowest creatures1 only so that they might have the honor of being ,god's property4 ,for who would not wish to belong to such a ,lord and ,creator8 ,but the apostle declares here that we who believe in ,christ shall be not his servants1 but his own sons and daughters1 his heirs4 ,who can sufficiently magnify or utter ,god's grace8 ,it is beyond the power of our expression or comprehension4 #bg4 ,yet here our great human weakness discovers itself4 ,if we fully and confidently believed this1 then of what should we be afraid or who could do us harm8 ,he who from the heart can say to ,god1 ,thou art my ,father and ,i am thy child--he who can say this can surely bid defiance to all the devils in hell1 and joyfully despise the threatenings and ragings of the whole world4 ,for he possesses1 in his ,father1 a ,lord before whom all creatures must tremble and without whose will they can do nothing2 and he possesses a heritage which no creature can harm1 a dominion which none can reduce4 #bh4 ,but the apostle adds here the words1 if so be that we suffer with him1 to teach us that while we are on earth we must so live as to approve ourselves good1 obedient children1 who do not obey the flesh1 but who1 for the sake of this dominion1 endure whatever befalls them or causes pain to the flesh4 ,if we do this1 then we may well comfort ourselves and with reason rejoice and glory in the fact the apostle declares1 that as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 and do not obey the promptings of the flesh1 these are the sons of ,god4 #bi4 ,o how noble it is in a man not to obey his lusts1 but to resist them with a strong faith1 even though he suffer for it6 ,to be the child of a mighty and renowned king or emperor means to possess nobility1 honor and glory on earth4 ,how much more glorious it would be1 could a man truthfully boast that he is the son of one of the highest of the angels6 ,yet what would be all that compared with one who is named and chosen by ,god himself1 and called his son1 the heir of exalted divine majesty8 ,such sonship and heritage must assuredly imply great and unspeakable glory and riches1 and power and honor1 above all else that is in heaven or in earth4 ,this very honor1 even though we had nothing but the name and fame of it1 ought to move us to become the enemies of this sinful life on earth and to strive against it with all our powers1 notwithstanding we should have to surrender all for its sake and suffer all things possible for a human being to suffer4 ,but the human heart cannot grasp the greatness of the honor and glory to which we shall be exalted with ,christ4 ,it is altogether above our comprehension or imagination4 ,this ,paul declares in what follows1 in verse #ah1 where he says3 ,i reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward1 as we have heard in the text for the fifth ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,ninth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #a ,corinthians #aj1 #f-ac4 #f ,now these things were our examples1 to the intent we should not lust after evil things1 as they also lusted4 #g ,neither be ye idolaters1 as were some of them2 as it is written1 ,the people sat down to eat and drink1 and rose up to play4 #h ,neither let us commit fornication1 as some of them committed1 and fell in one day three and twenty thousand4 #i ,neither let us make trial of the ,lord1 as some of them made trial1 and perished by the serpents4 #aj ,neither murmur ye1 as some of them murmured1 and perished by the destroyer4 #aa ,now these things happened unto them by way of example2 and they were written for our admonition1 upon whom the ends of the ages are come4 #ab ,wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall4 #ac ,there hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear3 but ,god is faithful1 who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able2 but will with the temptation make also the way of escape1 that ye may be able to endure it4 ,,carnal ,,security ,,and ,,its ,,vices4 #a4 ,here is a very earnest admonition1 a message as severe as ,paul ever indited1 although he is writing to baptized ,christians1 who always compose the true ,church of ,christ4 ,he confronts them with several awful examples selected from the very ,church1 from ,israel the chosen people of ,god4 #b4 ,paul's occasion and meaning in writing this epistle was the security of the ,corinthians4 ,conscious of their privileged enjoyment of ,christ1 of baptism and the ,sacrament1 they thought they lacked nothing and fell to creating sects and schisms among themselves4 ,forgetting charity1 they despised one another4 ,so far from reforming in life1 and retrieving their works of iniquity1 they became more and more secure1 and followed their own inclinations1 even allowing a man to have his father's wife4 ,at the same time they desired to be regarded ,christians1 and boastfully prided themselves on having received the ,gospel from the great apostles4 ,so ,paul was impelled to write them a stern letter1 dealing them severity such as he nowhere else employs4 ,in fact1 it seems almost as if it were going too far to so address ,christians2 the rebuke might easily have struck weak and tender consciences with intolerable harshness4 ,but1 as in the second epistle1 seeing how his sternness has startled the ,corinthians1 he modifies it to some extent1 and deals tenderly with the repentant4 #c4 ,however1 in the striking ,scripture examples of the text here1 he sufficiently shows the need for such admonition to them who would1 after having received grace1 become carnally secure and abandon the repentant life4 #d4 ,the text should properly include the beginning of this tenth chapter1 which is read in the passage for ,third ,sunday before ,lent4 ,he begins with3 ,i would not1 brethren1 have you ignorant1 that our fathers were all under the cloud1 and all passed through the sea2 and were all baptized unto ,moses in the cloud and in the sea2 and did all eat the same spiritual food2 and did all drink the same spiritual drink4444 ,howbeit with most of them ,god was not well pleased3 for they were overthrown in the wilderness4 ,then follows our text here--,now these things were our examples4 #e4 ,as we said1 the admonition is to those already ,christians4 ,paul would have them know that although they are baptized unto ,christ1 and have received and still enjoy his blessing through grace alone1 without their own merit1 yet they are under obligation ever to obey him2 they are not to be proud and boastful1 nor to misuse his grace4 ,christ desires obedience on our part1 though obedience does not justify us in his sight nor merit his grace4 ,for instance1 a bride's fidelity to her husband cannot be the merit that purchased his favor when he chose her4 ,she is the bridegroom's own because it pleased him to make her so1 even had she been a harlot4 ,but now that he has honored her1 he would have her maintain that honor henceforth by her purity2 if she fails therein1 the bridegroom has the right and power to put her away4 ,again1 a poor1 wretched orphan1 a bastard1 a foundling1 may be adopted as a son by some godly man and made his heir1 though not meriting the honor4 ,now1 if in return for such kindness the child becomes disobedient and refractory1 he justly may be cut off from the inheritance4 ,not by the merit of their devotion1 as ,moses often hinted1 did the ,jews become the people of ,god2 they were ever stiff-necked and continually rebelled against him4 ,god1 having chosen them and led them out of ,egypt1 urgently commanded them to serve him and obey his ,word4 ,but when they failed to fulfil the commandments1 they had to feel the terrific force of his punishment4 ,,israel',s ,,carnal ,,security ,a ,,warning ,,to ,,us4 #f4 ,their example ,paul here1 with great earnestness1 holds up to the world as a warning against carnally and confidently presuming upon the grace and goodness of ,god because we have already received of them4 ,in unmistakable colors the apostle portrays the teaching of this striking and important1 this weighty and specific1 example4 ,rightly viewed1 there certainly is no greater1 more wonderful1 story from the creation of the world down to the present time1 nothing more marvelous to be found in any book--except that supremely wonderful work1 the death and resurrection of the ,son of ,god--than this history of a people led by ,god's power out of ,egypt1 through the wilderness and into the promised land4 ,it is filled with the remarkably wonderful works of ,god1 with striking examples of his anger and of his great kindness4 #g4 ,referring to these examples1 ,paul goes on to imply3 ,as ,christians and baptized1 you should be familiar with them4 ,if you are not1 ,i would not fail to bring them before you for reflection on what befell other people of ,god1 according to the ,scripture record4 ,they were our fathers1 a noble1 intelligent and great company and congregation of men1 numbering over six hundred thousands1 not counting wives and children4 ,they1 ,paul tells us1 were termed1 and rightly1 the holy people of ,god4 ,god designed their welfare2 and through ,moses1 their bishop and pope1 they had the ,word of ,god1 the promise and the ,sacrament4 ,under ,moses they were all baptized1 when he led them through the sea1 and by the cloud1 under the shadow of which1 sheltered from the heat1 they daily pursued their journey4 ,at night a beautiful pillar of fire1 an intense lightning-like brilliance1 protected them4 ,in addition1 their bread came daily from heaven and they drank water from the rock4 ,these providences were their ,sacrament1 and their sign that ,god was with them to protect4 ,they believed on the promised ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 their guide in the wilderness4 ,thus they were a noble1 highly-favored and holy people4 #h4 ,but with the great mass of the people1 how long did faith last8 ,no longer than until they came into the wilderness4 ,there they began to despise ,god's ,word1 to murmur against ,moses and against ,god and to fall into idolatry4 ,whereupon ,god vindicated himself among them2 of all that great nation which came out from ,egypt1 of all the illustrious ones who assisted ,moses in leading and governing1 only two individuals passed from the wilderness into ,canaan4 ,plainly1 then1 ,god had no pleasure in the great mass of that host4 ,it did not avail them to be called the people of ,god1 a holy people1 a company to whom ,god had shown marvelous kindness and great wonders2 because they refused to believe and obey the ,word of ,god4 ,the prospect was good when they were so wonderfully and gloriously delivered from their enemies1 and had at ,mount ,sinai received from ,god the ,law and a noble order of worship--their prospect was good for them to enter into the land2 they were already at the gate4 ,but even in that auspicious moment they provoked ,god until he turned them back to wander forty years in the wilderness1 where they perished4 #i4 ,their punishment was wholly the result of their odious arrogance in boasting in the face of ,god's ,word1 of their privileges as the people of ,god1 upon whom he daily bestowed great kindness4 ,do you not recognize1 they bragged1 the holiness of this entire congregation1 among whom ,god dwells1 daily performing his marvelous wonders8 ,in their pride and defiance they became stiff-necked and obstinate enough to continually complain against ,moses and to oppose him whatever course he took with them4 ,thus they day by day awakened ,god's wrath against themselves1 forcing him to visit them with many terrible plagues4 ,these failing to humble1 he was compelled to remove the entire nation4 ,many times ,god would have destroyed them all at once had not ,moses prostrated himself before him in their behalf and with earnest entreaty and strong supplication turned aside his wrath4 ,because of their perversity1 ,moses was a most wretched and harassed man4 ,the man ,moses was very meek1 above all the men that were upon the face of the earth4 ,num #ab1 #c4 ,for he was daily vexed with the defiance1 disobedience and opposition of this great company of people2 and further1 he had to witness and endure for the entire forty years the numerous and awful plagues sent upon his people1 his heart being filled with anguish for them4 ,then1 too1 it was his continually to withstand ,god's wrath4 #aj4 ,terrible indeed is the thing we learn of this famously great people--,god's own nation1 unto whom he reveals himself1 to whom ,god and ,christ himself are revealed2 a nation ,god governs and leads by his angels2 a people he honors by wonders marvelous beyond anything ever heard on earth of any nation4 ,as ,moses says in ,deuteronomy #d1 #g3 ,what great nation is there1 that hath a god so nigh unto them1 as ,jehovah our ,god is whensoever we call upon him8 ,yet all who came out of ,egypt and had witnessed the mighty wonders ,god wrought among themselves and among their enemies1 fell and glaringly sinned2 not according to the measure of the mere weakness and imperfection of human nature1 but they sinned disobediently and in willful contempt of ,god4 ,hardened in unbelief unto insensibility1 they brought upon themselves overwhelming punishment4 #aa4 ,paul mentions several instances of the sin whereby they merited the wrath of ,god1 to illustrate how they fell from faith and disregarded ,god's ,word4 ,first1 he makes the general assertion that with many of them ,god was not well pleased4 ,he means to include the great mass of the people2 particularly the officials and leaders1 the eminent of their number1 individuals looked up to as the worthiest and holiest of the congregation1 and who actually had wrought great things4 ,many of these fell into hypocrisy through boasting of the divine name1 the divine office and spirit2 ,korah1 for instance1 with his faction1 including two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation4 ,num #af1 #a-b4 ,he and his leaders claimed right to the priesthood and government equal with ,moses and ,aaron1 and so ostentatiously and boastfully that only ,god could say whether they were right4 ,necessarily ,god had to make it manifest that he had no pleasure in them2 for they boasted until the earth swallowed them up alive1 and many who adhered to and upheld them were consumed by fire4 ,,israel',s ,,vices ,,in ,,the ,,wilderness ,,punished4 #ab4 ,proceeding1 ,paul recounts the vices which occasioned ,god's punishment and overthrow of the people in the wilderness4 ,first1 he says1 they lusted after evil things4 ,in the second year from the departure1 when they actually had come into ,canaan1 they forgot ,god's kindness and wonderful works in their behalf and1 becoming dissatisfied1 longed to be back in ,egypt to sit by the flesh-pots4 ,they murmured against ,god and ,moses until ,god was forced summarily to stop them with fire from heaven4 ,many of the people were consumed and a multitude more were smitten with a great plague while yet they ate of the flesh they craved2 therefore the place of the camp was named the ,graves of ,lust4 ,num #aa4 ,such was the reward of their concupiscence1 which ,paul here aptly explains as lusting after evil things4 #ac4 ,truly it is but lusting after the wrath and punishment of ,god when1 in forgetfulness of and ingratitude for his grace and goodness we seek something new4 ,the world is coming to be filled with the spirit of concupiscence1 for the multitude is weary of the ,gospel4 ,particularly are they dissatisfied with it because it profits not the flesh2 contributes not to power1 wealth and luxury4 ,men desire again the old and formal things of popery1 notwithstanding they suffered therein extreme oppression and were burdened not less than were the people of ,israel in ,egypt4 ,but they will eventually have to pay a grievous penalty for their concupiscence4 #ad4 ,in the third place1 the apostle mentions the great sin--idolatry4 ,neither be ye idolaters1 he counsels1 as were some of them4 ,not simply the lower class of people were guilty in this respect1 but the leaders and examples4 ,as they led1 the multitude followed4 ,even ,aaron1 the brother of ,moses1 himself high-priest1 swayed by the influential ones1 yielded and set up the golden calf 7,ex #cb1 #d7 while ,moses tarried in the mount4 ,we are astounded that those eminently worthy individuals1 having heard ,god's ,word and seen his wonders liberally displayed1 should so soon fall unrestrainedly into the false worship of idolatry1 as if they were heathen and possessed not the ,word4 ,much less need we wonder that the blind world always is entangled with idol-worship4 #ae4 ,where the ,word of ,god is lacking or disregarded1 human wisdom makes for itself a worship4 ,it will find its pleasure in the thing of its own construction and regard it something to be prized1 though it may be imperatively forbidden in ,god's ,word1 perhaps even an abomination before him4 ,human reason thinks it may handle divine matters according to its own judgment2 that ,god must be pleased with what suits its pleasure4 ,accordingly1 to sanction idolatry1 it appropriates the name of the ,word of ,god4 ,the ,word must be forced into harmony with the false worship to give the latter an admirable appearance1 notwithstanding the worship is essentially the reverse of what it is made to appear4 ,similarly popery set off its abominations of the mass1 of monkery and the worship of saints2 and the world in turn seeks to set off that idolatry to make it stand before ,god's ,word4 ,such is the conduct of the eminent ,aaron when he makes for the people the golden calf 7,ex #cb1 #e-f71 an image or sign of their offerings and worship4 ,he builds an altar to it and causes to be proclaimed a feast to the ,lord who has led them out of the land of ,egypt4 ,they must imitate the worship of the true ,god1 a worship of sincere devotion and honest intention1 with their offering1 the calf1 in the attempt to introduce a refined and ennobling worship4 #af4 ,thereupon follows what is recorded in ,exodus #cb1 #f1 to which ,paul here refers3 ,and they rose up early on the morrow1 and offered burnt offerings1 and brought peace offerings2 and the people sat down to eat and to drink1 and rose up to play4 ,that is1 they rejoiced and were well pleased with themselves1 content to have performed such worship1 and deemed they had done well4 ,next they proceed to their own pleasure1 as if having provided against ,god's anger4 ,thenceforth they would live according to their inclinations1 wholly unrestrained and unreproved by the ,word of ,god2 for1 as they said1 ,aaron made the people free4 #ag4 ,such is the usual course of idolatry4 ,refusing to be considered a sin1 it presumes to merit grace and boasts of the liberty of the people of ,god4 ,it continues unrepentant and self-assured1 even in the practice of open vice1 imagining every offense to be forgiven before ,god for the sake of its holy worship4 ,thus have the priestly rabble of popery been doing hitherto2 and they still adorn--yes1 strengthen and defend--their shameful adultery1 unchastity and all vices1 with the name of the ,church1 the holy worship1 the mass1 and so on4 ,,israel',s ,,trial ,,of ,,god4 #ah4 ,in the fourth admonition1 the apostle says1 ,neither let us make trial of the ,lord1 as some of them made trial1 and perished by the serpents4 ,this1 too1 is a heinous sin1 as is proven by the terrible punishment4 ,in ,numbers #ba we read that after the people had journeyed for forty years in the wilderness and ,god had brought them through all their difficulties and given them victory over their enemies1 as they drew near to the promised land1 they became dissatisfied and impatient4 ,they were setting out to go around the land of the ,edomites1 who refused them a passage through their country1 when they began to murmur against ,god and ,moses for leading them out of ,egypt4 ,thereupon ,god sent among them fiery serpents and they were bitten1 a multitude of the people perishing4 ,complaining against ,god is here called tempting him4 ,men set themselves against the ,word of ,god and blaspheme as if ,god and his ,word were utterly insignificant1 because his disposing is not as they desire4 ,properly speaking1 it is tempting ,god when we not only disbelieve him but oppose him1 refusing to accept what he says as true and desiring that our own wisdom rule4 ,that is boasting ourselves against him4 ,paul says in #a ,corinthians #aj1 #bb3 ,do we provoke the ,lord to jealousy8 are we stronger than he8 #ai4 ,such was the conduct of the ,jews4 ,notwithstanding ,god's promise to be their ,god1 to remain with them and to preserve them in trouble1 if only they would believe in him and trust him2 and notwithstanding he proved his care by daily providences expressed as special blessings and strange wonders1 yet all these things availed not to save them from murmuring4 ,when the ordering of events accorded not exactly with their wisdom or desire1 or when1 perhaps1 disaster or failure threatened1 immediately they began to make outcry against ,moses2 in other words1 against his ,god-given office and message4 ,why have you led us out of ,egypt8 they would complain1 meaning3 ,if you bore1 as you say you do1 the word and command of ,god and if he truly designed to work such marvels with us1 he would not permit us to suffer want like this4 ,in fact1 they could not believe ,god's dealings with them were in accord with his promise and design4 ,they insisted that he should1 through ,moses1 perform what they dictated2 otherwise he should not be their ,god4 ,at the outset1 when they entered the wilderness1 after having come out of ,egypt and having experienced ,god's wonderful preservation of them in the ,red ,sea and his deliverance from their enemy1 and having received from him bread and flesh1 they immediately began to murmur against ,moses and ,aaron and to chide them for leading into the wilderness where no water was4 ,is ,jehovah among us1 or not8 they burst forth4 ,ex #ag1 #g4 ,this was1 indeed1 as our text says1 tempting ,god2 for abundantly as his word and his wonders had been revealed to them1 they refused to believe unless he should fulfil their desires4 #bj4 ,and they persisted in so opposing and tempting ,god as long as they were in the wilderness1 unto the fortieth year2 to which ,god testifies when he says to ,moses3 ,because all those men that have seen my glory1 and my signs1 which ,i wrought in ,egypt and in the wilderness1 yet have tempted me these ten times1 and have not hearkened to my voice1 etc41 ,num #ad1 #bb4 ,it was in the second year after the departure from ,egypt that the ,jews murmured about the water1 and now in the fortieth year1 when they should have been humbled after so long experience1 and when they whose lives covered that period ought to have been conscious of the wonderful deliverances they had experienced in not being destroyed with others of their number1 but being brought safely to the promised land--now they begin anew to complain with great impatience and bitterness3 ,why have you brought us up out of ,egypt to die in the wilderness8 ,or1 in other words3 ,you often remind us you represent ,god's command1 and you have promised us great things4 ,this is a fine way you take to lead us into the land when here we have yet farther to journey and are all going to die in the wilderness6 #ba4 ,notice1 ,paul in speaking of how they tempted ,god says1 ,they tempted ,christ1 pointing to the fact that the eternal ,son of ,god was from the beginning with his ,church and with the people who received from the ancient fathers the promise of his coming in the form of man4 ,they believed as we do that ,christ--to use ,paul's words in the beginning--was the rock that followed them4 ,therefore the apostle gives us to understand1 the point of the ,israelites' insult was directed against faith in ,christ1 against the promise concerning him4 ,moses was compelled to hear them protest after this manner3 ,yes1 you boast about a ,messiah who is one with ,god1 and who is with us to lead us2 one revealed to the fathers and promised to be born unto us of our flesh and blood1 to redeem us and bring relief to all men2 a ,messiah who for that reason adopts us for his own people1 to bring us into the land2 but where is he8 ,this is a fine way he relieves us6 ,is our ,god one to permit us to wander for forty years in the wilderness until we all perish8 #bb4 ,that such sin and blasphemy was the real meaning of their murmurings is indicated by the fact that ,moses afterward1 in the terrible punishment of the fiery serpents by which the people were bitten and died1 erected at ,god's command a brazen serpent and whoever looked upon it lived4 ,it was to them a sign of ,christ who was to be offered for the salvation of sinners4 ,it taught the people they had blasphemed against ,god1 incurred his wrath and deserved punishment1 and therefore in order to be saved from wrath and condemnation1 they had no possible alternative but to believe again in ,christ4 ,,murmuring ,,against ,,god ,,open ,,revolt4 #bc4 ,this last point is akin to the one preceding4 ,paul defines murmuring against ,god as an open revolt actuated by unbelief in the ,word1 a manifestation of anger and impatience1 an unwillingness to obey when events are not ordered according to the pleasure of flesh and blood1 and a readiness instantly to see ,god as hating and unwilling to help4 ,just so the ,jews persistently behaved1 despite ,moses' efforts to reconcile4 ,being also continually punished for their perversity1 they ought prudently to have abandoned their murmurings2 but they only murmured the more4 #bd4 ,the apostle's intent in the narration is to warn all who profess to be ,christians1 or people of ,god1 as we shall hear later4 ,he holds that the example of the ,israelites ought deeply to impress us1 teaching us to continue in the fear of ,god and to be conscious of it1 and to guard against self-confidence4 ,for ,god by the punishments mentioned shows forcibly enough to the world that he will not trifle with1 nor excuse1 our sin--as the world and our own flesh fondly imagine--if we1 under cover of his high and sacred name1 dare despise and pervert his ,word2 if we1 actuated by presumptuous confidence in our own wisdom1 our own holiness and the gifts of ,god1 follow our private opinions1 our own judgment and inclinations1 and vainly satisfy ourselves with the delusion3 ,god is not angry with me1 one so meritorious1 so superior1 in his sight4 #be4 ,you learn here that ,god spared none of the great throng from ,egypt1 among whom were many worthy and eminent individuals1 even the progenitors of ,christ in the tribe of ,judah4 ,he visited terrible punishment upon the distinguished princes and the leaders among the priesthood and other classes1 and that in the sight of the entire people among whom he had performed so many marvelous wonders4 ,having by ,moses delivered them from temporal bondage in ,egypt1 and through his office spiritually baptized and sanctified them2 having given ,christ1 to speak with1 lead1 defend and help them2 having dealt kindly with them as would a father with his children3 yet he visits terrible destruction upon these ,jews because they have abused his grace and brought forth no fruits of faith1 and have become proud1 boasting themselves the people of ,god1 children of ,abraham and circumcised1 sole possessors of the promise of a ,messiah1 and consequently sure of participating in the kingdom of ,god and enjoying his grace4 #bf4 ,now1 as ,paul teaches1 if terrible judgment and awful punishment came upon these illustrious and good people1 let us not be proud and presumptuous4 ,we are far inferior to them and cannot hope1 in these last ages of the world1 to know gifts and wonders as great and glorious as they knew4 ,let us see ourselves mirrored in them and profit by their example1 being mindful that while we are privileged to glory in ,christ1 in the forgiveness of sins and the grace of ,god1 we must be faithfully careful not to lose what we have received and fall into the same condemnation and punishment before ,god which was the fate of this people4 ,for we have not yet completed our pilgrimage2 we have not arrived at the place toward which we journey4 ,we are still on the way and must constantly go forward in the undertaking1 in spite of dangers and hindrances that may assail4 ,the work of salvation is indeed begun in us1 but as yet is incomplete4 ,we have come out of ,egypt and have passed through the ,red ,sea2 that is1 have been led out of the devil's dominion into the kingdom of ,god1 through ,christian baptism4 ,but we are not yet through the wilderness and in the promised land4 ,there is a possibility of our still wandering from the way1 into defeat1 and missing salvation4 #bg4 ,nothing is lacking on ,god's part2 he has given us his ,word and the ,sacraments1 has bestowed the ,spirit1 given grace and the necessary gifts1 and is willing to help us even further4 ,it rests with ourselves not to fall from grace1 not to thrust it from us through unbelief1 ingratitude1 disobedience and contempt of ,god's ,word4 ,for salvation is not to him who only begins well1 but1 as ,christ says 7,mt #bd1 #ac71 ,he that endureth to the end1 the same shall be saved4 ,but the apostle continues3 ,now these things happened unto them by way of example2 and they were written for our admonition1 upon whom the ends of the ages are come4 ,,israel',s ,,career ,,an ,,admonition ,,to ,,individuals4 #bh4 ,when you read or hear this historical example1 the terrible punishment the ,jewish people suffered in the wilderness1 think not it is an obsolete record and without present significance4 ,the narrative is certainly not written for the dead1 but for us who live4 ,it is intended to restrain us1 to be a permanent example to the whole ,church4 ,for ,god's dealings with his own flock are always the same1 from the beginning of time to the end4 ,likewise must the people of ,god1 or the ,church1 be always the same4 ,this history is a portrait of the ,church in every age1 representing largely its actual life--the vital part2 for it shows on what the success of the ,church on earth always depends and how it acts4 ,the record teaches that the ,church is at all times wonderfully governed and preserved by ,god1 without human agency1 in the midst of manifold temptations1 trials1 suffering and defeat2 that it does not exist as an established government regulated according to human wisdom1 with harmony of parts and logical action1 but is continually agitated1 impaired and weakened in itself by much confusion and numerous penalties2 that the great and best part1 who bear the name of the ,church1 fall and bring about a state of things so deplorable ,god can no longer spare1 but is compelled to send punishments in the nature of mutinies and similar disorders1 the terrible character of which leaves but a small proportion of the people upright4 #bi4 ,now1 if such disaster befell the nation selected of ,god1 chosen from the first as his people1 among whom he performed works marvelous and manifest beyond anything ever known since1 what better thing may we expect for ourselves8 ,indeed1 how much greater the danger threatening us2 how much reason we have to take heed that the same fate1 or worse1 overtake not ourselves6 ,with reference to the things chronicled in our text1 ,paul tells us3 ,they were written for our admonition1 upon whom the ends of the ages are come4 ,that is1 we are now in the last and most evil of days1 a time bringing many awful dangers and severe punishments4 ,it is foretold in the ,scriptures1 predicted by ,christ and the apostles1 that awful and distressing times will come1 when there shall be wide wanderings from the true faith and sad desolations of the ,church4 ,and1 alas1 we see the prophecies only too painfully fulfilled in past heresy1 and later in ,mohammedanism and the papacy4 #cj4 ,the era constituting the last time began with the apostles4 ,the ,christians living since ,christ's ascension constitute the people of the latter times1 the little company left for heaven2 and we gentiles1 amidst the innumerable multitude of the ungodly generation in the wide world1 must experience worse calamities than befell the ,jews1 who lived under the law of ,moses and the ,word of ,god1 under an admirable external discipline and a well-regulated government4 ,yet even in this final age so near the end of time1 when we should be occupied with proclaiming the ,gospel everywhere1 the great multitude are chiefly employed with boasting their ,christian name4 ,we see how extravagantly the ,pope extols his church1 teaching that outside its pale no ,christians are to be found on earth1 and that the entire world must regard him as the head of the ,church4 #ca4 ,true1 his subjects were baptized unto ,christ1 called to the kingdom of ,god and granted the ,sacrament and the name of ,christ4 ,but how do they conduct themselves8 ,under that superior name and honor1 they suppress ,christ's ,word and his kingdom4 ,for more than a thousand years now they have desolated the ,church1 and to this hour most deplorably persecute it4 ,on the other hand1 great countries1 vast kingdoms1 claiming to be ,christian but disregarding the true doctrine of faith1 are punished by the ,turk's desolating hand1 and instead of the incense of ,christianity1 with them is the revolting odor of ,mohammed's faith4 #cb4 ,great and terrible was the punishment of the ,jewish people4 ,seemingly no disaster could befall man more awful than overtook them in the wilderness4 ,yet it was physical punishment1 and although many1 through unbelief and contempt of ,god1 fell and incurred everlasting condemnation1 still the ,word of ,god remained with a remnant--,moses and the true ,church4 ,but the punishment of this last age is infinitely more awful1 for ,god permits the pure doctrine to be lost1 and sends strong delusions1 that they who receive not the truth nor love it shall believe falsehood and be eternally lost4 #b ,thes #b1 #aj4 ,such has been our reward2 we have only too terribly suffered punishment4 ,and if we are not more thankful for the grace ,god extends in his ,word--a last gleam of light1 on the point of extinction--we shall meet with retribution even more appalling4 ,wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall4 #cc4 ,here is summed up the teaching of the above examples4 ,the sermon is directed against the self-confident4 ,some there were among the ,christian ,corinthians who boasted they were disciples of the great apostles1 and who had even received the ,holy ,spirit1 but who stirred up sects and desired to be commended in all their acts4 ,to these ,paul would say3 ,no1 dear brother1 be not too secure1 not too sure where you stand4 ,when you think you stand most firmly you are perhaps nearest to falling1 and you may fall too far to rise again4 ,they of the wilderness were worthy people and began well1 doing great deeds1 yet they fell deplorably and were destroyed4 ,therefore1 be cautious and suffer not the devil to deceive you4 ,you will need to be vigilant1 for you are in the flesh1 which always strives against the spirit2 and you have the devil for enemy1 and dangers and difficulties beset you on all sides4 ,be careful lest you lose what you have received4 ,you have only made a beginning2 the end is yet to be attained4 ,so we must be wary and steadfast1 that we may1 as ,paul has it1 work out our own salvation with fear and trembling4 ,phil #b1 #ab4 ,there hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear such as is common to man3 but ,god is faithful1 who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able4 #cd4 ,paul's meaning is3 ,i must not terrify you too much4 ,i would in a measure comfort you4 ,so far you have had no temptations greater than flesh and blood offer4 ,they have risen among yourselves--one holding another in contempt1 one doing another injustice2 allowing adulteries and other evils to creep in1 which things are indeed not right nor decent4 ,you must resolve to reform in these things lest worse error befall you4 ,for should ,satan get hold of you in earnest with his false doctrine and spiritual delusions1 his strong temptations of the soul--contempt of ,god1 for instance--such as assailed ,peter and many others of the saints1 you could not stand4 ,you are yet weak2 you are new and untried ,christians4 ,then thank ,god who gives you strength to bear your present temptations2 who1 to retain you1 presents what is best for you1 admonishing you1 through his ,word1 to be on your guard against falling yet deeper into temptation4 ,tenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #a ,corinthians #ab1 #a-aa4 #a ,now1 concerning spiritual gifts1 brethren1 ,i would not have you ignorant4 #b ,ye know that when ye were ,gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols1 howsoever ye might be led4 #c ,wherefore ,i make known unto you1 that no man speaking in the ,spirit of ,god saith1 ,jesus is anathema accursed1 and no man can say1 ,jesus is ,lord1 but in the ,holy ,spirit4 #d ,now there are diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit4 #e ,and there are diversities of ministrations1 and the same ,lord4 #f ,and there are diversities of workings1 but the same ,god1 who worketh all things in all4 #g ,but to each one is given the manifestation of the ,spirit to profit withal4 #h ,for to one is given through the ,spirit the word of wisdom2 and to another the word of knowledge1 according to the same ,spirit2 #i to another faith1 in the same ,spirit2 and to another gifts of healings1 in the one ,spirit2 #aj and to another workings of miracles2 and to another prophecy2 and to another discernings of spirits2 to another divers kinds of tongues2 and to another the interpretation of tongues2 #aa but all these worketh the one and the same ,spirit1 dividing to each one severally even as he will4 ,,spiritual ,,counsel ,,for ,,church ,,officers4 #a4 ,this epistle selection treats of spiritual things1 things which chiefly pertain to the office of the ministry and concern the ,church authorities4 ,paul instructs how those in office should employ their gifts for the benefit of one another and thus further the unity and advancement of the ,churches4 ,inharmony is a deplorable offense in the case of ,christians1 putting them in the worst possible light1 and making it impossible for them to steer clear of factions4 ,divisions are an offense to the world's wisest and best1 who cry out1 ,if the ,christians' doctrine were true1 they would preserve unity among themselves1 but as it is they envy and slander and devour one another4 ,for1 though the world carries its own great beam in its eye1 it cannot refrain from judging us for our mote1 and thus exalting itself as if it were pure and beautiful4 ,,perfect ,,harmony ,,not ,,to ,,be ,,expected4 #b4 ,well1 we cannot altogether prevent inharmony in the ,church4 ,paul says 7#a ,cor #aa1 #ai71 ,for there must be also factions among you1 that they that are approved may be made manifest among you4 ,wherever the ,word of ,god has a foothold1 there the devil will be4 ,by the agency of his factions he will always build his taverns and kitchens beside ,god's house4 ,so he did at first1 in ,paradise4 ,in the family of ,adam he entrenched himself1 establishing there his church4 ,and such has been his practice ever since1 and doubtless will ever be4 ,he who takes offense at differences in the ,church1 who when he sees any inharmony at once concludes there is no ,church there1 will in the end miss both the ,church and ,christ4 ,you will never find any congregation of such purity that all its members are unanimous on every point of belief and teaching and all live in perfect harmony4 #c4 ,paul had experience in this matter in the case of the beautiful and famed ,church at ,corinth in ,achaia1 which he himself planted and where he taught two years4 ,soon after his departure they began to disagree about their preachers and to attach themselves to certain ones--some to ,paul1 some to ,peter1 some to ,apollos4 ,though these had all taught correctly1 though they had been unanimous in their doctrine1 yet men would cleave to a certain one because he was more or differently gifted than the others1 could speak better1 or was more attractive in personal appearance4 ,and among the ministers of the ,church1 if one had a special gift or office1 he thought he ought to be a little better and a little greater than the others4 ,necessarily1 from such division and inharmony1 grew hatred1 strife and jealousy1 resulting in great injury and disorder to the ,church4 #d4 ,we must1 then1 so far as possible1 guard against this fatal evil1 though we cannot altogether keep it out of the ,church4 ,were we to offer no resistance at all1 the devil would seize all authority and bring every element into discord4 ,but when we resist ,satan1 ,god will continue to extend his grace and favor1 and some fruit and improvement will follow4 ,even were it not possible for us to accomplish anything1 yet as faithful ministers we must not keep silent if we would not be regarded indolent hirelings who flee when the wolf comes4 ,see ,jn #aj1 #ab4 #e4 ,such is the tenor of this text from ,paul4 ,he begins by preaching on spiritual gifts and admonishing the ,corinthians how to conduct themselves in respect to them4 ,in proportion to the greatness and excellence of the gifts are flesh and blood inclined to discord and to coveting personal honor4 ,let one have a good understanding of the ,scriptures and be able to explain them1 or let him have the power to work miracles1 and he will soon begin to have an extravagantly good opinion of himself1 deeming himself worthy the honor of all men1 desiring the multitude to follow only him1 and positively refusing to regard anyone his equal4 ,he will seek to create something new in doctrine1 to change the old order1 as if he could introduce something better than others1 who must be infinitely below him or at least his inferiors4 #f4 ,the same thing has taken place in our day--and will continue to take place--with respect to the ,gospel4 ,but through the grace of ,god that ,gospel is brought to light again1 and rightly instructs and harmonizes the people4 ,the devil1 unable to rest1 had to rouse his factious rabble1 his selfish souls1 who desired the name of being superior and inspired people1 a people who could preach1 write and explain the ,scriptures better than others2 for they had learned a little from us4 ,they conceded that the ,gospel had indeed made a beginning1 had somewhat purified ecclesiastical doctrine1 but claimed it had not gone far enough2 it was necessary that greater improvement be made--,church doctrine must be brought to far greater perfection4 ,but as ,paul says 7#a ,cor #c1 #aa71 they could1 with their doctrine1 lay no other foundation1 could preach no other ,christ1 than the ,christ of the ,gospel4 ,nevertheless1 they pretended to teach something better and higher4 ,they hindered and perverted the true doctrine4 ,their work could not be called building up the faith1 but was rather breaking up and destroying its foundation and leading the people back into error and blindness4 ,so ,paul begins his admonition in these words3 ,ye know that when ye were ,gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols1 howsoever ye might be led4 #g4 ,paul reminds the ,corinthians of their manner of life before they became ,christians1 for he would have them pause to think that their gifts1 past and present1 are not of their own procuring1 nor are any gifts bestowed upon them because of merit on their part4 ,it is his intent to restrain them from pride in their gifts and from disputations concerning them2 to keep them from divisions and from pretending to teach and introduce into the ,church something new and better4 ,but at the same time he deals a blow to those who take offense at inharmony among ,christians4 #h4 ,recall1 all of you1 ,paul would say1 your manner of life before you came to ,christ4 ,what were you8 ,mere darkened heathen1 having no knowledge of ,god but suffering yourselves blindly to be led by anyone who should say aught to you of ,god4 ,all your devotion was but a discordant worship4 ,each one--even the child in the cradle1 the infant at the mother's breast--must find his own idol wherever he might turn4 ,st4 ,augustine tells us that the city of ,rome alone had more than four hundred gods1 and that it erected a church for all the gods in the world1 which building still stands--the ,pantheon4 ,these superstitions1 ,paul's words imply1 you followed as you were led2 you flocked after them1 praying and sacrificing1 hanging your hearts upon dumb idols which could not teach and advise you1 could not comfort1 relieve or help you4 ,in return for your devotion you obtained only the privilege of being a blind1 wretched1 divided1 miserable people1 unable to fortify yourselves against any error1 and allowing yourselves to be distracted by the advocate of any doctrine4 ,you were like a flock of helpless sheep scattered by wolves4 #i4 ,but now you have been turned from that manifold idolatry to the one true worship and have been enlightened by ,god's ,word4 ,more than that1 in ,christ have been bestowed upon you great and glorious gifts--discerning of the ,scriptures1 diversities of tongues1 power to work miracles--things impossible to the world4 ,it is unmistakably evident that you embrace the true ,god1 who does not1 like dumb idols1 leave you to wander in the error of your own speculations1 uncounseled by the ,word2 a living ,god1 who speaks to you that you may know what to expect from him1 and works among you publicly and visibly4 ,therefore1 it is not for you to make divisions among yourselves after the manner of the heathen as you see in the great ,babel confusion and divisions of the world1 where no one agrees with another1 where one runs to this his idol and another to that1 each claiming superiority for his own4 ,knowing that you all embrace the one true ,god and his ,word1 you are to hold together in one faith and one mind1 not disagreeing among yourselves as if you had a variety of gods1 of faiths1 of baptisms1 spirits and salvations4 ,,cavilers ,,themselves ,,led ,,astray4 #aj4 ,paul speaks with particular plainness to the fault-finding and insolent cavilers against ,christians and to other factious leaders when he says1 ,ye were led away unto those dumb idols1 howsoever ye might be led4 ,this class peremptorily judge and criticise the life and doctrine of the ,church because they see therein a measure of defects1 and even some divisions and disagreements2 notwithstanding the fact is plainly evident to them that the ,church possesses the ,word of ,god in purity1 a knowledge of ,christ1 an illumined understanding of ,god's will and his grace1 and true comfort for all distress of conscience1 and that1 in addition to all these1 the ,holy ,spirit manifestly operates with them4 ,at the same time1 these same uncalled-for and self-constituted critics would never have been able to say anything about the ,christian religion had they not witnessed that religion in the little company of ,christians who have the ,word of ,god and the ,spirit's gifts4 #aa4 ,these fault-finders were individuals who1 undoubtedly to a greater extent than others1 suffered themselves to be blindly led in whatever way was pointed out1 and who gave credence to what was taught and preached to them concerning the way to serve ,god1 yet who all the time were but worshipers of dumb idols1 possessing not the ,word of ,god and having no witness to the truth of their faith and their works4 ,each believed and followed the devices of his own imagination or the popular choice4 ,no man was able to teach anything certain and steadfast1 anything to give the heart satisfaction and perfect security4 ,they continually changed from one thing to another1 accepting every new thing presented as real worship and true doctrine4 #ab4 ,and the world1 ever from the beginning1 has had naught but dumb idols in the countless forms of worship offered to the numerous gods--gods which never existed1 but of which images were made and to which divine honors were shown4 ,worship has been rendered to the mere names of misfortune1 disaster and disease1 of all sorts2 yes1 to insects1 and to garlic and onions even4 ,yet1 in the practice of all this idolatry1 supposed to be evidence of great holiness1 each one sacrificing to the idol of his choice--in it all no one could have the assurance of being heard and answered by his god4 ,men had no word or sign of the divine will or work2 they possessed naught but a vain dream and delusion of the human imagination2 man devised and made his own idols4 #ac4 ,and what did we under the papacy but walk blindly8 ,we suffered ourselves to be led just as we were directed by the names of ,god and the saints4 ,i was myself a pious monk and priest1 holding mass daily1 wherein ,i worshiped ,st4 ,barbara1 ,st4 ,anna1 ,st4 ,christopher and others--more saints than the calendar mentions1 some of whom no one knew anything about4 ,i had no knowledge of ,christ1 ,i knew not why ,i should find comfort in him nor what ,i should expect of him4 ,i was as much afraid of him as of the devil himself1 regarding him more a stern ,judge than a ,saviour4 ,how many shameful pilgrimages were made to dead idols of wood and stone1 images of ,mary and of the saints6 ,how many were the pilgrimages to the graves of the dead1 and to bones called holy relics6 ,these relics were mere open deception1 devised by shameless impostors2 yet such worship was established by popes and bishops1 and indulgences granted therefor4 #ad4 ,how many new saints1 new brotherhoods1 new psalms to ,mary1 and new rosaries and crowns did the monks daily invent8 ,in fact1 everything each individual monk might dream of had to be a special form of worship1 and no one inquired whether or not it was at all authorized by ,god's ,word4 ,when we had done all1 we were uncertain that we had pleased ,god4 ,what was this sort of worship but a worship of dumb idols in the place of the living ,god--idols which could not talk with us and could not give any definite information or comfort1 but left the people fettered and ruined with eternal doubts8 ,,faith ,,in ,,the ,,one ,,christ ,,productive ,,of ,,unity4 #ae4 ,but ,christians1 as ,paul says1 have not a dead and dumb god1 for which the ,lord be praised6 ,nor will we countenance such idols4 ,we have a living1 speaking ,god1 who gives us his infallible ,word4 ,we know how he is disposed toward us and what we may expect from him2 namely3 through faith in ,christ we have forgiveness of sins and are his beloved children2 and as evidence of acceptance with ,god1 we have baptism and the ,holy ,supper1 the office and gifts of the ,holy ,spirit1 by which he works in our hearts4 ,we know that in the faith of ,christ our works and lives are pleasing to ,god1 and that he will hear and help when in our distress and weakness we cry unto him4 #af4 ,where this confidence obtains1 where hearts enjoy such faith1 there will be unity in the ,church2 for verily no one then will allow himself to be led into the manifold doctrines of insensible idols4 ,but dissensions1 sects and divisions are sure signs that the true doctrine is either ignored or misunderstood1 men thus being left in a condition to be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine1 as ,paul says 7,eph #d1 #ad72 which is indisputably the case with these same schismatics who condemn the ,church and her doctrines because of some discordant ones4 ,the schismatics show by their very instability that they do not embrace the true1 uniform and established doctrine1 nor can exhibit any substitute for it4 ,they refuse to see that in cases where the ,christian doctrine does not obtain1 there is only blindness1 distraction and confusion1 and warring factions and sects1 none agreeing with another1 each claiming to be better than the other4 ,numerous have been the sects of monks1 and of saints of the ,pope and his god the devil1 no two of which agreed4 ,each class regarded its own whims and speculations1 and claimed to be holier than the others4 ,the ,pope1 however1 gave validity to them all1 granting great indulgence to these factious fraternities4 ,and ,i am not saying anything of other discords in the papacy--among the monasteries and in the parishes1 and between these and the cloisters everywhere1 perpetual quarreling1 rioting and bitter contention4 ,such is inevitably the case when righteousness and divine worship are made to consist in external self-devised works and forms1 for then each individual1 pleased with his own ideas1 thinks his way right2 under such circumstances1 there can never be unanimity of opinion as to what is right and the best4 #ag4 ,from these numerous sources of disunion and idolatry1 ,paul would say to the ,corinthians1 you are now delivered4 ,you know you embrace the real ,word of ,god1 the true faith4 ,you worship one ,god1 one ,lord1 and enjoy the same grace1 the same ,spirit1 the same salvation4 ,you need not seek other forms and ceremonies as essential to salvation--wearing a white or a gray cowl1 refraining from this or that food1 forbearing to touch certain things4 ,no diversity of external service1 of persons1 offices and conditions1 destroys the unity in ,christ4 ,but take heed to continue in unity1 to hold fast to it4 ,unquestionably1 you should be made wiser by the experience you have had with error2 in the future you ought to be prudent1 and watchful against being allured from the unity of this settled mind and true faith into your former blindness again4 ,but so it will certainly befall you if you forget such grace and seek your own honor and praise more than the doctrine of the ,holy ,spirit and his gifts1 and come to despise one another and to conduct yourselves as if you had many and not the same ,god1 the same ,christ1 the same ,spirit4 ,god's gifts cannot be different from1 but must be one with his nature1 and hence he cannot give to one a better ,gospel or a different baptism from that given another4 ,in short1 ,paul teaches there must be unity in ,christ1 otherwise we have no ,christ1 no ,god and ,holy ,spirit1 no grace nor salvation2 as the next verse emphasizes4 ,wherefore ,i make known unto you that no man speaking in the ,spirit of ,god saith1 ,jesus is anathema calleth ,jesus accursed2 and no man can say1 ,jesus is ,lord1 but in the ,holy ,spirit4 #ah4 ,why make divisions and differences1 ,paul inquires1 in the doctrine and faith of the ,church1 which rests wholly upon the one ,christ8 ,in him you are to be one if you are ,christians at all2 you must harmoniously praise him1 according to your individual gifts4 ,no one can possibly possess the ,holy ,spirit if he does not regard ,christ as the ,lord1 much less if he call him accursed4 ,destroy the foundation and you destroy all2 there will be no ,god1 no ,spirit1 and all your claims1 teaching and works are naught4 ,you must recognize and be governed by the fact that either ,christ must be received and believed in as the one true ,lord1 and praised and glorified as such1 or else he will be cursed2 between these alternatives is no medium4 ,,the ,,spirit1 ,,the ,,test ,,of ,,the ,,true ,,teacher4 ,it is easy1 then1 to judge the doctrine of every official teacher of the ,christian ,church4 ,no one need resort to faction1 no one need gaze hither and thither in uncertainty and hesitate as to which gift or which person is most to be regarded4 ,we are to make the doctrine of this verse the standard and authority as to what and how we preach concerning ,christ4 ,he who speaks by inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit certainly will not curse ,christ2 he will glorify and praise him4 ,so doing1 he surely will not teach error1 or give occasion for divisions4 ,if his teaching is not to the glory of ,god1 you may safely conclude that he is not true1 not inspired by the ,holy ,spirit4 #ai4 ,thus ,paul rejects the glorying and boasting of the sects over their offices and gifts--they who pretend to be filled with the ,spirit and to teach the people correctly1 and who make out that ,paul and other teachers are of no consequence4 ,themselves the chief of apostles1 the people must hear them and accept their baptism4 ,more than that1 they demand a higher attainment in the ,spirit for ,gospel ministers1 deeming faith1 the ,sacrament and the outward office not sufficient4 ,but ,paul says3 ,boast as you will about the great measure of the ,spirit you possess1 it is certain that the ,spirit-inspired teacher will not curse ,christ4 ,in other words1 such boasting of the ,spirit will not answer the purpose4 ,what you believe and teach concerning ,christ must receive attention4 ,you are either reproaching and cursing ,jesus1 or praising him and owning him your ,lord4 ,if your preaching and teaching fail to point to ,christ1 something else being offered1 and you nevertheless boast of the ,spirit1 you are already judged3 the spirit you boast is not the ,holy ,spirit1 not the true ,spirit1 but a false one4 ,to it we are not to listen4 ,rather we are to condemn it to the abyss of hell1 as ,paul declares 7,gal #a1 #h71 saying3 ,but though we1 or an angel from heaven1 should preach unto you any ,gospel other than that which we preached unto you1 let him be anathema4 #bj4 ,when ,paul here speaks of calling ,jesus accursed1 he does not only have reference to openly blaspheming or cursing ,christ's name or person after the manner of heathen and of ungodly ,jews2 with them ,paul has nothing to do here1 nor are the ,corinthians supposed to be of that character4 ,paul refers rather to the ,christian who1 though boasting of the ,holy ,spirit1 does not preach ,christ as the ground of our salvation as he should1 but1 neglecting this truth1 points the soul away to something else1 pretending that this substitute is of the ,holy ,spirit and is something better and more essential than the common doctrine of the ,gospel4 ,all such teachers are in reality simply guilty of condemning1 reproaching and cursing ,christ1 though themselves bearing and boasting that name4 ,to slight ,christ's ,word and ministry1 and exalt in their stead other things as mediums for obtaining the ,holy ,spirit and eternal life1 or at least as being equally efficacious and essential--what is this but scorning ,christ and making him of no consequence8 ,indeed1 according to ,hebrews #f1 #f and #aj1 #bi1 it is crucifying the ,son of ,god afresh1 and treading under foot his blood4 #ba4 ,christ himself explains the office and ministry of the ,holy ,spirit--what he is to teach in the ,church--saying 7,jn #ae1 #bf71 ,he shall bear witness of me4 ,again 7,jn #af1 #ad73 ,he shall glorify me3 for he shall take of mine1 and shall declare it unto you4 ,the tongue of a minister of ,christ--the language he employs--must be of that simplicity which preaches naught but ,christ4 ,if he is to testify of the ,saviour and glorify him1 he cannot present other things whereby ,christ would be ignored and robbed of his glory4 ,he who does so1 certainly is not inspired by the ,holy ,spirit1 even though he possess great gifts and be called a teacher1 a bishop1 a pope1 a council1 an apostle even--yes1 an angel from heaven4 ,there were among the ,corinthians some who thus neglected to preach only ,christ1 and presented instead the apostles1 making choice of them--one ,cephas1 another ,apollos and a third ,paul4 ,and just so our monks have done4 ,they have in a way highly extolled ,jesus1 have in words honored and worshiped his name and used it to clothe all their lying nonsense and idolatry4 ,for instance1 they exalt ,mary as the mother of ,jesus and ,anna as his grandmother4 ,but they have thus torn men's hearts away from ,christ1 turning over to ,mary and the saints the honor due him alone1 and teaching the people to invoke these as mediators and intercessors having power to protect us in the hour of death4 ,this is substituting dumb idols for ,christ4 ,no saint has ever taught such things2 still less does the ,word of ,god enjoin them4 ,thus the monks really curse and insult ,christ4 #bb4 ,the ,pope1 throughout his whole administration1 has been guilty of such insult to ,christ1 notwithstanding his boast that his kingdom represents the ,christian ,church1 that he truly possesses the ,holy ,spirit and that his decrees and ordinances must be respected4 ,nothing can dissuade the ,papists from their practice4 ,they ever boast of being led by the ,spirit1 yet their vaunting is mere malediction1 not only of ,christ in person1 but of his ,word and his sacraments4 ,for they openly condemn1 and denounce as heresy1 the doctrine of the ,gospel1 which ,gospel assures us that to ,christ alone we owe the unmerited forgiveness of our sins2 they condemn also the use of the sacraments according to ,christ's command and institution4 ,and they destroy the people who thus offend them4 ,the fact is1 the ,pope has in our doctrine nothing to curse but ,jesus ,christ1 its foundation and principle1 expressed by his ,word and sacraments4 ,the same is true of other factions--the ,anabaptists and similar sects4 ,what else do they but slander baptism and the ,lord's ,supper when they pretend that the external ,word and outward sacraments do not benefit the soul1 that the ,spirit alone can do that8 ,but in these matters you have ,paul's sure word of judgment to strengthen your faith4 ,you may be assured that the factions of the ,pope and other sects are not1 as they boast1 the ,church of ,christ1 but accursed schisms of the devil4 ,the true ,church1 the righteous bride of ,christ1 certainly will not curse him nor persecute his ,word4 ,let no one be moved by hearing men loudly boast about ,christ after the manner of the false apostles who called themselves disciples of the true apostles of ,jesus1 and claimed that certain of their number had even seen ,christ in person4 ,the ,saviour himself warns us against this class when he says 7,mt #bd1 #e-bd71 ,many shall come in my name 444 and shall show wonders2 and 7,mt #g1 #ba71 ,not every one that saith unto me1 ,lord1 ,lord1 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,,holy ,,spirit ,,alone ,,gives ,,assurance4 #bc4 ,paul has the same thought here when he says1 ,no man can say1 ,jesus is ,lord1 but in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,to call ,jesus ,lord is to confess one's self his servant and to seek his honor alone2 to act as his messenger or the bearer of his ,word and command4 ,paul's reference here is chiefly to the office representative of ,christ and bearing his ,word4 ,where the office answers these conditions and points to ,christ as the ,lord1 it is truly the message of the ,holy ,spirit1 even though the occupant of the office does not in his own person possess the ,spirit2 the office itself is essentially the ,holy ,spirit4 ,hypocrisy and invention have no place here4 ,one must proceed in sincerity if he would be certain he is ,christ's minister1 or apostle1 and really handles his ,word4 ,only the inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit can give one this assurance4 #bd4 ,all ,christians--each in his own work or sphere--equally may call ,christ ,lord4 ,one may be assured he serves ,christ if he can call him ,lord1 for only by the ,holy ,spirit is he enabled to do that4 ,let him try for a single day--from morning until evening--whether or no he can truly say at all times that he is the servant of ,god and of ,christ in what he does4 ,when delivering a sermon or listening to one1 when baptizing a child or bringing a child to baptism1 when pursuing your daily home duties1 ask yourself if the act is attended by such faith that you can1 without misgiving and not hypocritically nor mechanically1 boast--and if necessary die by your word--that you serve and please ,christ therein4 ,this is calling ,christ ,lord4 ,unquestionably you will often feel your heart doubting and trembling over the matter4 #be4 ,in the papacy we were altogether hindered from feeling thus confident--yes1 frightened from it by accursed scepticism4 ,no one could--no one dared--say1 ,i know ,i am a servant1 a bondsman1 of ,christ1 and that my conduct pleases him4 ,flesh and blood are too weak to obtain this glorious confidence2 the ,holy ,spirit is essential4 ,reason and our own hearts cry out in protest3 ,alas1 ,i am far too evil and unworthy6 ,how could ,i be proud and presumptuous enough to boast myself the servant of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ8 ,i might if ,i were as holy as ,st4 ,peter1 ,st4 ,paul and others4 #bf4 ,i used often to wonder that ,st4 ,ambrose was so bold as1 in his letters1 to call himself a servant of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i supposed we all ought to be terrified at thoughts of this kind1 and that none but the apostles might boast of such honor4 ,but the fact is1 we must all say to ,christ3 ,thou art my ,lord and ,i am thy servant2 for ,i believe on thee and aspire to be with thee and all the faithful and to possess thy ,word and ,sacrament4 ,otherwise ,christ will not acknowledge us4 ,,christians ,,to ,,give ,,all ,,glory ,,to ,,god4 ,it is written 7,mt #d1 #aj7--;indeed1 it is the first commandment--,thou shalt worship the ,lord thy ,god1 and him only shalt thou serve4 ,there ,christ requires of us1 under the penalty of forfeiting eternal life1 to honor him as our ,lord and so to regulate our lives that we shall know we serve him4 ,peter also teaches 7#a ,pet #d1 #aa7 that all the ,christian's words and deeds should be regarded not as his own1 but as ,god's4 ,the word and the act are to be of the ability which ,god gives1 that in it all ,god may be glorified4 ,of necessity this condition can obtain only through the ,holy ,spirit4 #bg4 ,in this point--the glorification of ,christ--do the true ,christians distinguish themselves from false ,christians1 hypocrites and factious spirits1 who likewise triumphantly boast of the ,spirit and of their divine office4 ,but the vanity of their boasting is evident from the fact that they do not hold to the doctrine that glorifies ,christ1 but preach that which leads to other evils and deceives2 yes1 which condemns and persecutes the right doctrine and the true faith of ,christ4 ,further evidence of the emptiness of their boasting is apparent in the fact that they have no conscious testimony that they serve ,christ1 nor can their followers give assurance on the same point4 ,you have here the clear sentence of ,paul declaring this class devoid of the ,holy ,spirit and thus separated from the true ,church and from ,christians4 ,he exhorts us to be on our guard against them1 and would bring ,christians together in one faith and under one ,lord and ,spirit4 ,now he teaches how to employ rightly the manifold gifts of a united ,church for the general benefit of its members4 ,now there are diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit4 #bh4 ,in former time1 when you were heathen1 you followed many kinds of idolatrous worship1 many doctrines and spirits2 but it was only a divided religion1 and representative of blindness and error4 ,now1 however1 you possess various beautiful divine gifts and offices4 ,these are mutually related and all emanate1 not from man's reason or faculties1 but from the one true ,god4 ,they are his work--the expression of his power4 ,notwithstanding the dissimilarity of gifts1 offices and works1 of a certain order in one and otherwise in another1 many and few1 great and small1 weak and strong--notwithstanding all1 we are not to divide the ,spirit1 ,god and faith2 we are not to create factions1 exalting this individual or that one solely because of his gifts1 and despising others4 ,all gifts are direct from one ,god1 one ,lord1 one ,spirit1 and to serve the same purpose--to bring men to the knowledge of the one ,god and to build up the ,church in the unity of faith4 ,therefore1 you are united in the one doctrine1 your object being to serve ,god and the ,church in a harmonious way4 ,this verse is briefly the substance of all that follows in the text4 ,,the ,,trinity4 #bi4 ,paul presents three different points3 ,diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit2 diversities of administrations1 and the same ,lord2 diversities of workings1 but the same ,god4 ,unquestionably1 ,paul touches the article of faith concerning the ,trinity1 or three persons in the ,divine ,essence1 and shows that both ,christ and the ,holy ,spirit are true ,god and yet different in person from the ,father and from each other4 ,he teaches the same elsewhere 7#a ,cor #h1 #e-f71 saying3 ,for though there be that are called gods1 whether in heaven or on earth2 as there are gods many1 and lords many2 yet to us there is one ,god1 the ,father1 of whom are all things1 and we unto him2 and one ,lord1 ,jesus ,christ1 through whom are all things1 and we through him4 #cj4 ,in the text before us1 the apostle likewise distinguishes the three--one ,god1 one ,lord1 one ,spirit4 ,he assigns to each the particular operation whereby he manifests himself4 ,one is ,god the ,father1 and from him as the origin and first person emanates all power4 ,another is the ,lord1 ,christ the ,son of ,god1 who as the head of the ,church appoints all offices4 ,the third is the ,spirit1 who produces and dispenses all gifts in the ,church4 ,yet all three are of one divine1 almighty and eternal essence4 ,they are of the same name1 and are truly one since ,god must be an indivisible essence4 ,to each individual is attributed only the characteristics of the ,divine ,majesty4 ,as he who is the source of all operative power in the ,church and in the entire creation is true ,god2 so also must the ,lord who appoints all offices1 and the ,spirit who confers all gifts1 be true ,god4 ,no creature is able to impart spiritual offices and gifts2 that is impossible to any but ,god4 ,these three--,god1 ,lord and ,spirit--are not ,gods of unlike nature1 but one in divine essence4 ,the ,lord is no other ,god than ,god the ,father2 and the ,spirit is none other than ,god and the ,lord4 ,but more on this topic elsewhere4 ,,spiritual ,,gifts ,,specified4 #ca4 ,the names and nature of the spiritual gifts1 the apostle here specifies4 ,he names wisdom1 knowledge1 prophecy1 power to discern spirits1 capacity to speak with tongues and to interpret1 extraordinary gifts of faith1 and power to work miracles4 ,the word of wisdom is the doctrine which teaches a knowledge of ,god1 revealing his will1 counsel and design4 ,it embraces every article of belief and justification4 ,the world knows nothing of this loftiest1 most exalted gift of the ,spirit4 ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,knowledge4 ,the word of knowledge also teaches of the outward life and interests of the ,christian3 how we are to conduct ourselves toward all others1 making a profitable use of the ,gospel doctrine according as necessity of time and person demands2 it teaches us the wisest course toward the weak and the strong1 the timid and the obstinate4 ,,the ,,gift ,,of ,,prophecy4 ,the gift of prophecy is the ability to rightly interpret and explain the ,scriptures1 and powerfully to reveal therefrom the doctrine of faith and the overthrow of false doctrine4 ,the gift of prophecy includes1 further1 the ability to employ the ,scriptures for admonition and reproof1 for imparting strength and comfort1 by pointing out1 on the one hand1 the certainty of future indignation1 vengeance and punishment for the unbelieving and disobedient1 and on the other hand presenting divine aid and reward to godly believers4 ,thus did the prophets with the ,word of ,god1 both the ,law and the promises4 ,,the ,,gift ,,of ,,faith4 #cb4 ,paul is making mention of gifts not common to all4 ,only to certain ones are they given1 and the gifts in themselves are unlike4 ,to another faith1 he says1 to another workings of miracles1 and to another prophecy4 ,in faith here the reference is not to ordinary faith in ,christ which brings justification before ,god and forgiveness of sin2 such faith is essentially the property of every ,christian1 even if they do not possess the particular gifts here enumerated4 ,paul is speaking of a particular virtue or power of the ,spirit operating in the ,church1 whereby certain ones can effect great and glorious things by reason of their remarkable and confident courage2 as instanced in ,paul's words later on 7#a ,cor #ac1 #b71 ,if ,i have all faith1 so as to remove mountains4 ,to work such wonders1 a very strong and sure faith is certainly necessary4 ,an unwavering1 vigorous1 courageous faith may accomplish a special work in the name and power of ,christ although the worker may not himself be truly repentant nor possess the right kind of faith to secure forgiveness of sins and grace in ,christ4 ,he may be a hypocrite1 a false saint4 ,christ says 7,mt #g1 #bb71 ,many will say to me in that day1 ,lord1 ,lord1 did we not prophesy by thy name1 and by thy name cast out demons1 and by thy name do many mighty works8 ,it is true that such gifts are exercised1 such works performed1 in the name of ,christ1 and that the gifts are granted to none but individuals in the ,church of ,christ1 and yet the possessor may not be altogether righteous1 may even be a false ,christian4 ,for the effects wrought do not emanate from the individual but from the office he represents1 being the operation of the ,spirit given in behalf of the ,church4 ,thus1 as occupants of the office and by virtue of the ,church1 these persons perform many and great works1 benefiting not themselves but others4 #cc4 ,paul says of all these1 ,there are diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit1 by way of admonishing us against creating sects4 ,the ,spirit is equally effective through him whose gifts are few and less significant and through him of remarkable gifts4 ,and as with gifts1 so it is with workings and ministrations4 ,,meaning ,,of ,,workings4 #cd4 ,the term workings1 or operations1 has reference to remarkable works of ,god wrought through certain individuals in an exceptional way4 ,for instance1 he grants to ,paul a ministerial office of unusual influence3 ,paul is permitted to convert more souls than other apostles1 to perform more wonders and accomplish more4 ,he says himself 7#a ,cor #ae1 #aj7 that by the grace of ,god he labored more abundantly than all4 ,,meaning ,,of ,,administrations4 #ce4 ,the meaning of administrations is easily apparent4 ,office is an ordained and essential feature of every government4 ,it represents various duties imposed and commanded by sovereign authority4 ,it may have reference to the duties enjoined upon a society collectively1 in the service of others4 ,there are various offices in the ,church2 for instance1 one individual is an apostle1 another an evangelist1 another a teacher1 as ,paul mentions in ,ephesians #d1 #aa4 ,and as he says in ,first ,corinthians #ad1 #bf and also hints in this text1 the office of one is to read the ,scriptures in different languages1 of another to interpret and explain4 ,so it was ordained in the ,church at that time1 and similarly today are ordained certain offices--of pastors1 preachers1 deacons or priests1 their duties being to hear confessions1 to administer the ,sacrament1 and so on4 #cf4 ,not every ,christian is obliged1 nor is able1 to execute such duties2 only upon certain ones are they enjoined4 ,administrations differ from what ,paul terms workings and gifts4 ,there have ever been many ,christians who1 though possessing the ,holy ,spirit1 were not administrators2 for instance1 virgins and wives--,agnes ,anastasia and others--and martyrs1 many of whom wrought miracles and had other gifts4 ,true1 both gifts and workings are imparted chiefly for the execution of ,christian duties4 ,it is essential here1 especially in the superior office of preaching1 that the occupant be peculiarly qualified for the place4 ,the preacher must be able to understand and explain the ,scriptures and be familiar with the languages4 ,it is necessary to the effectiveness of his labors that he be accompanied by ,god's operative power4 ,thus the three--gifts1 workings1 administrations--are harmonious features of one divine government in the ,church2 ,christ is the ,lord1 who regulates and maintains the offices1 while ,god works and the ,holy ,spirit bestows his gifts4 ,,diversity ,,of ,,gifts ,,no ,,reason ,,for ,,sects4 #cg4 ,as we said1 offices are many and varied1 even as one gift is greater than another3 an apostle1 for instance1 is superior to a teacher or expounder1 while the office of a baptizer is inferior to that of a preacher4 ,yet notwithstanding1 we are to remember1 ,paul says1 that all are ordained of the same ,lord1 and the occupant of a superior office is not to consider himself any better by reason of his position and to despise others4 ,he must bear in mind that all serve the same ,lord1 the least as well as the greatest1 and consequently the holder of the inferior office is not necessarily inferior with his ,lord1 nor the executor of the higher office greater with him4 ,christ is ever ,lord of all2 one belongs as much to his realm as another4 ,therefore he will have no divisions and sects over this point2 rather he wills that such diversity of gifts and offices be promotive of unity4 #ch4 ,when ,i preach and you listen1 we are not exercising the same gift and office1 yet you as truly serve ,christ by listening as ,i by preaching4 ,if you preach1 explain the ,scriptures1 baptize1 comfort or aught else1 through you works the same ,christ who works through another4 ,all is wrought in obedience to the order of him who commands me to hear his ,word as well as to preach to you1 and to exercise the same faith and ,spirit with you4 ,thus all alike praise the one ,lord4 ,you say1 ,the ,word ,i hear is the true ,word of ,god1 and ,i as a preacher prove and declare the very same thing4 ,when ,i baptize1 administer the ,sacrament or absolve1 and you accept my administrations1 we are both engaged in the service of the same ,lord and harmoniously execute his command4 ,you and ,i1 however1 so far as office and gifts are considered1 may be of different capacities4 #ci4 ,a peculiarity of the ,christian profession1 and the chief point of distinction between ,christians and the heathen1 is their recognition of the fact that workings1 offices and gifts are of ,god1 ,christ the ,lord and the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the world does not perceive this truth1 though it1 too1 enjoys the gifts of ,god4 ,for ,god remembers all his creatures1 though1 like swine that enter the trough on all fours with no thought but of eating and rooting therein1 not even lifting their eyes1 they cannot raise their thoughts to the source of all their good and have not a thought as to whom they should thank for it4 ,he who is not a ,christian comes before ,god in an insensible and beastly attitude4 ,the world is but a pen of animals indifferent to the kingdom of ,god and with no idea of gratitude for his rich beneficence1 his gifts for body and soul4 ,the worldly seek only their husks and their troughs4 ,to these they cleave like fattening swine intended for slaughter4 ,jeremiah 7ch4 #ab1 #c7 says concerning the ungodly1 who with great satisfaction persecute the righteous3 ,pull them out like sheep for the slaughter1 and prepare them for the day of slaughter4 #dj4 ,god gives the ungodly mighty kingdoms1 riches1 lands and houses1 making them to enjoy greatness and abundance4 ,but when the swine are fed and fat1 the question of bacon and sausage introduces a struggle4 ,a slaughterer--a sausage-maker--appears1 perchance1 to slaughter the swine in their sty2 one comes desolating the country1 overthrowing the kingdom1 destroying people and all2 for1 desiring to be but swine1 the people must be destroyed like swine4 ,even though the world have personal knowledge of such punishment1 it continues its course so long as possible--until the slaughterer comes4 ,swine remain swine2 they are capable of standing ever unmoved by their trough1 one perfectly indifferent if another be struck dead before its eyes4 ,,christians ,,recognize ,,the ,,divine ,,source ,,of ,,their ,,gifts4 #da4 ,christians1 however1 though obliged to live among swine and to be at times trampled under foot and rooted about1 have nevertheless surpassing glory2 for they can look up and intelligently behold their ,lord and his gifts4 ,they are not of the pen of swine intended only for slaughter2 they know themselves children of ,god1 adorned by him with gifts and graces not merely temporal4 ,they are conscious that1 having given them body and life--for these they realize are not of their own obtaining--he will also supply their further needs1 providing for them forever4 #db4 ,christians are able to recognize even ,god's least blessing as most precious1 as truly excellent2 not only because it comes from him1 but because of its inherent value4 ,no one who recognizes even temporal blessings would give an eye1 or a less important member of the body1 to redeem the riches of the entire world4 ,how much loftier and more precious to the ,christian are the spiritual gifts concerning which ,paul here speaks--gifts bestowed as means unto salvation6 ,the baptizing of a child or the absolution of a penitent makes no great show1 but were the office viewed in the true light1 the bestowed treasure rightly appreciated1 all the officers1 authority and riches of kings and emperors would be nothing at all in comparison4 #dc4 ,regarding the baptizer--who may be a woman even--and the baptized1 we certainly can see nothing wonderful4 ,the humanity in the case does not effect any great work2 the work is wrought by him who is ,god1 ,lord and ,spirit4 ,it is he who gives to the office power and greatness above that of all emperors1 kings and lords1 however inferior the instrumentality--the occupants of the sacred offices4 ,by these ministrations souls are won from the devil1 snatched out of hell and transformed into saints blessed forever4 ,person and office may be apparently inferior1 but the office is of ,god and ,god is no inferior being4 ,his greatness cannot be equaled by a hundred thousand worlds4 ,he accomplishes things incomprehensible to the world and impossible to angels4 ,the combined efforts of all creation could not produce baptism4 ,were the world to unite in baptizing an infant1 the infant would receive no good therefrom unless ,god the ,lord commanded the deed4 ,let the ,sultan be many thousands of times more powerful than at present and he could not1 with all his riches1 his dominion and peoples1 free himself or any other from the power of the least sin4 ,he could not effectively pronounce the absolution1 ,god has forgiven you your sins4 ,for the ,sultan has neither gift1 office nor work2 indeed1 he knows nothing about them4 ,they belong to ,god alone1 though human mouths and hands are instrumental therein4 #dd4 ,note why ,paul boasts of the fact that ,god bestows such great blessings4 ,it is that ,christians may discern them and thank him2 and that such discernment may lead them to serve one another in humility1 with mutual faith and love1 each one learning to praise ,god fervently wherever he beholds ,god's gifts and offices operative in the ,church1 and to esteem them as he would esteem ,god himself4 ,for1 unquestionably1 none would possess office and gifts had not ,god ordained and bestowed them4 #de4 ,how we have exalted our own nonsense--pilgrimages1 cloisters1 cords1 cowls1 running to the dead in the wilderness and so on6 ,but to what purpose8 ,what benefit have we derived therefrom1 notwithstanding we walked until our feet were bleeding1 and watched and fasted and tormented ourselves to death8 ,such a life1 it is true1 may be called holy1 divine1 yet it is not at all the gift1 the work1 the office1 of ,god4 ,no ,god1 no ,lord1 no ,spirit1 is in that practice4 ,god has nowhere commanded such a life4 ,we have devised it and may reward and help ourselves for so doing4 ,we cannot boast his authority for it nor find divine comfort therein4 ,but the discerning ,christian can with satisfaction boast on this wise3 ,my baptism or my absolution is not of my own devising or ordaining1 nor of another man's4 ,it is of ,christ my ,lord4 ,for here is his command ordaining the office3 ',go ye therefore1 and make disciples of all the nations1 baptizing them into the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,spirit4' ,mt #bh1 #ai4 ,upon authority of the office1 work and gift here presented1 ,i can boast and be strong in faith against the devil and all the gates of hell2 otherwise ,i cannot withstand ,satan for one moment4 ,he would not be afraid of me and my works though ,i should be able to boast of having lived seventy years as a member of a holy order1 serving ,god every day and hour1 praying1 fasting1 and so on4 #df4 ,the devil hurls both person and work1 as he finds them1 into the abyss of hell4 ,if he ask you where ,god has commanded such works as yours1 you have no answer4 ,but let him hear you boast in the confident faith ,god's command inspires3 ,i have received from ,christ my ,lord baptism and absolution2 of this ,i am certain1 and what ,i do is done at his command and by his power--let him hear that and he is forced immediately to leave you4 ,he must flee1 not from your person or works1 but from ,christ's office and gifts found with you4 #dg4 ,paul presents these thoughts to teach us what we ,christians have from ,god in the three forms1 blessings superior to those enjoyed by all others in the world4 ,the apostle would have us be grateful for these things and make use of them in a spirit of ,christian love4 ,he desires that the possessor of gifts devote them to the service of others4 ,he teaches we are to honor ,god in the gifts another possesses2 that we are highly to esteem them1 remembering they are not of man's production1 not wrought of man's ability or skill1 but are the offices1 gifts and works of ,god4 ,they are not the inferior and trivial things they seem to the world because making no show and noise4 ,god does not give unredeemable coin or empty shells and mere husks4 ,his gifts and works in his ,church must effect inexpressible results1 taking souls from the jaws of the devil and translating them into eternal life and glory4 ,eleventh ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #a ,corinthians #ae1 #a-aj4 #a ,now ,i make known unto you1 brethren1 the gospel which ,i preached unto you1 which also ye received1 wherein also ye stand1 #b by which also ye are saved1 if ye hold fast the word which ,i preached unto you1 except ye believed in vain4 #c ,for ,i delivered unto you first of all that which also ,i received3 that ,christ died for our sins according to the scriptures2 #d and that he was buried2 and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures2 #e and that he appeared to ,cephas2 then to the twelve2 #f then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once1 of whom the greater part remain until now1 but some are fallen asleep2 #g then he appeared to ,james2 then to all the apostles2 #h and last of all1 as to the child untimely born1 he appeared to me also4 #i ,for ,i am the least of the apostles1 that am not meet to be called an apostle1 because ,i persecuted the church of ,god4 #aj ,but by the grace of ,god ,i am what ,i am3 and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain2 but ,i labored more abundantly than they all3 yet not ,i1 but the grace of ,god which was with me4 ,,paul',s ,,witness ,,to ,,christ',s ,,resurrection4 ,this text is fully explained in the sermons on the entire chapter1 which have been published separately4 ,he who desires may read them there4 ,it speaks almost exclusively of the resurrection of the dead1 and therefore ought properly to be read and preached at the ,easter season4 ,the reason of its selection for this ,sunday seems to be that the latter part of it corresponds with the ,gospel for this ,sunday4 ,for ,saint ,paul1 though he was an exalted apostle1 and had labored in that office more than all the others together1 boasts not of his own deeds1 as did the proud ,pharisee4 ,like the poor publican he confessed his sin and unworthiness1 and ascribed all that he is to the grace of ,god alone1 which made a ,christian and an apostle of him who had been a persecutor4 ,twelfth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #b ,corinthians #c1 #d-aa4 #d ,and such confidence have we through ,christ to ,god-ward3 #e not that we are sufficient of ourselves1 to account anything as from ourselves2 but our sufficiency is from ,god2 #f who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant2 not of the letter1 but of the spirit3 for the letter killeth1 but the spirit giveth life4 #g ,but if the ministration of death1 written1 and engraven on stones1 came with glory1 so that the children of ,israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of ,moses for the glory of his face2 which glory was passing away3 #h how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory8 #i ,for if the ministration of condemnation hath glory1 much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory4 #aj ,for verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect1 by reason of the glory that surpasseth4 #aa ,for if that which passeth away was with glory1 much more that which remaineth is in glory4 ,,gospel ,,transcends ,,law4 #a4 ,this epistle lesson sounds altogether strange and wonderful to individuals unaccustomed to ,scripture language1 particularly to that of ,paul4 ,to the inexperienced ear and heart it is not intelligible4 ,in popedom thus far it has remained quite unapprehended1 although reading of the words has been practiced4 #b4 ,that we may understand it1 we must first get an idea of ,paul's theme4 ,briefly1 he would oppose the vain boasting of false apostles and preachers concerning their possession of the spirit and their peculiar skill and gifts1 by praising and glorifying the office of a preacher of the ,gospel with which he is intrusted4 ,for he found that1 especially in the ,church at ,corinth1 which he had converted by the words of his own lips and brought to faith in ,christ1 soon after his departure the devil introduced his heresies whereby the people were turned from the truth and betrayed into other ways4 ,since it became his duty to make an attack upon such heresies1 he devoted both his epistles to the purpose of keeping the ,corinthians in the right way1 so that they might retain the pure doctrine received from him1 and beware of false spirits4 ,the main thing which moved him to write this second epistle was his desire to emphasize to them his apostolic office of a preacher of the ,gospel1 in order to put to shame the glory of those other teachers--the glory they boasted with many words and great pretense4 #c4 ,he starts in on this theme just before he reaches our text4 ,and this is how it is he comes to speak in high terms of praise of the ministration of the ,gospel and to contrast and compare the twofold ministration or message which may be proclaimed in the ,church1 provided1 of course1 that ,god's ,word is to be preached and not the nonsense of human falsehood and the doctrine of the devil4 ,one is that of the ,old ,testament1 the other of the ,new2 in other words1 the office of ,moses1 or the ,law1 and the office of the ,gospel of ,christ4 ,he contrasts the glory and power of the latter with those of the former1 which1 it is true1 is also the ,word of ,god4 ,in this manner he endeavors to defeat the teachings and pretensions of those seductive spirits who1 as he but lately foretold1 pervert ,god's ,word1 in that they greatly extol the ,law of ,god1 yet at best do not teach its right use1 but1 instead of making it tributary to faith in ,christ1 misuse it to teach work-righteousness4 #d4 ,since the words before us are in reality a continuation of those with which the chapter opens1 the latter must be considered in this connection4 ,we read3 ,are we beginning again to commend ourselves8 or need we1 as do some1 epistles of commendation to you or from you8 ,ye are our epistle1 written in our hearts1 known and read of all men2 being made manifest that ye are an epistle of ,christ1 ministered by us1 written not with ink1 but with the ,spirit of the living ,god2 not in tables of stone1 but in tables that are hearts of flesh4 ,we1 my fellow-apostles and co-laborers and ,i1 he says1 do not ask for letters and seals from others commending us to you1 or from you commending us to others1 in order to seduce people after gaining their good will in your church and in others as well4 ,such is the practice of the false apostles1 and many even now present letters and certificates from honest preachers and ,churches1 and make them the means whereby their unrighteous plotting may be received in good faith4 ,such letters1 thank ,god1 we stand not in need of1 and you need not fear we shall use such means of deception4 ,for you are yourselves the letter we have written and wherein we may pride ourselves and which we present everywhere4 ,for it is a matter of common knowledge that you have been taught by us1 and brought to ,christ through our ministry4 ,,paul',s ,,converts ,,living ,,epistles4 #e4 ,inasmuch as his activity among them is his testimonial1 and they themselves are aware that through his ministerial office he has constituted them a church1 he calls them an epistle written by himself2 not with ink and in paragraphs1 not on paper or wood1 nor engraved upon hard rock as the ,ten ,commandments written upon tables of stone1 which ,moses placed before the people1 but written by the ,holy ,spirit upon fleshly tables--hearts of tender flesh4 ,the ,spirit is the ink or the inscription1 yes1 even the writer himself2 but the pencil or pen and the hand of the writer is the ministry of ,paul4 #f4 ,this figure of a written epistle is1 however1 in accord with ,scripture usage4 ,moses commands 7,deut #f1 #f-i2 #aa1 #ah7 that the ,israelites write the ,ten ,commandments in all places where they walked or stood--upon the posts of their houses1 and upon their gates1 and ever have them before their eyes and in their hearts4 ,again 7,prov #g1 #b-c71 ,solomon says3 ,keep my commandments and 444 my law as the apple of thine eye4 ,bind them upon thy fingers2 write them upon the tablet of thy heart4 ,he speaks as a father to his child when giving the child an earnest charge to remember a certain thing--,dear child1 remember this2 forget it not2 keep it in thy heart4 ,likewise1 ,god says in the book of ,jeremiah the prophet 7ch4 #ca1 #cc71 ,i will put my law in their inward parts1 and in their heart will ,i write it4 ,here man's heart is represented as a sheet1 or slate1 or page1 whereon is written the preached ,word2 for the heart is to receive and securely keep the ,word4 ,in this sense ,paul says3 ,we have1 by our ministry1 written a booklet or letter upon your heart1 which witnesses that you believe in ,god the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost and have the assurance that through ,christ you are redeemed and saved4 ,this testimony is what is written on your heart4 ,the letters are not characters traced with ink or crayon1 but the living thoughts1 the fire and force of the heart4 #g4 ,note further1 that it is his ministry to which ,paul ascribes the preparation of their heart thereon and the inscription which constitutes them living epistles of ,christ4 ,he contrasts his ministry with the blind fancies of those fanatics who seek to receive1 and dream of having1 the ,holy ,spirit without the oral word2 who1 perchance1 creep into a corner and grasp the ,spirit through dreams1 directing the people away from the preached ,word and visible ministry4 ,but ,paul says that the ,spirit1 through his preaching1 has wrought in the hearts of his ,corinthians1 to the end that ,christ lives and is mighty in them4 ,after such statement he bursts into praise of the ministerial office1 comparing the message1 or preaching1 of ,moses with that of himself and the apostles4 ,he says3 ,such confidence have we through ,christ to ,god-ward3 not that we are sufficient of ourselves1 to account anything as from ourselves2 but our sufficiency is from ,god4 ,,true ,,preachers ,,commissioned ,,by ,,god4 #h4 ,these words are blows and thrusts for the false apostles and preachers4 ,paul is mortal enemy to the blockheads who make great boast1 pretending to what they do not possess and to what they cannot do2 who boast of having the ,spirit in great measure2 who are ready to counsel and aid the whole world2 who pride themselves on the ability to invent something new4 ,it is to be a surpassingly precious and heavenly thing they are to spin out of their heads1 as the dreams of pope and monks have been in time past4 ,we do not so1 says ,paul4 ,we rely not upon ourselves or our wisdom and ability4 ,we preach not what we have ourselves invented4 ,but this is our boast and trust in ,christ before ,god1 that we have made of you a divine epistle2 have written upon your hearts1 not our thoughts1 but the ,word of ,god4 ,we are not1 however1 glorifying our own power1 but the works and the power of him who has called and equipped us for such an office2 from whom proceeds all you have heard and believed4 #i4 ,it is a glory which every preacher may claim1 to be able to say with full confidence of heart3 ,this trust have ,i toward ,god in ,christ1 that what ,i teach and preach is truly the ,word of ,god4 ,likewise1 when he performs other official duties in the ,church--baptizes a child1 absolves and comforts a sinner--it must be done in the same firm conviction that such is the command of ,christ4 #aj4 ,he who would teach and exercise authority in the ,church without this glory1 it is profitable for him1 as ,christ says 7,mt #ah1 #f71 that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck1 and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea4 ,for the devil's lies he preaches1 and death is what he effects4 ,our ,papists1 in time past1 after much and long-continued teaching1 after many inventions and works whereby they hoped to be saved1 nevertheless always doubted in heart and mind whether or no they had pleased ,god4 ,the teaching and works of all heretics and seditious spirits certainly do not bespeak for them trust in ,christ2 their own glory is the object of their teaching1 and the homage and praise of the people is the goal of their desire4 ,not that we are sufficient of ourselves1 to account anything as from ourselves4 #aa4 ,as said before1 this is spoken in denunciation of the false spirits who believe that by reason of eminent equipment of special creation and election1 they are called to come to the rescue of the people1 expecting wonders from whatever they say and do4 ,,human ,,doctrine ,,no ,,place ,,in ,,the ,,church4 #ab4 ,now1 we know ourselves to be of the same clay whereof they are made2 indeed1 we perhaps have the greater call from ,god3 yet we cannot boast of being capable of ourselves to advise or aid men4 ,we cannot even originate an idea calculated to give help4 ,and when it comes to the knowledge of how one may stand before ,god and attain to eternal life1 that is truly not to be achieved by our work or power1 nor to originate in our brain4 ,in other things1 those pertaining to this temporal life1 you may glory in what you know1 you may advance the teachings of reason1 you may invent ideas of your own2 for example3 how to make shoes or clothes1 how to govern a household1 how to manage a herd4 ,in such things exercise your mind to the best of your ability4 ,cloth or leather of this sort will permit itself to be stretched and cut according to the good pleasure of the tailor or shoemaker4 ,but in spiritual matters1 human reasoning certainly is not in order2 other intelligence1 other skill and power1 are requisite here--something to be granted by ,god himself and revealed through his ,word4 #ac4 ,what mortal has ever discovered or fathomed the truth that the three persons in the eternal divine essence are one ,god2 that the second person1 the ,son of ,god1 was obliged to become man1 born of a virgin2 and that no way of life could be opened for us1 save through his crucifixion8 ,such truth never would have been heard nor preached1 would never in all eternity have been published1 learned and believed1 had not ,god himself revealed it4 #ad4 ,for this season they are blind fools of first magnitude and dangerous characters who would boast of their grand performances1 and think that the people are served when they preach their own fancies and inventions4 ,it has been the practice in the ,church for anyone to introduce any teaching he saw fit2 for example1 the monks and priests have daily produced new saints1 pilgrimages1 special prayers1 works and sacrifices in the effort to blot out sin1 redeem souls from purgatory1 and so on4 ,they who make up things of this kind are not such as put their trust in ,god through ,christ1 but rather such as defy ,god and ,christ4 ,into the hearts of men1 where ,christ alone should be1 they shove the filth and write the lies of the devil4 ,yet they think themselves1 and themselves only1 qualified for all essential teaching and work1 self-grown doctors that they are1 saints all-powerful without the help of ,god and ,christ4 ,but our sufficiency is from ,god4 #ae4 ,of ourselves--in our own wisdom and strength--we cannot effect1 discover nor teach any counsel or help for man1 whether for ourselves or others4 ,any good work we perform among you1 any doctrine we write upon your heart--that is ,god's own work4 ,he puts into our heart and mouth what we should say1 and impresses it upon your heart through the ,holy ,spirit4 ,therefore1 we cannot ascribe to ourselves any honor therein1 cannot seek our own glory as the self-instructed and proud spirits do2 we must give to ,god alone the honor1 and must glory in the fact that by his grace and power he works in you unto salvation1 through the office committed unto us4 #af4 ,now1 ,paul's thought here is that nothing should be taught and practiced in the ,church but what is unquestionably ,god's ,word4 ,it will not do to introduce or perform anything whatever upon the strength of man's judgment4 ,man's achievements1 man's reasoning and power1 are of no avail save in so far as they come from ,god4 ,as ,peter says in his first epistle 7ch4 #d1 #aa73 ,if any man speaketh1 speaking as it were oracles of ,god2 if any man ministereth1 ministering as of the strength which ,god supplieth4 ,in short1 let him who would be wise1 who would boast of great skill1 talents and power1 confine himself to things other than spiritual2 with respect to spiritual matters1 let him keep his place and refrain from boasting and pretense4 ,for it is of no moment that men observe your greatness and ability2 the important thing is that poor souls may rest assured of being presented with ,god's ,word and works1 whereby they may be saved4 ,who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant2 not of the letter1 but of the spirit3 for the letter killeth1 but the spirit giveth life4 ,,the ,,new ,,covenant4 #ag4 ,paul here proceeds to exalt the office and power of the ,gospel over the glorying of the false apostles1 and to elevate the power of the ,word above that of all other doctrine1 even of the ,law of ,god4 ,truly we are not sufficient of ourselves and have nothing to boast of so far as human activity is considered4 ,for that is without merit or power1 however strenuous the effort may be to fulfil ,god's ,law4 ,we have1 however1 something infinitely better to boast of1 something not grounded in our own activity3 by ,god we have been made sufficient for a noble ministry1 termed the ministry of a ,new ,covenant4 ,this ministry is not only exalted far above any teaching to be evolved by human wisdom1 skill and power1 but is more glorious than the ministry termed the ,old ,covenant1 which in time past was delivered to the ,jews through ,moses4 ,while this ministry clings1 in common with other doctrine1 to the ,word given by revelation1 it is the agency whereby the ,holy ,spirit works in the heart4 ,therefore1 ,paul says it is not a ministration of the letter1 but of the spirit4 ,,spirit ,,and ,,letter4 #ah4 ,this passage relative to spirit and letter has in the past been wholly strange language to us4 ,indeed1 to such extent has man's nonsensical interpretation perverted and weakened it that ,i1 though a learned doctor of the holy ,scriptures1 failed to understand it altogether1 and ,i could find no one to teach me4 ,and to this day it is unintelligible to all popedom4 ,in fact1 even the old teachers--,origen1 ,jerome and others--have not caught ,paul's thought4 ,and no wonder1 truly6 ,for it is essentially a doctrine far beyond the power of man's intelligence to comprehend4 ,when human reason meddles with it1 it becomes perplexed4 ,the doctrine is wholly unintelligible to it1 for human thought goes no farther than the ,law and the ,ten ,commandments4 ,laying hold upon these it confines itself to them4 ,it does not attempt to do more1 being governed by the principle that unto him who fulfils the demands of the ,law1 or commandments1 ,god is gracious4 ,reason knows nothing about the wretchedness of depraved nature4 ,it does not recognize the fact that no man is able to keep ,god's commandments2 that all are under sin and condemnation2 and that the only way whereby help could be received was for ,god to give his ,son for the world1 ordaining another ministration1 one through which grace and reconciliation might be proclaimed to us4 ,now1 he who does not understand the sublime subject of which ,paul speaks cannot but miss the true meaning of his words4 ,how much more did we invite this fate when we threw the ,scriptures and ,saint ,paul's epistles under the bench1 and1 like swine in husks1 wallowed in man's nonsense6 ,therefore1 we must submit to correction and learn to understand the apostle's utterance aright4 #ai4 ,letter and spirit have been understood to mean1 according to ,origen and ,jerome1 the obvious sense of the written word4 ,st4 ,augustine1 it must be admitted1 has gotten an inkling of the truth4 ,now1 the position of the former teachers would perhaps not be quite incorrect did they correctly explain the words4 ,by literary sense they signify the meaning of a ,scripture narrative according to the ordinary interpretation of the words4 ,by spiritual sense they signify the secondary1 hidden1 sense found in the words4 ,for instance3 ,the ,scripture narrative in ,genesis third records how the serpent persuaded the woman to eat of the forbidden fruit and to give to her husband1 who also ate4 ,this narrative in its simplest meaning represents what they understand by letter4 ,spirit1 however1 they understand to mean the spiritual interpretation1 which is thus3 ,the serpent signifies the evil temptation which lures to sin4 ,the woman represents the sensual state1 or the sphere in which such enticements and temptations make themselves felt4 ,adam1 the man1 stands for reason1 which is called man's highest endowment4 ,now1 when reason does not yield to the allurements of external sense1 all is well2 but when it permits itself to waver and consent1 the fall has taken place4 #bj4 ,origen was the first to trifle thus with the holy ,scriptures1 and many others followed1 until now it is thought to be the sign of great cleverness for the ,church to be filled with such quibblings4 ,the aim is to imitate ,paul1 who 7,gal #d1 #bb-bd7 figuratively interprets the story of ,abraham's two sons1 the one by the free woman1 or the mistress of the house1 and the other by the hand-maid4 ,the two women1 ,paul says1 represent the two covenants3 one covenant makes only bond-servants1 which is just what he in our text terms the ministration of the letter2 the other leads to liberty1 or1 as he says here1 the ministration of the spirit1 which gives life4 ,and the two sons are the two peoples1 one of which does not go farther than the ,law1 while the other accepts in faith the ,gospel4 ,true1 this is an interpretation not directly suggested by the narrative and the text4 ,paul himself calls it an allegory2 that is1 a mystic narrative1 or a story with a hidden meaning4 ,but he does not say that the literal text is necessarily the letter that killeth1 and the allegory1 or hidden meaning1 the spirit4 ,but the false teachers assert of all ,scripture that the text1 or record itself1 is but a dead letter1 its interpretation being the spirit4 ,yet they have not pushed interpretation farther than the teaching of the ,law2 and it is precisely the ,law which ,paul means when he speaks of the letter4#a ,footnote #a3 ,what ,luther means is that the popish theologians with their vaunted spiritual interpretation had never penetrated to the ,gospel1 which confers the life in the ,spirit1 but had satisfied themselves with so literal and superficial an interpretation of the ,law as to seek salvation through work-righteousness4 #ba4 ,paul employs the word letter in such contemptuous sense in reference to the ,law--though the ,law is1 nevertheless1 the ,word of ,god--when he compares it with the ministry of the ,gospel4 ,the letter is to him the doctrine of the ,ten ,commandments1 which teach how we should obey ,god1 honor parents1 love our neighbor1 and so on--the very best doctrine to be found in all books1 sermons and schools4 ,the word letter is to the apostle ,paul everything which may take the form of doctrine1 of literary arrangement1 of record1 so long as it remains something spoken or written4 ,also thoughts which may be pictured or expressed by word or writing1 but it is not that which is written in the heart1 to become its life4 ,letter is the whole ,law of ,moses1 or the ,ten ,commandments1 though the supreme authority of such teaching is not denied4 ,it matters not whether you hear them1 read them1 or reproduce them mentally4 ,for instance1 when ,i sit down to meditate upon the first commandment3 ,thou shalt have no other gods before me1 or the second1 or the third1 and so forth1 ,i have something which ,i can read1 write1 discuss1 and aim to fulfil with all my might4 ,the process is quite similar when the emperor or prince gives a command and says3 ,this you shall do1 that you shall eschew4 ,this is what the apostle calls the letter1 or1 as we have called it on another occasion1 the written sense4 #bb4 ,now1 as opposed to the letter1 there is another doctrine or message1 which he terms the ministration of a ,new ,covenant and of the ,spirit4 ,this doctrine does not teach what works are required of man1 for that man has already heard2 but it makes known to him what ,god would do for him and bestow upon him1 indeed what he has already done3 he has given his ,son ,christ for us2 because1 for our disobedience to the ,law1 which no man fulfils1 we were under ,god's wrath and condemnation4 ,christ made satisfaction for our sins1 effected a reconciliation with ,god and gave to us his own righteousness4 ,nothing is said in this ministration of man's deeds2 it tells rather of the works of ,christ1 who is unique in that he was born of a virgin1 died for sin and rose from the dead1 something no other man has been able to do4 ,this doctrine is revealed through none but the ,holy ,spirit1 and none other confers the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,holy ,spirit works in the hearts of them who hear and accept the doctrine4 ,therefore1 this ministration is termed a ministration of the ,spirit4 #bc4 ,the apostle employs the words letter and spirit1 to contrast the two doctrines2 to emphasize his office and show its advantage over all others1 however eminent the teachers whom they boast1 and however great the spiritual unction which they vaunt4 ,it is of design that he does not term the two dispensations ,law and ,gospel1 but names them according to the respective effects produced4 ,he honors the ,gospel with a superior term--ministration of the spirit4 ,of the ,law1 on the contrary1 he speaks almost contemptuously1 as if he would not honor it with the title of ,god's commandment1 which in reality it is1 according to his own admission later on that its deliverance to ,moses and its injunction upon the children of ,israel was an occasion of surpassing glory4 #bd4 ,why does ,paul choose this method8 ,is it right for one to despise or dishonor ,god's ,law8 ,is not a chaste and honorable life a matter of beauty and godliness8 ,such facts1 it may be contended1 are implanted by ,god in reason itself1 and all books teach them2 they are the governing force in the world4 ,i reply3 ,paul's chief concern is to defeat the vainglory and pretensions of false preachers1 and to teach them the right conception and appreciation of the ,gospel which he proclaimed4 ,what ,paul means is this3 ,when the ,jews vaunt their ,law of ,moses1 which was received as ,law from ,god and recorded upon two tables of stone2 when they vaunt their learned and saintly preachers of the ,law and its exponents1 and hold their deeds and manner of life up to admiration1 what is all that compared to the ,gospel message8 ,the claim may be well made3 a fine sermon1 a splendid exposition2 but1 after all1 nothing more comes of it than precepts1 expositions1 written comments4 ,the precept1 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and thy neighbor as thyself1 remains a mere array of words4 ,when much time and effort have been spent in conforming one's life to it1 nothing has been accomplished4 ,you have pods without peas1 husks without kernels4 #be4 ,for it is impossible to keep the ,law without ,christ1 though man may1 for the sake of honor or property1 or from fear of punishment1 feign outward holiness4 ,the heart which does not discern ,god's grace in ,christ cannot turn to ,god nor trust in him2 it cannot love his commandments and delight in them1 but rather resists them4 ,for nature rebels at compulsion4 ,no man likes to be a captive in chains4 ,one does not voluntarily bow to the rod of punishment or submit to the executioner's sword2 rather1 because of these things1 his anger against the ,law is but increased1 and he ever thinks3 ,would that ,i might unhindered steal1 rob1 hoard1 gratify my lust1 and so on6 ,and when restrained by force1 he would there were no ,law and no ,god4 ,and this is the case where conduct shows some effects of discipline1 in that the outer man has been subjected to the teaching of the ,law4 #bf4 ,but in a far more appalling degree does inward rebellion ensue when the heart feels the full force of the ,law2 when1 standing before ,god's judgment1 it feels the sentence of condemnation2 as we shall presently hear1 for the apostle says the letter killeth4 ,then the truly hard knots appear4 ,human nature fumes and rages against the ,law2 offenses appear in the heart1 the fruit of hate and enmity against the ,law2 and presently human nature flees before ,god and is incensed at ,god's judgment4 ,it begins to question the equity of his dealings1 to ask if he is a just ,god4 ,influenced by such thoughts1 it falls ever deeper into doubt1 it murmurs and chafes1 until finally1 unless the ,gospel comes to the rescue1 it utterly despairs1 as did ,judas1 and ,saul1 and perhaps pass out of this life with ,god and creation4 ,this is what ,paul means when he says 7,rom #g1 #h-i7 that the ,law works sin in the heart of man1 and sin works death1 or kills4 #bg4 ,you see1 then1 why the ,law is called the letter3 though noble doctrine1 it remains on the surface2 it does not enter the heart as a vital force which begets obedience4 ,such is the baseness of human nature1 it will not and cannot conform to the ,law2 and so corrupt is mankind1 there is no individual who does not violate all ,god's commandments in spite of daily hearing the preached ,word and having held up to view ,god's wrath and eternal condemnation4 ,indeed1 the harder pressed man is1 the more furiously he storms against the ,law4 #bh4 ,the substance of the matter is this3 ,when all the commandments have been put together1 when their message receives every particle of praise to which it is entitled1 it is still a mere letter4 ,that is1 teaching not put into practice4 ,by letter is signified all manner of law1 doctrine and message1 which goes no farther than the oral or written word1 which consists only of the powerless letter4 ,to illustrate3 ,a law promulgated by a prince or the authorities of a city1 if not enforced1 remains merely an open letter1 which makes a demand indeed1 but ineffectually4 ,similarly1 ,god's ,law1 although a teaching of supreme authority and the eternal will of ,god1 must suffer itself to become a mere empty letter or husk4 ,without a quickening heart1 and devoid of fruit1 the ,law is powerless to effect life and salvation4 ,it may well be called a veritable table of omissions 7,lass-tafel72 that is1 it is a written enumeration1 not of duties performed but of duties cast aside4 ,in the languages of the world1 it is a royal edict which remains unobserved and unperformed4 ,in this light ,st4 ,augustine understood the ,law4 ,he says1 commenting on ,psalm #ag1 ,what is ,law without grace but a letter without spirit8 ,human nature1 without the aid of ,christ and his grace1 cannot keep it4 #bi4 ,again1 ,paul in terming the ,gospel a ministration of the spirit would call attention to its power to produce in the hearts of men an effect wholly different from that of the ,law3 it is accompanied by the ,holy ,spirit and it creates a new heart4 ,man1 driven into fear and anxiety by the preaching of the ,law1 hears this ,gospel message1 which1 instead of reminding him of ,god's demands1 tells him what ,god has done for him4 ,it points not to man's works1 but to the works of ,christ1 and bids him confidently believe that for the sake of his ,son ,god will forgive his sins and accept him as his child4 ,and this message1 when received in faith1 immediately cheers and comforts the heart4 ,the heart will no longer flee from ,god2 rather it turns to him4 ,finding grace with ,god and experiencing his mercy1 the heart feels drawn to him4 ,it commences to call upon him and to treat and revere him as its beloved ,god4 ,in proportion as such faith and solace grow1 also love for the commandments will grow and obedience to them will be man's delight4 ,therefore1 ,god would have his ,gospel message urged unceasingly as the means of awakening man's heart to discern his state and recall the great grace and lovingkindness of ,god1 with the result that the power of the ,holy ,spirit is increased constantly4 ,note1 no influence of the ,law1 no work of man is present here4 ,the force is a new and heavenly one--the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he impresses upon the heart ,christ and his works1 making of it a true book which does not consist in the tracery of mere letters and words1 but in true life and action4 #cj4 ,god promised of old1 in ,joel #b1 #bh and other passages1 to give the ,spirit through the new message1 the ,gospel4 ,and he has verified his promise by public manifestations in connection with the preaching of that ,gospel1 as on the day of ,pentecost and again later4 ,when the apostles1 ,peter and others1 began to preach1 the ,holy ,spirit descended visibly from heaven upon their hearts4 ,acts #h1 #ag2 #aj1 #dd4 ,up to that time1 throughout the period the ,law was preached1 no one had heard or seen such manifestation4 ,the fact could not but be grasped that this was a vastly different message from that of the ,law when such mighty results followed in its train4 ,and yet its substance was no more than what ,paul declared 7,acts #ac1 #ch-ci73 ,through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins3 and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things1 from which ye could not be justified by the law of ,moses4 #ca4 ,in this teaching you see no more the empty letters1 the valueless husks or shells1 of the ,law1 which unceasingly enjoins1 ,this thou shalt do and observe1 and ever in vain4 ,you see instead the true kernel and power which confers ,christ and the fullness of ,his ,spirit4 ,in consequence1 men heartily believe the message of the ,gospel and enjoy its riches4 ,they are accounted as having fulfilled the ,ten ,commandments4 ,john says 7,jn #a1 #af-ag73 ,of his fullness we all received1 and grace for grace4 ,for the ,law was given through ,moses2 grace and truth came through ,jesus ,christ4 ,john's thought is3 ,the ,law has indeed been given by ,moses1 but what avails that fact8 ,to be sure1 it is a noble doctrine and portrays a beautiful and instructive picture of man's duty to ,god and all mankind2 it is really excellent as to the letter4 ,yet it remains empty2 it does not enter into the heart4 ,therefore it is called law1 nor can it become aught else1 so long as nothing more is given4 ,,christ ,,supersedes ,,moses4 ,before there can be fulfilment1 another than ,moses must come1 bringing another doctrine4 ,instead of a law enjoined1 there must be grace and truth revealed4 ,for to enjoin a command and to embody the truth#b are two different things2 just as teaching and doing differ4 ,moses1 it is true1 teaches the doctrine of the ,law1 so far as exposition is concerned1 but he can neither fulfil it himself nor give others the ability to do so4 ,that it might be fulfilled1 ,god's ,son had to come with his fullness2 he has fulfilled the ,law for himself and it is he who communicates to our empty heart the power to attain to the same fullness4 ,footnote #b3 ,es ist zweirlei1 ,gesetz geben1 und1 ,wahrheit werden4 ,this becomes possible when we receive grace for grace1 that is1 when we come to the enjoyment of ,christ1 and for the sake of him who enjoys with ,god fullness of grace1 although our own obedience to the ,law is still imperfect4 ,being possessed of solace and grace1 we receive by his power the ,holy ,spirit also1 so that1 instead of harboring mere empty letters within us1 we come to the truth and begin to fulfil ,god's ,law1 in such a way1 however1 that we draw from his fullness and drink from that as a fountain4 ,,christ ,,the ,,source ,,of ,,life ,,greater ,,than ,,adam ,,the ,,source ,,of ,,death4 #cb4 ,paul gives us the same thought in ,romans #e1 #ag-ah1 where he compares ,adam and ,christ4 ,adam1 he says1 by his disobedience in ,paradise1 became the source of sin and death in the world2 by the sin of this one man1 condemnation passed upon all men4 ,but on the other hand1 ,christ1 by his obedience and righteousness1 has become for us the abundant source wherefrom all may obtain righteousness and the power of obedience4 ,and with respect to the latter source1 it is far richer and more abundant than the former4 ,while by the single sin of one man1 sin and death passed upon all men1 to wax still more powerful with the advent of the ,law1 of such surpassing strength and greatness1 on the other hand1 is the grace and bounty which we have in ,christ that it not only washes away the particular sin of the one man ,adam1 which1 until ,christ came1 overwhelmed all men in death1 but overwhelms and blots out all sin whatever4 ,thus they who receive his fullness of grace and bounty unto righteousness are1 according to ,paul1 lords of life through ,jesus ,christ alone4 ,,the ,,law ,,ineffectual4 #cc4 ,you see now how the two messages differ1 and why ,paul exalts the one1 the preaching of the ,gospel1 and calls it a ministration of the spirit1 but terms the other1 the ,law1 a mere empty letter4 ,his object is to humble the pride of the false apostles and preachers which they felt in their ,judaism and the law of ,moses1 telling the people with bold pretensions3 ,beloved1 let ,paul preach what he will1 he cannot overthrow ,moses1 who on ,mount ,sinai received the ,law1 ,god's irrevocable command1 obedience to which is ever the only way to salvation4 #cd4 ,similarly today1 ,papists1 ,anabaptists and other sects make outcry3 ,what mean you by preaching so much about faith and ,christ8 ,are the people thereby made better8 ,surely works are essential4 ,arguments of this character have indeed a semblance of merit1 but1 when examined by the light of truth1 are mere empty1 worthless twaddle4 ,for if deeds1 or works1 are to be considered1 there are the ,ten ,commandments2 we teach and practice these as well as they4 ,the ,commandments would answer the purpose indeed--if one could preach them so effectively as to compel their fulfilment4 ,but the question is1 whether what is preached is also practiced4 ,is there something more than mere words--or letters1 as ,paul says8 do the words result in life and spirit8 ,this message we have in common2 unquestionably1 one must teach the ,ten ,commandments1 and1 what is more1 live them4 ,but we charge that they are not observed4 ,therefore something else is requisite in order to render obedience to them possible4 ,when ,moses and the ,law are made to say3 ,you should do thus2 ,god demands this of you1 what does it profit8 ,ay1 beloved ,moses1 ,i hear that plainly1 and it is certainly a righteous command2 but pray tell me whence shall ,i obtain ability to do what1 alas1 ,i never have done nor can do8 ,it is not easy to spend money from an empty pocket1 or to drink from an empty can4 ,if ,i am to pay my debt1 or to quench my thirst1 tell me how first to fill pocket or can4 ,but upon this point such prattlers are silent2 they but continue to drive and plague with the ,law1 let the people stick to their sins1 and make merry of them to their own hurt4 #ce4 ,in this light ,paul here portrays the false apostles and like pernicious schismatics1 who make great boasts of having a clearer understanding and of knowing much better what to teach than is the case with true preachers of the ,gospel4 ,and when they do their very best1 when they pretend great things1 and do wonders with their preaching1 there is naught but the mere empty letter4 ,indeed1 their message falls far short of ,moses4 ,moses was a noble preacher1 truly1 and wrought greater things than any of them may do4 ,nevertheless1 the doctrine of the ,law could do no more than remain a letter1 an ,old ,testament1 and ,god had to ordain a different doctrine1 a ,new ,testament1 which should impart the spirit4 ,it is the letter1 says ,paul1 which we preach4 ,if any glorying is to be done1 we can glory in better things and make the defiant plea that they are not the only teachers of what ought to be done1 incapable as they are of carrying out their own precepts4 ,we give direction and power as to performing and living those precepts4 ,for this reason our message is not called the ,old ,testament1 or the message of the dead letter1 but that of the ,new ,testament and of the living ,spirit4 #cf4 ,no seditious spirit1 it is certain1 ever carries out its own precepts1 nor will he ever be capable of doing so1 though he may loudly boast the ,spirit alone as his guide4 ,of this fact you may rest assured4 ,for such individuals know nothing more than the doctrine of works--nor can they rise higher and point you to anything else4 ,they may indeed speak of ,christ1 but it is only to hold him up as an example of patience in suffering4 ,in short1 there can be no ,new ,testament preached if the doctrine of faith in ,christ be left out2 the spirit cannot enter into the heart1 but all teaching1 endeavor1 reflection1 works and power remain mere letters1 devoid of grace1 truth1 and life4 ,without ,christ the heart remains unchanged and unrenewed4 ,it has no more power to fulfil the ,law than the book in which the ,ten ,commandments are written1 or the stones upon which engraved4 ,for the letter killeth1 but the spirit giveth life4 #cg4 ,here is yet stronger condemnation of the glory of the doctrine of the ,law2 yet higher exaltation of the ,gospel ministry4 ,is the apostle overbold in that he dares thus to assail the ,law and say3 ,the ,law is not only a lifeless letter1 but qualified merely to kill8 ,surely that is not calling the ,law a good and profitable message1 but one altogether harmful4 ,who1 unless he would be a cursed heretic in the eyes of the world and invite execution as a blasphemer1 would dare to speak thus1 except ,paul himself8 ,even ,paul must praise the ,law1 which is ,god's command1 declaring it good and not to be despised nor in any way modified1 but to be confirmed and fulfilled so completely1 as ,christ says 7,mt #e1 #ah71 that not a tittle of it shall pass away4 ,how1 then1 does ,paul come to speak so disparagingly1 even abusively1 of the ,law1 actually presenting it as veritable death and poison8 ,well1 his is a sublime doctrine1 one that reason does not understand4 ,the world1 particularly they who would be called holy and godly1 cannot tolerate it at all2 for it amounts to nothing short of pronouncing all our works1 however precious1 mere death and poison4 #ch4 ,paul's purpose is to bring about the complete overthrow of the boast of the false teachers and hypocrites1 and to reveal the weakness of their doctrine1 showing how little it effects even at its best1 since it offers only the ,law1 ,christ remaining unproclaimed and unknown4 ,they say in terms of vainglorious eloquence that if a man diligently keep the commandments and do many good works1 he shall be saved4 ,but theirs are only vain words1 a pernicious doctrine4 ,this fact is eventually learned by him who1 having heard no other doctrine1 trusts in their false one4 ,he finds out that it holds neither comfort nor power of life1 but only doubt and anxiety1 followed by death and destruction4 ,,terrors ,,of ,,the ,,law4 #ci4 ,when man1 conscious of his failure to keep ,god's command1 is constantly urged by the ,law to make payment of his debt and confronted with nothing but the terrible wrath of ,god and eternal condemnation1 he cannot but sink into despair over his sins4 ,such is the inevitable consequence where the ,law alone is taught with a view to attaining heaven thereby4 ,the vanity of such trust in works is illustrated in the case of the noted hermit mentioned in ,vit ,patrum 7,lives of the ,fathers74 ,for over seventy years this hermit had led a life of utmost austerity1 and had many followers4 ,when the hour of death came he began to tremble1 and for three days was in a state of agony4 ,his disciples came to comfort him1 exhorting him to die in peace since he had led so holy a life4 ,but he replied3 ,alas1 ,i truly have all my life served ,christ and lived austerely2 but ,god's judgment greatly differs from that of men4 #dj4 ,note1 this worthy man1 despite the holiness of his life1 has no acquaintance with any article but that of the divine judgment according to the ,law4 ,he knows not the comfort of ,christ's ,gospel4 ,after a long life spent in the attempt to keep ,god's commandments and secure salvation1 the ,law now slays him through his own works4 ,he is compelled to exclaim3 ,alas1 who knows how ,god will look upon my efforts8 ,who may stand before him8 ,that means1 to forfeit heaven through the verdict of his own conscience4 ,the work he has wrought and his holiness of life avail nothing4 ,they merely push him deeper into death1 since he is without the solace of the ,gospel1 while others1 such as the thief on the cross and the publican1 grasp the comfort of the ,gospel1 the forgiveness of sins in ,christ4 ,thus sin is conquered2 they escape the sentence of the ,law1 and pass through death into life eternal4 ,,efficacy ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 #da4 ,now the meaning of the contrasting clause1 the spirit giveth life1 becomes clear4 ,the reference is to naught else but the holy ,gospel1 a message of healing and salvation2 a precious1 comforting word4 ,it comforts and refreshes the sad heart4 ,it wrests it out of the jaws of death and hell1 as it were1 and transports it to the certain hope of eternal life1 through faith in ,christ4 ,when the last hour comes to the believer1 and death and ,god's judgment appear before his eyes1 he does not base his comfort upon his works4 ,even though he may have lived the holiest life possible1 he says with ,paul 7#a ,cor #d1 #d73 ,i know nothing against myself1 yet am ,i not hereby justified4 #db4 ,these words imply being ill pleased with self1 with the whole life2 indeed1 even the putting to death of self4 ,though the heart says1 ,by my works ,i am neither made righteous nor saved1 which is practically admitting oneself to be worthy of death and condemnation1 the ,spirit extricates from despair1 through the ,gospel faith1 which confesses1 as did ,st4 ,bernard in the hour of death3 ,dear ,lord ,jesus1 ,i am aware that my life at its best has been but worthy of condemnation1 but ,i trust in the fact that thou hast died for me and hast sprinkled me with blood from thy holy wounds4 ,for ,i have been baptized in thy name and have given heed to thy ,word whereby thou hast called me1 awarded me grace and life1 and bidden me believe4 ,in this assurance will ,i pass out of life2 not in uncertainty and anxiety1 thinking1 ,who knows what sentence ,god in heaven will pass upon me8 ,the ,christian must not utter such a question4 ,the sentence against his life and works has long since been passed by the ,law4 ,therefore1 he must confess himself guilty and condemned4 ,but he lives by the gracious judgment of ,god declared from heaven1 whereby the sentence of the ,law is overruled and reversed4 ,it is this3 ,he that believeth on the ,son hath eternal life4 ,jn #c1 #cf4 #dc4 ,when the consolation of the ,gospel has once been received and it has wrested the heart from death and the terrors of hell1 the ,spirit's influence is felt4 ,by its power ,god's ,law begins to live in man's heart2 he loves it1 delights in it and enters upon its fulfilment4 ,thus eternal life begins here1 being continued forever and perfected in the life to come4 #dd4 ,now you see how much more glorious1 how much better1 is the doctrine of the apostles--the ,new ,testament--than the doctrine of those who preach merely great works and holiness without ,christ4 ,we should see in this fact an incentive to hear the ,gospel with gladness4 ,we ought joyfully to thank ,god for it when we learn how it has power to bring to men life and eternal salvation1 and when it gives us assurance that the ,holy ,spirit accompanies it and is imparted to believers4 ,but if the ministration of death1 written1 and engraven on stones1 came with glory1 so that the children of ,israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of ,moses for the glory of his face2 which glory was passing away3 how shall not rather the ministration of the ,spirit be with glory8 ,for if the ministration of condemnation hath glory1 much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory4 ,,glory ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 #de4 ,paul is in an ecstasy of delight1 and his heart overflows in words of praise for the ,gospel4 ,again he handles the ,law severely1 calling it a ministration1 or doctrine1 of death and condemnation4 ,what term significant of greater abomination could he apply to ,god's ,law than to call it a doctrine of death and hell8 ,and again 7,gal #b1 #ag71 he calls it a minister 7or preacher7 of sin2 and 7,gal #c1 #aj7 the message which proclaims a curse1 saying1 ,as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse4 ,absolute1 then1 is the conclusion that ,law and works are powerless to justify before ,god2 for how can a doctrine proclaiming only sin1 death and condemnation justify and save8 #df4 ,paul is compelled to speak thus1 as we said above because of the infamous presumption of both teachers and pupils1 in that they permit flesh and blood to coquet with the ,law1 and make their own works which they bring before ,god their boast4 ,yet1 nothing is effected but self-deception and destruction4 ,for1 when the ,law is viewed in its true light1 when its glory1 as ,paul has it1 is revealed1 it is found to do nothing more than to kill man and sink him into condemnation4 #dg4 ,therefore1 the ,christian will do well to learn this text of ,paul and have an armor against the boasting of false teachers1 and the torments and trials of the devil when he urges the ,law and induces men to seek righteousness in their own works1 tormenting their heart with the thought that salvation is dependent upon the achievements of the individual4 ,the ,christian will do well to learn this text1 ,i say1 so that in such conflicts he may take the devil's own sword1 saying3 ,why dost thou annoy me with talk of the ,law and my works8 ,what is the ,law after all1 however much you may preach it to me1 but that which makes me feel the weight of sin1 death and condemnation8 ,why should ,i seek therein righteousness before ,god8 #dh4 ,when ,paul speaks of the glory of the ,law1 of which the ,jewish teachers of work-righteousness boast1 he has reference to the things narrated in the twentieth and thirty-fourth chapters of ,exodus--how1 when the ,law was given1 ,god descended in majesty and glory from heaven1 and there were thunderings and lightnings1 and the mountain was encircled with fire2 and how when ,moses returned from the mountain1 bringing the ,law1 his face shone with a glory so dazzling that the people could not look upon his face and he was obliged to veil it4 #di4 ,turning their glory against them1 ,paul says3 ,truly1 we do not deny the glory2 splendor and majesty were there2 but what does such glory do but compel souls to flee before ,god1 and drive into death and hell8 ,we believers1 however1 boast another glory1--that of our ministration4 ,the ,gospel record tells us 7,mt #ag1 #b-d7 that ,christ clearly revealed such glory to his disciples when his face shone as the sun1 and ,moses and ,elijah were present4 ,before the manifestation of such glory1 the disciples did not flee2 they beheld with amazed joy and said3 ,lord1 it is good for us to be here4 ,we will make here tabernacles for thee and for ,moses1 etc4 #ej4 ,compare the two scenes and you will understand plainly the import of ,paul's words here4 ,as before said1 this is the substance of his meaning3 ,the ,law produces naught but terror and death when it dazzles the heart with its glory and stands revealed in its true nature4 ,on the other hand1 the ,gospel yields comfort and joy4 ,but to explain in detail the signification of the veiled face of ,moses1 and of his shining uncovered face1 would take too long to enter upon here4 #ea4 ,there is also especial comfort to be derived from ,paul's assertion that the ministration1 or doctrine1 of the ,law passeth away2 for otherwise there would be naught but eternal condemnation4 ,the doctrine of the ,law passes away when the preaching of the ,gospel of ,christ finds place4 ,to ,christ1 ,moses shall yield1 that he alone may hold sway4 ,moses shall not terrify the conscience of the believer4 ,when1 perceiving the glory of ,moses1 the conscience trembles and despairs before ,god's wrath1 then it is time for ,christ's glory to shine with its gracious1 comforting light into the heart4 ,then can the heart endure ,moses and ,elijah4 ,for the glory of the ,law1 or the unveiled face of ,moses1 shall shine only until man is humbled and driven to desire the blessed countenance of ,christ4 ,if you come to ,christ1 you shall no longer hear ,moses to your fright and terror2 you shall hear him as one who remains servant to the ,lord ,christ1 leaving the solace and the joy of his countenance unobscured4 ,in conclusion3 ,for verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect1 by reason of the glory that surpasseth4 #eb4 ,the meaning here is3 ,when the glory and holiness of ,christ1 revealed through the preaching of the ,gospel1 is rightly perceived1 then the glory of the ,law--which is but a feeble and transitory glory--is seen to be not really glorious4 ,it is mere dark clouds in contrast to the light of ,christ shining to lead us out of sin1 death and hell unto ,god and eternal life4 ,thirteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,galatians #c1 #ae-bb4 #ae ,brethren1 ,i speak after the manner of men3 ,though it be but a man's covenant1 yet when it hath been confirmed1 no one maketh it void1 or addeth thereto4 #af ,now to ,abraham were the promises spoken1 and to his seed4 ,he saith not1 ,and to seeds1 as of many2 but as of one1 ,and to thy seed1 which is ,christ4 #ag ,now this ,i say3 ,a covenant confirmed beforehand by ,god1 the law1 which came four hundred and thirty years after1 doth not disannul1 so as to make the promise of none effect4 #ah ,for if the inheritance is of the law1 it is no more of promise3 but ,god hath granted it to ,abraham by promise4 #ai ,what then is the law8 ,it was added because of transgressions1 till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made2 and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator4 #bj ,now a mediator is not a mediator of one2 but ,god is one4 #ba ,is the law then against the promises of ,god8 ,god forbid3 for if there had been a law given which could make alive1 verily righteousness would have been of the law4 #bb ,but the scripture shut up all things under sin1 that the promise by faith in ,jesus ,christ might be given to them that believe4 ,,god',s ,,testament ,,and ,,promise ,,in ,,christ4 #a4 ,this is a keen1 severe epistle1 one that is unintelligible to the ordinary man4 ,because the doctrine it contains has not hitherto been employed and enforced1 it has not been understood4 ,it is also too long and rich to be treated briefly4 ,but it is fully explained in the complete commentary on this epistle to the ,galatians1 where those who will may read it4 ,the substance of it is1 that here1 as in the whole epistle1 ,paul would earnestly constrain the ,christian to distinguish between the righteousness of faith and the righteousness of works or of the ,law4 ,in order that we may note to some extent the main points ,paul makes in this text1 we remark that he emphasizes two things4 ,he treats first of the doctrine that we are justified by faith alone1 and he maintains this1 after giving many reasons and proofs1 by saying in effect3 #b4 ,in this connection you should note that no one1 whether ,jew or gentile1 is justified by works or by the ,law4 ,for the ,law was given four hundred and thirty years after the promise of a ,savior had been made to ,abraham 7who was to be the father of all the people of ,god7 and the assurance that all nations should be blessed in him4 ,it was given after it had been testified of ,abraham that his faith was imputed to him for righteousness4 ,and as he was justified and received the blessing by reason of his faith1 so also his children and descendants were justified and received the blessing through the same faith in that seed for whose sake the blessing had been promised to all the world4 ,for in his dealings with the ,jews and with the whole world1 ,god always promised his grace and the forgiveness of sins 7and that means to be blessed of ,god7 even when there was as yet no ,law by which they might pretend to become righteous1 and before ,moses was born4 #c4 ,therefore the ,law1 being given to this people only after the lapse of so long a period1 could not have been given to them for justification2 otherwise it would have been given earlier4 ,or if it had been necessary for righteousness1 then ,abraham and his children up to that date could not have been justified at all4 ,indeed ,god designed that the ,law should be given so long after ,abraham4 ,undoubtedly he would have been able to give it to the fathers much earlier if he had seen fit to do so4 ,apparently he desired thereby to teach that the ,law was not given to the end that ,god's grace and blessing should be acquired through it1 but that these come from the pure mercy of ,god which was promised and bestowed so long before upon ,abraham and those who believed4 #d4 ,therefore ,paul concludes3 ,how could the ,law produce righteousness for those who lived before ,moses1 since ,moses was the first through whom the ,law was given2 and since even before his time there were holy people and people who were saved8 ,whence did they derive their righteousness8 ,certainly not from the fact that they had offered sacrifice at ,jerusalem1 but from the fact that they believed the ,word in which ,god promised to bless them through the coming seed1 ,christ4 ,hence1 those also who lived afterwards could not have been justified by the ,law2 for they did not receive the grace of ,god in a different way from that in which those who went before had received it4 ,god did not annul or revoke by the ,law the promise of blessing which he had made and freely bestowed without the ,law4 #e4 ,here some might desire to show their wisdom and say to ,paul3 ,although the fathers did not have the ,law of ,moses1 they had the same ,word of ,god which teaches the ten commandments and which was implanted in the human heart from the beginning of the world1 whence also it is called the law of nature or the natural law2 and the same law was afterwards given publicly to the ,jewish people and comprehended in the ten commandments4 ,it might also be said that ,moses borrowed the ten commandments from the fathers1 to which ,christ testifies in ,john #g1 #bb4 ,for it is certain that the fathers from the beginning taught them and urged them upon their children and descendants4 ,with what consistency1 then1 does ,paul conclude that the fathers were not justified by the ,law because it was not given until four hundred years after ,abraham's time2 as if the fathers before that time had no ,law8 #f4 ,to answer this question we must observe the meaning and purpose of ,paul's words2 for he so speaks because of the boasting of the ,jews1 who placed their dependence on the ,law and claimed that it was given to them that they might be ,god's people4 ,they considered their attempts at keeping his ,law1 sufficient to procure justification4 ,why else did ,god give the ,law1 they said1 and distinguish us from all heathen peoples1 if we were not thereby to be preminent before ,god and more pleasing to him than they who have it not8 ,they made so much of this boasting that they paid no respect at all to the promise of blessing in the coming seed1 given to the fathers1 nor thought that faith therein was necessary to their justification4 ,thus they practically considered it as annulled and made void1 excepting for a temporal interpretation which they put upon it--that the ,messiah would come and1 because of their ,law and piety1 give to them the dominion of the world and other great rewards4 ,,the ,,jews ,,god',s ,,people ,,by ,,promise4 #g4 ,to rout such vain delusions and boasts1 and to show that the ,jews were not justified through the ,law and did not become ,god's children thereby1 ,paul cites the fact that the holy patriarchs1 their fathers1 were justified neither by the ,law of which they boast1 because it was not yet given1 nor by their own deeds1 whether of the natural law or the ten commandments4 ,god had based no promise of blessing or salvation on their works4 ,he had promised out of pure grace to give them the blessing freely 7that is1 to give them grace or righteousness and all eternal blessing71 through the coming seed1 which had been promised also to our first parents without their merit1 when by their transgression they had fallen under ,god's wrath and condemnation4 ,therefore1 although the fathers had a knowledge of the ,law1 or ,god's commandments1 these did not help them to become righteous before ,god4 ,they had to hear and apprehend by faith the promise of ,god1 which was based not on works but only on the coming seed4 ,for if they had been able by means of the ,law or of good works to become righteous1 it would have been wholly unnecessary to give the promise of blessing in ,christ4 #h4 ,now1 if ,abraham and the fathers could not be justified by works1 and in fact were not justified by them1 no more were their children and descendants justified by the ,law or by works4 ,they were justified in no other way than by faith in the promise given to ,abraham and to his seed1 a promise by which not only the ,jews but all the heathen 7through the same faith7 were blessed4 #i4 ,this truth ,paul now further enforces and establishes on the basis of these two particulars--,god's promise1 and his free grace or gift--in opposition to the boasting of the ,law and our own merit4 ,first1 he makes a declaration concerning the value and weight which every testament or promise of the last will possesses4 ,likewise in the fourth commandment is implied an ordinance that the last will of parents should be honored by their children and heirs4 #aj4 ,in regard to this subject he asserts that the rule is1 if a man's testament be confirmed 7and it is confirmed by his death7 no man dare alter it nor add to it nor take away from it4 ,so the jurists declare it to be a divine law that no one should break a man's last will4 ,how much more then should ,god's testament be honored intact8 ,now1 ,god has made a testament1 which is to be his final last will2 namely1 that he will bless all nations through the seed which at first he promised to the fathers4 ,this he determined upon1 and assured to ,abraham1 and in him to all the world--to us all4 ,and he has confirmed it by the death of this seed1 his only ,son1 who had to become man and die 7as was typified by the sacrifice of ,isaac on the part of ,abraham7 in order that the inheritance of the blessing and eternal life might be bestowed upon us4 ,this is ,god's last will4 ,he does not desire to make any other4 ,therefore1 no man can or dare change it or add anything to it4 ,now1 it is adding to it1 it is breaking or revoking it--since this testament has been opened and the blessing proclaimed to all the world--if anyone claims that we must first earn that blessing through the ,law1 proceeding as if1 without the ,law1 this testament1 by mere virtue of its promise and will1 had no force at all4 #aa4 ,in short1 this testament1 ,paul concludes1 is a simple promise of blessing and sonship with ,god4 ,accordingly1 there is no law which we must keep in order to merit it4 ,here nothing avails but the will which promises saying1 ,i will not regard your deeds1 but promise the blessing--that is1 grace and eternal life--to you who are found in sin and death4 ,this ,i will confirm by the death of my ,son1 who shall merit and obtain this inheritance for you4 ,now1 ,god made this testament in the first place without the ,law1 and has thus confirmed it2 therefore1 the ,law1 published and confirmed long afterwards1 cannot take aught from it1 much less annul or revoke it4 ,and he who declares or teaches that we are to be justified by the ,law--are to obtain ,god's blessing by it--does nothing else but interfere with ,god's testament and destroy and annul his last will4 ,this is one argument of ,paul1 based on the word promise1 or testament1 and is readily understood2 for no one is so stupid that he cannot distinguish between these two--law or commandment1 and promise4 #ab4 ,the second argument of ,paul is based on the words1 ,god gave it to ,abraham by promise4 ,here also it is easy for one who is possessed of common sense to perceive there is a marked difference between receiving something as a gift and earning it4 ,what is earned is given because of obligation and debt1 as wages1 and he who receives it may boast of it1 rather than he who gives it1 and may insist upon his right4 ,but when something is given for nothing and1 as ,paul here says1 is bestowed freely--out of grace--then there can be no boasting of right or of merit on the part of the recipient4 ,on the contrary1 he must praise the goodness and kindness of his benefactor4 ,so ,paul concludes3 ,god freely gave the blessing and the inheritance to ,abraham by promise4 ,therefore1 ,abraham did not earn it by his works2 nor was it given to him as a reward1 much less to his children4 #ac4 ,it is evident enough to even a child that what is earned by works as a reward is not identical with what is promised or bestowed gratis1 out of grace and pure free will4 ,there is a distinction between them4 ,god has stopped the mouth of all the world and deprived it of all occasion for boasting that it has received ,god's grace by reason of the ,law4 ,for he promised and bestowed that as a gift1 before the ,law or merit through the ,law had any existence4 ,in his dealings with his own people1 with ,abraham and his descendants1 ,god promised to bless the patriarch and all his race and said nothing of any law1 works or reward2 he based all solely on the coming seed4 #ad4 ,in the faith of this promise they lived and died--,abraham himself and his children's children--till over four hundred and thirty years had elapsed4 ,then only did ,god give the ,law1 institute an outward form of worship1 a priesthood1 etc41 and direct them how to live and govern themselves4 ,they had now become a separate people1 released from foreign domination1 and brought into their own land1 and they needed an external form of government4 ,it was not intended that only now and by means of these gifts they should obtain forgiveness of sins and ,god's blessing4 #ae4 ,this is the substance of the first part of this epistle4 ,in teaching how we are to be justified before ,god1 ,paul would have us distinguish well these two points1 promise and law2 or again1 gift and reward4 ,if we teach that ,god1 out of pure grace1 and not because of any law or merit1 bestows forgiveness of sins and eternal life1 the question at once presents itself3 ,why is the ,law given1 or of what use is it8 ,shall we not perform any good works8 ,why do we teach the ten commandments at all8 ,paul takes up this matter and asks the question1 ,what then is the ,law8 ,then he proceeds to discuss at length what is the office and use of the ,law1 and shows the difference between it and the ,gospel4 ,of this enough has been said elsewhere1 in other postils4 ,fourteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,galatians #e1 #af-bd4 #af ,but ,i say1 ,walk by the ,spirit1 and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh4 #ag ,for the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit1 and the ,spirit against the flesh2 for these are contrary the one to the other2 that ye may not do the things that ye would4 #ah ,but if ye are led by the ,spirit1 ye are not under the law4 #ai ,now the works of the flesh are manifest1 which are these3 fornication1 uncleanness1 lasciviousness1 #bj idolatry1 sorcery1 enmities1 strife1 jealousies1 wraths1 factions1 divisions1 parties1 #ba envyings1 drunkenness1 revellings1 and such like2 of which ,i forewarn you1 even as ,i did forewarn you1 that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god4 #bb ,but the fruit of the ,spirit is love1 joy1 peace1 longsuffering1 kindness1 goodness1 faithfulness1 #bc meekness1 self-control2 against such there is no law4 #bd ,and they that are of ,christ ,jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof4 ,,works ,,of ,,the ,,flesh ,,and ,,fruits ,,of ,,the ,,spirit4 ,this ,epistle has been treated at length in the complete commentary 7,luther's ,commentary on ,galatians74 ,it exhorts to good works or fruits of faith in those who have the ,holy ,spirit through faith4 ,and it does so in a way to show that it is not the design of this doctrine to forbid good works or to tolerate and refrain from censuring bad ones1 or to prevent the preaching of the ,law4 ,on the contrary it shows clearly that ,god earnestly wills that ,christians should flee and avoid the lusts of the flesh1 if they would remain in the ,spirit4 ,to have and retain the ,spirit and faith1 and yet to fulfil the lusts of the flesh1 are two things that cannot harmonize2 for these1 ,paul says1 are contrary the one to the other1 and there is between them a vehement conflict4 ,they cannot tolerate each other2 one must be supreme and cast the other out4 ,for this reason he clearly mentions some works of the flesh which plainly and evidently are not of the ,spirit1 and immediately concludes that those who commit and practice these are not in a condition to inherit ,god's kingdom4 ,they have lost the ,holy ,spirit and faith4 ,but he also shows whence the ,christians obtain strength to enable them to resist the lusts of the flesh2 namely1 from the fact that they have received the ,holy ,spirit through faith1 and from the knowledge that they have a gracious ,god4 ,thus their hearts become filled with love and a desire to obey ,god and to shun sin4 ,consequently they resist and refuse to obey the lusts of the flesh1 lest they make ,god angry again4 ,and although in this conflict they still feel their weakness1 the ,law nevertheless cannot condemn them1 because through faith they are and remain in ,christ4 ,fifteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,galatians #e1 #be-bf and #f1 #a-aj4 #be ,if we live by the ,spirit1 by the ,spirit let us also walk4 #bf ,let us not become vainglorious1 provoking one another1 envying one another4 #a ,brethren1 even if a man be overtaken in any trespass1 ye who are spiritual1 restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness2 looking to thyself1 lest thou also be tempted4 #b ,bear ye one another's burdens1 and so fulfil the law of ,christ4 #c ,for if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing1 he deceiveth himself4 #d ,but let each man prove his own work1 and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone1 and not of his neighbor4 #e ,for each man shall bear his own burden4 #f ,but let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things4 #g ,be not deceived2 ,god is not mocked3 for whatsoever a man soweth1 that shall he also reap4 #h ,for he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption2 but he that soweth unto the ,spirit shall of the ,spirit reap eternal life4 #i ,and let us not be weary in well-doing3 for in due season we shall reap1 if we faint not4 #aj ,so then1 as we have opportunity1 let us work that which is good toward all men1 and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith4 ,,church ,,officers ,,warned ,,of ,,vain-,,glory4 ,the chief aim of this epistle text is to instruct those in official authority in the ,church4 ,since ,christians are under obligation to honor their pastors and teachers1 they are admonished by the apostle to guard against the sin of vain-glory1 that those in authority may not become proud nor misuse their office against unity in doctrine and in love1 and that they may not despise or pass by the wounded and helpless1 as the priest and ,levite did4 ,lk #aj1 #ca-cb4 ,finally1 ,paul exhorts all diligently to do the good and thus serve everyone1 as ,christ also teaches in the ,gospel 7,mt4 #f1 #cd7 that everyone should do the work of each day and not be anxious about the future4 ,see the explanation of these verses in ,luther's ,commentary on the ,galatians4 ,sixteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,ephesians #c1 #ac-ba4 #ac4 ,wherefore ,i ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you1 which are your glory4 #ad ,for this cause ,i bow my knees unto the ,father1 #ae from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named1 #af and that he would grant you1 according to the riches of his glory1 that ye may be strengthened with power through his ,spirit in the inward man2 #ag that ,christ may dwell in your hearts through faith2 to the end that ye1 being rooted and grounded in love1 #ah may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth1 #ai and to know the love of ,christ which passeth knowledge1 that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of ,god4 #bj ,now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think1 according to the power that worketh in us1 #ba unto him be the glory in the church and in ,christ ,jesus unto all generations for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,,paul',s ,,care ,,and ,,prayer ,,for ,,the ,,church4#a ,footnote #a3 ,this sermon appeared in three editions the first year it was printed in #aebe1 at ,wittenberg4 #a4 ,up to this time ,paul has been extolling the office of the ministry1 which proclaims the ,gospel of the ,new ,testament4 ,in lofty and impressive terms he introduces its purpose1 power and wisdom--in a word1 the great benefits the office effects1 since ,god thereby bestows upon us abundantly all manner of wisdom1 strength and blessings1 all which things1 in heaven or earth1 are of his dispensing4 ,the ,gospel proclaims to us life from death1 righteousness from sin1 redemption from hell and all evil1 and brings us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of ,god4 ,so sublime is the whole subject1 ,paul does not venture to compass it with words but in the loftiest of language suggests much4 #b4 ,in the first part of the text he shows the depth of his concern that the ,ephesians should retain the ,gospel preaching received from him1 not allowing themselves to be torn away from it4 ,to this end he employs two expedients3 first1 he consoles and admonishes2 second1 he prays and desires4 ,wherefore ,i ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you1 which are your glory4 ,,paul ,,consoles ,,his ,,converts4 #c4 ,having been imprisoned at ,rome by order of the emperor1 ,paul thus consoles his beloved converts at ,ephesus1 admonishing them to cleave to the doctrine learned from him2 not to be frightened from it by beholding his fate1 nor permit themselves to be alienated by such comment as this3 ,this man ,paul in his preaching to you made great pretentions to being commissioned of ,christ himself1 and to outdoing all the other apostles4 ,and you made your boast in him and relied upon him as if he were the only and all-deserving one4 ,where is he now8 ,what assistance can he render you8 ,there he lies in ,rome1 by the ,jews condemned to death2 more than that1 he is in the hands of that cruel tyrant1 ,emperor ,nero4 ,did we not long ago tell you he would meet such fate8 ,presumably this puts an end to his boastings over every other man4 #d4 ,to prevent the offense that threatened1 ,paul writes from his prison1 and his message is1 in effect1 this3 ,dear friends1 you see ,i am imprisoned2 the devil and the world have me in their hands4 ,this may perhaps alarm you1 and rouse in you the evil suspicion1 ',if his doctrine were all right and if he were the great apostle of ,christ he claims to be1 ,god would not permit him to suffer such fate4' ,for some of the false apostles thus taunted ,paul's disciples4 ,but ,i entreat and exhort you1 ,paul would say1 not to be offended1 or alarmed1 not to grow faint1 though ,i am in prison4 ,whether we be tempted and suffer tribulation1 whether we be honored or dishonored1 no matter what comes1 only cleave to the doctrine ,i have preached to you--the ,gospel1 ,god's sure ,word1 as you know4 ,he reminds them1 as before he has done1 of that whereunto ,god has called them1 and of what they have received through his preaching4 #e4 ,such admonition is still1 and will ever be1 necessary in the ,christian community4 ,the weak must endure severe conflicts in the tribulations the ,gospel inevitably entails4 ,the trial is especially hard when they must lose their leaders and teachers1 and in addition hear the shameful1 bitter taunts of the calumniators4 ,we in this day have to expect that some will be offended when teachers are assailed4 ,we should therefore be prepared1 and when any of our number fall away from our faith to flatter tyrants and the ,pope1 and to become liars and knaves1 we must individually lay hold of the ,gospel in a way to enable us to stand and say3 ,not because a certain one has so taught1 do ,i believe4 ,it matters not what becomes of him or what he may be1 the doctrine itself is right4 ,this ,i know1 whatever ,god may permit to befall myself or others because of it4 ,,the ,,christian',s ,,confidence ,,must ,,be ,,in ,,god4 #f4 ,so have ,i personally had to do1 and must still do4 ,otherwise ,i would have been terrified and enervated when ,i saw the ,pope1 and bishops1 emperors1 kings and all the world1 opposed to the doctrine they ought to sustain4 ,i would have been overwhelmed1 thinking1 ,they1 too1 are men and cannot all be followers of the devil4 ,how could ,i comfort myself and stand firm unless ,i were able to say3 ,though ten other worlds and everything great1 lofty1 wise and prudent1 and all my dear friends and brethren as well1 should turn from me1 the doctrine still remains true4 ,it stands3 it will not1 like men1 totter and fall4 ,i will adhere to the ,word of ,god1 stand or fall what may4 #g4 ,the ,christian must be discerning enough to strip the individual of his mask--of his great pomp and majesty--and distinguish it from the ,word4 ,he who cannot so do1 cannot stand under temptation2 let one fall1 and he will soon follow suit4 #h4 ,such is the nature of the ,church in its earthly government that human wisdom must stumble thereat2 various sects of the offended must rise in opposition to the faith4 ,but ,god delights to rule1 not with the sword or with visible power1 but through weakness and in opposition to the devil and the world4 ,seemingly1 he would permit his ,church to be utterly overthrown4 ,guard against and resist offenses as well as we may--and the practice is not without its efficacy--still we must ultimately be driven to say defiantly3 ,he who established the ,church and has to this time preserved it1 will continue to protect it4 ,man would not rule it wisely1 but the living ,christ is seated upon the throne whereon ,god placed him1 and we shall see who can pull him down and destroy his ,church4 ,,paul',s ,,sufferings ,,for ,,the ,,church',s ,,good4 #i4 ,when the trying hour arrives1 we are able to accomplish about as little against the enemy as ,paul when he lay in chains powerless to succor a soul4 ,he was obliged to commit his cause to the ,lord4 ,at the same time1 as a faithful apostle1 he ceased not1 though removed from his followers1 to admonish and warn to the full extent of his power4 ,well he knew that many false apostles were ready1 so sure as he said a word1 to pervert it and to fill the ears of the people with their own empty words and poisonous teaching4 ,he elsewhere complains 7#b ,tim #a1 #ae7 that by the influence of this class all ,asia was turned away from him4 ,he had reference to the nearest neighbors of the ,ephesians in ,asia4 #aj4 ,for the sake of affording his converts comfort and strength1 ,paul proceeds to make his sufferings and tribulations pleasing to them by speaking of these afflictions in unusual and beautiful terms4 ,he presents a view quite opposed to the opinion of the world and the judgment of calumniators4 ,my sufferings and tribulations1 says ,paul1 which to you and the world1 viewed in a fleshy way1 are most disastrous1 really work you no injury nor disadvantage1 notwithstanding what the pernicious babblers claim about such trials4 ,rather1 they are beneficial to you and me4 ,though your enemies seek thus to injure you to the fullest extent1 benefits they never foresee will accrue to us4 ,my sufferings are not for my own sake1 but yours4 ,they work your benefit2 it is better for you as it is1 than for me to be present and preach to you4 ,and how so8 ,because ,i suffer only for the sake of the ministry1 for that ,gospel ,i delivered you4 ,i risk my life and all ,i have that you may hold it fast2 such is my earnest desire4 ,i contend for and cleave to1 at the risk of my life1 that which ,christ gave me and enjoined upon me4 ,thus by my chains and bands ,i honor and establish the ,gospel1 that you may be strengthened and may cleave more firmly to it4 #aa4 ,so we shall joyfully transform the tribulation imposed by the world in an attempt to inflict great evils3 ,god will have to pronounce the sentence3 ',hear1 ,o world1 devil1 emperor1 tyrant6 ,thou hast imprisoned my apostle ,paul for the sake of my godly ,christians4 ,what injury have they done thee8 what fault committed8 ,with no wrong on their part1 thou persecutest them4 ,it is simply because ,i gave them my ,word2 therefore thou art opposing and defying me4 ,what shall ,i say but that thou hast imprisoned and bound1 not ,paul1 but me8 ,is it not insupportable that a perishable worm1 be he emperor or prince1 should presume to apprehend ,god in heaven8 ,but thinkest thou ,i will remain silent and unprotesting8 ,thinkest thou ,i will not break chains1 stocks and bands1 and give command3 ,hold thou1 devil and tyrant1 and submit6 ,let me rule1 substituting for one ,paul1 ten2 and for one ,church at ,ephesus establishing thirty1 yes1 a hundred4' #ab4 ,and as in ,paul's time1 so today3 when our enemies get hold of an evangelical preacher1 either he must secretly be drowned or murdered1 or he must publicly be hanged or burned4 ,why is it8 ,because of the ,christians to whom he has taught his doctrine4 ,for a while ,god looks on serenely4 ,he says3 ,beloved lords1 be not enraged4 ,know you whom you have apprehended and murdered8 ,it is ,i1 the ,divine ,majesty4 ,it was not their own word and command but mine which these preachers taught and my ,christians believed4 ,you cannot deny the fact4 ,i must1 then1 consider how to secure myself against your wrath4 ,how shall ,i do it8 ,indeed1 by way of returning your favors and kindnesses1 ,i must so arrange that where one town had a minister and the ,gospel1 ten1 yes twenty1 towns must have their pastor and preachers4 ,i will1 ,o ,pope and bishops1 invade your own dioceses and you must tolerate and accept the ,gospel1 whether to your joy or your grief4 ,if you begin to rave1 ,i will give you cause for alarm1 for you shall be overthrown1 bishops1 hats and all4 #ac4 ,note1 when ,paul says he suffers for the ,ephesians1 he means that his suffering is for their profit1 to teach them they have nothing to fear in suffering4 ,they1 not he1 are the subjects of concern in this matter4 ,his pains are not merely those of ,paul--upon whom not so much depends--but of an apostle or preacher of the ,church of ,christ4 ,when the latter name is associated with the suffering1 when it is not ,john or ,peter who is cast into prison--that ,god might tolerate--but a minister of the ,church1 then the deed is a too gross jesting with the majesty of ,god2 it is tempting him too far1 yes apprehending him4 #ad4 ,it was necessary that ,paul give his converts this admonition3 ,dear children1 fear not4 ,do not be alarmed at my arrest and intended execution4 ,let our enemies put forth their utmost effort4 ,you shall see how ,i will rend the cords and burst the prison1 humiliating them until they lie in ashes2 the place of one resister of the ,gospel will be filled by ten who preach it4 ,,christ ,,persecuted ,,in ,,christians4 ,since ,paul's enemies refuse instruction and will not cease their raging1 since they refuse to learn against whom they rage1 he must make known to them who is the object of their persecution4 ,it is neither ,paul nor an apostle1 but he to whom it was said 7,ps #aaj1 #a71 ,sit thou at my right hand4 ,it is a perilous thing to take liberties with him4 ,he is now seated where he will brook no suffering4 ,the enemies of the ,christians must behold such things as did the ,jews who delivered ,paul into the ,emperor's hands1 and as the ,romans witnessed4 ,soon after ,paul's execution1 ,jerusalem lay in ashes1 and not a great while after1 the city of ,rome was destroyed4 ,for when ,christ was oppressed1 when in the person of his apostles and martyrs he was seized and put to death1 he had no alternative but to destroy a whole city4 ,and ,germany may expect a similar fate4 ,,no ,,man ,,can ,,merit ,,eternal ,,life ,,for ,,another4 #ae4 ,it is unnecessary here to reply to those wicked and illiterate dolts1 the ,papists and ,anabaptist factions1 who explain ,paul's words1 my tribulations for you1 and similar passages1 as teaching that one ,christian can by his sufferings merit or aid in the salvation of others4 ,paul does not say1 ,my tribulations for you are designed to secure for you forgiveness of sins and salvation4 ,he clearly declares1 as the ,scriptures everywhere do1 that only ,christ's sufferings are thus effective and for all men4 ,paul's thought may well be expressed--and every minister may say the same--in these words3 ,my preaching and my suffering are for your sake4 ,just as a parent may say to a child1 ,i must do or endure this for you4 ,true1 works wrought and sufferings endured for another's sake are productive of the good and comfort of that one or of many1 but the worker or sufferer does not thereby merit1 either for himself or another1 ,god's grace and eternal life4 ,no1 these things demand the offices of a being of another order--,christ4 ,he through his sufferings exterminates your sins1 and through his death gives you life4 ,then again1 ,paul is addressing those already ,christians and having forgiveness of sins and all the requirements of a ,christian2 yet he suffers for them2 that is1 for their good--that in proportion as his enemies seek to oppose the ,gospel1 its influence may be widened and the faith of his followers strengthened4 #af4 ,in the effort to comfort and strengthen the ,ephesians1 ,paul yet further glorifies and extols his tribulations in the words which are your glory4 ,what unheardof talk is this8 ,is it not much rather1 as reason dictates and as all the world affirms1 a disgrace to his followers that he lies there in prison8 ,what greater dishonor can ,christians suffer than to have their ministers and pastors--their instructors and consolers--shamefully arrested8 ,so it seems to the world1 it is true2 but ,i tell you1 in ,god's sight and in reality1 this trial is a great honor to you1 one of which you may proudly boast4 ,this very disgrace and provocation you may turn squarely to your good1 saying3 ,from the very fact of our disgrace1 ,i know the doctrine is true and divine4 ,for it is the lot of the ,word of ,god and of salutary doctrine1 together with the supporters of the same1 to be defamed and persecuted by the world and the devil4 ,such persecution is but glory and honor to ,christians4 ,paul says in ,romans #e1 #c1 ,we rejoice in our tribulations4 ,in other words1 we regard them as glorious1 beneficial1 precious1 blessed4 ,,christians ,,to ,,rejoice ,,in ,,persecutions4 #ag4 ,christians should not1 and cannot1 have their glory in the things the world esteems and honors2 for the world will not1 nor can it1 honor even ,god and his ,word4 ,christ's followers1 then1 should not be terrified at such treatment as ,paul received nor feel disgraced4 ,let them rather rejoice1 deriving comfort and glory therefrom1 as did the apostles4 ,we read 7,acts #d1 #ac7 of their boldness1 and 7,acts #e1 #da7 that they rejoiced in being counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the ,name4 ,so it fared with ,christ himself1 and ,christians ought to be grieved if it be otherwise with them and if the world regard them in a kindly way4 ,in proportion as the world persecutes them and heaps upon them its malice1 should they rejoice4 ,let them accept persecution as a good indication1 regarding themselves blessed1 as ,christ teaches in ,matthew #e1 #aa4 ,so much for the first part of our text2 now follows the second3 ,for this cause ,i bow my knees unto the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named4 ,,preaching ,,must ,,be ,,followed ,,by ,,practice4 #ah4 ,having comforted his followers concerning his tribulations1 ,paul tells them it is his earnest petition1 his longing1 that ,god would grant them power to cleave in firm faith to the ,gospel1 not forsaking it or growing weary when they have to endure affronts and tribulations1 but firmly resisting these4 ,it is not enough merely to accept the ,gospel1 or even to preach it4 ,acceptance must be followed by that spiritual power which renders faith firm and manifests steadfastness in conflicts and temptations2 for the kingdom of ,god is not in word1 but in power1 as ,paul says1 #a ,cor #d1 #bj4 ,there must be a motive force consisting of the inner belief of the heart and the outward proofs of faith3 not mere speaking1 but doing3 not mere talking1 but living4 ,conditions must be such that the ,word does not simply remain on the tongue and in the ears1 but becomes operative and accomplishes something4 ,in the ,old ,testament dispensation1 ,moses preached much indeed1 and the people practiced little2 but here ,paul desires that much be done and little said4 ,he would not have the ,gospel preached in vain1 but desires that it accomplish the object of its revelation4 #ai4 ,note how ,paul devotes himself to the welfare of the ,christian community4 ,he sets an example1 to us ministers in particular1 of how to effect the good of the people4 ,but we do not rightly heed his example4 ,we imagine it sufficient to hear the ,gospel and be able to discourse about it2 we stop at the mere knowledge of it2 we never avail ourselves of the ,gospel's power in the struggles of life4 ,unquestionably1 the trouble is1 we do not earnestly pray4 ,we ought constantly to come to ,god with great longing1 entreating him day and night to give the ,word power to move men's hearts4 ,david says 7,ps #fh1 #cc71 ,lo1 he uttereth his voice1 a mighty voice4 #bj4 ,not only preachers1 but all ,christians1 should constantly entreat the ,god who grants knowledge to grant also efficacy2 should beseech him that the ,word may not pass with the utterance1 but may manifest itself in power4 ,the prevailing complaint at present is that much preaching obtains1 but no practice2 that the people are shamefully rude1 cold and indolent1 and less active than ever1 while at the same time they enjoy the strong1 clear light of revelation concerning all right and wrong in the world4 ,well may we pray1 then1 as ,paul does here4 ,he says1 in effect3 ,you are well supplied3 the ,word is richly proclaimed to you--abundantly poured out upon you4 ,but ,i bend my knees to ,god1 praying that he may add his blessing to the ,word and grant you to behold his honor and praise and to be firmly established1 that the ,word may grow in you and yield fruit4 #ba4 ,feelingly does ,paul speak of praying for his followers4 ,he seems to say3 ,i must lie here imprisoned1 not privileged to be with you or to aid you in any way but by bending my knees--that is1 entreating and imploring ,god earnestly and in deep humility--to the end that ,god may grant you1 may effect in you1 what neither myself nor any other human being can accomplish--what ,i could not do even were ,i free and ever present with you4 ,,true ,,prayer ,,consists ,,not ,,in ,,outward ,,things4 #bb4 ,observe1 the apostle alludes to his prayer by naming its outward expression--bending the knees4 ,but the external posture1 if accompanied by nothing else1 is sheer hypocrisy4 ,when prayer is genuine1 possessing the fire by which it is kindled1 prompted by a sincere heart which recognizes its need and likewise the blessings that are ours as proclaimed in the ,word1 and when faith in ,god's ,word--in his promise--revives1 then the individual will be possessed with a fervor prompting him to fall upon his knees and pray for strength and for the power of the ,spirit4 ,when the ,spirit of prayer is enkindled and burns within the heart1 the body will responsively assume the proper attitude2 involuntarily1 eyes and hands will be upraised and knees bended4 ,witness the examples of ,moses1 ,david and even ,christ himself4 ,when we pray with glowing hearts1 external gestures will take care of themselves4 ,they are prompted by the ,spirit1 and therefore are not to be denounced4 ,if assumed1 unbidden of the ,spirit1 they are hypocritical2 as1 for instance1 when one presumes outwardly to serve ,god and perform good works while his heart is far away4 ,the prophet says 7,is #bi1 #ac71 ,this people draw nigh unto me1 and with their mouth and with their lips do honor me1 but have removed their heart far from me4 #bc4 ,by the declaration1 ,i bow my knees unto the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,paul establishes the doctrine that no one should presume to speak to ,god1 to entreat him for any favor1 unless approaching1 as ,paul does here1 in the name of the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,for ,christ is our sole ,mediator1 and no one need expect to be heard unless he approach the ,father in the name of that ,mediator and confess him ,lord given of ,god as intercessor for us and ruler of our bodies and souls4 ,prayer according to these conditions is approved4 ,strong faith1 however1 is necessary to lay hold of the comforting ,word1 picturing ,god in our hearts as the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 #bd4 ,the statement that ,christ is our ,lord is very comforting1 though we have made it terrifying by regarding ,christ as a stern and angry judge4 ,but the fact is1 he is ,lord for the sole purpose of securing us against harsh lords1 tyrants1 the devil1 the world1 death1 sin and every sort of misfortune4 ,we are his inheritance1 and therefore he will espouse our cause1 deliver us from violence and oppression of all kinds and better our condition4 ,the name ,lord1 then1 is altogether lovable and comforting to us who believe1 and gives us confidence of heart4 ,but still more comforting is it to know that our ,god1 our ,lord1 is the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the name ,lord stands for the complete ,godhead1 who gives himself to us4 ,therefore1 all we ask in this name must be abundantly bestowed4 ,naught is here for me but real help and pure grace4 ,for ,god designs to have me his child in ,christ1 placed above all things temporal and eternal4 ,,god ,,our ,,father4 #be4 ,paul further declares that ,god is not merely a father1 but the true ,father1 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named4 ,earthly fathers are so called because in a flesh and blood way they have begotten us1 or on account of their age and their claim to honor4 ,it is the universal custom to apply the term father to an old master4 ,in ,second ,kings #e1 #ac1 for instance1 the servants of ,naaman called their lord father4 ,paul's thought is3 ,all fatherhood on earth is but a semblance1 a shadow1 a painted image1 in comparison with the divine ,fatherhood of ,god4 #bf4 ,but reason can never see it so4 ,and only by the ,spirit's work can the heart recognize the fact4 ,reason may go so far as to regard ,god an angry and terrible judge1 one who makes the world1 even hell itself1 too narrow for it and leaves it without a foothold4 ,but it is impossible for natural reason to call ,god a father in sincerity2 much less to regard him the divine ,father1 preminent over all who bear the name of father in heaven or on earth1 of whom all other fathers are as mirror reflections4 #bg4 ,think of the attitude of an earthly father toward his child1 and of the child toward his father4 ,even where actual parenthood is lacking1 the name engenders a confidence affectionate and pleasing enough to kindle the brightest anticipations of great good to be received4 ,now1 if the sincere1 loyal designs of earthly fathers for their children are mere pretense compared to the blessed purposes of our heavenly ,father1 what must we look for from this heavenly ,father1 this ,father above all others8 ,paul would teach us to look at the proportions1 and from the confidence we repose in our natural fathers estimate the character of ,god as a ,father and what we may expect from him4 #bh4 ,he who can put his trust in ,god1 who can confidently rely upon him and sincerely cry1 ,thou art my beloved ,father6 need not fear to ask anything of ,god1 or that ,god will at all deny him4 ,his own heart will tell him that his petitions will be granted4 ,because of the strength of his confidence1 he cannot fail to secure his heart's desires4 ,thus ,god himself teaches us to break open heaven and lay him bare before our eyes that we may see who this ,father is4 ,thus ,paul is confident what he asks is pleasing to ,god and will be granted4 ,if we did the same we would1 doubtless1 have a like experience4 ,there are still people who pray4 ,it would be a blessing if there were many more4 ,then the ,gospel would make greater progress and impart to us greater power4 ,it is evident1 ,god be praised1 that all who rage against the ,gospel must be put to shame4 ,the more they rage1 the more the ,gospel spreads1 and all without our help or counsel1 only because ,god awakens hearts to pray that it may prosper1 even without our help4 ,the more fervently we pray1 the greater is ,god's pleasure to hear4 #bi4 ,what is the nature of the prayer ,paul here presents8 ,it is the same as the ,lord's ,prayer1 being particularly identical with the first1 second and third petitions4 ,in words of different sound but implying the very same thing1 ,paul briefly embraces these petitions--the hallowing of ,god's name and ,word in our midst1 and the destruction of the devil's kingdom and all evil--whatever is opposed to the ,word and will of ,god4 ,he says3 ,that he would grant you1 according to the riches of his glory1 that ye may be strengthened with power4 ,,god ,,lavish ,,in ,,his ,,blessings4 #cj4 ,sublime words are these1 wrung from a fervent heart4 ,evidently1 in the effort to express himself fully1 clearly and in language worthy of his subject1 the apostle finds words too weak and rare4 ,the fervor of his heart can be but poorly portrayed4 ,by the phrase1 according to the riches of his glory1 ,paul means to say3 ,such is the greatness of ,god's glory1 it deserves the title of riches4 ,for it is conducive to ,god's honor and praise that he gives abundantly4 ,these words reveal the nature of ,god1 proclaiming him the source whence we may expect all good1 and all aid in time of need4 ,he is ,god of all the world4 ,the reason the world has made many gods1 has invoked many saints1 is because it looks to them for aid and benefit4 ,the ,scriptures term gods certain individuals who do good and lend assistance to their fellows4 ,god says to ,moses 7,ex #g1 #a71 ,i have made thee as ,god a god to ,pharaoh4 #ca4 ,but ,god1 because of the abundance and lavishness of his gifts1 is entitled to greater honor and glory4 ,he is the true ,god1 to whom alone belongs all glory2 yea1 the riches of glory4 ,he pours out his blessings abundantly and above measure2 he is the source of all blessings in heaven and on earth4 ,even his most inferior creatures--water1 air1 the earth and its products--are so generously bestowed that we can appropriate only an infinitesimal part of them4 ,yet in our blindness and stupidity we do not see1 yea1 we utterly ignore the fact that ,god is the giver of these4 ,now1 how much more generous is ,god in spiritual blessings6 ,he has freely given himself--poured out himself--for us1 and also gifts and blessings of the highest order4 ,he has illumined us with a light bright enough to reveal to us the real character of the world1 the devil and the angels4 ,yes1 to show to us ,god's purposes1 present1 past and future4 ,thus we have all wisdom and all power over sin1 the devil and death1 being lords of all creatures4 ,in a word1 our riches are inexpressibly great4 #cb4 ,paul employs forcible words to record his prayer here4 ,he has firm confidence in ,god that the petition must be efficacious1 must penetrate the clouds and open heaven4 ,he does not say that ,god looks upon our merit and worthiness and for the sake of these grants our requests2 but for the sake of the riches of his glory4 ,we are not worthy his favors1 but his glory is worthy of our recognition1 and we are to honor him because he gratuitously lavishes his blessings upon us1 that his name alone may be hallowed4 ,only with a recognition of these facts may prayer be offered if it is to avail before ,god4 ,if ,god were to consider our merit1 very small would be the portion due us4 ,but if we are to be richly blessed1 it must come about through our recognition of pure grace as the source of our gifts1 and our praise of ,god's exceeding glory4 #cc4 ,but what are the blessings for which ,paul's prayer entreats8 ,something more than continuance of the ,word with his followers1 though it is a great and good gift even to have the ,word thoroughly taught3 he prays that the heart may taste the ,word and that it may be effectual in the life4 ,thus the apostle contrasts a knowledge of the ,word with the power of the ,word4 ,many have the knowledge1 but few the impelling and productive power that the results may be as we teach4 ,hence they are criticised and not without reason4 ,but our enemies cannot censure and reproach us to greater extent than to say that we preach and accept much good doctrine to no purpose2 that no one practices it and profits thereby2 that in fact we are morally worse than before we heard the doctrines1 and consequently it would have been better had things remained as they were4 ,,we ,,should ,,pray ,,for ,,the ,,power ,,of ,,the ,,word4 #cd4 ,what answer shall we make8 ,this3 ,in the first place1 considering our unsatisfactory condition and the lack of power with the ,word1 we have great reason to pray with the earnestness ,paul's example teaches4 ,and secondly1 though our enemies see little improvement and few fruits of the ,gospel1 it is not theirs to judge4 ,they think we ought to do nothing but work miracles--raising the dead and bordering the ,christian's walk with roses1 until naught but holiness obtains everywhere4 ,this being the case1 where would be the need to pray8 ,we cannot1 nor dare we1 pray for what we already have1 but must thank ,god for it4 ,but1 since ,paul and other ,scripture authorities command us to pray1 a defect somewhere in our strength is indicated4 ,otherwise why say they so much about it8 ,thus ,paul himself acknowledges the ,ephesians were weak4 ,he complains of the same weakness in other ,epistles and especially in those to the ,corinthians4 ,everywhere he urges them to do and live as they had been taught4 ,the only reason ,paul advocates this is that he saw1 as we now see1 that everywhere they fail1 and things are not as they should be4 ,in spite of the fact that not everyone's conduct is satisfactory1 some do mend their ways2 and the happy condition obtains that many consciences are assured and many former evils are now avoided4 ,if the two sides of the question were carefully compared1 we would see much advantage with us not now noticed4 ,again1 even though we are somewhat weak1 is that any reason for saying all is lost8 ,further1 there is naught else but filth and corruption in the ranks of our enemies1 which they would gladly adorn with our weakness even4 ,but they must look upon their way as excellent and ours as odious4 #ce4 ,let them go on with their judging4 ,we admit we are not all strong1 but it is also true that were there no weakness in our ranks1 we would have no need of prayer1 perseverance1 exhortation and daily preaching4 ,in condemning the ,gospel because of our admitted weakness1 something we ourselves confess1 our enemies are themselves judged before ,god by their judging us4 ,it is possible for me to be truly in the kingdom of grace and at the same time outwardly weak enough to be regarded of men as a knave4 ,my faith is not apparent to men1 but ,god sees it and ,i am myself sensible of it4 ,you meantime erroneously judge me by my outward conduct1 thus bringing judgment upon yourself4 ,we are aware of1 and also lament1 our weakness and imperfection4 ,hence we cry and groan1 and pray to ,god to grant us strength and power4 ,,world ,,sees ,,not ,,inner ,,marks ,,of ,,christians4 #cf4 ,a third answer to our enemies is3 ,we are certain that wherever the ,word of ,god is proclaimed1 the fruits of the same must exist4 ,we have the ,word of ,god1 and therefore the ,spirit of ,god must be with us4 ,and where the ,spirit is1 faith must obtain1 however weak it may be4 ,though visible evidence may be lacking1 yet inevitably there must be some among us who daily pray1 while we may not be aware of it4 ,it is reasonably to be expected that our enemies should judge erroneously1 because they look for outward evidences of ,christianity1 which are not forthcoming4 ,the ,word is too sublime to pass under our judgment2 it is the province of the ,word to judge us4 ,the world1 however1 while unwilling to be judged and convicted by us1 essays to judge and convict the ,word of ,god4 ,here ,god steps in4 ,it would be a pity for the worldly to see a godly ,christian1 so ,god blinds them and they miss his kingdom4 ,as ,isaiah says 7ch4 #bf1 #aj73 ,in the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully1 and will not behold the majesty of ,jehovah4 ,for this reason1 few real ,christians come under the observation of cavilers2 the latter1 in general1 observe fools and fanatics1 at whom they maliciously stumble and take offense4 ,they are unworthy to behold ,god's honor in a godly ,christian upon whom the ,lord has poured out himself in fullness of blessing4 #cg4 ,let the real ,christian come into the presence of the caviler1 stand before his very eyes1 and the caviler will not see him4 ,let the fault-finder hear that one leads an irreproachable life and he will say3 ,heretics have behaved similarly1 but under a good appearance concealed poison4 ,let one be refractory and reckless1 and he must be a knave4 ,whatever we do1 they are not satisfied4 ,if we pipe1 they will not dance2 if we mourn1 they will not lament4 ,neither sweet nor sour appeals to them4 ,wisdom must permit herself to be schooled and governed by these cavilers1 as ,christ says in ,matthew #aa1 #ai4 ,thus ,god confounds and shames the world2 while all the time tolerating its judgment of himself1 he is ever careful to have the ,gospel inculcated1 even though the worldly burst with rage4 ,i say these things to teach us to be careful not to join the caviler in judging presumptuously the work and ,word of ,god4 ,notwithstanding our weakness1 we are yet certain the kingdom of ,god is in our midst so long as we have his ,word and daily pray for its efficacy and for an increase of our faith1 as the following words recommend3 ,that ye may be strengthened with power through his ,spirit in the inward man4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,imparts ,,real ,,strength4 #ch4 ,the apostle here speaks with varied expression4 ,he leaves little honor and glory1 as it were1 for free-will1 but desires for his followers the heavenly power imparted through the ,holy ,spirit4 ,there is also a power of the world1 and a spirit--the devil1 the prince of the world1 who blinds and hardens men's hearts4 ,he boasts of himself and imparts to men a spirit of daring in his purpose to suppress and exterminate ,christian doctrine4 ,but while worldings are courageous and daring1 so are ,christians1 and the latter are greater and far more powerful through the ,holy ,spirit1 and are undaunted by the world1 the devil1 death and all kinds of misfortune4 ,this is real spiritual strength4 ,the ,hebrew word spirit might well be rendered bold1 undaunted courage4 ,spiritual strength is not the strength of muscle and bone2 it is true courage--boldness of heart4 ,weakness1 on the contrary1 is faint-heartedness1 timidity1 lack of courage4 #ci4 ,paul's meaning1 then1 is3 ,i desire for you1 and pray ,god to grant you1 that bold1 dauntless courage and that strong1 cheerful spirit which will not be terrified by poverty1 shame1 sin1 the devil or death1 but is confident that nothing can harm us and we will never be in need4 ,the courage of the world--the spirit of the world--holds out only until exhaustion of the stores whereon it relies4 ,as the saying is1 ,wealth gives temporal boldness1 but the soul must rely on ,god alone4 ,the boldness resulting from riches and worldly power is haughty and makes its boast in earthly things4 ,but the soul has no hoarded treasure4 ,in ,god alone it braves every evil2 it has a courage and heart very different from that of the world4 ,this is the strength for which ,paul prays on behalf of his converts1 a strength not inherent in flesh and blood4 ,the possessor thereof does not rely and build on his own powers and riches1 nor upon any human help and support4 ,this strength dwells in the inner man4 ,it is the trust of the dauntless1 cheerful heart in ,god's grace and assistance1 and in these alone4 ,the heart which so trusts has no fear4 ,it possesses by faith abundance of riches and pleasures--,god himself with all his blessings4 ,at the same time1 to human sight only want1 weakness and terror may be apparent4 ,that ,christ may dwell in your hearts through faith4 #dj4 ,the ,holy ,spirit brings ,christ into the heart and teaches it to know him4 ,he imparts warmth and courage through faith in ,christ4 ,paul everywhere intimates that no man should presume to approach ,god otherwise than through ,christ1 the one ,mediator4 ,now1 if ,christ dwells in my heart and regulates my entire life1 it matters not though my faith be weak4 ,christ is not mere bone but also flesh4 ,yes1 he has blisters and boils and sins of which he is not ashamed1 notwithstanding the eminent saints may hold their noses thereat4 ,and where he dwells all fullness is1 let the individual be weak or strong as ,god permits4 ,,christ ,,embraced ,,only ,,by ,,the ,,heart4 #da4 ,for ,christ to dwell in the heart is simply for the heart to know him2 in other words1 to understand who he is and what we are to expect from him--that he is our ,saviour1 through whom we may call ,god our ,father and may receive the ,spirit who imparts courage to brave all trials4 ,it is thus that ,christ dwells with us1 in our hearts4 ,only so can he be embraced2 for he is not an inanimate thing1 but the living ,god4 ,how does man lay hold of the ,saviour in the heart8 ,not by embracing him intellectually4 ,it is accomplished only by living faith4 ,christ will not permit himself to be received by works1 nor to be apprehended with mental vision2 he will consent only to be embraced by the heart4 ,if your faith be true and on a firm foundation1 you have and feel ,christ in your heart and are aware of all he thinks and does in heaven and on earth--how he rules through his ,word and his ,spirit1 and the attitude of those who have ,christ and those who have him not4 #db4 ,paul desires ,christ to be efficacious in the hearts of his followers unto the full realization of the promises of the ,word--liberation from sin and death1 and assurance of grace and eternal life4 ,it is impossible for the heart having such experience to be other than firm and courageous to oppose the terrors of the devil and the world4 ,but the heart which has not yet arrived at this point is here advised what course to take1 namely1 to pray ,god for such faith and strength1 and to avail himself of the prayers of others to the same end4 ,so much in regard to faith2 now follows the mention of love4 ,that ye1 being rooted and grounded in love4 ,,love1 ,,the ,,expression ,,of ,,faith4 #dc4 ,this is an unusual way of speaking4 ,is it not in faith that we are to be rooted1 engrafted and grounded8 ,why1 then1 does ,paul here substitute love8 ,i reply3 ,faith1 it is true1 is the essential thing1 but love shows whether or no faith is real and the heart confident and courageous in ,god4 ,where one has an unquestioning confidence that ,god is his ,father1 necessarily1 be his faith never so weak1 that faith must find expression in word and deed4 ,he will serve his neighbor in teaching and in extending to him a helping hand4 ,this is what ,paul calls being rooted and grounded in love--having the conscious experience of possessing true faith4 ,love is the test that determines the reality of faith4 ,peter says 7#b ,pet #a1 #aj71 ,give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure4 ,that is1 proceed to good works that others may see and you experience that you have true faith4 ,until you do1 you will always be uncertain1 vacillating1 superficial in heart1 not rooted and grounded4 ,so by these two clauses ,paul teaches1 first1 that we should have in our hearts genuine faith toward ,god2 and second1 that faith should find expression in loving service to one's neighbor4 ,may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth4 ,,true ,,christians ,,find ,,christ ,,everywhere4 #dd4 ,these words represent another feature of the apostle's desire for his ,christians to be established and comforted in ,god through faith1 and rooted and grounded in love toward their neighbors4 ,when you are thus strengthened1 he would say1 and are perseveringly pressing forward1 you will be able to grasp with all saints the four parts1 to increase therein and to appreciate them more and more4 ,faith alone effects this apprehension4 ,love is not the moving force here1 but it contributes by making faith manifest4 #de4 ,some teachers would make these words reflect and measure the holy cross4 ,but ,paul does not say a word about the cross4 ,he simply says1 in effect3 ,that you may apprehend all things2 may see the length and breadth1 the height and depth1 of ,christ's kingdom4 ,this condition obtains when my heart has reached the point where ,christ cannot make the spiritual life too long or too wide for me to follow1 nor high enough or deep enough to cause my fall from him or his ,word2 the point where ,i may be satisfied that wherever ,i go he is1 and that he rules in all places1 however long or broad1 deep or high1 the situation from either a temporal or eternal point of view4 ,no matter how long or wide ,i measure1 ,i find him everywhere4 ,david says 7,ps #aci1 #g-h73 ,whither shall ,i go from thy ,spirit8 or whither shall ,i flee from thy presence8 ,if ,i ascend up into heaven1 thou art there3 if ,i make my bed in ,sheol1 behold1 thou art there4 ,christ rules eternally4 ,his length and breadth1 his depth and height1 are unlimited4 ,if ,i descend into hell1 my heart and my faith tell me he is there4 #df4 ,the sum of the matter is this3 ,depressed or exalted1 circumscribed in whatsoever way1 dragged hither or thither1 ,i still find ,christ4 ,for he holds in his hands everything in heaven or on earth1 and all are subject to him--angels1 the devil1 the world1 sin1 death and hell4 ,therefore1 so long as he dwells in my heart1 ,i have courage1 wherever ,i go1 ,i cannot be lost4 ,i dwell where ,christ my ,lord dwells4 ,this1 however1 is a situation impossible to reason4 ,should reason ascend a yard above the earth or descend a yard below1 or be deprived of the tangible things of the present1 it would have to despair4 ,we ,christians are1 through ,christ1 better fortified4 ,we are assured that he dwells everywhere1 be it in honor or dishonor1 hunger1 sorrow1 illness1 imprisonment1 death or life1 blessing or affliction4 ,it is ,paul's desire for the ,ephesians that ,god give them grace and strength to have such heart-apprehension of his kingdom4 ,he concludes the details of his prayer in these words3 ,and to know the love of ,christ which passeth knowledge1 that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of ,god4 #dg4 ,he means3 ,i desire you1 in addition to having faith and apprehending the four proportions of ,christ's kingdom1 to know the love of ,christ we should have--the love ,christ bears toward us1 and the love we owe our neighbor4 ,this knowledge transcends all other1 even familiarity with the ,gospel2 for1 know as much as you may1 your knowledge will avail little or nothing without love4 #dh4 ,paul's desire1 briefly summed up1 is that the faith of ,christians may be strengthened unto efficacy1 and that love may be warm and fervent1 and the heart filled with the fullness of ,god4 ,filled unto all the fullness of ,god means1 if we follow the ,hebrew1 filled with everything ,god's bounty supplies1 full of ,god1 adorned with his grace and the gifts of his ,spirit--the ,spirit who gives us steadfastness1 illuminates us with his light1 lives within us his life1 saves us with his salvation1 and with his love enkindles love in us2 in short1 it means having ,god himself and all his blessings dwelling in us in fullness and being effective to make us wholly divine--not so that we possess merely something of ,god1 but all his fullness4 ,,christian ,,perfection4 #di4 ,much has been written about the way we are to become godlike4 ,some have constructed ladders whereby we are to ascend to heaven1 and others similar things4 ,but this is all patchwork4 ,in this passage is designated the truest way to attain godlikeness4 ,it is to become filled to the utmost with ,god1 lacking in no particular2 to be completely permeated with him until every word1 thought and deed1 the whole life in fact1 be utterly godly4 #ej4 ,but let none imagine such fullness can be attained in this life4 ,we may indeed desire it and pray for it1 like ,paul here1 but we will not find a man thus perfect4 ,we stand1 however1 upon the fact that we desire such perfection and groan after it4 ,so long as we live in the flesh1 we are filled with the fullness of ,adam4 ,hence it is necessary for us continually to pray ,god to replace our weakness with courage1 and to put into our hearts his ,spirit to fill us with grace and strength and rule and work in us absolutely4 ,we ought all to desire this state for one another4 ,to this end may ,god grant us grace4 ,amen4 ,seventeenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,ephesians #d1 #a-f4 #a ,i1 therefore1 the prisoner in the ,lord1 beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called1 #b with all lowliness and meekness1 with longsuffering1 forbearing one another in love2 #c giving diligence to keep the unity of the ,spirit in the bond of peace4 #d ,there is one body1 and one ,spirit1 even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling2 #e one ,lord1 one faith1 one baptism1 #f one ,god and ,father of all1 who is over all1 and through all1 and in all4 ,,the ,,christian ,,calling ,,and ,,unity4 #a4 ,this1 too1 is a beautiful sermon1 delivered by ,paul to the ,ephesians1 concerning the good works of ,christians1 who believe and are obedient to the doctrine of the ,gospel4 ,in the knowledge of good works ,paul desires ,christians to grow and increase1 as we learned in the epistle for last ,sunday4 ,the ground of all doctrine1 of all right living1 the supreme and eternal treasure of him who is a ,christian in the sight of ,god1 is faith in ,christ4 ,it alone secures forgiveness of sins and makes us children of ,god4 ,now1 where this faith is1 fruits should follow as evidence that ,christians in their lives honor and obey ,god4 ,they are necessary for ,god's glory and for the ,christian's own honor and eternal reward before him4 #b4 ,paul1 remembering the imprisonment and tribulations he suffered because of the ,gospel and for the advantage1 as he before said1 of the ,ephesians1 gives the admonition here4 ,he would have them1 in return for his sufferings1 honor the ,gospel in their lives4 ,first he names a general rule of life for ,christians4 ,to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called4 ,,the ,,christian ,,calling4 #c4 ,the chief thing that should influence a ,christian's outward walk is the remembrance of his calling and appointment by ,god4 ,he should be mindful of why he is called a ,christian1 and live consistently4 ,he must shine before the world2 that is1 through his life and ,god's work1 the ,word and the name of ,christ the ,lord must be exalted4 ,christ exhorts his disciples3 ,even so let your light shine before men2 that they may see your good works1 and glorify your ,father who is in heaven4 ,mt #e1 #af4 #d4 ,similarly1 ,paul would say3 ,you have received ,god's grace and his ,word and are a blessed people4 ,in ,christ all your needs are blessedly supplied4 ,be mindful of this and remember you are called to a far different and vastly higher life than others know4 ,show by your manner of living that you seek a higher good than the world seeks--indeed1 that you have received far greater blessings4 ,let your lives honor and glorify the ,lord who has given you such blessings4 ,give no occasion for dishonoring your treasured faith1 or for scorning his ,word4 ,rather1 influence men by your godly walk and good works to believe in ,christ and to glorify him4 #e4 ,let the ,christian know his earthly life is not unto himself1 nor for his own sake2 his life and work here belong to ,christ1 his ,lord4 ,hence must his walk be such as shall contribute to the honor and glory of his ,master1 whom he should so serve that he may be able to say with ,paul1 not only with respect to the spiritual life--the life of faith and of righteousness by grace--but also with respect to its fruits--the outward conduct3 ,it is no longer ,i that live1 but ,christ liveth in me4 ,gal #b1 #bj4 ,the ,christian's manner of life may be styled walking in ,christ2 yes1 as ,paul elsewhere has it 7,rom #ac1 #ad71 putting on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 like a garment or an ornament4 ,the world is to recognize ,christ by his shining in us4 #f4 ,but the so-called ,christian life that does not honor ,christ makes its sin the more heinous for the name it bears4 ,every sin the people of ,god commit is a provocation of ,jehovah2 not only in the act of disobedience itself1 but also in the transgression of the second commandment4 ,the enormity of the sin is magnified by the conditions that make it a blasphemy of ,god's name and an occasion of offense to others4 ,paul says in ,romans #b1 #bd3 ,for the name of ,god is blasphemed among the ,gentiles because of you4 ,so a ,christian should1 in his life1 by all means guard the honor of ,god--of ,christ4 ,he must take heed that he be not guilty of blaspheming that name and of doing wickedness4 ,the devil1 aided by the world1 construes every act1 when possible1 to reflect upon ,god's honor and glory4 ,his purpose is to manifest his bitter hatred against ,christ and the ,word2 also to injure the ,church by charging offenses1 thus deterring unbelievers from embracing the ,gospel and causing the weak to fall away4 #g4 ,to guard against such disaster1 ,christians should be particularly careful to give1 in their conduct1 no occasion for offense1 and to value the name and honor of their ,god too highly to permit blasphemy of them4 ,they should prefer to lose their own honor1 their wealth1 their physical well-being1 even their lives1 rather than that these1 their most precious possessions and greatest blessings1 should suffer disgrace4 ,let them remember that upon keeping sacred the name and honor of ,god depends their own standing before ,god and men4 ,god promises 7#a ,sam #b1 #cj71 ,them that honor me ,i will honor4 ,but pursuing the opposite course1 ,christians bring upon themselves ,god's sternest wrath and effect their own rejection and shame4 ,for he says further3 ,they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed4 ,and in the second commandment ,god threatens certain and terrible punishment to abusers of his name2 that is1 to them who do not employ it to his honor and praise4 #h4 ,well may every ,christian examine his own life to see if he is careful to guard against offense to the ,gospel and to regulate his words and conduct by ,god's first commandment1 making them contribute to the honor and praise of the divine name and the holy ,gospel4 ,weighty indeed and well calculated to cause complaint are the sins to which every ,christian is liable in this respect2 well may he avoid them lest he heap to himself the wrath of ,god4 ,especially need we be careful in these last and evil times when the ,gospel is everywhere suppressed by great offenses4 ,man was created to be the image of ,god1 that through this his image ,god might himself be expressed4 ,god's image1 then1 should be reflected in the lives of men as a likeness in a glass1 and a ,christian can have no higher concern than to live without dishonor to the name of ,god4 ,,admonition ,,to ,,special ,,christian ,,virtues4 #i4 ,such is the first part of ,paul's admonition concerning the general life of ,christians4 ,he goes on to make special mention of several good works which ,christians should diligently observe3 humility1 meekness1 long-suffering1 preservation of the unity of the ,spirit1 and so on4 ,these have been specially treated before1 in other epistle lessons1 particularly those from ,peter4 ,humility1 for instance--mentioned in today's lesson--is taken up the third ,sunday after ,trinity2 patience and meekness1 the second ,sunday after ,easter1 and the fifth ,sunday after ,trinity4 #aj4 ,the text here presents good works sufficient to occupy all ,christians in every station of life2 we need not seek other nor better ones4 ,paul would not impose upon ,christians peculiar works1 something unrelated to the ordinary walks of life1 as certain false saints taught and practiced4 ,these teachers commanded separation from society1 isolation in the wilderness1 the establishment of monkeries and the performance of self-appointed works4 ,such works they exalted as superior to ordinary ,christian virtues4 ,indeed1 their practice amounted to rejection of the latter1 and they actually regarded them as dangerous4 ,the ,papacy has in the past shamelessly styled the observance of ,christian good works as worldly living1 and men were compelled to believe they would find it hard to reach heaven unless they became ecclesiasts--for they regarded only the monks and priests worthy--or at least made themselves partakers of the works of ecclesiasts by purchasing their merits4 ,but ,paul--in fact1 the entire ,scriptures--teaches no other good works than ,god enjoins upon all men in the ,ten ,commandments1 and which pertain to the common conditions of life4 ,true1 these make not such brilliant show in the eyes of the world as do the self-appointed ceremonials constituting the divine service of hypocrites2 nevertheless1 they are true1 worthy1 good and profitable works in the sight of ,god and man4 ,what can be more acceptable to ,god and advantageous to man than a life lived1 in its own calling1 in the way that contributes to the honor of ,god1 and that by its example influences others to love ,god's ,word and to praise his name8 ,moreover1 what virtues1 of all man possesses1 serve him better than humility1 meekness1 patience and harmony of mind8 #aa4 ,now1 where is a better opportunity for the exercise of these virtues than amidst the conditions in which ,god destined us to live--in society1 where we mingle with one another8 ,upon these conditions1 self-appointed1 unusual lives and monastic holiness have no bearing4 ,for what other person is profited by your entering a cloister1 making yourself peculiar1 refusing to live as your fellows do8 ,who is benefited by your cowl1 your austere countenance1 your hard bed8 ,who comes to know ,god or to have a peaceful conscience by such practices on your part1 or who is thereby influenced to love his neighbor8 ,indeed1 how can you serve your neighbor by such a life8 ,how manifest your love1 humility1 patience and meekness if you are unwilling to live among men8 if you so strenuously adhere to your self-appointed orders as to allow your neighbor to suffer want before you would dishonor your rules8 #ab4 ,astonishing fact1 that the world is merged in darkness so great it utterly disregards the ,word of ,god and the conditions he designed for our daily living4 ,if we preach to the world faith in ,god's ,word1 the world receives it as heresy4 ,if we speak of works instituted of ,god himself and conditions of his own appointing1 the world regards it as idle talk2 it knows better4 ,to live a simple ,christian life in one's own family1 to faithfully perform the duties of a man-servant or maid-servant--,oh1 that1 it says1 is merely the following of worldly pursuits4 ,to do good works you must set about it in a different way4 ,you must creep into a corner1 don a cap1 make pilgrimages to some saint2 then you may be able to help yourself and others to gain heaven4 ,if the question be asked1 ,why do so8 where has ,god commanded it8 there is1 according to their theory1 really no answer to make but this3 ,our ,lord ,god knows nothing about the matter2 he does not understand what good works are4 ,how can he teach us8 ,he must himself be tutored by these remarkably enlightened saints4 ,,fruits ,,of ,,original ,,sin4 #ac4 ,but all this error results from that miserable inherent plague1 that evil termed original sin4 ,it is a blind wickedness1 refusing to recognize the ,word of ,god and his will and work1 but introducing instead things of its own heathenish imagination4 ,it draws such a thick covering over eyes1 ears and hearts that it renders men unable to perceive how the simple life of a ,christian1 of husband or wife1 of the lower or the higher walks of life1 can be beautified by honoring the ,word of ,god4 ,original sin will not be persuaded to the faithful performance of the works that ,god testifies are well pleasing to him when wrought by believers in ,christ4 ,in a word1 universal experience proves that to perform really good works is a special and remarkable grace to which few attain2 while the great mass of souls aspiring after holiness vainly busy themselves with worthless works1 being deceived into thinking them great1 and thus make themselves1 as ,paul says1 unto every good work reprobate4 ,tit #a1 #af4 ,this fruitless effort is one evil result of the error of human ideas of holiness and the practice of self-chosen works4 #ad4 ,another error is the hindrance--yes1 the suppression and destruction--of the beautiful virtues of humility1 meekness1 patience and spiritual harmony here commended of ,paul4 ,at the same time the devil is given occasion to encourage fiendish blasphemy4 ,in every instance where the ,word of ,god is set aside for humanly-appointed works1 differing views and theories must obtain4 ,one introduces this and another that1 each striving for first recognition2 then a third endeavors to improve upon their doctrine4 ,consequently divisions and factions ensue as numerous as the teachers and their creeds2 as exemplified in the countless sects to this time prevalent in ,popedom1 and in the factious spirits of all time4 ,under such circumstances1 none of the virtues like humility1 meekness1 patience1 love1 can have place4 ,opposite conditions must prevail1 since harmony of hearts and minds is lacking4 ,one teacher haughtily rejects another1 and if his own opinions fail to receive recognition and approval1 he displays anger1 envy and hatred4 ,he will neither affiliate with nor tolerate him whose practices accord not with his own4 #ae4 ,on the other hand1 the ,christian life1 the life of faith with its fruits1 controlled as it is by the ,word of ,god1 is in every way conducive to the preservation of love and harmony1 and to the promotion of all virtues4 ,it interferes not with the ,god-ordained relations of life and their attendant obligations upon men--the requirements of social order1 the duties of father and mother1 of son and daughter1 master and mistress1 servant and maid4 ,all life's relations are confirmed by it as valid and its duties as vital4 ,the ,christian faith bids each person in his life1 and all in common1 to be diligent in the works of love1 humility1 patience4 ,it teaches that one be not intolerant of another1 but rather render him his due1 remembering that he whose condition in life is the most insignificant can be equally upright and blessed before ,god with the occupant of the most significant position4 ,again1 it teaches that man must have patience with the weakness of his fellow1 being mindful of how others must bear with his own imperfections4 ,in short1 it says one must manifest to another the love and kindness he would have that other extend to him4 #af4 ,to this ,christian attainment1 contributes very largely the single fact that a ,christian is conscious he has1 through ,christ1 the grace of ,god1 the forgiveness of sins and eternal life4 ,and these not for his own merits or peculiar life and works1 but because he is1 no matter how insignificant in condition before the world1 a child of ,god and blessed2 a partaker1 if he but believes1 in all the blessings of ,christ1 sharing equally with the most eminent saint4 ,so1 then1 he need not look about for works not enjoined upon him4 ,he need not covet those wrought in prominence and by the aid of great gifts of ,god--of unusual attainments4 ,let him confine himself to his own sphere2 let him serve ,god in his vocation1 remembering that ,god makes him1 too1 his instrument in his own place4 ,again1 the occupant of a higher sphere1 the possessor of higher gifts and accomplishments1 who likewise serves in his vocation received from ,god1 should learn and exhibit harmony of mind4 ,so shall he continue humble and be tolerant of others4 ,he should remember that he is not worthier in the eyes of ,god because of his greater gifts1 but rather is under deeper obligation to serve his fellows1 and that ,god can use the possessor of lesser gifts for even greater accomplishments than himself can boast4 ,having so learned1 he will be able to manifest patience1 meekness and love toward his weak and imperfect neighbors1 considering them members of ,christ with him1 and partakers of the same grace and salvation4 ,,the ,,unity ,,of ,,the ,,spirit4 #ag4 ,now you have the reason why the apostles ,paul and ,peter everywhere so faithfully enforce this virtue1 the unity of the ,spirit4 ,it is the most necessary and beautiful grace that ,christians possess4 ,it holds together the ,christian community1 preventing factions and schisms1 as before explained4 ,so ,paul here admonishes men to be careful for harmony1 making every endeavor to preserve it4 ,the term unity of the ,spirit is used to make plain the apostle's meaning4 ,he would thus emphasize oneness of doctrine--the one true faith4 ,since the ,holy ,spirit is present only where there is knowledge of and faith in the ,gospel of ,christ1 unity of the ,spirit implies a unity of faith4 ,above all things1 then1 the effort must be to preserve1 in the ,church1 the doctrine of the ,scriptures1 pure and in its unity4 #ah4 ,one of the wickedest offenses possible to commit against the ,church is the stirring up of doctrinal discord and division1 a thing the devil encourages to the utmost4 ,this sin usually has its rise with certain haughty1 conceited1 self-seeking leaders who desire peculiar distinction for themselves and strive for personal honor and glory4 ,they harmonize with none and would think themselves disgraced were they not honored as superior and more learned individuals than their fellows1 a distinction they do not merit4 ,they will give honor to no one1 even when they have to recognize the superiority of his gifts over their own4 ,in their envy1 anger1 hatred and vengefulness1 they seek occasion to create factions and to draw people to themselves4 ,therefore ,paul exhorts first to the necessary virtue of love1 having which men will be enabled to exercise humility1 patience and forbearance toward one another4 #ai4 ,the character of the evils resulting to the ,church from divisions and discords in doctrine is evident from the facts4 ,many are deceived2 the masses immediately respond to new doctrine brilliantly presented in specious words by presumptuous individuals thirsting for fame4 ,more than that1 many weak but well-meaning ones fall to doubting1 uncertain where to stand or with whom to hold4 ,consequently men reject and blaspheme the ,christian doctrine and seek occasion to dispute it4 ,many become reckless pleasure-lovers1 disregarding all religion and ignoring the ,word of ,god4 ,further1 even they who are called ,christians come to have hard feelings against one another1 and1 figuratively1 bite and devour in their hate and envy4 ,consequently their love grows cold and faith is extinguished4 #bj4 ,of so much disturbance in the ,church1 and of the resulting injuries to souls1 are guilty those conceited1 factious leaders who do not adhere to the true doctrine1 preserving the unity of the ,spirit1 but seek to institute something new for the sake of advancing their own ideas and their own honor1 or gratifying their revenge4 ,they thus bring upon themselves damnation infinitely more intolerable than others suffer4 ,christians1 then1 should be careful to give no occasion for division or discord1 but to be diligent1 as ,paul here admonishes1 to preserve unity4 ,and this is not an easy thing to do1 for among ,christians occasions frequently arise provoking self-will1 anger and hatred4 ,the devil is always at hand to stir and blow the flame of discord4 ,let ,christians take heed they do not give place to the promptings of the devil and of the flesh4 ,they must strive against them1 submitting to all suffering1 and performing all demands1 whether honor1 property1 physical welfare or life itself be involved1 in the effort to prevent1 so far as in them lies1 any disturbance of the unity of doctrine1 of faith and of ,spirit4 ,there is one body1 and one ,spirit1 even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling2 one ,lord1 one faith1 one baptism1 one ,god and ,father of all4 #ba4 ,christians should feel bound to maintain the unity of the ,spirit1 since they are all members of one body and partakers of the same spiritual blessings4 ,they have the same priceless treasures--one ,god and ,father in heaven1 one ,lord and ,savior1 one ,word1 baptism and faith2 in short1 one and the same salvation1 a blessing common to all whereof one has as much as another1 and cannot obtain more4 ,what occasion1 then1 for divisions or for further seeking8 #bb4 ,here ,paul teaches what the true ,christian ,church is and how it may be identified4 ,there is not more than one ,church1 or people of ,god1 one earth4 ,this one ,church has one faith1 one baptism1 one confession of ,god the ,father and of ,jesus ,christ4 ,its members faithfully hold1 and abide by1 these common truths4 ,every one desiring to be saved and to come to ,god must be incorporated into this ,church1 outside of which no one will be saved4 #bc4 ,unity of the ,church does not consist in similarity of outward form of government1 likeness of ,law1 tradition and ecclesiastical customs1 as the ,pope and his followers claim4 ,they would exclude from the ,church all not obedient to them in these outward things1 though members of the one faith1 one baptism1 and so on4 ,the ,church is termed one holy1 catholic or ,christian ,church1 because it represents one plain1 pure ,gospel doctrine1 and an outward confession thereof1 always and everywhere1 regardless of dissimilarity of physical life1 or of outward ordinances1 customs and ceremonies4 #bd4 ,but they are not members of the true ,church of ,christ who1 instead of preserving unity of doctrine and oneness of ,christian faith1 cause divisions and offenses--as ,paul says 7,rom #af1 #ag7--;by the human doctrines and self-appointed works for which they contend1 imposing them upon all ,christians as necessary4 ,they are perverters and destroyers of the ,church1 as we have elsewhere frequently shown4 ,the consolation of the true doctrine is ours1 and we hold it in opposition to ,popedom1 which accuses us of having withdrawn from them1 and so condemns us as apostates from the ,church4 ,they are1 however1 themselves the real apostates1 persecuting the truth and destroying the unity of the ,spirit under the name and title of the ,church and of ,christ4 ,therefore1 according to the command of ,god1 all men are under obligation to shun them and withdraw from them4 ,eighteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #a ,corinthians #a1 #d-i4 #d ,i thank my ,god always concerning you1 for the grace of ,god which was given you in ,christ ,jesus2 #e that in everything ye were enriched in him1 in all utterance and all knowledge2 #f even as the testimony of ,christ was confirmed in you3 #g so that ye come behind in no gift2 waiting for the revelation of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 #h who shall also confirm you unto the end1 that ye be unreprovable in the day of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 #i ,god is faithful1 through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his ,son ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,,treasure ,,christians ,,have ,,in ,,the ,,gospel4 #a4 ,we have before us the opening words of the ,epistle to the ,corinthians1 which ,paul was moved to write because of unpleasant conditions in the ,church at ,corinth after his departure4 ,divisions had arisen and sad confusion prevailed in doctrine and life4 ,hence the apostle was constrained to rebuke their wickedness and correct their infirmities4 ,because of these wholesome admonitions1 the reading and heeding of this epistle is not only profitable but essential to this day2 for the devil takes no respite1 but whenever the ,gospel is preached in its purity he mixes with the children of ,god and sows his seed4 #b4 ,paul intends to be rather severe--even caustic--but he begins very leniently1 showing them what they have received through the ,gospel4 ,his purpose is to arouse their gratitude to ,god1 and to induce them1 for his honor and glory1 to be harmonious in doctrine and life1 avoiding divisions and other offenses4 ,i thank my ,god always concerning you1 for the grace of ,god which was given you in ,christ ,jesus1 etc4 #c4 ,in other words1 ,paul would say3 ,dear brethren1 consider1 ,i pray you1 what abundant grace and gifts have been given you of ,god4 ,they are bestowed not because of the ,law1 or because of your righteousness1 your merits and works2 you are given no reason to exalt yourselves above others1 or to originate sects or schisms4 ,nay1 all these blessings have been freely given you in ,christ and for his sake1 through the preaching of the ,gospel4 ,the ,gospel is a grace which brings to you all manner of gifts1 by him enriching you in everything4 ,you lack nothing from ,god1 but you await this one thing1 that blessed day when ,christ will reveal himself to you with all those heavenly gifts which you now possess in faith4 #d4 ,in this wise he extols to them the preaching of the ,gospel 7as indeed he does on different occasions72 his purpose is to induce them to regard it most appreciatively4 ,he gives them an example of his own gratitude1 thanking ,god on their behalf1 for the purpose of calling forth their especial gratitude when they should consider what they formerly were and what they now had received through the ,gospel4 ,and again1 he would have them beware lest1 forgetful of their former misery and present grace1 they relapse into their old blindness4 ,a sad beginning in such backsliding had been made by factions in their midst1 who1 satiated with the ,gospel and indifferent to the abundant grace they enjoyed1 began to cast about for something else4 #e4 ,now observe3 ,if the exalted apostle and venerable teacher of the ,gentiles in his day had to witness in his own parish such factions and sects as those which1 in sinful security and ingratitude toward the ,gospel1 arose during his life1 what wonder is it that today1 when we do not have the excellent preachers and pious ,christians of those times1 there are similar sects8 ,we are aware of the great benefits bestowed upon us1 but at the same time we see and realize that the devil instigates divisions and scandals4 ,and the cause of these evils may be traced to our ingratitude2 we have quickly forgotten the ills we endured under the blindness of popery1 and how miserably we were deluded and tormented4 ,necessarily1 where ,god's mercies are lightly dismissed from the mind and disregarded1 gratitude and regard for ,god's ,word cannot be the result2 satiated1 listless ,christians go their way fancying that spiritual conditions always were and always will be as now4 #f4 ,the people1 therefore1 must be awakened to consider their former destitution1 the very wretchedness they were in4 ,the apostle later on vividly pictures such condition to his ,corinthians1 while here1 in the opening chapter1 he intimates to them1 in kind and courteous words1 to consider1 in the light of the ,gospel benefits they now enjoy1 what they lacked before and might be deprived of again4 #g4 ,therefore he says1 ,you now have received the grace whereby in everything ye are enriched4 ,formerly you had not this grace and would not have it today had not the ,gospel been preached to you4 ,you are enriched in everything pertaining to yonder life1 for it is not the purpose of the ,gospel to give earthly riches4 ,but in spiritual blessings ye come behind in no gift and have need of naught except this one thing1 that the ,lord himself should come4 ,this blessing you are yet to have1 and biding its advent you here live by the gifts and grace with which you were enriched1 until you are finally redeemed from the sinful1 wicked life of the world and from all its oppressions4 ,you must know1 and must thank ,god for it1 that you need not seek after any higher calling or better gifts1 thinking you have not all that is essential1 as the factious spirits would have you believe4 #h4 ,for in your own judgment1 what better thing could you have than is the ,christian's in his ,gospel and his faith8 ,he has assurance of sins forgiven and washed away in holy baptism1 of justification and holiness before ,god1 and of the fact that he is ,god's child and heir to eternal life4 ,furthermore1 although the ,christian is conscious of remaining weakness and sin1 yea1 although he be overcome by a fault1 he may avail himself of absolution1 comfort and strength through his fellow ,christians and by the aid of the sacraments2 and he has daily guidance for his conduct and faith in all the walks of life4 ,again1 he can call upon ,god in prayer in the day of trouble1 and the firm assurance is his that ,god will hear and help him4 ,what further can one desire1 or what more does he need1 than the knowledge that he is ,god's child through baptism and has ,god's ,word at hand for comfort and strength in weakness and sin8 ,do you consider it slight enrichment to have assurance of the fact that ,god himself is speaking to you and1 by means of the office of the ministry1 is effective in you1 teaching1 admonishing1 comforting1 sustaining you1 yea1 granting you victory over the devil1 death and all evil influences on earth8 #i4 ,formerly what would we not gladly have given and done for but a single ,gospel truth in our distress and trials of conscience6 ,true1 when one was discouraged or perplexed he was advised to seek and follow the counsel of some intelligent and judicious mind2 but such judicious one who might assist with his counsel was nowhere to be found4 ,for a wise man's counsel does not answer in such case4 ,the ,word of ,god alone suffices1 and you are to rely on it as if ,god himself revealed his counsel to you from heaven4 #aj4 ,as ,paul says1 it is great riches1 a precious treasure1 to possess in very fact the ,word of ,god and not to doubt that it is the ,word of ,god4 ,it is this that will answer2 this can comfort your heart and support it4 ,of spiritual benefits you know we had none under the tyranny and darkness of the ,pope4 ,at that time we suffered ourselves to be led and driven by his commandments1 vain human baubles1 by bulls1 lies1 invocation of saints1 indulgences1 masses1 monkery4 ,and we did whatever was enjoined in the name of the ,church1 solely to gain comfort and help1 that we might not despair of ,god's grace4 ,but instead of comforting us1 these things led us to the devil and thrust us into greater anguish and terror2 for there was nothing in the doctrine of the papists that could give us certainty4 ,indeed1 they themselves had to confess that by its teachings no man could or should be certain of his state of grace4 #aa4 ,yea1 they forced poor1 timid1 tempted hearts to dread and fear ,christ more than the devil even1 as ,i myself experienced full well4 ,i resorted to the dead--,st4 ,barbara1 ,st4 ,ann and other departed saints--regarding them as mediators between me and ,christ's wrath4 ,but this availed me nothing1 nor did it free me from a fearful and fugitive conscience4 ,there was not one among us all--and we were called very learned doctors of ,holy ,writ--who could have given true comfort from ,god's ,word1 saying3 ,this is ,god's ,word2 this one thing ,god asks of you1 that you honor him by accepting comfort2 believe and know that he forgives your transgressions and has no wrath against you4 ,if someone could have told me this1 ,i would have given all ,i possessed for the knowledge2 yea1 for such word of comfort ,i would not have taken in exchange the glory and the crowns of all kings1 for it would have restored my soul1 it would have refreshed and sustained my body and life4 #ab4 ,all this we should bear in mind1 by no means should we forget it2 that we may return thanks to ,god1 recounting the superior and wonderful gifts which have enriched us in all things4 ,we have besides the ,word1 free prayer and the ,lord's ,prayer1 knowing what to pray for and how to pray--knowledge common to the very children today1 thank ,god4 ,in former times1 all men1 especially we monks1 tormented themselves with lengthy repetitions in reading and singing2 yet our prayers were but chattering1 as the noise of geese over their food1 or of monks repeating a psalm4 #ac4 ,i1 too1 wanted to be a pious and godly monk and ,i prepared with earnest devotion for mass and for prayers4 ,but when most devout ,i went to the altar a doubter and left the altar a doubter4 ,when ,i had rendered my confession ,i still doubted1 and ,i doubted when ,i did not render it4 ,for we were wholly wrapped up in the erroneous idea that we could not pray and would not be heard unless we were absolutely clean and without sin1 like the saints in heaven4 ,it would have been much better not to pray at all and to have done something else1 than thus to take ,god's name in vain4 ,still1 we monks--in fact all the ecclesiastics--deluded the people1 promising them our prayers for their money and possessions1 actually selling our prayers1 though we did not even know that we prayed in a manner acceptable to ,god4 ,but today1 thank ,god1 we do know and understand1 not only what to pray for and how to approach ,god nothing doubting1 but we can also add a hearty ,amen1 believing that according to his promise he will certainly hear us4 ,,the ,,christian',s ,,treasure4 #ad4 ,the ,christian has indeed inestimable treasure4 ,in the first place he has the testimony of the ,word of ,god1 which is the word of eternal grace and comfort1 that he has a right and true conception of baptism1 the ,lord's ,supper1 the ,ten ,commandments and the ,creed4 ,in addition he has the sure refuge of ,god's promise to deliver us from every trouble in which we shall call upon him1 and to give us1 as he promised by the prophet ,zechariah 7#ab1 #aj71 the ,spirit of grace and of prayer4 ,and the ,christian1 by virtue of his enlightened understanding1 can wisely discern what are good works and what callings are pleasing to ,god2 on the other hand1 his judgment is equally true as to unprofitable and vain works and false services4 ,before1 we had not this wholesome knowledge4 ,we knew not what we believed1 or how we prayed and lived4 ,we sought comfort and salvation in self-devised trivialities1 in penances1 confessions and satisfactions1 in self-righteous works of monkery and in obedience to the commands of the ,pope4 ,we believed such works to be fully satisfactory and1 indeed1 the only things that were holy2 the pursuits of common ,christians we considered worldly and dangerous4 #ae4 ,in illustration of this idea1 a picture was exhibited--with the sanction of the ,pope--representing a great ship in the wild1 wide sea1 containing only the holy monks and the super-holy popes1 cardinals1 bishops1 etc41 who were throwing their merits to those in peril struggling in the water1 or extending a hand1 or by means of ropes and their stoles drawing the drowning to safety in the boat4 #af4 ,in contrast to this darkness1 consider the priceless and to-be-cherished blessing of knowing with certainty wherein the heart is to take comfort1 how to seek help in distress and how to conduct one's self in one's own station4 ,if1 though provided with spiritual riches on all sides1 you are not sufficient of yourself at all times to grasp them1 you can1 nevertheless1 always reach and appropriate them by means of the ordinary ministry and office of the ,church1 yes1 by the aid of your fellow-,christians4 ,again1 it is productive of the greatest happiness to know that when living aright in the ordinary walks of life established by ,god1 you are more acceptable and pleasing to him than you would be to purchase the works and merits of all the monks and hermits4 #ag4 ,what ,paul terms being enriched1 first1 in all utterance1 or knowledge--which1 in the exalted spiritual meaning of the words1 bears on life everlasting--is having the comfort of faith in ,christ and of invocation and prayer4 ,and enriched in all knowledge1 means having true conception and right judgment in all things of our physical life and in all our earthly relations4 ,all things that a ,christian should know and should possess are comprehended in these two terms4 ,these blessings are gifts and treasures indescribably great4 ,he who will contrast them with the destitution of our former condition cannot but be joyful and thankful4 ,i remember the time when ,i1 engaged in earnest study of ,holy ,writ1 would have given a great deal for the right exposition of a psalm2 and when had ,i but begun to understand a verse aright1 ,i would have been as rejoiced as if born to life anew4 #ah4 ,truly1 then1 we should now render to ,god heartfelt thanks for the great favor and blessing of restored light and understanding in ,scripture1 and the right conception of doctrinal matters4 ,but1 alas6 it is likely to be with us as with the ,corinthians1 who had received most abundantly from ,paul but by way of return had made ill use of it and proved shamefully unthankful4 ,and they met with retribution1 the worst of it being false doctrine and seductions1 until at last that grand congregation was wholly ruined and destroyed4 ,a similar retribution threatens us1 yes1 is before the door with appalling knock1 in the instance of the ,turks and in other distress and calamity4 ,for this reason we should1 with a thankful heart and serious mind1 pray1 as ,paul here does for his ,corinthians1 that ,god would keep us steadfast in the possession of his gifts and blameless in the day of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 #ai4 ,paul admonishes us to continue in this knowledge and appreciation of the grace and gifts of ,god4 ,since by these blessings we have received riches and happiness to the satisfying of all our need1 the apostle further admonishes us to look only for the ,lord to reveal to us publicly by his coming that which he has promised and through faith already granted us4 #bj4 ,in the past1 much has been written and ingeniously devised on the topic of preparing for death and the final judgment4 ,but it has only served to further confuse timid consciences4 ,for these comforters were not able to show anything of the comfort to be found in the riches of grace and bliss in ,christ4 ,they directed the people to oppose with their own works and good life1 death and ,god's judgment4 ,in place of this delusion is now evident the precious truth2 he who knows the ,gospel doctrines1 goes on and performs his own work and duty in his respective calling4 ,he takes comfort in the fact that through baptism he is engrafted into ,christ2 he receives absolution and partakes of the holy supper for the strengthening of his faith1 commending his soul and body to ,christ4 ,why should such a one fear death8 ,though it come at any time1 in form of pestilence or accident1 it will always find the ,christian ready and well prepared1 be he awake or asleep2 for he is in ,christ ,jesus4 #ba4 ,for all these things the ,christian may well thank and bless ,god1 realizing that he has no further need1 nor can he gain anything better than he already has in the remission of sins1 the gift of the ,holy ,spirit and the faithful prosecution of his calling2 however1 he should remain in1 and daily grow in1 faith and supplication4 ,but he cannot hope to attain to another and better doctrine1 faith1 ,spirit1 prayer1 sacrament1 reward1 etc41 than had all the saints1 ,john the ,baptist1 ,peter1 ,paul1 or in fact than has now every ,christian that is baptized4 ,therefore ,i need not idly spend time in trying to prepare people for death and inspire them with courage by such commonplaces as recalling and relating the innumerable daily accidents1 ills and dangers of this life4 ,this method will not answer2 death will not thereby be frightened away1 nor will the fear of death be removed4 ,the ,gospel teaching is3 ,believe in ,christ1 pray and live in accordance with ,god's ,word1 and then1 when death overtakes and attacks you1 you will know that you are ,christ the ,lord's4 ,paul says 7,rom #ad1 #h73 ,whether we live 444 or die1 we are the ,lord's4 ,indeed1 we ,christians live upon this earth to the very end that we may have assured comfort1 salvation and victory over death and hell4 #bb4 ,of this ,paul here reminds us1 and dwells on it more fully later in this ,epistle2 he would have us duly thankful for this great grace and living among ourselves in a ,christian and brotherly manner1 in doctrine and practice1 ignoring and avoiding that wild1 disorderly conduct of the contentious and disorderly4 ,he who recognizes such grace and blessing cannot but love and thank ,god and conduct himself aright toward his neighbor2 and when he finds himself falling short in this he will1 by admonition and the ,word of ,god1 make amends4 #bc4 ,here you might put the question3 ,why does ,paul speak in such a commendatory way of the ,corinthians1 saying that they were enriched in everything and came behind in no gift1 when he himself confesses later on that they had contentions and schisms--in regard to baptism1 to the sacrament1 to the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead and in regard to abuse of liberty1 and some lived as they pleased4 ,would you not call these things faults and shortcomings8 ,how1 then1 is he in a position to say that they were abundantly supplied with all things spiritual1 lacking not one thing8 #bd4 ,well1 you should recall what ,i have repeatedly stated3 ,christendom is never so spotless that there are not some spurious and wicked admixed1 just as you will always find weeds1 darnel1 tares1 or wild mustard together with pure grain4 ,and he who will examine the ,church with only a view of finding faults and frailties among those called ,christians1 will miss the ,church1 yes1 the ,gospel and ,christ1 and never discover a ,church at all4 #be4 ,but we have the consolation of knowing that if we have the ,gospel pure1 we have the treasure ,god gives his ,church and we cannot go astray nor want4 ,but as yet we have not reached that degree of perfection where all hearers of the ,gospel will grasp it fully and wholly or are faultless in faith and life2 at all times there will be some who do not believe and some who are weak and imperfect4 ,however1 that great treasure and rich blessing of doctrine and knowledge is present4 ,there is no defect in this1 and it is effective and fruitful4 ,the fact that some do not believe1 does not weaken baptism or the ,gospel or the ,church2 they only harm themselves4 ,to sum up1 where the ,word remains1 there most assuredly is also the ,church4 ,for wherever the doctrine is pure1 there you can also keep purity in baptism1 the sacrament1 absolution1 the ,ten ,commandments1 the ,lord's ,prayer1 good works and all callings2 and wherever you find a defect or an irregularity1 you can admonish1 amend and rectify by means of the ,word4 #bf4 ,some there must be who have the ,word and sacraments pure and unadulterated1 who have faith1 pray aright1 keep ,god's commandments and do other things1 as1 thank ,god1 we have with us4 ,then we may firmly conclude3 ,if the true ,church were not here1 these characteristics would be lacking2 therefore we must have among ourselves true members of the ,church and true saints4 ,now even though children of the world intermingle 7as will be the case always and in all places71 who show neither faith nor a godly life1 it would corrupt neither faith1 nor baptism1 nor doctrine1 nor would the ,church perish on that account--the treasure remains in its integrity and efficacy1 and ,god may graciously cause some to turn from their unbelief and wicked life and be added to the faithful and to mend their ways4 #bg4 ,again1 they with whom this treasure--the ,word or doctrine and its knowledge--is not found1 cannot be the ,christian ,church nor members of it1 and for that reason they cannot pray or believe aright or do good works pleasing to ,god4 ,it follows that their whole lives are in ,god's sight lost and condemned1 though they may assiduously extol ,god and the ,church and before the world may have the appearance and reputation of leading particularly holy lives and excelling even the upright ,christians in virtues and honor4 ,it is a settled fact that outside the ,church of ,christ there is no ,god1 no grace1 no bliss2 as ,paul says 7,eph #d1 #e73 ,one ,lord1 one faith1 one baptism1 one ,god and ,father of all1 etc4 ,and ,acts #d1 #ab says3 ,and in none other is there salvation3 for neither is there any other name under heaven1 that is given among men1 wherein we must be saved4 #bh4 ,and so ,paul1 when here extolling the ,corinthians1 has not an eye to the contentious1 the ,epicureans1 or to those who give public offense1 as the man that had his father's wife2 but the apostle looks to the fact that a few remain who have the pure ,word of ,god1 faith1 baptism and the sacrament1 though some hypocrites be among them4 ,because of these few--and few indeed there may be--we recognize the presence of that inestimable treasure of which the apostle speaks4 ,it is found as well where two or three are gathered together as with thousands4 ,neither the ,gospel nor the ministers nor the ,church is to be blamed that the multitude miss this treasure2 the multitude have but themselves to blame1 for they close their ears and eyes4 #bi4 ,now behold how loftily ,paul has extolled and how beautifully portrayed the ,christian ,church--where she is to be found on earth and what inestimable blessings and gifts she has received of ,christ1 for which she is in duty bound to thank and praise him in her confession and in her life4 ,this subject the apostle concludes with the words3 ,god is faithful1 through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his ,son ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 #cj4 ,the good work which ,christ has begun in you and already assured to you1 he will without fail establish in you until the end and for ever1 if you but do not fall away through unbelief1 or cast grace from you4 ,for his ,word or promise given to you1 and his work begun in you1 are not changeable as is man's word and work1 but are firm1 certain1 divine1 immovable truth4 ,since you are in possession of this your divine calling1 draw comfort therefrom and rely on it without wavering4 ,amen4 ,nineteenth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,ephesians #d1 #bb-bh4 #bb ,that ye put away1 as concerning your former manner of life1 the old man1 that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit2 #bc and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind1 #bd and put on the new man1 that after ,god hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth4 #be ,wherefore1 putting away falsehood1 speak ye truth each one with his neighbor3 for we are members one of another4 #bf ,be ye angry1 and sin not3 let not the sun go down upon your wrath3 #bg neither give place to the devil4 #bh ,let him that stole steal no more3 but rather let him labor1 working with his hands the thing that is good1 that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need4 ,,duty ,,to ,,new ,,and ,,old ,,man4 #a4 ,here again is an admonition for ,christians to follow up their faith by good works and a new life1 for though they have forgiveness of sins through baptism1 the old ,adam still adheres to their flesh and makes himself felt in tendencies and desires to vices physical and mental4 ,the result is that unless ,christians offer resistance1 they will lose their faith and the remission of sins and will in the end be worse than they were at first2 for they will begin to despise and persecute the ,word of ,god when corrected by it4 ,yea1 even those who gladly hear the ,word of ,god1 who highly prize it and aim to follow it1 have daily need of admonition and encouragement1 so strong and tough is that old hide of our sinful flesh4 ,and so powerful and wily is our old evil foe that wherever he can gain enough of an opening to insert one of his claws1 he thrusts in his whole self and will not desist until he has again sunk man into his former condemnable unbelief and his old way of despising and disobeying ,god4 #b4 ,therefore1 the ,gospel ministry is necessary in the ,church1 not only for instruction of the ignorant--such as the simple1 unlettered people and the children--but also for the purpose of awakening those who know very well what they are to believe and how they are to live1 and admonishing them to be on their guard daily and not to become indolent1 disheartened or tired in the war they must wage on this earth with the devil1 with their own flesh and with all manner of evil4 #c4 ,for this reason ,paul is so persistent in his admonitions that he actually seems to be overdoing it4 ,he proceeds as if the ,christians were either too dull to comprehend or so inattentive and forgetful that they must be reminded and driven4 ,the apostle well knows that though they have made a beginning in faith and are in that state which should show the fruits of faith1 such result is not so easily forthcoming4 ,it will not do to think and say3 ,well1 it is sufficient to have the doctrine1 and if we have the ,spirit and faith1 then fruits and good works will follow of their own accord4 ,for although the ,spirit truly is present and1 as ,christ says1 willing and effective in those that believe1 on the other hand the flesh is weak and sluggish4 ,besides1 the devil is not idle1 but seeks to seduce our weak nature by temptations and allurements4 #d4 ,so we must not permit the people to go on in their way1 neglecting to urge and admonish them1 through ,god's ,word1 to lead a godly life4 ,indeed1 you dare not be negligent and backward in this duty2 for1 as it is1 our flesh is all too sluggish to heed the ,spirit and all too able to resist it4 ,paul says 7,gal #e1 #ag73 ,for the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit1 and the ,spirit against the flesh 444 that ye may not do the things that ye would4 ,therefore1 ,god is constrained to do as a good and diligent householder or ruler1 who1 having a slothful man-servant or maid-servant1 or careless officers1 who otherwise are neither wicked nor faithless1 will not consider it sufficient once or twice to direct1 but will constantly be supervising and directing4 #e4 ,nor have we as yet arrived at the point where our flesh and blood will joyfully and gladly abound in good works and obedience to ,god as the spirit is inclined and faith directs4 ,even with the utmost efforts the ,spirit scarce can compel our old man4 ,what would be the result if we were no more urged and admonished but could go our way thinking1 as many self-satisfied persons do3 ,i am well acquainted with my duties1 having learned them many years ago and having heard frequent explanations of them2 yea1 ,i have taught others8 ,it might be that one year's intermission of preaching and admonition would place us below the level of the heathen4 #f4 ,now1 this exhortation in itself is simple and easy of comprehension4 ,the apostle is but repeating his exhortations of other places--on the fruits of faith1 or a godly walk--merely in different terms4 ,here he speaks of putting away the old man and putting on the new man1 of being renewed in the spirit of your mind4 ,,the ,,old ,,man4 #g4 ,what he calls the old man is well known to us2 namely1 the whole nature of man as descended from ,adam after his fall in paradise1 being blinded by the devil1 depraved in soul1 not keeping ,god before his eyes nor trusting him1 yes1 utterly regardless of ,god and the judgment day4 ,though with his mouth he may honor ,god's ,word and the ,gospel1 yet in reality he is unchanged2 if he does have a little additional knowledge1 he has just as little fear1 love and trust in ,god as heretofore4 #h4 ,such a life and such conduct should not be found among you1 says the apostle2 you are not to continue with the old man4 ,he must be put off and laid aside4 ,your former manner of life1 inherited of ,adam1 consisted in disobeying ,god1 in neither fearing1 trusting nor calling upon him4 ,again1 in your body you obeyed not ,god's commandments1 being given to lust1 pride1 insatiable greed1 envy1 hatred1 etc4 ,a life and walk of this nature is not becoming a ,christian who is regarded as1 and truly is1 a different order of being from his former self1 as we shall hear4 ,necessarily he should walk differently4 #i4 ,in this respect a ,christian must take heed that he does not deceive himself2 the true ,christian differs from the hypocrite4 ,true ,christians so live that it is apparent from their lives that they keep ,god before their eyes and truly believe the ,gospel1 while hypocrites likewise show by their walk that their pretensions of faith and forgiveness of sin are hollow4 ,no proof is seen in their lives and works showing that they have in any wise mended their former ways2 they merely deck themselves with a pretense1 with the name of ,gospel1 of faith1 of ,christ4 #aj4 ,now1 the apostle has two things to say of the old man3 that he corrupts himself in error as to the soul and in lusts as to the body4 ,paul portrays the old man--meaning every man without true faith though he bear the name of a ,christian--as in the first place given to error3 coming short of the truth1 knowing naught of the true knowledge of ,christ and faith in him1 indifferent alike to ,god's wrath and ,god's grace1 deceiving himself with his own conceit that darkness is light4 ,the old man believes that ,god will not be moved to vengeance though he do as he pleases1 even to decorating vices with the names of virtues4 ,haughtiness1 greed1 oppressing and tormenting the poor1 wrath1 envy--all this he would call preserving his dignity1 exercising strict discipline1 honestly and economically conducting his domestic affairs1 caring for his wife and children1 displaying ,christian zeal and love of justice1 etc4 ,in short1 he proceeds in the perfectly empty delusion and self-conceit that he is a ,christian4 #aa4 ,out of this error proceeds the other corruption1 the lusts of the body1 which are fruits of unbelief4 ,unbelief causes men to walk in sinful security and yield to all the appetites of their flesh4 ,such have no inclination toward what is good1 nor do they aim to promote orderliness1 honor or virtue4 ,they take desperate chances on their lives1 wanting to live according to the lusts of their flesh and yet not be reprimanded4 #ab4 ,this1 says the apostle1 is the old man's course and nature4 ,he will do naught but ruin himself4 ,the longer continued1 the greater his debasement4 ,he draws down upon himself his own condemnation and penalty for body and soul2 for in proportion as he becomes unbelieving and hard-hearted1 does he become haughty1 hateful and faithless1 and eventually a perfect scoundrel and villain4 ,this was your former manner of life1 when as yet you were heathen and non-,christians4 ,therefore you must by all means put off the old man and cast him far from you2 otherwise you cannot remain a ,christian4 ,for glorying in the grace of ,god and the forgiveness of sin is inconsistent with following sin--remaining in the former old un-,christian life and walking in error and deceitful lusts4 ,,the ,,growth ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,man4 ,and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind1 and put on the new man1 that after ,god hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth4 #ac4 ,having put away the old man1 the apostle exhorts us further to put on the new man1 that day by day we may grow as new creatures4 ,this is effected by first being delivered from error--from the erroneous thoughts and ideas incident to our corrupt nature with its false conceptions of ,god1 wherein we do not fear nor believe him--and then from ,god's ,word receiving the right understanding of him4 ,when we rightly understand1 we shall fear his wrath against sin and rely on his grace in true faith1 believing that he will forgive our sins for ,christ's sake and will hear our prayer for strength and assistance to withstand and conquer1 and to continually grow in faith4 #ad4 ,this change ,paul calls being renewed in the spirit of your mind2 that is1 constantly growing and becoming established in that true conception and clear knowledge of ,christ begun in us1 in opposition to error and idle vaporings4 ,he who is thus received1 says the apostle1 is a man that after ,god hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth4 ,in the old man there is naught but error1 by means of which the devil leads to destruction4 ,but the new man has the ,spirit and the truth1 by which the heart is illumined unto righteousness and holiness1 wherein man follows the guidance of ,god's ,word and feels a desire for a godly walk and good life2 just as1 on the other hand1 the desire and love for sin and wickedness is the product of error4 ,this new man is created after ,god1 as an image of ,god1 and must of necessity differ from such as live in error and in lusts1 without the knowledge of ,god and disobedient to him4 ,for if ,god's image is in man1 man must consequently have the right knowledge of ,god and right conceptions and ideas1 and lead a godly life consistent with holiness and righteousness as found in ,god himself4 #ae4 ,such an image of ,god ,adam was when first created4 ,he was1 as to the soul1 truthful1 free from error1 and possessed of true faith and knowledge of ,god2 and as to the body1 holy and pure1 that is1 without the impure1 unclean desires of avarice1 lasciviousness1 envy1 hatred1 etc4 ,and all his children--all men--would have so remained from their birth if he had not suffered himself to be led astray by the devil and to be thus ruined4 ,but since ,christians1 by the grace and ,spirit of ,god1 now have been renewed to this image of ,god1 they are so to live that soul and spirit are righteous and pleasing to ,god through faith in ,christ2 and that also the body--meaning the whole external life--be pure and holy1 which is genuine holiness4 #af4 ,some there are who pretend to great holiness and purity1 but it is mere pretense1 deceiving the people in general4 ,such are the factious spirits and monastic saints1 who base their holiness and uprightness solely on an external1 peculiar life and on self-elected works4 ,theirs may be apparently a commendable1 holy and pure way of praying and fasting1 of denying self1 etc41 and the people may call it so2 but inwardly they are and remain haughty1 venomous1 hateful1 filled with the filth of human lust and evil thoughts1 as ,christ says of such4 ,mt #ae1 #ai2 ,lk #af1 #ae4 ,likewise their righteousness on which they pride themselves before ,god has a certain gloss1 on the strength of which they presume to merit the grace of ,god for themselves and others2 but inwardly they have no true conception of ,god1 being in rank unbelief1 that is1 false and vain suppositions1 or doubts4 ,such righteousness1 or holiness1 is not true nor honest4 ,it is made up wholly of hypocrisy and deceit4 ,it is built1 not of ,god nor after ,god1 but after that lying spirit1 the devil4 #ag4 ,the true ,christian1 ,paul asserts1 has been molded through faith in ,christ into a new man1 like unto ,god1 truly justified and holy in his sight2 even as ,adam originally was in perfect harmony of heart with ,god1 showing true1 straightforward confidence1 love and willingness4 ,and his body was holy and pure1 knowing naught of evil1 impure or improper desire4 ,thus the whole life of the man was a beautiful portrait of ,god1 a mirror wherein ,god himself was reflected2 even as the lives and natures of the holy spirits the angels are wrapped up in ,god and represent true knowledge of him1 assurance1 and joy in him and utterly pure and holy thoughts and works according to the will of ,god4 #ah4 ,but since man is now so grievously fallen from this cheerful confidence1 this certainty and joy1 into doubts or into presumption toward ,god1 and from unspotted1 noble obedience into the lusts of iniquity and ungodliness1 it follows that not from mankind can come help or relief4 ,nor can any one hope for remedy except the ,christians1 who through faith in ,christ begin again to have a joyful and confident heart toward ,god4 ,they thus enter again into their former relation and into the true paradise of perfect harmony with ,god and of justification2 they are comforted by his grace4 ,accordingly they are disposed to lead a godly life in harmony with ,god's commandments and to resist ungodly lusts and ways4 ,these begin to taste ,god's goodness and loving kindness1 as ,paul says1 and realize what they lost in paradise4 ,he1 therefore1 that would be a ,christian should strive to be found in this new man created after ,god2 not in blind error and vain conceit1 but in the very essence of righteousness and holiness before ,god4 ,,two ,,classes ,,of ,,sins4 ,wherefore1 putting away falsehood1 speak ye truth each one with his neighbor3 for we are members one of another4 #ai4 ,lest there might be one who failed to understand the meaning of the old and the new man1 or of true and false righteousness and holiness1 the apostle now proceeds to give an example or two1 making it easier for us to grasp the idea4 ,all sin comes under one of two classes3 ,first1 that of the devil's own making1 such as murder and deceit2 for by lies he establishes all idolatry1 error1 false faith and holiness1 and among men he creates faithlessness1 deceit1 malice1 etc4 ,secondly1 those sins which he instigates man to commit against man2 deeds of wrath1 hatred1 vengeance and murder4 ,paul combines these two classes4 #bj4 ,now1 when a man does not deal fairly with his neighbor1 but practices dishonesty and deceit1 be it in matters spiritual or temporal 7and the world is ever deceitful in all transactions71 then certainly the old man holds sway and not righteousness nor holiness1 however much the man may effect a good appearance and evade the courts4 ,for such conduct does not reflect ,god's image1 but the devil's4 ,for the heart does not rely on ,god and his truth1 otherwise it would war with fraud and deception2 but its object is to clothe itself with a misleading garb1 even assuming the name of ,god1 and thus to deceive1 belie1 betray and forsake its neighbor at the bidding of every fiendish whim1 and all for the satisfaction of its avarice1 selfishness and pride4 #ba4 ,in contrast thereto you can recognize the new man4 ,he speaks the truth and hates lies1 not only those momentous lies against the first table of the ,ten ,commandments1 but also those against the second table2 for he deals faithfully and in a brotherly way with others1 doing as he would be done by himself4 ,thus should ,christians live with each other1 as members of one body1 according to the apostle1 and as having in ,christ all things common and alike4 ,be ye angry and sin not3 let not the sun go down upon your wrath4 #bb4 ,half the sins which the world has learned of its lord and master1 the devil1 consist in lying and deceiving1 and that in the name and appearance of truth4 ,no one wants to be called a liar1 and even the devil covers his lies with the name of truth4 ,the other half1 which is easier to recognize1 consists in wrath and its fruits4 ,and this class is usually the result of the other4 ,the world1 for its own advantage1 lies and deceives2 and when it sees mankind acting in opposition to its wishes1 or beholds its lies exposed and its schemes thwarted1 it begins to rage in wrath against ,god1 endeavoring to avenge itself and inflict harm1 but fraudulently disguising its wicked motive under the plea of having good and abundant reasons for its action4 #bc4 ,therefore ,paul admonishes the ,christians as new creatures1 to guard against this vice of wrath1 adducing the fourth verse of the fourth ,psalm3 ,stand in awe and sin not4 ,the repetition of this passage sounds1 in ,paul's rendering1 as if permission to be angry were given2 he says3 ,be ye angry1 and sin not4 ,but ,paul is taking into consideration the way of the world4 ,men are tempted and moved to anger4 ,there are no clean records4 ,under sudden provocation the heart swells with ire1 while the devil busily fans the flame2 for he is ever alert to stamp upon us his seal and image and make us like unto him1 either through error and false doctrine1 or through wrath and murder in conflict with love and patience4 ,these two forms of evil you will encounter1 especially if you make an effort to be a godly ,christian1 to defend the truth and to live uprightly in the sight of all4 ,you will meet with all manner of malice aforethought and deceit1 and with faithlessness and malignity on the part of those you have benefited2 again1 with unmasked violence and injustice on the part of those who should protect you and see to your interests4 ,this will hurt and move you to wrath4 ,yea1 in your own house and among your dear ,christian brethren you will often meet with that which vexes you2 again1 a word of yours may hurt their feelings4 ,and it will not be otherwise4 ,this life of ours is so constituted that such conditions must be4 ,flesh and blood cannot but be stirred at times by wrath and impatience1 especially when it receives evil for good2 and the devil is ever at hand kindling your anger and endeavoring to fan into a blaze the wrath and ill humor between yourself and your neighbor4 #bd4 ,but right here1 says the apostle1 you should beware and not sin2 not give rein1 nor yield to the impulse and promptings of wrath4 ,that you may indeed be moved1 the apostle would say1 ,i well know1 and you may fancy to have the best of reasons for exhibiting anger and vengeance2 but beware of doing what your wrath would have you do3 and if overcome by wrath and led to rashness1 do not continue in it1 do not harbor it1 but subdue and restrain it1 the sooner the better2 do not suffer it to take root or to remain with you over night4 #be4 ,if followed1 wrath will not suffer you to do a single right thing1 as ,james affirms 7ch4 #a1 #bj74 ,it causes man to fall and sin against ,god and his neighbor4 ,even the heathen have seen that wrath gets the better of reason and is never the source of good counsel4 ,in line with this1 we read that ,st4 ,ambrose reproved the emperor ,theodosius for having1 while in a rage1 caused the execution of many persons in ,thessalonica2 and that he succeeded in having the emperor issue a rescript to the effect that no one should be executed1 even on his imperial order and command1 until a full month had passed by1 thus affording an opportunity to rescind the order if given in haste and wrath4 #bf4 ,therefore the ,psalm says3 ,when wrath attacks and moves you1 do not at once give it leave to do its will4 ,therein you would certainly commit sin4 ,but go into your chamber1 commune and take counsel with yourself1 pray the ,lord's ,prayer1 repeat some good passages from ,god's ,word1 curb yourself and confide in ,god2 he will uphold your rights4 #bg4 ,it is this the apostle has in mind when saying3 ,let not the sun go down upon your wrath4 ,a ,christian must not entertain wrath2 he should instantly quench and stifle it4 ,it is the part of the new man to control anger1 that the devil may not move him from his new-found faith and make him lose what he has received4 ,if he yields to these instigations of his flesh1 he thereby returns to the error and condemnation in the old man and loses control of himself1 following his own desires4 ,then he adorns a lie with the appearance of truth1 claiming the right to be angry and take revenge2 just as the world does when it asserts3 ,this fellow has done me infinite violence and injustice2 am ,i to suffer it8 ,i have a just cause and shall not recline my head in ease until he is repaid6 ,by such talk it loses its case before both ,god and men2 as the saying goes3 ,he that strikes back has the most unjust cause4 #bh4 ,both divine and human justice forbids that a man be judge in his own case4 ,for this very reason ,god has established governmental and judicial authority1 in his stead to punish transgressions1 which--when properly administered--is not man's but ,god's judgment4 ,he therefore that invades such judgment1 invades the authority of ,god himself2 he commits a double wrong and merits double condemnation4 ,if you desire to seek and obtain redress in the courts1 you are at liberty to do so1 provided you proceed in the proper way1 at the proper place and with those to whom ,god has entrusted authority4 ,to these authorities you may appeal for redress4 ,if you obtain it according to law1 well and good2 if not1 you must suffer wrong and commit your case to ,god1 as we have explained more fully elsewhere4 #bi4 ,in short1 we find in this unique passage a statement to the effect that he who curbs not his wrath but retains it longer than a day1 or over night1 cannot be a ,christian4 ,where then do they stand who entertain wrath and hatred indefinitely1 for one1 two1 three1 seven1 ten years8 ,such is no longer human wrath but fiendish wrath from hell2 it will not be satisfied nor extinguished1 but when it once takes possession of a man he would1 if able1 destroy everything in a moment with his hellish fire4 ,even so the arch-fiend is not satisfied with having cast the whole human race into sin and death1 but will not rest content unless he can drag all human beings into eternal damnation4 #cj4 ,a ,christian therefore has ample cause to carefully guard against this vice4 ,god may have patience with you when wrath wells up in your heart--although that1 too1 is sinful--but take heed that wrath does not overcome you and cause you to fall4 ,rather take serious counsel with yourself and extinguish and expel your anger by applying passages of ,holy ,writ and calling upon your faith4 ,when alone or about to retire1 repeat the ,lord's ,prayer1 ask for forgiveness and confess that ,god daily forgives you much oftener than your neighbor sins against you4 ,neither give place to the devil4 ,let him that stole steal no more3 but rather let him labor1 working with his hands the thing that is good1 that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need4 #ca4 ,this thought is brought out also in the next ,epistle1 namely1 that a ,christian should guard against giving offense to anybody by his life1 lest ,god's name be blasphemed4 ,it is a grand thing to be a ,christian1 who1 as has been stated1 is a new man created after ,god and a true image of ,god1 wherein ,god himself desires to be reflected4 ,therefore1 whatever of good a ,christian does1 or whatever of evil he does1 under the name of a ,christian1 either honors or disgraces ,god's name4 ,now1 says ,paul1 whenever you follow your lusts1 in obedience to your old ,adam1 you do naught but give occasion to the slanderers--the devil and his troop--to blaspheme the name of ,god4 ,for the devil1 even without your assistance1 at all times seeks opportunity--nor can he desist--to befoul our dear ,gospel and the name of ,god with his slanderous tales1 composed1 if need be1 entirely of lies4 ,but where he finds the semblance of occasion he knows how to profit by it4 ,he will then open his mouth wide and cry3 ,behold1 these are your ,gospel people6 ,here you have the fruits of this new doctrine6 ,is their ,christ such a one as they honor by their lives8 #cb4 ,so then a ,christian should be exceedingly careful and cautious for this reason1 if for no other3 to protect the name and honor of his dear ,god and ,saviour and not to do the devil the favor of letting him whet his slanderous tongue on ,christ's name4 ,how shall we stand and answer in his sight when we cannot deny the fact that our life gives just cause for complaint and offense8 ,by such a life we intentionally bring disgrace and shame upon ,god's name and ,word1 which things should be our highest treasures and most valuable possessions4 #cc4 ,when the apostle says1 ,let him that stole steal no more3 but rather let him labor1 working with his hands the thing that is good1 that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need1 he indicates the true fruit of repentance1 which consists in abandoning and utterly abstaining from evil and in doing good4 ,he at the same time attacks and reproves the sin of theft so common in all walks of life4 ,and them who idle away their time and neglect their duty of serving and helping their fellow-beings1 he calls--and rightfully--thieves in ,god's sight4 #cd4 ,for the right interpretation of the commandment1 ,thou shalt not steal1 is this3 ,thou shalt live of thine own work1 that thou mayest have to give to the needy4 ,this is your bounden duty1 and if you do not so ,god will pronounce you not a ,christian but a thief and robber4 ,in the first place1 because you are an idler and do not support yourself1 but live by the sweat and toil of others2 in the second place1 because you withhold from your neighbor what you plainly owe him4 ,where now shall we find those who keep this commandment8 ,indeed1 where should we dare look for them except where no people live8 ,but such a class of people should ,christians be4 ,therefore1 let each of us beware lest he deceive himself2 for ,god will not be mocked nor deceived4 ,gal #f1 #g4 ,twentieth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,ephesians #e1 #ae-ba4 #ae ,look therefore carefully how ye walk ,see then that ye walk circumspectly1 not as unwise1 but as wise2 #af redeeming the time1 because the days are evil4 #ag ,wherefore be ye not foolish1 but understand what the will of the ,lord is4 #ah ,and be not drunken with wine1 wherein is riot1 but be filled with the ,spirit2 #ai speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs1 singing and making melody with your heart to the ,lord2 #bj giving thanks always for all things in the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ to ,god1 even the ,father2 #ba subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of ,christ4 ,,the ,,careful ,,walk ,,of ,,the ,,christian4 #a4 ,paul's admonition here is designed for those who1 having heard the ,gospel and made a fine start in believing1 immediately imagine themselves secure and think they have accomplished all4 ,forgetful that they are still flesh and blood1 and in the world and in contact with the devil's kingdom1 they live in unconcern1 as if delivered from all danger1 and the devil far fled4 ,by the very reason of their security they are overcome of the devil and their own flesh1 and fall unawares from the ,gospel4 ,they have just enough connection with it to be able to prate of it1 boasting themselves ,christians but giving no indication of the fact in their conduct4 #b4 ,paul would tell them how1 in view of these things1 vigilance is essential to the ,christian life4 ,to regulate the life by keeping ,god's will ever before the eyes1 always conforming the conduct to it--this he calls walking circumspectly and being wise4 ,if you for a moment lose sight of ,god's will1 the devil immediately possesses you and works pernicious results1 transforming a ,christian into an indolent1 self-secure hypocrite2 a hypocrite into a heretic and factionist2 and a heretic into an open enemy4 ,so the apostle here teaches that in all seriousness if we would secure ourselves against the craft and power of the devil we must be vigilant2 we must be careful how we walk4 ,in ,satan we have an enemy bent on hindering us2 on undermining our very foundation4 #c4 ,consequently they who fail to keep earnest watch over their ,christian life--that is1 to have a care for soundness of belief and to gladly hear and obey the ,word of ,god--are unwise1 even foolish1 and have no knowledge of ,god's will4 ,they have removed the light from before their eyes to behold instead a thing of their own imagination4 ,they see as through a painted glass1 presuming they do well in following such phantoms of their reason1 until they are misled and defeated of the devil4 ,,the ,,word1 ,,the ,,guide ,,of ,,the ,,christian4 #d4 ,therefore1 not without reason does ,paul warn ,christians to be always wise and circumspect--to keep the ,word of ,god before them4 ,upon so doing depends their wisdom and understanding4 ,let each one make it a matter of personal concern1 and especially should it be the general interest of the congregation4 ,where care is not observed to retain the ,word in the ,church1 but there are admitted to the pulpit brawlers who set forth their own fraudulent doctrines1 the ,church is injured2 the congregation will soon be as the preacher4 ,again1 if the individual fails to regulate his daily life--the affairs of his calling--by the ,word of ,god2 if he forgets the ,word and absorbs himself in accumulating wealth2 if he is tangled with secular interests1 he soon becomes a cold and indolent ,christian1 then an erring soul1 and finally utterly disregards ,god's will and his ,word4 ,it is for these reasons ,god so frequently commands us in the ,scriptures continually to explain and apply his ,word1 to hear it willingly and practice it faithfully1 and to meditate upon it day and night4 ,he would have our lives emanate from the ,word in honor to ,god and gratitude to him--from the ,word wherein we daily look as in a mirror4 ,but care and diligence are necessary to bring it to pass1 and we should faithfully assist each other by instruction1 advice1 and in other ways4 #e4 ,in my admonitions ,i have often enough urged those who have influence1 to use all diligence in drawing the young to school1 where they may receive proper instruction to become pastors and preachers2 and ,i have earnestly advised that in cases of necessity ample financial provision be made for students4 ,but1 alas1 few communities1 few ,states1 are interested in the matter4 ,in all ,germany1 look at the bishops1 princes1 noblemen1 the inhabitants of town and country--how confidently they go on sleeping and snoring in their indifference to the question4 ,they presume to think there is no need for action2 the matter will adjust itself2 there will always be pastors and preachers4 ,but assuredly they deceive themselves if they think they are consulting their best interests in this affair2 for they will1 as the text says1 become foolish and fail to recognize the will of ,god4 ,therefore they will some day have to experience what they do not now believe3 in a few years after our day they will seek preachers and find none2 they will have to hear rude1 illiterate dolts who1 lacking understanding of the ,word of ,god1 will1 like all stupid ,papists1 preach the vile1 offensive things of the ,pope1 about consecrated water and salt1 about gray gowns1 new monasteries and the like4 #f4 ,cry1 preach and admonish as we will1 no one will hear2 foreseeing which1 ,paul prophesies that they who observe not ,god's will1 become unwise1 foolish1 and consequently waste the day of grace and neglect their salvation4 ,now1 it is ,god's will we should sanctify his name1 love and advance his ,word1 and so aid in building up his kingdom4 ,when we fulfill his will in these things1 he will regard our desires1 providing us with daily bread and granting peace and happiness4 #g4 ,now1 it should be our chief concern to preserve to ourselves the ,word and will of ,god4 ,that would truly be wisdom1 and redeeming the time4 ,but failing therein1 it must be with us as with the unwise and fools2 we will have to hear the declaration3 ,since you refuse to sanctify my name1 to advance my kingdom and to do my will1 neither will ,i provide you daily bread1 nor forgive your sins1 nor keep from temptation and deliver from evil4 ,god will then permit us to deplore the great calamities of the world--its turmoil and wickedness1 the cause whereof the world attributes to the ,gospel4 ,but the punishment just mentioned must be visited upon them who will not recognize the will of ,god and submit to it4 ,these1 however1 desire to justify themselves and are unwilling to receive censure for having conducted themselves unwisely1 even foolishly4 #h4 ,so much for a general observation upon the expression walking wisely and circumspectly2 so much upon unwise conduct in regard to matters of vital importance to the ,church1 which have to do with the office of the ministry and with ,god's ,word4 ,where the ministry and the ,word of ,god are preserved1 there will always be some among the masses to attend upon the preaching of the ,word and to conform their lives to it4 ,but when the ,bible leaves the pulpit1 little good will be accomplished1 even though one here and there be able to read the ,scriptures for themselves and imagine they have no need of the preached ,word4 ,where will the untaught masses stand8 ,note how it has been with the poor people in our time who were misled by ,mnzer and ,munster1 and their prophets and factionists4 ,,public ,,preaching ,,of ,,the ,,word ,,enjoined4 ,then let everyone lend earnest effort to promote public preaching of the ,word everywhere1 and public attendance upon that preaching2 and thus rightly to found and build up the ,church4 ,let him also put on the wedding garment himself 7mentioned in the ,gospel for today72 let him take care to be found an earnest advocate of the ,word of ,god1 uninfluenced by thoughts common to the secure spirit3 ,oh1 there are pastors and preachers enough for me4 ,i can hear or read the ,word when ,i please2 have access to it any day4 ,i must give first attention to bread-winning and like things4 ,let others look out for themselves4 ,take care1 my dear sir2 you can easily fail by carelessness here and be found without the wedding garment1 perhaps may die without it1 unaware how you are being deceived4 ,whose fault will it be but your own since you would not hear ,paul's admonition to walk wisely and circumspectly8 #i4 ,we should make provision while the opportunity is at our doors1 for1 judging from the present course of the world1 it will not long retain what it has4 ,everywhere men are diligently helping to hunt down ministers1 or at least to so bring to bear upon them hunger and poverty1 to so oppose them with secret fraud1 as to drive them from the land4 ,and little trouble and labor will be required to accomplish it4 ,we shall only too soon be rid of our ministers and have their places amply supplied by deceivers4 ,i would much rather suffer in hell with ,judas the ,betrayer than to bear the guilt of accomplishing one minister's death or of being instrumental in offering place to one deceiver4 ,for it would not be so intolerable to suffer the anguish of the betrayer of ,christ as to endure that of one who1 by his sin in this respect1 is responsible for the loss of countless souls4 ,,necessity ,,of ,,improving ,,the ,,time4 #aj4 ,paul goes on to elaborate his admonition by explaining what it is to walk circumspectly and wisely--to redeem the time1 because the days are evil4 ,in other words3 ,think not happy days are in store for you and you may defer duty till better times2 better times will never be4 ,the devil is always in the world to hinder your every effort to do good1 and his opposition increases with time4 ,the longer you tarry1 the less your power to accomplish good2 wasted time only makes matters worse4 ,then redeem the time2 grasp your opportunities as best you can4 ,let no interest be so dear to you as the promotion of ,god's kingdom and the serving of the public in every good and useful way possible1 whatever befall yourself4 #aa4 ,christ in like manner says to the ,jews3 ,while ye have the light1 believe on the light1 that ye may become sons of light4 ,jn #ab1 #cf4 ,and ,paul1 after quoting from ,isaiah #di1 #h1 adds3 ,behold1 now is the acceptable time2 behold1 now is the day of salvation4 #b ,cor #f1 #b4 ,so his counsel in our text means3 ,take heed you receive not the grace of ,god in vain4 ,or1 neglect not the matter of your salvation2 enjoy while you may the opportunity of furthering the kingdom of ,god1 for the sake of your own and others' salvation4 ,defer not the thing to another time1 lest the opportunity escape you4 ,elsewhere 7,gal #f1 #aj7 the apostle says1 ,as we have opportunity1 let us work that which is good4 ,in other words3 ,act now1 while you may4 ,your time passes with astonishing rapidity4 ,be not deceived1 then1 by the thought1 ,oh1 ,i can attend to the matter a year from now--two years--three4 ,that is simply foolish4 ,it is an unwise conclusion of the thoughtless4 ,before they are aware1 they have lost the salvation extended them4 ,they defer to consider ,god's will1 putting it off for a season1 until they shall have accomplished their own aims2 then they have deferred too long4 #ab4 ,the ,lord comes to your door4 ,you do not have to seek him4 ,if you are grateful he tarries to speak with you4 ,but if you let him pass by you will have to complain as did the bride in ,song of ,solomon #e1 #f3 ,i opened to my beloved2 but my beloved had withdrawn himself1 and was gone 444 ,i sought him1 but ,i could not find him2 ,i called him1 but he gave me no answer4 ,think not you will find the ,lord when he has once gone1 though you traverse the world4 ,but while he is near you may seek and find2 as ,isaiah says 7ch4 #ee1 #f71 ,seek ye ,jehovah while he may be found4 ,if through your neglect he pass by1 all seeking then will be vain4 ,for more than twenty years in my cloister ,i experienced the meaning of such disappointment4 ,i sought ,god with great toil and with severe mortification of the body1 fasting1 watching1 singing and praying4 ,in this way ,i shamefully wasted my time and found not the ,lord4 ,the more ,i sought and the nearer ,i thought ,i was to him1 the farther away ,i got4 ,no1 ,god does not permit us to find him so4 ,he must first come and seek us where we are4 ,we may not pursue and overtake him4 ,that is not his will4 #ac4 ,then be careful to avail yourself of the present opportunity4 ,embrace it while he is near1 and faithfully consider what he requires of you4 ,to ascertain this1 go to the ,creed and the ,ten ,commandments4 ,they will tell you4 ,regulate your life by them4 ,be helped by the ,lord's ,prayer4 ,begin with yourself2 then pray for the ,church4 ,let it be your desire that ,god's name be everywhere sanctified and that your life conform to his will4 ,if you are faithful in these things1 assuredly you will walk wisely2 you will avoid sin and do good4 ,for the study and practice of these precepts will leave you no opportunity to do evil4 ,god's ,word will soon teach you to sanctify his name1 to extend his kingdom1 to do your neighbor no injury in mind1 body or estate4 #ad4 ,observe this is redeeming the time4 ,this is employing it well1 while the golden days last in which we have remission from pain and sin4 ,not such remission as the ,pope grants in his jubilees1 wherein he deceives the world4 ,right here let us be careful not to cheat ourselves with the false idea that salvation cannot escape us4 ,let it not be with us as befell the children of ,israel1 of whom it is said in ,psalms #ie1 #aa and ,hebrews #d1 #c that because of their unbelief they entered not into the rest of ,god4 ,they would not accept their opportunity in the forty years wherein he gave them his ,word and showed them his wonders1 daily admonishing them and calling to repentance and faith4 ,they but tempted and provoked him the more4 ,hence another admonition was given the people of ,god and a certain day appointed3 ,today if ye shall hear his voice1 harden not your hearts4 ,heb #d1 #g4 ,every day with us is today and we are permitted to hear ,god's voice still imploring us not to waste the time4 #ae4 ,surely we ought supremely to thank ,god1 as the latter part of our text enjoins1 for the great blessing of his nearness to us4 ,we have his presence in our homes4 ,he is with us at our board1 by our couch--anywhere we desire him4 ,he offers us all assistance and grants all we may ask4 ,so gracious a guest should indeed receive our high esteem4 ,we ought to honor him while he is with us4 #af4 ,well may we pray1 as ,i have said4 ,there is too much slumbering everywhere in ,germany4 ,we cannot perceive how it is possible to preserve the ,gospel and fill the pulpits for ten years longer4 ,to such extent does wickedness rage in the world that blindness and error must sweep it as before4 ,and no one will be to blame but the stupid bishops and princes1 and those of us who esteem not the ,word of ,god4 ,,ingratitude ,,will ,,be ,,punished4 ,alas1 that ,i am compelled against my will to be a prophet of ill to ,germany4 ,yet it is not ,i1 but the prayer of my ,lord and your ,lord2 for according to its teachings he will say3 ,you neglected my ,word4 ,unwilling to tolerate it1 you persecuted and starved out its messengers4 ,therefore ,i will withhold your daily bread and give instead famine and war and murder1 unto utter desolation2 for you wish to have it so4 ,then when you cry for forgiveness of sins and deliverance from the evils come upon you1 ,i will hear you as you heard my ,word1 my entreaties4 ,i will leave you in your misfortunes as you left me and my ,word4 #ag4 ,in fact1 no one for a moment thinks of how ,god has signally1 richly and graciously blessed us2 how we are in possession of actual paradise--yes1 the entire kingdom of heaven--if we only recognized the fact3 and yet we shamefully1 ungratefully and unreasonably reject the kingdom2 as if it were not enough for us to overstep the ,ten ,commandments in our disobedience1 but must even trample under foot the mercy ,god offers in the ,gospel4 ,then why should we be surprised if he send down wrath upon us8 ,what else is he to do but fulfill our ,gospel passage for today1 which threatens every individual rejecter and persecutor of ,god's ,son and his servants1 by whom we are invited to the marriage--what else is ,god to do but send out a divine army of servants to arrest the career of such murderers and to terminate their existence8 ,we are given a special illustration--an example to the world--in the instance of the fate of ,jerusalem1 and in fact of the entire ,jewish nation4 ,they sinned unceasingly against all ,god's commandments1 and when he proclaimed grace and offered forgiveness of sins1 they trampled upon his mercy4 ,should ,christ not revenge himself when they shamed and mocked his precious blood8 #ah4 ,unto all the abominable sins mentioned1 we must heap blasphemies2 for when wrath and punishment come upon us we make outcry1 complaining that the ,gospel--or the new doctrine1 as it is now called--is responsible4 ,the ,jews blame us ,christians alone for the fact that they are scattered throughout the world4 ,their prayers day and night are directed against us1 in blasphemies and reproaches inexpressible4 ,nevertheless1 it was not the ,christians who harassed and scattered them1 but the heathenish ,roman emperor4 ,but whom other than themselves have the ,jews to blame for their condition8 for they would not tolerate ,christ1 when he brought them only help and boundless grace4 ,refusing to accept him whom ,god gave and in whom he promised all blessings1 they necessarily lost their daily bread from ,god1 except as they rebelliously extort it by usury and wickedness4 ,they had also to suffer the loss of their national life1 their priesthood and public worship1 forgiveness of sins and redemption1 and so remain eternally captive under the wrath and condemnation of ,god4 ,such is the just and inevitable punishment of the unwise--the foolish--who refused to recognize their opportunity when ,christ was with them4 #ai4 ,with this terrible example before our eyes1 we are still unrepentant1 pursuing the same course the ,jews followed1 not only in disobedience to the will of ,god1 but in rejecting his grace4 ,for that grace we should earnestly long and pray1 striving to secure to our children after us baptism1 the ministry and the sacrament1 in their purity4 ,in return for our perversity1 it will eventually be with us as with the ,jews and other ungrateful persecutors and rejecters4 #bj4 ,then let him who will receive advice and help1 faithfully heed ,paul's counsel and redeem the time1 not sleeping away the blessed golden hour of grace2 as ,christ earnestly admonishes in the parable of the five foolish virgins4 ,mt #be1 #ac4 ,the foolish virgins might have made their purchases in season1 before the bridegroom's arrival2 but failing to attend to the matter until time to meet the bridegroom1 they missed both the market and the wedding4 #ba4 ,the ancient poets and sages make use of a similar illustration at the expense of the cricket or grasshopper4 ,as the fable runs1 when winter came the grasshoppers1 having nothing to eat1 went to the ants and asked them to divide their gathered store4 ,what did you in the summer time that you gathered nothing8 asked the ants4 ,we sang1 the grasshoppers replied4 ,if you sang in the summer1 you must dance for it in the winter1 was the response4 ,similarly should fools unwilling to learn the will of ,god be answered4 ,terrible and alarming is the wrath of ,god when with scorn and mockery he turns away a soul4 ,in ,proverbs #a1 #bd and #bf he threatens3 ,because ,i have called1 and ye have refused2 ,i have stretched out my hand1 and no man hath regarded4444 ,i also will laugh in the day of your calamity2 ,i will mock when your fear cometh4 #bb4 ,some may ask what ,paul means by adding to the phrase1 ,redeeming the time1 the modifier1 because the days are evil2 if we are to regard the present opportunity golden1 why are the days evil8 ,,evil ,,doctrines ,,ever ,,oppose ,,the ,,christian4 #bc4 ,i answer3 ,the time is unquestionably good so long as the ,gospel is sounded--is faithfully preached and received4 ,at the same time1 even today the world is filled with evils1 factions1 false theories and bad examples of every sort2 much of this wickedness is inherent in ourselves4 ,with these things the ,christian must always contend2 the devil pursues1 and our own flesh discourages us and allures from recognition and observance of the divine will4 ,if we strive not against it1 we shall soon lose sight of ,god's will1 to our own injury1 even while listening to the ,gospel4 ,for the devil's strongest fury is exerted to befoul the world with fanaticism1 and to draw from the pure doctrine of faith into that evil even them who possess the ,gospel4 ,moreover1 being still flesh and blood we are always self-secure1 unwilling to be led by the ,spirit1 and indolent and unresponsive in relation to the ,word of ,god and to prayer4 ,again1 in the outward walks of life1 in temporal conditions1 only obstacles and evils meet us everywhere1 impeding our spiritual progress and impelling us to suppress the ,gospel and to rend the ,church4 #bd4 ,let no one1 then1 expect to enjoy an era of peace and pleasure here on earth4 ,although the present time is in itself good1 and ,god bestows upon us the golden year of his ,word and his grace1 yet the devil is here with his factions and followers1 and our own flesh supports him4 ,he corrupts the blessed days of grace at every possible opportunity1 and so oppresses ,christians that they must contend against him with their utmost strength and vigilance if they would not1 through the influence of evils and obstacles1 be wrested from the ,gospel they have received1 and if they would persevere therein unto the end4 ,wherefore1 we have the best reasons to adapt ourselves to the present time in the best possible way2 to walk wisely and circumspectly1 showing all faithfulness to the will of ,god2 obeying it while we have opportunity--while still in possession of ,god's ,word1 his grace and his ,spirit4 ,being opposed and obstructed by the devil and our own flesh1 we must1 as ,paul implies1 be wise and careful2 we must guard against following them4 ,if we fail in this respect1 it will not avail us to pretend we did not know our duty1 or had not time to perform it and consequently could not cope with them4 ,so1 then1 we are to understand by evil days the allurements that lead us away from ,god's ,word and his will4 ,and be not drunk with wine1 wherein is excess4 #be4 ,the apostle touches upon several evils strongly tending to waste of time and neglect of the golden opportunity4 ,especially is drunkenness one1 for drink makes men particularly self-secure1 reckless and disorderly4 ,the evil was formerly common in ,greece1 and in ,germany today are men who delight in being riotously drunk night and day4 ,such individuals are utterly lacking in the faithfulness and interest essential to following the will of ,god4 ,they are unable1 even in temporal affairs1 to persistently apply themselves1 much less to be opportune4 ,indeed1 so beastly and swinish do they become1 they lose all sense of either shame or honor2 they have no modesty nor any human feeling4 ,alas1 examples are before our eyes plainer and more numerous than we can depict4 #bf4 ,paul's words of admonition1 ,speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs1 are treated in the epistle passage for the fifth ,sunday after ,epiphany1 where the text is similar4 ,twenty ,first ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,ephesians #f1 #aj-ag4 #aj ,finally1 be strong in the ,lord1 and in the strength of his might4 #aa ,put on the whole armor of ,god1 that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil4 #ab ,for our wrestling is not against flesh and blood1 but against the principalities1 against the powers1 against the worldrulers of this darkness1 against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places4 #ac ,wherefore take up the whole armor of ,god1 that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day1 and1 having done all1 to stand4 #ad ,stand therefore1 having girded your loins with truth1 and having put on the breastplate of righteousness1 #ae and having shod your foot with the preparation of the gospel of peace2 #af withal taking up the shield of faith1 wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one4 #ag ,and take the helmet of salvation1 and the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the word of ,god4 ,,the ,,christian ,,armor ,,and ,,weapons4 ,this epistle text is fully expounded in ,the ,explanations and ,sermons on ,paul's ,epistles--in the sermon on ,ephesians #f1 #aj-ag1 entitled ,the ,christian ,armor and ,weapons1 preached in the year #aecc4 ,twenty ,second ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,philippians #a1 #c-aa4 #c ,i thank my ,god upon all my remembrance of you1 #d always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy1 #e for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now2 #f being confident of this very thing1 that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of ,jesus ,christ3 #g even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all1 because ,i have you in my heart1 inasmuch as1 both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel1 ye all are partakers with me of grace4 #h ,for ,god is my witness1 how ,i long after you in all the tender mercies of ,christ ,jesus4 #i ,and this ,i pray1 that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment2 #aj so that ye may approve the things that are excellent2 that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of ,christ2 #aa being filled with the fruits of righteousness1 which are through ,jesus ,christ1 unto the glory and praise of ,god4 ,,paul',s ,,thanks ,,and ,,prayers ,,for ,,churches4 #a4 ,first1 the apostle ,paul thanks ,god1 as his custom is in the beginning of his epistles1 for the grace whereby the ,philippians came into the fellowship of the ,gospel and were made partakers of it4 ,secondly1 his desire and prayer to ,god is for their increase in the knowledge of the ,gospel1 and their more abundant fruits4 ,his intent in extolling the ,gospel is to admonish them to remain steadfast in their faith1 continuing as they have begun and as they now stand4 ,apparently this is a simple passage1 especially to learned and apt students of the ,scriptures4 ,they may not think it holds any great truth to be discovered4 ,yet we must explain this and like discourses for the benefit of some who do not fully understand it1 and who desire to learn4 #b4 ,these words give us an exact delineation of the ,christian heart that sincerely believes in the holy ,gospel4 ,such hearts are rare in the world4 ,it is especially difficult to find one so beautiful as we observe here unless it be among the beloved apostles or those who approached them in ,christ-likeness4 ,for in the matter of faith we today are entirely too indolent and indifferent4 #c4 ,but the ,christian heart is such as inspired ,paul's words2 here its characteristics are shown4 ,he rejoices in the ,gospel with his inmost soul4 ,he thanks ,god that others have come into its fellowship4 ,his confidence is firm regarding certain beginners in the faith1 and he is so interested in their salvation he rejoices in it as much as in his own1 seeming unable to thank ,god sufficiently for it4 ,he unceasingly prays that he may live to see many come with him into such fellowship and be preserved therein until the day of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who shall perfect and complete all the defects of this earthly life4 ,he prays these beginners may go forth faultlessly in faith and hope until that joyful day4 #d4 ,thus the godly apostle expresses himself1 pouring out the depths of his heart--a heart filled with the real fruits of the ,spirit and of faith4 ,it burns with love and joy whenever he sees the ,gospel recognized1 accepted and honored1 and the ,church flourishing4 ,paul can conceive for the converts no loftier desire--can offer no greater petition for them than to implore ,god they may increase and persevere in the ,gospel faith4 ,such is the inestimable value he places upon possessing and holding fast ,god's ,word4 ,and ,christ in ,luke #aa1 #bh pronounces blessed those who keep the ,word of ,god4 ,i4 ,,the ,,duty ,,of ,,gratitude4 #e4 ,now1 the first thing in which ,paul is here an example to us is his gratitude4 ,it behooves the ,christian who recognizes the grace and goodness of ,god expressed in the ,gospel1 first of all to manifest his thankfulness therefor2 toward ,god--his highest duty--and toward men4 ,as ,christians who have abandoned the false services and sacrifices that in our past heathenish blindness we zealously practiced1 let us remember our obligation henceforth to be the more fervent in offering true service and right sacrifices to ,god4 ,we can render him no better--in fact1 none other--service1 or outward work1 than the thank-offering1 as the ,scriptures term it4 ,that is1 receiving and honoring the grace of ,god and the preaching and hearing of his ,word1 and furthering their operation1 not only in word1 but sincerely in our hearts and with all our physical and spiritual powers4 ,this is the truest gratitude4 #f4 ,god calls that a pure offering which is rendered to him among the gentiles 7,mal #a1 #aa71 where his name is not preached and praised from avariciousness1 not from pride and presumption in the priesthood and in the holiness of human works4 ,these motives actuated the boasting ,jews1 who1 as ,god charges in this reference1 presumptuously thought to receive honor from him for every trivial service like closing a door or opening a window4 ,but the offering of the gentiles is joyfully rendered from a sincere1 willing heart4 ,this kind of thanksgiving and sacrifices are acceptable to ,god1 for he says in ,psalms #aaj1 #c1 ,thy people shall be willing2 and in ,second ,corinthians #i1 #g1 ,god loveth a cheerful giver4 ,the knowledge of the ,gospel should inspire us with gratitude of this order4 ,let us not be found unthankful1 and forgetful of ,god's infinite goodness4 ,,ingratitude ,,denounced ,,by ,,the ,,heathen4 #g4 ,the heathen everywhere1 despite their ignorance of ,god and his grace1 condemned to the utmost the evil of ingratitude4 ,they regarded it the mother of evils1 than which was none more malevolent and shameful4 ,among many examples in this respect is one left us by a people in ,arabia called ,nabathians1 who had an excellent form of government4 ,so strict were they in regard to this evil that anyone found guilty of ingratitude to his fellows was looked upon as a murderer and punished with death4 #h4 ,no sin is more abominable to human nature1 and of none is human nature less tolerant4 ,it is easier to forgive and to forget the act of an enemy who commits a bodily injury1 or even murders one's parents1 than it is to forget the sin of him who repays simple kindness and fidelity with ingratitude and faithlessness2 who for love and friendship returns hatred4 ,in the sentiment of the ,latin proverb1 to be so rewarded is like rearing a serpent in one's bosom4 ,god likewise regards this sin with extreme enmity and punishes it4 ,the ,scriptures say3 ,whoso rewardeth evil for good1 evil shall not depart from his house4 ,prov #ag1 #ac4 #i4 ,thus we have the teaching of nature and of reason regarding the sin of men's ingratitude toward one another4 ,how much greater the evil1 how much more shameful and accursed1 when manifested toward ,god who1 in his infinite and ineffable goodness1 conferred upon us while yet enemies to him and deserving of the fires of hell--conferred upon us1 ,i say1 not ten dollars1 not a hundred thousand dollars even1 but redemption from divine wrath and eternal death1 and abundantly comforted us1 granting us safety1 a good conscience1 peace and salvation6 ,these are inexpressible blessings1 incomprehensible in this life4 ,and they will continue to occupy our minds in yonder eternal life4 ,how much more awful the sin of ingratitude for these blessings1 as exemplified in the servant mentioned in the ,gospel passage for today1 to whom was forgiven the debt of ten thousand talents and who yet would not forgive the debt of his fellow-servant who owed him a hundred pence6 #aj4 ,is it not incredible that there are to be found on earth individuals wicked enough to manifest for the highest and eternal blessings such unspeakable ingratitude8 ,but alas1 we have the evidence of our own eyes4 ,we know them in their very dwelling-places4 ,we see how the world abounds with them4 ,not only are the ingrates to be found among deliberate rejecters of the acknowledged truth of the ,gospel1 concerning ,god's grace1 an assured conscience and the promise of eternal life1 terrible as such malice of the devil is1 but they are present also in our midst1 accepting the ,gospel and boasting of it4 ,such shameful ingratitude prevails among the masses it would not be strange were ,god to send upon them the thunders and lightnings of his wrath1 yes1 all the ,turks and the devils of hell4 ,there is a generally prevalent ingratitude like that of the wicked servant who readily forgot the straits he experienced when1 being called to account for what he could not pay1 the wrathful sentence was pronounced against him that he and all he possessed must be sold1 and he be indefinitely imprisoned4 ,nor have we less readily forgotten how we were tortured under the ,papacy2 how we were overwhelmed1 drowned as in a flood1 with numberless strange doctrines1 when our anxious consciences longed for salvation4 ,now that we are1 through the grace of ,god1 liberated from these distresses1 our gratitude is of a character to increasingly heap to ourselves the wrath of ,god4 ,so have others before us done1 and consequently have endured terrible chastisement4 #aa4 ,only calculate the enormity of our wickedness when1 ,god having infinitely blessed us in forgiving all our sins and making us lords over heaven and earth1 we so little respect him as to be unmindful of his blessings2 to be unwilling for the sake of them sincerely to forgive our neighbor a single slighting word1 not to mention rendering him service4 ,we conduct ourselves as if ,god might be expected to connive at our ingratitude and permit us to continue in it1 at the same time conferring upon us as godly and obedient children1 success and happiness4 ,more than this1 we think we have the privilege and power to live and do as we please4 ,indeed1 the more learning and power we have and the more exalted our rank1 the greater knaves we are2 perpetrating every wicked deed1 stirring up strife1 discord1 war and murder for the sake of executing our own arbitrary designs1 where the question is the surrender of a penny in recognition of the hundreds of thousands of dollars daily received from ,god notwithstanding our ingratitude4 #ab4 ,two mighty lords clash with each other like powerful battering rams1 and for what8 ,perhaps for undisputed possession of a city or two1 a matter they must be ashamed of did they but call to mind what they have received from ,god4 ,they would be constrained to exclaim3 ,what are we doing that we injure one another--we who are all baptized in one name1 the name of ,christ1 and pledged to one ,lord8 ,but no1 it will not do for them to consider this matter2 not even to think of it4 ,they must turn their eyes away from it1 and put it far from their hearts4 ,wholly forgetting ,god's benefits1 they must wage war against each other1 involving nations1 and subjecting people to the ,turk4 ,and all for sake of the insignificant farthing each refused to yield to the other4 #ac4 ,the world permits the very devil to saddle and ride it as he pleases4 ,it seems to be characteristic of every phase of life that one will not yield to another--will not submit to any demand4 ,everyone is disposed to force his arrogant authority4 ,the presumption is that supreme honor and final success depend upon an unyielding1 unforgiving disposition1 and that to seek to retain our possessions by peaceable means will prove our ruin4 ,even the two remaining cows in the stall must be brought into requisition1 and war waged to the last stick1 until when the mutineer comes and we have neither cow nor stall1 nor house nor stick1 we are obliged to cease4 ,,retribution ,,follows ,,ingratitude4 ,oh1 had we but grace enough to reflect on how it would be with us did ,god require us1 as he has a perfect right to do1 to pay our whole indebtedness1 none being forgiven6 grace enough to think whether we would not this very moment be in the abyss of hell6 ,but so must it finally be with those who disregard the question and continually heap to themselves the wrath of ,god1 being at the same time unwilling for him to deal otherwise with them than he did with the servant he forgave4 ,but against that servant was finally passed the irrevocable sentence which1 without mercy1 delivered him to the tormentor till he should pay the debt1 something he could never do4 #ad4 ,nor is there any wrong or injustice in this ruling4 ,for1 as ,st4 ,bernhard says1 ingratitude is an evil damnable and pernicious enough to quench all the springs of grace and blessing known to ,god and men2 it is like a poison-laden1 burning1 destructive wind4 ,human nature will not tolerate it4 ,nor can ,god permit you1 upon whom he has bestowed all grace and goodness1 all spiritual and temporal blessing1 to go on continually in wickedness1 defiantly abusing his benevolence and dishonoring him2 you thus recklessly bring upon yourself his wrath4 ,for ,god cannot bless you if you are ungrateful1 if you reject his goodness and give it no place in your heart4 ,in such case the fountain of grace and mercy that continually springs for all who sincerely desire it1 must be quenched for you4 ,you cannot enjoy it4 ,it would afford you an abundant and unceasing supply of water did you not yourself dry it up by the deadly wind of your ingratitude2 by shamefully forgetting the ineffable goodness ,god bestows upon you2 and by failing to honor the blood of ,christ the ,lord1 wherewith he purchased us and reconciled us to ,god--failing to honor it enough to forgive your neighbor1 for ,christ's sake1 a single wrong word4 #ae4 ,what heavy burden is there for the individual who1 in submission and gratitude to his ,god1 and in honor to ,christ1 would conduct himself something like a ,christian8 ,it will cost him no great effort nor trouble4 ,it will not break any bones nor injure him in property or honor4 ,even were it to affect him to some trifling extent1 to incur for him some slight injustice1 he should remember what ,god has given him1 and will still give1 of his grace and goodness4 ,yes1 why complain even were you1 in some measure1 to endanger body and life8 ,what did not the ,son of ,god incur for you8 ,it was not pleasure for him to take upon himself the wrath of ,god1 to bear the curse for you4 ,it cost him bloody sweat and unspeakable anguish of heart1 as well as the sacrifice of his body1 the shedding of his blood1 when he bore for you the wrath and curse of ,god1 which would have rested upon you forever4 ,yet he did it cheerfully and with fervent love4 ,should you not1 then1 be ashamed in your own heart1 and humiliated before all creatures1 to be so slow and dull1 so stock-and-stone-hardened1 about enduring and forgiving an occasional unkind word--something to be suffered in token of honor and gratitude to him8 ,what more noble than1 for the sake of ,christ1 to incur danger1 to suffer injury1 to aid the poor and needy8 in particular to further the ,word of ,god and to support the ministry1 the pulpit and the schools8 #af4 ,it would be no marvel had ,germany long ago sunk to ruin1 or had it been razed to its very foundations by ,turks and ,tartars1 because of its diabolical forgetfulness1 its damnable rejection1 of ,god's unspeakable grace4 ,indeed1 it is a wonder the earth continues to support us and the sun still gives us light4 ,because of our ingratitude1 well might the heavens become dark and the earth be perverted--as the ,scriptures teach 7,ps #ajf7--;and suffer the fate of ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 no longer yielding a leaf nor a blade of grass1 but completely turned from its course--well might it be so did not ,god1 for the sake of the few godly ,christians known and acknowledged of him1 forbear and still delay4 ,,examples ,,of ,,ingratitude ,,for ,,the ,,gospel4 #ag4 ,wherever we turn our eyes we see1 in all conditions of life1 a deluge of terrible examples of ingratitude for the precious ,gospel4 ,we see how kings1 princes and lords scratch and bite2 how they envy and hate one another1 oppressing their own people and destroying their own countries2 how they tax themselves with not so much as a single ,christian thought about ameliorating the wretchedness of ,germany and securing for the oppressed ,church somewhere a shelter of defense against the murderous attacks of devil1 ,pope and ,turks4 ,the noblemen rake and rend1 robbing whomever they can1 prince or otherwise1 and especially the poor ,church2 like actual devils1 they trample under foot pastors and preachers4 ,townsmen and farmers1 too1 are extremely avaricious1 extortionate and treacherous2 they fearlessly perpetrate every sort of insolence and wickedness1 and without shame and unpunished4 ,the earth cries to heaven1 unable longer to tolerate its oppression4 #ah4 ,but why multiply words8 ,it is in vain so far as the world is concerned2 no admonition will avail4 ,the world remains the devil's own4 ,we must remember we shall not by any means find with the world that ,christian heart pictured by the apostle2 on the contrary we shall find what might be represented by a picture of the very opposite type--the most shameless ingratitude4 ,but let the still existing ,god-fearing ,christians be careful to imitate in their gratitude the spirit of the apostle's beautiful picture4 ,let them give evidence of their willingness to hear the ,word of ,god1 of pleasure and delight in it and grief where it is rejected4 ,let them show by their lives a consciousness of the great blessing conferred by those from whom they received the ,gospel4 ,as recipients of such goodness1 let their hearts and lips ever be ready with the happy declaration3 ,god be praised6 ,for thereunto are we called4 ,as before said1 praise should be the constant service and daily sacrifice of ,christians2 and according to ,paul's teaching here1 the ,christian's works1 his fruits of righteousness1 should shine before men4 ,such manifestation of gratitude assuredly must result when we comprehend what ,god has given us4 #ai4 ,notwithstanding the world's refusal to be influenced by the recognition of ,god's goodness1 and in spite of the fact that we are obliged daily to see1 hear and suffer the world's increasing ungratefulness the longer it stands1 we must not allow ourselves to be led into error2 for we will be unable to change it4 ,we must preach against the evil of ingratitude wherever possible1 severely censuring it1 and faithfully admonish all men to guard against it4 ,at the same time we have to remember the world will not submit4 ,although compelled to live among the ungrateful1 we are not for that reason to fall into error nor to cease from doing good4 ,let our springs be dispersed abroad1 as ,solomon says in ,proverbs #e1 #af4 ,let us continually do good1 not faltering when others receive our good as evil4 ,just as ,god causes his sun to rise on the thankful and the unthankful4 ,mt #e1 #de4 #bj4 ,but if your good works are wrought with the object of securing the thanks and applause of the world1 you will meet with a reception quite the reverse4 ,your reward will justly be that of him who crushes with his teeth the hollow nut only to defile his mouth4 ,now1 if when ingratitude is met with1 you angrily wish to pull down mountains1 and resolve to give up doing good1 you are no longer a ,christian4 ,you injure yourself and accomplish nothing4 ,can you not be mindful of your environment--that you are still in the world where vice and ingratitude hold sway8 that you are1 as the phrase goes1 with those who return evil for good8 ,he who would escape this fact must flee the boundaries of the world4 ,it requires no great wisdom to live only among the godly and do good1 but the keenest judgment is necessary to live with the wicked and not do evil4 #ba4 ,christianity should be begun in youth1 to give practice in the endurance that will enable one to do good to all men while expecting evil in return4 ,not that the ,christian is to commend and approve evil conduct2 he is to censure and restrain wickedness to the limit of the authority his position in life affords4 ,it is the best testimony to the real merit of a work when its beneficiaries are not only ungrateful but return evil4 ,for its results tend to restrain the doer from a too high opinion of himself1 and the character of the work is too precious in ,god's sight for the world to be worthy of rewarding it4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,duty ,,of ,,prayer4 #bb4 ,the other ,christian duty named by ,paul in this passage is that of prayer4 ,the two obligations--gratitude for benefits received1 and prayer for the preservation and growth of ,god's work begun in us--are properly related4 ,prayer is of supreme importance1 for the devil and the world assail us and delight in turning us aside2 we have continually to resist wickedness4 ,so the conflict is a sore one for our feeble flesh and blood1 and we cannot stand unvanquished unless there be constant1 earnest invocation of divine aid4 ,gratitude and prayer are essential and must accompany each other1 according to the requirements of the daily sacrifice of the ,old ,testament3 the offering of praise1 or thank-offering1 thanks to ,god for blessings received2 and the sacrifice of prayer1 or the ,lord's ,prayer--the petition against the wickedness and evil from which we would be released4 #bc4 ,our life has not yet reached the heights it is destined to attain4 ,we know here only its incipient first-fruits4 ,desire is not satisfied2 we have but a foretaste4 ,as yet we only realize by faith what is bestowed upon us2 full and tangible occupancy is to come4 ,therefore1 we need to pray because of the limitations that bind our earthly life1 until we go yonder where prayer is unnecessary1 and all is happiness1 purity of life and one eternal song of thanks and praise to ,god4 ,but heavenly praise and joy is to have its inception and a measure of growth here on earth through the encouragement of prayer--prayer for ourselves and the ,church as a whole2 that is1 for them who have accepted and believe the ,gospel and are thus mutually helpful4 ,for the ,gospel will receive greater exaltation and will inspire more joy with the individual because of its acceptance by the many4 ,so ,paul says he thanks ,god for the fellowship of the ,philippians in the ,gospel1 and offers prayer in their behalf4 ,,prayer ,,for ,,others4 #bd4 ,yes1 it should be the joy of a ,christian heart to see multitudes accept the offer of mercy1 and praise and thank ,god with him4 ,this desire for the participation of others in the ,gospel promotes the spirit of prayer4 ,the ,christian cannot be a misanthrope1 wholly unconcerned whether his fellows believe or not4 ,he should be interested in all men and unceasingly long and pray for their salvation2 for the sanctification of ,god's name1 the coming of his kingdom1 the fulfilment of his will2 and for the exposure everywhere of the devil's deceptions1 the suppression of his murderous power over poor souls and the restraint of his authority4 #be4 ,this prayer should be the sincere1 earnest outflow of the true ,christian's heart4 ,note1 ,paul's words here indicate that his praise and prayer were inspired by a fervent spirit4 ,it is impossible that the words ,i thank my ,god upon all my remembrance of you1 always in every supplication be the expression of any but a heart full of such sentiments4 ,truly1 ,paul speaks in a way worthy of an apostle--saying he renders praise and prayer with keenest pleasure4 ,he rejoices in his heart that he has somewhere a little band of ,christians who love the ,gospel and with whom he may rejoice2 that he may thank ,god for them and pray in their behalf4 ,was there not much more reason that all they who had heard the ,gospel should rejoice1 and thank ,paul in heart and in expression for it1 praying ,god in his behalf8 should rejoice that they became worthy of the apostle's favor1 were delivered from their blindness and had now received from him the light transferring from sin and death into the grace of ,god and eternal life8 #bf4 ,but ,paul does not wait for them to take the initiative1 as they ought to have done to declare their joy and their gratitude to him4 ,in his first utterance he pours out the joy of his heart1 fervently thanking ,god for them1 etc4 ,well might they have blushed1 and reproached themselves1 when they received the epistle beginning with these words4 ,well might they have said1 ,we should not have permitted him to speak in this way2 it was our place first to show him gratitude and joy4 ,,few ,,believers ,,no ,,reason ,,for ,,discouragement4 #bg4 ,we shall not soon be able to boast the attainment of that beautiful1 perfect ,christian spirit the apostle's words portray4 ,seeing how the apostle rejoices over finding a few believers in the ,gospel1 why should we complain because of the smaller number who accord us a hearing and seriously accept the ,word of ,god8 ,we have no great reason to complain nor to be discouraged since ,christ and the prophets and apostles1 meeting with the same backwardness on the part of the people1 still were gratified over the occasional few who accepted the faith4 ,we note how ,christ rejoiced when now and then he found one who had true faith1 and on the other hand was depressed when his own people refused to hear him1 and reluctantly censured them4 ,and ,paul did not meet with more encouragement4 ,in all the ,roman ,empire--and through the greater part of it he had traveled with the ,gospel--he only occasionally found a place where was even a small band of earnest ,christians2 but over them he peculiarly rejoices1 finding in them greater consolation than in all the treasures on earth4 #bh4 ,but it is a prophecy of good to the world1 a portent of ultimate success1 that ,christ and his apostles and ministers must rejoice over an occasional reception of the beloved ,word4 ,such acceptance will tell in time4 ,one would think all men might eagerly have hastened to the ends of the earth to be afforded an opportunity of hearing an apostle4 ,but ,paul had to go through the world himself upon his ministry1 enduring great fatigue and encountering privations and grave dangers1 being rejected and trampled upon by all men4 ,however1 disregarding it all1 he rejoiced to be able now and then to see some soul accept the ,gospel4 ,in time past it was not necessary for the ,pope and his officials to run after anyone4 ,they sat in lordly authority in their kingdom1 and all men had to obey their summons1 wherever wanted1 and that without thanks4 #bi4 ,what running on the part of our fathers1 even of many of us1 as if we were foolish--running from all countries1 hundreds of miles1 to ,jerusalem1 to the holy sepulcher1 to ,compostella1 ,st4 ,james1 ,rome1 to the heads of ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul2 some barefooted and others in complete armor--all this1 to say nothing of innumerable other pilgrimages6 ,we thus expended large sums of money1 and thanked ,god1 and rejoiced to be able thereby to purchase the wicked indulgences of the ,pope and to be worthy to look upon or to kiss the bones of the dead exhibited as holy relics1 but preferably to kiss the feet of ,his ,most ,holy ,holiness1 the ,pope4 ,this condition of things the world desires again1 and it shall have nothing better4 ,twenty ,third ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,philippians #c1 #ag-ba4 #ag ,brethren1 be ye imitators followers together of me1 and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample4 #ah ,for many walk1 of whom ,i told you often1 and now tell you even weeping1 that they are the enemies of the cross of ,christ3 #ai whose end is perdition1 whose god is the belly1 and whose glory is in their shame1 who mind earthly things4 #bj ,for our citizenship conversation is in heaven2 whence also we wait for a ,saviour1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 #ba who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation change our vile body1 that it may be conformed fashioned to the body of his glory1 according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself4 ,,enemies ,,of ,,the ,,cross ,,of ,,christ ,,and ,,the ,,christian',s ,,citizenship ,,in ,,heaven4 #a4 ,paul immeasurably extols the ,philippians for having made a good beginning in the holy ,gospel and for having acquitted themselves commendably1 like men in earnest1 as manifest by their fruits of faith4 ,the reason he shows this sincere and strong concern for them is his desire that they remain steadfast1 not being led astray by false teachers among the roaming ,jews4 ,for at that time many ,jews went about with the intent of perverting ,paul's converts1 pretending they taught something far better2 while they drew the people away from ,christ and back to the ,law1 for the purpose of establishing and extending their ,jewish doctrines4 ,paul1 contemplating with special interest and pleasure his ,church of the ,philippians1 is moved by parental care to admonish them--lest they sometime be misled by such teachers--to hold steadily to what they have received1 not seeking anything else and not imagining1 like self-secure1 besotted souls who allow themselves to be deceived by the devil--not imagining themselves perfect and with complete understanding in all things4 ,in the verses just preceding our text he speaks of himself as having not yet attained to full knowledge4 ,,purity ,,of ,,doctrine ,,enjoined4 #b4 ,he particularly admonishes them to follow him and to mark those ministers who walk as he does2 also to shape their belief and conduct by the pattern they have received from him4 ,not only of himself does he make an example1 but introduces them who similarly walk1 several of whom he mentions in this letter to the ,philippians4 ,the individuals whom he bids them observe and follow must have been persons of special eminence4 ,but it is particularly the doctrine the apostle would have the ,philippians pattern after4 ,therefore we should be chiefly concerned about preserving the purity of the office of the ministry and the genuineness of faith4 ,when these are kept unsullied1 doctrine will be right1 and good works spontaneous4 ,later on1 in chapter #d1 verse #h1 ,paul admonishes1 with reference to the same subject3 ,if there be any virtue1 and if there be any praise1 think on these things4 #c4 ,apparently ,paul is a rash man to dare boast himself a pattern for all4 ,other ministers might well accuse him of desiring to exalt his individual self above others4 ,think you1 our wise ones would say to him1 that you alone have the ,holy ,spirit1 or that no one else is as eager for honor as yourself8 ,just so did ,miriam and ,aaron murmur against ,moses1 their own brother1 saying3 ,hath ,jehovah indeed spoken only with ,moses8 hath he not spoken also with us8 ,num #ab1 #b4 ,and it would seem as if ,paul had too high an appreciation of his own character did he hold up his individual self as a pattern1 intimating that no one was to be noted as worthy unless he walked as he did2 though there might be some who apparently gave greater evidence of the ,spirit1 of holiness1 humility and other graces1 than himself1 and yet walked not in his way4 #d4 ,but he does not say ,i1 ,paul1 alone4 ,he says1 as ye have us for an example1 that does not exclude other true apostles and teachers4 ,he is admonishing his ,church1 as he everywhere does1 to hold fast to the one true doctrine received from him in the beginning4 ,they are not to be too confident of their own wisdom in the matter1 or to presume they have independent authority2 but rather to guard against pretenders to a superior doctrine1 for so had some been misled4 ,,righteousness ,,of ,,the ,,law ,,is ,,vain4 #e4 ,in what respect he was a pattern or example to them1 he has made plain2 for instance1 in the beginning of this chapter1 in the third verse and following1 he says3 ,for we are the circumcision1 who worship by the ,spirit of ,god1 and glory in ,christ ,jesus1 and have no confidence in the flesh3 though ,i myself might have confidence even in the flesh3 if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh1 ,i yet more3 circumcised the eighth day1 of the stock of ,israel1 of the tribe of ,benjamin1 a ,hebrew of ,hebrews4 ,that is1 he commands the highest honor a ,jew can boast4 ,as touching the law1 he goes on1 a ,pharisee2 as touching zeal1 persecuting the ,church2 as touching the righteousness which is in the law1 found blameless4 ,howbeit what things were gain to me1 these have ,i counted loss for ,christ4 ,yea verily1 and ,i count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of ,christ ,jesus my ,lord3 for whom ,i suffered the loss of all things1 and do count them but refuse1 that ,i may gain ,christ1 and be found in him1 not having a righteousness of mine own1 even that which is of the law1 but that which is through faith in ,christ1 the righteousness which is from ,god by faith4 #f4 ,behold1 this is the picture or pattern1 he would say1 which we hold up for you to follow1 that remembering how you obtained righteousness you may hold to it--a righteousness not of the ,law4 ,so far as the righteousness of the ,law is concerned1 ,paul dares to say he regards it as filth and refuse 7that proceeds from the human body72 notwithstanding in its beautiful and blameless form it may be unsurpassed by anything in the world--such righteousness as was manifest in sincere ,jews1 and in ,paul himself before his conversion2 for these in their great holiness1 regarded ,christians as knaves and meriting damnation1 and consequently took delight in being party to the persecution and murder of ,christians4 #g4 ,yet1 ,paul would say1 ,i who am a ,jew by birth have counted all this merit as simply loss that ,i might be found in 'the righteousness which is from ,god by faith'4 ,only the righteousness of faith teaches us how to apprehend ,god--how to confidently console ourselves with his grace and await a future life1 expecting to approach ,christ in the resurrection4 ,by approaching him we mean to meet him in death and at the judgment day without terror1 not fleeing but gladly drawing near and hailing him with joy as one waited for with intense longing4 ,now1 the righteousness of the ,law cannot effect such confidence of mind4 ,hence1 for me it avails nothing before ,god2 rather it is a detriment4 ,what does avail is ,god's imputation of righteousness for ,christ's sake1 through faith4 ,god declares to us in his ,word that the believer in his ,son shall1 for ,christ's own sake1 have ,god's grace and eternal life4 ,he who knows this is able to wait in hope for the last day1 having no fear1 no disposition to flee4 #h4 ,but is it not treating the righteousness of the ,law with irreverence and contempt to regard it--and so teach--as something not only useless and even obstructive1 but injurious1 loathsome and abominable8 ,who would have been able to make such a bold statement1 and to censure a life so faultless and conforming so closely to the ,law as ,paul's1 without being pronounced by all men a minion of the devil1 had not the apostle made that estimation of it himself8 ,and who is to have any more respect for the righteousness of the ,law if we are to preach in that strain8 #i4 ,had ,paul confined his denunciations to the righteousness of the world or of the heathen--the righteousness dependent upon reason and controlled by secular government1 by laws and regulations--his teaching would not have seemed so irreverent4 ,but he distinctly specifies the righteousness of ,god's ,law1 or the ,ten ,commandments1 to which we owe an obligation far above what is due temporal powers1 for they teach how to live before ,god--something no heathenish court of justice1 no temporal authority1 knows anything about4 ,should we not condemn as a heretic this preacher who goes beyond his prerogative and dares find fault with the ,law of ,god8 who also warns us to shun such as observe it1 such as trust in its righteousness1 and exalts to sainthood enemies of the cross of ,christ 444 whose ,god is the belly--who serve the appetites instead of ,god8 #aj4 ,paul would say of himself3 ,i1 too1 was such a one4 ,in my most perfect righteousness of the ,law ,i was an enemy to and persecutor of the congregation1 or ,church1 of ,christ4 ,it was the legitimate fruit of my righteousness that ,i thought ,i must be party to the most horrible persecution of ,christ and his ,christians4 ,thus my holiness made me an actual enemy of ,christ and a murderer of his followers4 ,the disposition to injure is a natural result of the righteousness of the ,law1 as all ,scripture history from ,cain down testifies1 and as we see even in the best of the world who have not come to the knowledge of ,christ4 ,princes1 civil authorities in proportion to their wisdom1 their godliness and honor are the bitter and intolerant enemies of the ,gospel4 #aa4 ,of the sensual papistical dolts at ,rome1 cardinals1 bishops1 priests and the like1 it is not necessary to speak here4 ,their works are manifest4 ,all honorable secular authorities must confess they are simply abandoned knaves1 living shameless lives of open scandal1 avarice1 arrogance1 unchastity1 vanity1 robbery and wickedness of every kind4 ,not only are they guilty of such living1 but shamelessly endeavor to defend their conduct4 ,they must1 then1 be regarded enemies of ,christ and of all honesty and virtue4 ,hence every respectable man is justly antagonistic toward them4 ,but1 as before said1 ,paul is not here referring to this class1 but to eminent1 godly individuals1 whose lives are beyond reproach4 ,these very ones1 when ,christians are encountered1 are hostile and heinous enough to be able to forget all their own faults in the sight of ,god1 and to magnify to huge beams the motes we ,christians have4 ,in fact1 they must style the ,gospel heresy and satanic doctrine for the purpose of exalting their own holiness and zeal for ,god4 ,,righteousness ,,of ,,the ,,law ,,opposes ,,the ,,cross4 #ab4 ,the thing seems incredible1 and ,i would not have believed it myself1 nor have understood ,paul's words here1 had ,i not witnessed it with my own eyes and experienced it4 ,were the apostle to repeat the charge today1 who could conceive that our first1 noblest1 most respectable1 godly and holy people1 those whom we might expect1 above all others1 to accept the ,word of ,god--that they1 ,i say1 should be enemies to the ,christian doctrine8 ,but the examples before us testify very plainly that the enemies the apostle refers to must be the individuals styled godly and worthy princes and noblemen1 honorable citizens1 learned1 wise1 intelligent individuals4 ,yet if these could devour at one bite the ,evangelicals1 as they are now called1 they would do it4 #ac4 ,if you ask1 ,whence such a disposition8 ,i answer1 it naturally springs from human righteousness4 ,for every individual who professes human righteousness1 and knows nothing of ,christ1 holds that efficacious before ,god4 ,he relies upon it and gratifies himself with it1 presuming thereby to present a flattering appearance in ,god's sight and to render himself peculiarly acceptable to him4 ,from being proud and arrogant toward ,god1 he comes to reject them who are not righteous according to the ,law2 as illustrated in the instance of the ,pharisee4 ,lk #ah1 #aa-ab4 ,but greater is his enmity and more bitter his hatred toward the preaching that dares to censure such righteousness and assert its futility to merit ,god's grace and eternal life4 #ad4 ,i myself1 and others with me1 were dominated by such feelings when1 under popery1 we claimed to be holy and pious2 we must confess the fact4 ,if thirty years ago1 when ,i was a devout1 holy monk1 holding mass every day and having no thought but that ,i was in the road leading directly to heaven--if then anyone had accused me--had preached to me the things of this text and pronounced our righteousness--which accorded not strictly with the ,law of ,god1 but conformed to human doctrine and was manifestly idolatrous--pronounced it without efficacy and said ,i was an enemy to the cross of ,christ1 serving my own sensual appetites1 ,i would immediately have at least helped to find stones for putting to death such a ,stephen1 or to gather wood for the burning of this worst of heretics4 #ae4 ,so human nature ever does4 ,the world cannot conduct itself in any other way1 when the declaration comes from heaven saying3 ,true you are a holy man1 a great and learned jurist1 a conscientious regent1 a worthy prince1 an honorable citizen1 and so on1 but with all your authority and your upright character you are going to hell2 your every act is offensive and condemned in ,god's sight4 ,if you would be saved you must become an altogether different man2 your mind and heart must be changed4 ,let this be announced and the fire rises1 the ,rhine is all ablaze2 for the self-righteous regard it an intolerable idea that lives so beautiful1 lives devoted to praiseworthy callings1 should be publicly censured and condemned by the objectionable preaching of a few insignificant individuals regarded as even pernicious1 and according to ,paul1 as filthy refuse1 actual obstacles to eternal life4 #af4 ,but you may say3 ,what8 ,do you forbid good works8 ,is it not right to lead an honorable1 virtuous life8 ,do you not acknowledge the necessity of political laws1 of civil governments8 that upon obedience to them depends the maintenance of discipline1 peace and honor8 ,indeed1 do you not admit that ,god himself commands such institutions and wills their observance1 punishing where they are disregarded8 ,much more would he have his own ,law and the ,ten ,commandments honored1 not rejected4 ,how dare you then assert that such righteousness is misleading1 and obstructive to eternal life8 ,what consistence is there in teaching people to observe the things of the ,law1 to be righteous in that respect1 and at the same time censuring those things as condemned before ,god8 ,how can the works of the ,law be good and precious1 and yet repulsive and productive of evil8 #ag4 ,i answer1 ,paul well knows the world takes its stand on this point of righteousness by the ,law1 and hence would contradict him4 ,but let him who will1 consult the apostle as to why he makes such bold assertions here4 ,for indeed the words of the text are not our words1 but his4 ,true1 law and government are essential in temporal life1 as ,paul himself confesses1 and ,god would have everyone honor and obey them4 ,indeed1 he has ordained their observance among ,turks and heathen4 ,yet it is a fact that these people1 even the best and most upright of them1 they who lead honorable lives1 are naturally in their hearts enemies to ,christ1 and devote their intellectual powers to exterminating ,god's people4 ,it must be universally admitted that the ,turks1 with all the restrictions and austerity of life imposed upon them by the ,koran1 a life more rigorous even than that of ,christians--it must be admitted they belong to the devil4 ,in other words1 we adjudge them condemned with all their righteousness1 but at the same time say they do right in punishing thieves1 robbers1 murderers1 drunkards and other offenders2 more1 that ,christians living within their jurisdiction are under obligation to pay tribute1 and to serve them with person and property4 ,precisely the same thing is true respecting our princes who persecute the ,gospel and are open enemies to ,christ3 we must be obedient to them1 paying the tribute and rendering the service imposed2 yet they1 and all obedient followers willingly consenting to the persecution of the ,gospel1 must be looked upon as condemned before ,god4 #ah4 ,similarly does ,paul speak concerning the righteousness of all the ,jews and pious saints who are not ,christians4 ,his utterance is bold and of certain sound4 ,he censures them and1 weeping1 deprecatingly refers to certain who direct the people to the righteousness of the law with the sole result of making enemies to the cross of ,christ4 #ai4 ,again1 all the praise he has for them is to say that their end is perdition2 they are condemned in spite of strenuous efforts all their lives to teach and enforce the righteousness of works4 ,here on earth it is truly a priceless distinction1 an admirable and noble treasure1 a praiseworthy honor1 to have the name of being a godly and upright prince1 ruler or citizen2 a pious1 virtuous wife or virgin4 ,who would not praise and exalt such virtue8 ,it is indeed a rare and valuable thing in the world4 ,but however beautiful1 priceless and admirable an honor it is1 ,paul tells us1 it is ultimately condemned and pertains not to heaven4 ,,human ,,righteousness ,,idolatrous4 #bj4 ,the apostle makes his accusation yet more galling with the words whose god is their belly4 ,thus you hear how human righteousness1 even at its best1 extends no higher than to service of the sensual appetites4 ,take all the wisdom1 justice1 jurisprudence1 artifice1 even the highest virtues the world affords1 and what are they8 ,they minister only to that god1 carnal appetite4 ,they can go no farther than the needs of this life1 their whole purpose being to satisfy physical cravings4 ,when the physical appetites of the worldly pass1 they pass likewise1 and the gifts and virtues we have mentioned can no longer serve them4 ,all perish and go to destruction together--righteousness1 virtues1 laws and physical appetites which they have served as their god4 ,for they are wholly ignorant of the true and eternal ,god2 they know not how to serve him and receive eternal life4 ,so then in its essential features such a life is merely idolatrous1 having no greater object than the preservation of this perishable body and its enjoyment of peace and honor4 #ba4 ,the fourth accusation is1 whose glory is in their shame4 ,that is all their glory amounts to4 ,let wise philosophers1 scrupulous heathen1 keen jurists1 receive the acme of praise and honor--it is yet but shame4 ,true1 their motto is ,love of ,virtue2 they boast strong love of virtue and righteousness and may even think themselves sincere4 ,but judged by final results1 their boast is without foundation and ends in shame4 ,for the utmost their righteousness can effect is the applause of the world--here on earth4 ,before ,god it avails nothing4 ,it cannot touch the life to come4 ,ultimately it leaves its possessor a captive in shame4 ,death devours and hell clutches him4 #bb4 ,you may again object1 ,if what you say is true1 why observe temporal restrictions8 ,let us live in indulgent carelessness following our inclinations4 ,let pass the godly1 honorable man2 the virtuous1 upright wife or virgin4 ,i answer1 ,by no means2 that is not the design4 ,you have heard it is ,god's command and will that there be temporal righteousness even among ,turks and heathen4 ,and later on 7ch4 #d1 #h7 ,paul admonishes ,christians to think on these things1 that is1 on what is true4 ,he says3 ,whatsoever things are honorable1 whatsoever things are just1 whatsoever things are pure1 whatsoever things are lovely1 whatsoever things are of good report2 if there be any virtue1 and if there be any praise1 think on these things4 ,and continuing1 in verse #i1 he refers them to his own example1 saying1 which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me4 ,,fruits ,,of ,,faith4 #bc4 ,with the believers in ,christ1 them who have their righteousness in him1 there should follow in this life on earth the fruits of upright living1 in obedience to ,god4 ,these fruits constitute the good works acceptable to ,god1 which1 being works of faith and wrought in ,christ1 will be rewarded in the life to come4 ,but ,paul has in mind the individuals who1 rejecting faith in ,christ1 regard their self-directed lives1 their humanly-wrought works1 which conform to the ,law1 as righteousness availing in the sight of ,god4 ,his reference is to them who so trust1 though wholly ignorant of ,christ1 for whose sake1 without any merit on our part1 righteousness is imputed to us by ,god4 ,the only condition is we must believe in ,christ2 for he became man1 died for our sins and rose from the dead1 for the very purpose of liberating us from our sins and granting us his resurrection and life4 ,toward the heavenly life we should tend1 in our life here walking in harmony with it2 as ,paul says in conclusion3 ,our citizenship is in heaven not earthly and not confined to this temporal life only2 whence also we wait for a ,saviour1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,if we have no knowledge1 no consciousness1 of this fact1 it matters not how beautiful and praiseworthy our human1 earthly righteousness may be1 it is merely a hindrance and an injury4 ,for flesh and blood cannot help relying on its own righteousness and arrogantly boasting in this strain3 ,we are better1 more honorable1 more godly1 than others4 ,we ,jews are the people of ,god and keep his ,law4 ,even ,christians are not wholly free from the pernicious influence of human holiness4 ,they ever seek to bring their own works and merits before ,god4 ,i know for myself what pains are inflicted by this godless wisdom1 this figment of righteousness1 and what effort must be made before the serpent's head is bruised4 #bd4 ,now1 this is the situation and there is no alternative3 ,either suffer hell or regard your human righteousness as loss and filth and endeavor not to be found relying on it at your last hour1 in the presence of ,god and judgment1 but rather stand in the righteousness of ,christ4 ,in the garment of ,christ's righteousness and reared in him you may1 in the resurrection from sin and death1 meet ,christ and exclaim3 ,hail1 beloved ,lord and ,saviour1 thou who hast redeemed me from the wretched body of sin and death1 and fashioned me like unto thy holy1 pure and glorious body6 ,,god',s ,,patience ,,with ,,human ,,righteousness4 #be4 ,meantime1 while we walk in the faith of his righteousness1 he has patience with the poor1 frail righteousness of this earthly life1 which otherwise is but filth in his sight4 ,he honors our human holiness by supporting and protecting it during the time we live on earth2 just as we honor our corrupt1 filthy bodies1 adorning them with beautiful1 costly garments and golden ornaments1 and reposing them on cushions and beds of luxury4 ,though but stench and filth encased in flesh1 they are honored above everything else on earth4 ,for their sake are all things performed--the ordering and ruling1 building and laboring2 and ,god himself permits sun and moon to shine that they may receive light and heat1 and everything to grow on earth for their benefit4 ,what is the human body but a beautiful pyx containing that filthy1 repulsive object of reverence1 the digestive organs1 which the body must always patiently carry about2 yes1 which we must even nourish and minister to1 glad if only they perform their functions properly8 #bf4 ,similarly ,god deals with us4 ,because he would confer eternal life upon man1 he patiently endures the filthy righteousness of this life wherein we must dwell until the last day1 for the sake of his chosen people and until the number is complete4 ,for so long as the final day is deferred1 not all to have eternal life are yet born4 ,when the time shall be fulfilled1 the number completed1 ,god will suddenly bring to an end the world with its governments1 its jurists and authorities1 its conditions of life2 in short1 he will utterly abolish earthly righteousness1 destroying physical appetites and all else together4 ,for every form of human holiness is condemned to destruction2 yet for the sake of ,christians1 to whom eternal life is appointed1 and for their sake only1 all these must be perpetuated until the last saint is born and has attained life everlasting4 ,were there but one saint yet to be born1 for the sake of that one the world must remain4 ,for ,god regards not the world nor has he need for it1 except for the sake of his ,christians4 #bg4 ,therefore1 when ,god enjoins upon us obedience to the emperor1 and godly1 honest lives on earth1 it is no warrant that our subjection to temporal authority is to continue forever4 ,instead1 ,god necessarily will minister to1 adorn and honor this wretched body--vile body1 as ,paul here has it--with power and dominion4 ,yet the apostle terms human righteousness filth1 and says it is not necessary to ,god's kingdom2 indeed1 that it is condemned in the sight of ,god with all its honor and glory1 and all the world must be ashamed of it in his presence1 confessing themselves guilty4 ,paul in ,romans #c1 #bg and #d1 #b testifies to this fact when he tells how even the exalted1 holy fathers--,abraham1 and others--though having glory before the world because of their righteous works1 could not make them serve to obtain honor before ,god4 ,much less will worldly honor avail with ,god in the case of individuals who1 being called honorable1 pious1 honest1 virtuous--lords and princes1 wives and husbands--boast of such righteousness4 #bh4 ,outwardly1 then1 though your righteousness may appear dazzlingly beautiful before the world1 inwardly you are but filth4 ,illustrative of this point is the story told of a certain nun regarded holy above all others4 ,she would not fellowship with anyone else1 but sat alone in her cell in rapt devotion1 praying unceasingly4 ,she boasted special revelations and visions and had no consciousness of anything but that beloved angels hovered about and adorned her with a golden crown4 ,but some outside1 ardently desiring to behold such sights1 peeped through holes and crevices1 and seeing her head but defiled with filth1 laughed at her4 #bi4 ,notice1 the reason ,paul calls the righteousness of the ,law filth and pollution1 is his desire to denounce the honor and glory claimed for it in ,god's sight2 notwithstanding he honors before the world the observance of the ,law by styling it righteousness4 ,but if you ostentatiously boast of such righteousness to him1 he pronounces his sentence of judgment making you an abomination1 an enemy of the cross of ,christ1 and shaming your boasted honor and finally casting you into hell4 ,concerning the righteousness of faith1 however1 which in ,christ avails before ,god1 he says3 ,our citizenship conversation is in heaven1 from whence also we look for the ,saviour1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 who shall change our vile body1 that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body4 #cj4 ,we who are baptized and believe in ,christ1 ,paul's thought is1 do not base our works and our hope on the righteousness of this temporal life4 ,through faith in ,christ1 we have a righteousness that holds in heaven4 ,it abides in ,christ alone2 otherwise it would avail naught before ,god4 ,and our whole concern is to be eternally in ,christ2 to have our earthly existence culminate in yonder life when ,christ shall come and change this life into another1 altogether new1 pure1 holy and like unto his own1 with a life and a body having the nature of his4 ,,the ,,christian ,a ,,citizen ,,of ,,heaven4 #ca4 ,therefore we are no longer citizens of earth4 ,the baptized ,christian is born a citizen of heaven through baptism4 ,we should be mindful of this fact and walk here as if native there4 ,we are to console ourselves with the fact that ,god thus accepts us and will transplant us there4 ,meantime we must await the coming again of the ,saviour1 who is to bring from heaven to us eternal righteousness1 life1 honor and glory4 #cb4 ,we are baptized and made ,christians1 not to the end that we may have great honor1 or renown of righteousness1 or earthly dominion1 power and possessions4 ,notwithstanding we do have these because they are requisite to our physical life1 yet we are to regard them as mere filth1 wherewith we minister to our bodily welfare as best we can for the benefit of posterity4 ,we ,christians1 however1 are expectantly to await the coming of the ,saviour4 ,his coming will not be to our injury or shame as it may be in the case of others4 ,he comes for the salvation of our unprofitable1 impotent bodies4 ,wretchedly worthless as they are in this life1 they are much more unprofitable when lifeless and perishing in the earth4 #cc4 ,but1 however miserable1 powerless and contemptible in life and death1 ,christ will at his coming render our bodies beautiful1 pure1 shining and worthy of honor1 until they correspond to his own immortal1 glorious body4 ,not like it as it hung on the cross or lay in the grave1 blood-stained1 livid and disgraced2 but as it is now1 glorified at the ,father's right hand4 ,we need not1 then1 be alarmed at the necessity of laying aside our earthly bodies2 at being despoiled of the honor1 righteousness and life adhering in them1 to deliver it to the devouring power of death and the grave--something well calculated to terrify the enemies of ,christ3 but we may joyfully hope for and await his speedy coming to deliver us from this miserable1 filthy pollution4 ,according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself4 ,,the ,,glorified ,,body ,,of ,,the ,,christian4 #cd4 ,think of the honor and the glory ,christ's righteousness brings even to our bodies6 ,how can this poor1 sinful1 miserable1 filthy1 polluted body become like unto that of the ,son of ,god1 the ,lord of ,glory8 ,what are you--your powers and abilities1 or those of all men1 to effect this glorious thing8 ,but ,paul says human righteousness1 merit1 glory and power have nothing to do with it4 ,they are mere filth and pollution1 and condemned as well4 ,another force intervenes1 the power of ,christ the ,lord1 who is able to bring all things into subjection to himself4 ,now1 if he has power to subject all things unto himself at will1 he is also able to glorify the pollution and filth of this wretched body1 even when it has become worms and dust4 ,in his hands it is as clay in the hands of the potter1 and from the polluted lump of clay he can make a vessel that shall be a beautiful1 new1 pure1 glorious body1 surpassing the sun in its brilliance and beauty4 #ce4 ,through baptism ,christ has taken us into his hands1 actually that he may exchange our sinful1 condemned1 perishable1 physical lives for the new1 imperishable righteousness and life he prepares for body and soul4 ,such is the power and the agency exalting us to marvelous glory--something no earthly righteousness of the ,law could accomplish4 ,the righteousness of the ,law leaves our bodies to shame and destruction2 it reaches not beyond physical existence4 ,but the righteousness of ,christ inspires with power1 making evident that we worship not the body but the true and living ,god1 who does not leave us to shame and destruction1 but delivers from sin1 death and condemnation1 and exalts this perishable body to eternal honor and glory4 ,twenty ,fourth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 ,colossians #a1 #c-ad4 #c ,we give thanks to ,god the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 praying always for you1 #d having heard of your faith in ,christ ,jesus1 and of the love which ye have toward all the saints1 #e because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens1 whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel1 #f which is come unto you2 even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing1 as it doth in you also1 since the day ye heard and knew the grace of ,god in truth2 #g even as ye learned of ,epaphras our beloved fellow-servant1 who is a faithful minister of ,christ on our behalf1 #h who also declared unto us your love in the ,spirit4 #i ,for this cause we also1 since the day we heard it1 do not cease to pray and make request for you1 that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding1 #aj to walk worthily of the ,lord unto all pleasing1 bearing fruit in every good work1 and increasing in the knowledge of ,god2 #aa strengthened with all power1 according to the might of his glory1 unto all patience and longsuffering with joy2 #ab giving thanks unto the ,father1 who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light2 #ac who delivered us out of the power of darkness1 and translated us into the kingdom of the ,son of his love2 #ad in whom we have our redemption1 the forgiveness of our sins4 ,,prayer ,,and ,,spiritual ,,knowledge4 #a4 ,in this short epistle to the ,colossians ,paul treats of many things1 but particularly of faith1 love1 patience and gratitude4 ,upon these topics he is remarkably eloquent1 for as ,god himself declares in ,acts #i1 #ae1 ,paul is a chosen vessel1 or instrument1 of ,god--his best preacher on earth4 ,he is particularly strong in his discussion of the main principle of the ,gospel1 faith in ,christ4 ,and he exalts ,christ supremely1 in person and kingdom1 making him all in all in his ,church--,god1 ,lord1 ,master1 ,head and ,example1 and everything mentionable in goodness and divinity4 #b4 ,the apostle's first words are praise for the ,colossians4 ,he remarks upon the good report he has heard of them1 how they have faith in ,christ and love for all saints1 and hold fast the hope of eternal life reserved for them in heaven3 in other words1 that they are true ,christians1 who have not allowed themselves to be led away from the pure ,word of ,god but who earnestly cling to it1 proving their faith by their fruits2 for they love the poor ,christians1 and for ,christ's sake have endured much in the hope of the promised salvation4 ,so he exalts them as model ,christians1 a mirror of the entire ,christian life4 #c4 ,hearing these things of you1 ,paul would say1 ,i heartily rejoice in your good beginning4 ,apparently he was not the one who first preached to them4 ,in the first verse of the second chapter he speaks of his care for them and others who have not seen his face1 and he also intimates here that the ,colossians learned of ,christ and the ,gospel from ,epaphras1 ,paul's fellow-servant4 #d4 ,and therefore ,i always pray for you1 he writes1 that you may continue in this way2 may increase and be steadfast4 ,he is aware of the necessity for such prayer and exhortation in behalf of ,christians if they are to abide firm and unchangeable in their new-found faith1 against the ceaseless assaults of the devil1 the wickedness of the world1 and the weakness of the flesh in tribulation and affliction4 ,that ye may be filled1 ,paul continues1 with the knowledge of his will4 #e4 ,this is his chief prayer and desire for them and if it is fulfilled there can be no lack4 ,the words are1 be filled2 that is1 not only hear and understand ,god's will1 but become rich in the knowledge of it1 with ever-increasing fullness4 ,you have begun well2 you are promising shoots4 ,but something more than a good beginning is required1 and the knowledge of ,god's will is not to be exhaustively learned immediately on hearing the ,word4 ,on the contrary it must be constantly pursued and practiced as long as we live if it is ever to be rounded and perfected in us4 ,,knowledge ,,of ,,god',s ,,will ,,imposes ,,obligation4 #f4 ,knowing the will of ,god means more than simply knowing about ,god1 that he created heaven and earth and gave the ,law1 and so on1 a knowledge even the ,jews and ,turks possess4 ,for doubtless to them has been revealed that knowledge of ,god and of his will concerning our conduct which nature--the works of creation--can teach4 ,rom #a1 #bj4 ,but if we fail to do ,god's revealed will1 the knowledge of it does not benefit us4 ,such mere mental consciousness is a vain1 empty thing2 it does not fulfil ,god's will in us4 ,indeed1 it eventually becomes a condemnatory knowledge of our own eternal destruction4 ,when this point has been reached1 further enlightenment is necessary if man is to be saved4 ,he must know the meaning of ,christ's words in ,john #f1 #dj3 ,this is the will of my ,father1 that every one that beholdeth the ,son1 and believeth on him1 should have eternal life2 and in ,matthew #ah1 #ad3 ,it is not the will of your ,father1 that one of these should perish1 which believe on me4 #g4 ,since we have not done ,god's will according to the first revelation and must be rejected and condemned by his eternal1 unendurable wrath1 in his divine wisdom and mercy he has determined1 or willed1 to permit his only ,son to take upon himself our sin and wrath2 to give ,christ as a sacrifice for our ransom1 whereby the unendurable wrath and condemnation might be turned from us2 to grant us forgiveness of sins and to send the ,holy ,spirit into our hearts1 thus enabling us to love ,god's commandments and delight in them4 ,this determination or will he reveals through the ,son1 and commands him to declare it to the world4 ,and in ,matthew #c1 #ag he directs us to ,christ as the source of all these blessings1 saying3 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased3 hear ye him4 ,,spiritual ,,knowledge ,,enjoined4 #h4 ,paul would gladly have a spiritual knowledge of these things increase in us until we are enriched and filled--wholly assured of their truth4 ,sublime and glorious knowledge this1 the experience of a human heart which1 born in sins1 boldly and confidently believes that ,god1 in his unfathomable majesty1 in his divine heart1 has irrevocably purposed--and wills for all men to accept and believe it--that he will not impute sin1 but will forgive it and be gracious1 and grant eternal life1 for the sake of his beloved ,son4 #i4 ,this spiritual knowledge or confidence1 is not so easily learned as are other things4 ,it is not so readily apprehended as the knowledge of the law written in nature1 which when duly recognized by the heart overpowers with the conviction of ,god's wrath4 ,indeed1 that more than anything else hinders ,christians and saints from obtaining the knowledge of ,god's will in ,christ1 for it compels heart and conscience to plead guilty in every respect and to confess having merited the wrath of ,god2 therefore the soul naturally fears and flees from ,god4 ,then1 too1 the devil fans the flame of fear and sends his wicked1 fiery arrows of dismay into the heart1 presenting only frightful pictures and examples of ,god's anger1 filling the heart with this kind of knowledge to the exclusion of every other thought or perception4 ,thus recognition of ,god's wrath is learned only too well1 for it becomes bitterly hard for man to unlearn it1 to forget it in the knowledge of ,christ4 ,again1 the wicked world eagerly contributes its share of hindrance1 its bitter hatred and venomous outcry against ,christians as people of the worst type1 outcast1 condemned enemies of ,god4 ,moreover1 by its example it causes the weak to stumble4 ,our flesh and blood also is a drawback1 being waywardly inclined1 making much of its own wisdom and holiness and seeking thereby to gain honor and glory or to live in security a life of wealth1 pleasure and covetousness4 ,hence on every side a ,christian must be in severe conflict1 and fight against the world and the devil1 and against himself also1 if he is to succeed in preserving the knowledge of ,god's will4 ,,we ,,must ,,pray ,,for ,,spiritual ,,light4 #aj4 ,now1 since this knowledge of the ,gospel is so difficult to attain and so foreign to nature1 it is necessary that we pray for it with all earnestness and labor to be increasingly filled with it1 and to learn well the will of ,god4 ,our own experience testifies that if it be but superficially and improperly learned1 when one is overtaken by a trifling misfortune or alarmed by a slight danger or affliction1 his heart is easily overwhelmed with the thunderbolts of ,god's wrath as he reflects3 ,wo to me6 ,god is against me and hates me4 ,why should this miserable ,wo6 enter the heart of a ,christian upon the occasion of a little trouble8 ,if he were filled with the knowledge of ,god as he should be1 and as many secure1 self-complacent spirits imagine themselves to be1 he would not thus fear and make outcry4 ,his agitation and his complaint1 ,o ,lord ,god6 why dost thou permit me to suffer this8 are evidence that he as yet knows not ,god's will1 or at least has but a faint conception of it2 the wo exceeds the joy4 ,but full knowledge of ,god's will brings with it a joy that far overbalances all fear and terror1 ay1 removes and abolishes them altogether4 #aa4 ,therefore let us learn this truth and with ,paul pray for what we and all ,christians supremely need--full knowledge of ,god's will1 not a mere beginning2 for we are not to imagine a beginning will suffice and to stop there as if we had comprehended it all4 ,everything is not accomplished in the mere planting2 watering and cultivation must follow4 ,in this case the watering and cultivating are the ,word of ,god1 and prayer against the devil1 who day and night labors to suppress spiritual knowledge1 to beat down the tender plants wherever he sees them springing up2 and also against the world1 which promotes only opposition and directs its wisdom and reason to conflicting ends4 ,did not ,god protect us and strengthen the knowledge of his will1 we would soon see the devil's power and the extent of our spiritual understanding4 #ab4 ,we have a verification of this assertion in that poetical work1 the book of ,job4 ,satan appears before ,god1 who asks 7ch4 #a1 #h73 ,hast thou considered my servant ,job8 for there is none like him in the earth1 a perfect and upright man1 one that feareth ,god4 ,and ,satan answers on this wise3 ,yea1 thou hast surrounded him with thy protection and kept me at bay2 but only withdraw thy hand and ,i venture ,i will soon bring him around to curse thee to thy face2 as he afterward did when he afflicted ,job with ugly boils and in addition filled him with his fiery arrows--terrifying thoughts of ,god4 ,further1 ,christ said to ,peter and the other apostles3 ,satan asked to have you1 that he might sift you as wheat3 but ,i made supplication for thee1 that thy faith fail not4 ,lk #bb1 #ca-cb4 ,in short1 if ,god hinders him not1 ,satan dares to overthrow even the greatest and strongest saints4 #ac4 ,therefore1 although we have become ,christians and have made a beginning in the knowledge of ,god's will1 we ought nevertheless to walk in fear and humility1 and not to be presumptuous like the soon-wearied1 secure spirits1 who imagine they exhausted that knowledge in an instant1 and know not the measure and limit of their skill4 ,such people are particularly pleasing to the devil1 for he has them completely in his power and makes use of their teaching and example to harm others and make them likewise secure1 and unmindful of his presence and of the fact that ,god may suffer them to be overwhelmed4 ,verily1 there is need of earnest and diligent use of the ,word of ,god and prayer1 that ,christians may not only learn to know the will of ,god1 but also to be filled with it4 ,only so can the individual walk always according to ,god's will and make constant progress1 straining toward the goal of an ever-increasing comfort and strength that shall enable him to face fears and terrors and not allow the devil1 the world1 and flesh and blood to hinder him4 ,,spiritual ,,knowledge ,,brings ,,increasing ,,joy4 #ad4 ,such is the nature of this fullness of knowledge that the possessor never becomes satiated with it or tired of it1 but it yields him ever-increasing pleasure and joy1 and he is ever more eager1 more thirsty1 for it4 ,as the ,scriptures declare1 ,they that drink me shall yet be thirsty4 ,ecclus #bd1 #ba4 ,for even the dear angels in heaven never become sated with fullness of knowledge1 but as ,peter says1 they find an everlasting joy and pleasure in the ability to behold what is revealed and preached to us4 #a ,peter #a1 #ab4 ,therefore1 if we have not a constant hunger and thirst after the full and abundant comprehension of ,god's will--and certainly we ought to have it in greater degree than the angels--until we1 too1 shall be able to behold it eternally in the life everlasting1 then we have but a taste of that knowledge1 a mere empty froth1 which can neither refresh nor satisfy us1 cannot comfort us nor make us better4 ,,why ,,afflictions ,,are ,,sent4 #ae4 ,to create and stimulate this hunger and thirst in us1 and to bring us to the attainment of full knowledge1 ,god kindly sends upon his ,christians temptation1 sorrow and affliction4 ,these preserve them from carnal satiety and teach them to seek comfort and help4 ,so ,god did also in former ages1 in the time of the martyrs1 when he daily suffered them to be violently seized in person and put to death by sword1 fire1 blood and wild beasts4 ,in this way he truly led his people to school1 where they were obliged to learn to know his will and to be able defiantly to say3 ,no1 ,o tyrant1 ,o world1 devil and flesh1 though you may injure me bodily1 may beat or torment me1 banish me or even take my life1 you shall not deprive me of my ,lord ,jesus ,christ--of ,god's grace and mercy4 ,so faith taught them and confirmed to them that such suffering was ,god's purpose and immutable will concerning themselves1 which1 whatever attitude towards them he might assume1 he could not alter1 even as he could not in the case of ,christ himself4 ,this discipline and experience of faith strengthened the martyrs and soon accustomed them to suffering1 enabling them to go to their death with pleasure and joy4 ,whence came1 even to young girls thirteen and fourteen years old1 like ,agnes and ,agatha1 the courage and confidence to stand boldly before the ,roman judge1 and1 when led to death1 to go as joyfully as to a festivity1 whence unless their hearts were filled with a sublime and steadfast faith1 a positive assurance that ,god was not angry with them1 but that all was his gracious and merciful will and for their highest salvation and bliss8 #af4 ,behold1 what noble and enlightened1 what strong and courageous1 people ,god produced by the discipline of cross and affliction6 ,we1 in contrast1 because unwilling to experience such suffering1 are weak and enervated4 ,if but a little smoke gets into our eyes1 our joy and courage are gone1 likewise our perception of ,god's will1 and we can only raise a loud lamentation and cry of woe4 ,as ,i said1 this is the inevitable condition of a heart to which the experience of affliction is unknown4 ,just so ,christ's disciples in the ship1 when they saw the tempest approach and the waves beat over the vessel1 quite forgot1 in their trembling and terror1 the divine will1 although ,christ was present with them4 ,they only made anxious lamentation1 yet withal cried for help3 ,save1 ,lord2 we perish6 ,mt #h1 #be4 ,so also in the time of the martyrs1 many ,christians became timid and at first denied ,christ from fear of torture or of long confinement in prison4 #ag4 ,it is ,god's will that we1 too1 should learn to accustom ourselves to these things through temptation and affliction1 though these be hard to bear and the heart is prone to become agitated and utter its cry of woe4 ,we can quiet our disturbed hearts1 saying3 ,i know what is ,god's thought1 his counsel and will1 in ,christ1 which he will not alter3 he has promised to me through his ,son1 and confirmed it through my baptism1 that he who hears and sees the ,son shall be delivered from sin and death1 and live eternally4 #ah4 ,now1 what ,paul calls being filled with the knowledge of the divine will in ,christ through the faith of the ,gospel1 means faith in and the comfort of the forgiveness of sins1 since we have not in ourselves the ability to fulfil his will in the ten commandments4 ,this knowledge is not a passive consciousness1 but a living1 active conviction1 which will stand before the judgment of ,god1 contend with the devil and prevail over sin1 death and life4 #ai4 ,now1 the heart possessing such knowledge or faith is kindled by the ,holy ,spirit and acquires a love for and delight in ,god's commandments4 ,it becomes obedient to them1 patient1 chaste1 modest1 gentle1 given to brotherly kindness1 and honors ,god in confession and life4 ,thus it is increasingly filled with the knowledge of ,god's will2 it is armed and fortified on all sides to withstand and defeat the flesh and the world1 the devil and hell4 ,,spiritual ,,wisdom ,,defined4 #bj4 ,by way of explanation ,paul adds the words1 all spiritual wisdom and understanding4 ,this is not the wisdom of the world4 ,there is no necessity to strive and to endure persecution for that which concerns itself with other than spiritual matters4 ,nor is it the wisdom of reason1 which indeed presumes to judge of divine things1 but yet can never understand them2 on the contrary1 although it accepts them1 it quickly falls away into doubt and despair4 #ba4 ,wisdom signifies with ,paul1 when he places it in apposition with spiritual understanding1 the sublime and secret doctrine of the ,gospel of ,christ1 which teaches us to know the will of ,god4 ,and a wise man is a ,christian1 who knows himself and can intelligently interpret ,god's will toward us and how we perceive his will by faith--growing and obediently living in harmony with it4 ,this wisdom is not devised of reason2 it has not entered into the heart of man nor is it known to any of the princes of this world1 as ,paul says in #a ,corinthians #b1 #h-aj4 ,but it is revealed from ,heaven by the ,holy ,spirit to those who believe the ,gospel4 #bb4 ,but there is necessary to the full completion of wisdom something which the apostle calls understanding2 that is1 a careful retention of what has been received4 ,it is possible for one having the spiritual wisdom to be overtaken by the devil through a momentary intellectual inspiration1 or through anger and impatience1 or even through greed and similar deceitful allurements4 ,therefore it is necessary here to be cautious1 alert and watchful in an effort to guard against the devil's cunning attacks and always to oppose him with his own spiritual wisdom1 that he may not be undeceived4 ,the ,pauline and scriptural use of the word understanding signifies the ability to make good use of one's wisdom2 to make it effective as a test whereby to prove all things1 to judge with keen discernment whatever presents itself in the name and appearance of wisdom4 ,thus armed1 the soul defends itself and does not in any case violate its own discretion4 ,to furnish himself with understanding1 the ,christian must ever have regard to the ,word of ,god1 must put it into practice1 lest the devil dazzle his mind with some palaver and error and deceive him before he is aware of it4 ,this ,satan is well able to do2 indeed1 he uses every art to accomplish it if a man be not on his guard and seek not counsel in ,god's ,word4 ,such is the teaching of ,david's example1 who says in ,psalm #aai1 #aa3 ,thy word have ,i laid up in my heart1 that ,i might not sin against thee4 ,and again in verse #bd3 ,thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors4 #bc4 ,a man may be familiar with ,god's ,word1 yet if he walks in self-security1 concerned about other matters1 or if perhaps being tempted he loses sight of ,god's ,word1 it may easily come to pass that he is seduced and deceived by the secret craft and cunning of the devil2 or of himself he may become bewildered1 losing his wisdom and being unable to find counsel or help even in the most trivial temptations4 ,for the devil and reason1 or human wisdom1 can dispute and syllogize with extraordinary subtlety in these things until one imagines to be true wisdom that which is not4 ,a wise man soon becomes a fool2 men readily err and make false steps2 a ,christian likewise is prone to stumble2 ay1 even a good teacher and prophet can easily be deceived by reason's brilliant logic4 ,essentially1 then1 ,christians must take warning and study1 with careful meditation1 the ,word of ,god4 #bd4 ,we read of ,st4 ,martin how he would not undertake to dispute with heretics for the simple reason that he was unwilling to fall into wrangling1 to rationalize with them or to attempt to defeat them by the weapon of reason1 the sole means whereby they pointed and adorned all their arguments1 as the world always does when opposing the ,word of ,god4 ,the shrewd ,papists today pretend1 as they think1 very acutely to confirm and support all their antichristian abominations by the name of the ,church1 making the idiotic claim that one must not effect nor suffer any change in the religious teaching commonly accepted by ,christendom4 ,they say we must believe the ,christian ,church is always guided by the ,holy ,spirit and therefore demands our obedience4 ,notice here the name of the ,church1 concerning which your spiritual wisdom teaches according to the article3 ,i believe in a holy ,christian ,church4 ,but that name is distorted to confirm the lies and idolatry of the ,papacy1 just as is true of the name of ,god4 ,so there is need of understanding1 of careful1 keen discernment1 that wisdom be not perverted and falsified1 and man be deceived with its counterfeit4 #be4 ,by close examination and comparison with ,god's ,word1 the standard and test1 you may clearly prove the ,papacy to be not the ,church of ,christ1 but a sect of ,satan2 it is filled with open idolatry1 lies and murder1 which its adherents fain would defend4 ,these things the ,church of ,christ does not endorse1 and to tax it with resolving1 appointing1 ordering and demanding obedience to that which is at variance with the ,word of ,god1 is to do the ,church wrong and violence4 ,,church ,,not ,,to ,,compromise ,,with ,,papists4 #bf4 ,the world at the present time is sagaciously discussing how to quell the controversy and strife over doctrine and faith1 and how to effect a compromise between the ,church and the ,papacy4 ,let the learned1 the wise1 it is said1 bishops1 emperor and princes1 arbitrate4 ,each side can easily yield something1 and it is better to concede some things which can be construed according to individual interpretation1 than that so much persecution1 bloodshed1 war1 and terrible1 endless dissension and destruction be permitted4 ,here is lack of understanding1 for understanding proves by the ,word that such patchwork is not according to ,god's will1 but that doctrine1 faith and worship must be preserved pure and unadulterated2 there must be no mingling with human nonsense1 human opinions or wisdom4 ,the ,scriptures give us this rule3 ,we must obey ,god rather than men4 ,acts #e1 #bi4 #bg4 ,we must not1 then1 regard nor follow the counsels of human wisdom1 but must keep ever before us ,god's will as revealed by his ,word2 we are to abide by that for death or life1 for evil or good4 ,if war or other calamity results complain to him who wills and commands us to teach and believe our doctrine4 ,the calamity is not of our effecting2 we have not originated it4 ,and we are not required to prove by argument whether or no ,god's will is right and to be obeyed4 ,if he wills to permit persecution and other evils to arise in consequence of our teaching1 for the trial and experience of true ,christians and for the punishment of the ungrateful1 let them come2 and if not1 his hand is doubtless strong enough to defend and preserve his cause from destruction1 that man may know the events to be of his ordering4 ,and so1 praise his name1 he has done in our case4 ,he has supported us against the strong desires of our adversaries4 ,had we yielded and obeyed them1 we would have been drawn into their falsehood and destruction4 ,and ,god will still support us if we deal uprightly and faithfully in these requirements1 if we further and honor the ,word of ,god1 and be not unthankful nor seek things that counterfeit ,god's ,word4 #bh4 ,so much by way of explaining what ,paul means by wisdom and understanding to know the will of ,god1 and by way of teaching the necessity of having both wisdom and understanding4 ,for not only must the doctrine whereby wisdom is imparted be inculcated in ,christendom1 but there is also need for admonition and exhortation concerning that understanding necessary to preserve wisdom1 and for defense in strife and conflict4 ,were not these principles exercised and inculcated in us1 we would be deceived by false wisdom and vain imaginations1 and would accept their gloss and glitter for pure gold1 as many in the ,church have ever done4 #bi4 ,the ,galatians had received from ,paul the wisdom of justification before ,god by faith in ,christ alone4 ,nevertheless1 in spite of that knowledge1 they were deceived and would have lost their wisdom altogether through the claim of the false prophets that the ,god-given ,law must be observed1 had not ,paul aroused their understanding at this point and brought them back from error4 ,the ,corinthians were taught by their spiritual wisdom the article of ,christian liberty2 they knew that sacrifices to idols are nothing4 ,but they failed in this respect3 they proceeded without understanding1 and made carnal use of their liberty1 contrary to wisdom and offending others4 ,therefore ,paul had to remind them of their departure from his doctrine and wisdom4 #cj4 ,the ,scriptures record many instances of failure in this matter of understanding4 ,a notable one is found in the thirteenth chapter of ,first ,kings4 ,a man of ,god from the kingdom of ,judah1 who had in the presence of ,king ,jeroboam openly denounced the idolatry instituted by the king1 and had confirmed his preaching and prophecy by a miracle1 was commanded by ,god not under any circumstances to abide in the place whither he had gone to prophesy1 nor to eat and drink there4 ,he was to go straight home by another way than the route he had come4 ,yet on the way homeward he allowed himself to be persuaded by another prophet1 one who falsely claimed to have a revelation from ,god1 by an angel1 commanding him to take the man of ,god to his home and give him to eat and drink4 ,while they sat together at the table the ,word of the ,lord came to the inviting prophet and under its inspiration he told the other that he should not reach home alive4 ,the latter1 departing on his journey1 was killed on the way by a lion1 which remained standing by the body and the ass the man of ,god had ridden1 not touching them further1 until the old prophet came and found them4 ,he brought the body home on the ass and buried it1 commanding that after his own death he should be laid in the same grave4 ,such was ,god's punishment of the prophet who allowed himself to be deceived and obeyed not ,god's express command4 ,however1 his soul suffered not harm1 as ,god testified by the fact the lion did not devour his body but defended it4 ,now1 in what was the prophet lacking8 ,not in wisdom1 for he had the ,word of ,god4 ,he lacked in understanding1 allowing himself to be deceived when the other man declared himself a prophet whom the angel of the ,lord had instructed4 ,the man of ,god should have abided by the word given to him1 and have said to the other3 ,you may be a prophet1 indeed1 but ,god has commanded me to do this thing4 ,of that ,i am certain and ,i will be governed by it4 ,i will regard no conflicting order1 be it in the name of an angel or of ,god4 ,,neither ,,reason ,,nor ,,feelings ,a ,,right ,,judge4 #ca4 ,so it is often with man today1 not only in doctrinal controversy but in private affairs and in official capacity4 ,he is prone to stumble and to fail in understanding when not watchful of his purposes and motives1 to see how they accord with the wisdom of ,god's ,word4 ,particularly is his understanding unreliable when the devil moves him to wrath1 impatience1 dejection1 melancholy1 or when he is otherwise tempted4 ,often they who have been well exercised with trials become bewildered in small temptations and uncertain what course to take4 ,here must one be watchful and not go by his reason or his feelings1 but remember ,god's ,word--or ascertain if he does not know what it is--and be guided thereby4 ,when tempted man cannot judge aright by the dictates of reason4 ,therefore he ought not to follow his own natural intelligence nor to act from hasty conclusions4 ,let him be suspicious of all his reasoning and beware the cunning of the devil1 who seeks either to allure or to intimidate us by his specious arguments4 ,first of all let man call upon the understanding born of his wisdom in the ,gospel1 what his faith1 love1 hope and patience counsel1 in fact1 what ,god's will eloquently teaches everywhere and in all circumstances if only one strive1 labor and pray to be filled with such knowledge4 #cb4 ,paul uses the expression1 spiritual wisdom and understanding1 because it represents that which makes us wise and prudent to oppose the devil and his assaults and temptations1 or wiles as ,paul calls them in ,ephesians #f1 #aa2 which governs and guides1 shepherds and leads1 teaches and keeps us1 and enables us to fare well spiritually--in faith and a good conscience toward ,god--and also in the temporal affairs of life when reason fails as a counselor or teacher4 ,paul further says3 ,to walk worthily of the ,lord unto all pleasing1 bearing fruit in every good work2 and increasing in the knowledge of ,god2 strengthened with all power1 according to the might of his glory1 unto all patience and longsuffering with joy2 giving thanks unto the ,father1 who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light4 #cc4 ,what is meant by walking worthily of the ,lord we have heard in other epistles1 namely to believe1 and to confess the faith by doctrine and life1 as people worthy of the ,lord and of whom the ,lord can triumphantly say3 ,these are my people--,christians who live and abide in what they have been taught by the ,word1 who know my will and obediently do and suffer for it4 #cd4 ,our wisdom and understanding of the knowledge of ,god should serve to make us characters that are an honor and praise to ,god1 in whom he may be glorified1 and who live to ,god unto all pleasing1 that is1 please him in every way1 according to his ,word4 ,and because of such wisdom and knowledge1 we should1 in our lives1 in our stations and appointed work1 not be unfruitful nor harmful hypocrites and unbelievers1 as false ,christians are1 but doers of much good1 useful characters to the honor of ,god's kingdom4 ,all the time we are to make constant growth and progress in the knowledge of ,god1 that we may not be seduced or driven from it by the cunning of the devil1 who at all times and in all places assails ,christians and strenuously seeks to effect their fall from the ,word and from ,god's will1 even as in the beginning he did with ,adam and ,eve in paradise4 ,,only ,,god',s ,,power ,,can ,,overcome ,,the ,,devil4 #ce4 ,the apostle continues3 strengthened with all power1 according to the might of his glory4 ,here is preparation to sustain the conflict against the devil1 the world and the flesh1 and to overcome4 ,not our own power1 nor the combined power of all mankind1 can effect it4 ,only ,god's own divine1 glorious power and might can overcome the devil and win honor and praise in the contest with the gates of hell4 ,christ in himself proved such efficacy of the divine strength when he overcame all the devil's superlative assaults4 #cf4 ,by this power and might of ,god must we be strengthened in faith4 ,we must strive after such divine agency and by the help of the ,word persevere and pray1 that there may be not only a beginning1 but a continuation and a victorious end4 ,so shall we become ever stronger and stronger in ,god's might4 ,whatever we do1 it must not be undertaken in and by our own strength4 ,we must not boast as if we had ourselves accomplished it1 but must rely upon ,god1 upon his strength and support4 ,certainly it is not due to our ability but to his own omnipotent agency if one remains a ,christian1 steadfast in the knowledge of ,god and not deceived nor conquered by the devil4 ,,patience ,,essential ,,to ,,endurance4 #cg4 ,but1 the writer tells us1 the attainment of strength and victory calls for all patience4 ,we must have patience to endure the persistent persecution of the devil1 the world and the flesh4 ,not only patience is required here1 but longsuffering4 ,the apostle makes a distinction between the two words1 regarding the latter as something more heroic4 ,it is the devil's way1 when he fails to defeat by affliction and trouble1 to try the heart with endurance4 ,he makes the ordeal unbearably hard and long to patience1 even apparently without end4 ,his scheme is to accomplish by unceasing persistence what he cannot attain by the severity and multitude of his temptations2 he aims to wear out one's patience and to discourage his hope of conquering4 ,to meet these conditions there is necessary1 in addition to patience1 longsuffering1 which holds out firmly and steadfastly in suffering1 with the determination3 ,indeed1 you cannot try me too severely or too long1 even though the trial continue to the end of the world4 ,true1 knightly1 ,christian strength is that which in conflict and suffering is able to endure not only severe and manifold assaults of the devil1 but to hold out indefinitely4 ,more than anything else do we need to be strengthened1 through prayer1 with the power of ,god1 that we may not succumb in such grievous warfare1 but achieve the end4 ,,christians ,,should ,,rejoice ,,and ,,be ,,thankful4 #ch4 ,and your patience and longsuffering1 ,paul says1 must be exercised with joy4 ,in these severe1 multiplied and long temptations you must not allow yourselves to be filled with sad and depressing thoughts4 ,you are to be hopeful and joyous1 despising the devil and the troubles and tumults of the world and himself4 ,rejoice because you have on your side the knowledge of the divine will in ,christ1 and his power and glorious might1 and doubt not that his omnipotence will help you through4 #ci4 ,finally the apostle enjoins us to give thanks1 or to be thankful4 ,forget not1 he would say1 the unspeakable benefits and gifts ,god has bestowed upon you above all men on earth4 ,he has richly blessed you1 and liberated you from the power and might of sin1 death1 hell and the devil1 wherein you would1 for all you could help yourselves1 have had to remain eternally captive2 he has appointed you for eternal glory1 making you co-heirs with the saints elected for his eternal kingdom2 and he has made you partakers of all eternal1 divine1 heavenly blessings4 ,in your sufferings and conflicts1 remember these glories ordained for and given to you1 and remembering rejoice the more and willingly fight and suffer to obtain possession1 to enjoy the fruition1 of what is certainly appropriated to you in the ,word and in faith4 #dj4 ,the writer of the epistle calls it the inheritance of the saints in light1 or of the light saints1 that is1 the true saints4 ,thus he distinguishes from false saints1 intimating that there are two classes of saints4 ,to one class belong the many in the world who have only their own claim to sainthood3 the ,jews1 for instance1 with their holiness of the ,law2 and the world generally1 the philosophers1 jurists and their kind1 with their self-righteousness4 ,these are not saints of light2 they are saints of darkness1 unclean1 even defiled4 ,in ,philippians #c1 #h ,paul counts such righteousness loss and refuse4 ,to this class belong also many false1 hypocritical saints in the company of ,christians who have the ,gospel2 they1 too1 hear the ,gospel and attend upon the ,holy ,supper1 but they remain in darkness1 without the least experience of the wisdom and understanding that knows the divine will4 ,but they who exercise themselves in these spiritual graces by faith1 love and patience in temptation1 and perceive the wonderful grace and blessing ,god imparts through the ,gospel--these honorably may be called the saints1 destined1 even appointed1 to eternal light and joy in ,god's kingdom4 ,who delivered us out of the power of darkness1 and translated us into the kingdom of the ,son of his love2 in whom we have our redemption1 the forgiveness of our sins4 #da4 ,paul now expatiates on the things that call for our gratitude to ,god the ,father4 ,he sums up the whole teaching of the ,gospel1 showing us what is ours in ,christ and giving a glorious and comforting description of his person and the blessing he brings4 ,but first1 he says1 we ought1 above all1 to thank ,god unceasingly for the knowledge of his revealed ,gospel4 ,in it we have no small treasure4 ,rather1 it is a possession with which all the gold1 silver and other riches of this world1 all the earthly joy and comfort of this life1 are not to be compared4 ,for it means redemption from eternal1 irreparable loss and ruin under ,god's eternal1 unbearable wrath and condemnation4 ,and this wretchedness was the result of our sin4 ,we were committed to sin and without help1 without deliverance1 ay1 we were captive in such blindness and darkness that we did not recognize our misery2 much less could we devise and effect our escape4 ,now1 in place of this misery1 we have1 without any merit on our part1 any preparation1 any deed or design1 ay1 without even a thought1 assuredly received1 through ,god's unfathomable grace and mercy1 redemption1 or the forgiveness of sins4 ,,god',s ,,grace ,,incomprehensible4 #db4 ,the measure of such graciousness and blessing no tongue can express2 indeed1 in this life no man can understand it4 ,in hell the wicked shall become sensible of it by the realization of their condemnation and the never-ending wrath of the eternal1 divine ,majesty and of all creatures4 ,no created thing shall they be able to behold with joy1 because in these ever shall be reflected the condemned one's own unceasing1 lamentable sorrow1 terror and despair4 ,nor1 on the other hand1 can the creature behold the condemned with pleasure1 but must abhor them2 it must be an object of further terror and condemnation to the damned4 ,however1 in this life ,god in his unspeakable goodness has subjected the creature to vanity1 as ,paul says in ,romans #h1 #bj1 and to the service of the wicked4 ,yet it serves against its will1 travailing as a woman in pain1 with the supreme desire to be liberated from this service of the wicked1 condemned world4 ,it must1 however1 have patience in its hope of redemption1 for the sake of those children of ,god yet to come to ,christ and finally to be brought to glory2 otherwise it is as hostile to sin as ,god himself4 #dc4 ,but because an eternal1 unchangeable sentence of condemnation has passed upon sin--for ,god cannot and will not regard sin with favor1 but his wrath abides upon it eternally and irrevocably--redemption was not possible without a ransom of such precious worth as to atone for sin1 to assume the guilt1 pay the price of wrath and thus abolish sin4 #dd4 ,this no creature was able to do4 ,there was no remedy except for ,god's only ,son to step into our distress and himself become man1 to take upon himself the load of awful and eternal wrath and make his own body and blood a sacrifice for the sin4 ,and so he did1 out of his immeasurably great mercy and love towards us1 giving himself up and bearing the sentence of unending wrath and death4 #de4 ,so infinitely precious to ,god is this sacrifice and atonement of his only beloved ,son who is one with him in divinity and majesty1 that ,god is reconciled thereby and receives into grace and forgiveness of sins all who believe in this ,son4 ,only by believing may we enjoy the precious atonement of ,christ1 the forgiveness obtained for us and given us out of profound1 inexpressible love4 ,we have nothing to boast of for ourselves1 but must ever joyfully thank and praise him who at such priceless cost redeemed us condemned and lost sinners4 #df4 ,the essential feature of redemption--forgiveness of sins--being once obtained1 everything belonging to its completion immediately follows4 ,eternal death1 the wages of sin1 is abolished1 and eternal righteousness and life are given2 as ,paul says in ,romans #f1 #bc1 the grace1 or gift1 of ,god is eternal life4 ,and now that we are reconciled to ,god and washed in the blood of ,christ1 everything in heaven and earth1 as ,paul again declares 7,eph #a1 #aj71 is in turn reconciled to us4 ,the creatures are no longer opposed1 but at peace with us and friendly2 they smile upon us and we have only joy and life in ,god and his creation4 #dg4 ,such is the doctrine of the ,gospel1 and so is it to be declared4 ,it shows us sin and forgiveness1 wrath and grace1 death and life2 how we were in darkness and how we are redeemed from it4 ,it does not1 like the ,law1 make us sinners1 nor is its mission to teach us how to merit and earn grace4 ,but it declares how we1 condemned and under the power of sin1 death and the devil1 as we are1 receive by faith the freely-given redemption and in return show our gratitude4 #dh4 ,paul also explains who it is that has shed his blood for us4 ,he would have us understand the priceless cost of our redemption1 namely1 the blood of the ,son of ,god1 who is the image of the invisible ,god4 ,the apostle declares that he existed before creation1 and by him were all things created1 and that therefore he is true1 eternal ,god with the ,father4 ,hence1 ,paul says1 the shed blood truly is ,god's own blood4 ,and so the writer of this epistle clearly and mightily establishes the article of the divinity of ,christ4 ,but this requires a special and separate sermon4 ,twenty ,fifth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #a ,thessalonians #d1 #ac-ah4 #ac ,but we would not have you ignorant1 brethren1 concerning them that fall asleep2 that ye sorrow not1 even as the rest1 who have no hope4 #ad ,for if we believe that ,jesus died and rose again1 even so them also that are fallen asleep in ,jesus will ,god bring with him4 #ae ,for this we say unto you by the word of the ,lord1 that we that are alive1 that are left unto the coming of the ,lord1 shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep4 #af ,for the ,lord himself shall descend from heaven1 with a shout1 with the voice of the archangel1 and with the trump of ,god3 and the dead in ,christ shall rise first2 #ag then we that are alive1 that are left1 shall together with them be caught up in the clouds1 to meet the ,lord in the air3 and so shall we ever be with the ,lord4 #ah ,wherefore comfort one another with these words4 ,,living ,,and ,,dead ,,when ,,christ ,,returns4 ,paul writes these words to comfort ,christians who were troubled about what would take place at the resurrection of the dead4 ,shall all rise together8 ,shall those living on the earth at the last day meet ,christ before others8 ,these and like thoughts worried them4 ,here ,paul answers them by saying that ,christ would take all his believers to himself at the same time1 etc4 ,this epistle text you will find richly expounded in ,the ,explanation of ,certain ,epistles1 which appeared on special occasions4 ,the ,miscellaneous ,sermons of the ,year #aecb4 ,twenty ,sixth ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #b ,thessalonians #a1 #c-aj4 #c ,we are bound to give thanks to ,god always for you1 brethren1 even as it is meet1 for that your faith groweth exceedingly1 and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth2 #d so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of ,god for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure2 #e which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of ,god2 to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of ,god1 for which ye also suffer3 #f if so be that it is a righteous thing with ,god to recompense affliction to them that afflict you1 #g and to you that are afflicted rest with us1 at the revelation of the ,lord ,jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire1 #h rendering vengeance to them that know not ,god1 and to them that obey not the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus3 #i who shall suffer punishment1 even eternal destruction from the face of the ,lord and from the glory of his might1 #aj when he shall come to be glorified in his saints1 and to be marvelled at in all them that believed 7because our testimony unto you was believed7 in that day4 ,,god',s ,,judgment ,,when ,,christ ,,returns4 #a4 ,first1 ,paul has words of praise for his ,church at ,thessalonica4 ,in view of its faith and its love it was one of the first rank4 ,patiently it stood firm1 and even increased1 under crosses of affliction4 ,the apostle's intent in commending these people is to incite to perseverance4 ,he would hold them up to others as an example--an illustration--of the fruits resulting when the ,gospel is preached and received4 ,he also points out in what the edification and success of the true ,church of ,christ consist4 ,then he consoles them for their patient sufferings with the mention of the glorious coming of ,christ the ,lord1 which shall mean their final redemption1 the recompense of peace and joy for their tribulations1 and the bringing of eternal wrath upon their persecutors4 #b4 ,this consolation ,paul draws from their sufferings and ,god's righteous judgment1 by which he makes plain why ,god lets them suffer here on earth--what is his purpose in it4 ,looking at the ,christian community with the eye of human reason and reflection1 no more wretched1 tormented1 persecuted1 unhappy people are in evidence on earth than those who confess and glory in ,christ the crucified4 ,in the world they are continually persecuted1 tormented and assailed by the devil with all manner of wretchedness1 misfortune1 distress and death4 ,even to their own perceptions1 it seems as if they surely are forgotten and forsaken by ,god in the sight of mankind4 ,for he allows them to remain prostrate under the weight of the cross1 while others in the world1 particularly their persecutors1 live in the enjoyment of honor and fortune1 of happiness1 power and riches1 with everything moving to the fulfilment of their desires4 ,the ,scriptures frequently deplore this condition of things1 especially the ,psalms1 and ,paul in ,first ,corinthians #ae1 #ai confesses3 ,if we have only hoped in ,christ in this life1 we are of all men most pitiable4 ,,christian',s ,,sufferings ,,lead ,,to ,,happiness4 #c4 ,now1 assuredly this state of affairs cannot continue without end2 it cannot be ,god's intention to permit ,christians thus to suffer continually while they live1 to die because of it and remain dead4 ,it would be incompatible with his eternal1 divine truth and honor manifest in his ,word4 ,for there he declares he will be the ,god of the pious1 of them who fear and trust him1 and gives them unspeakable promises4 ,necessarily1 then1 he has planned a future state for ,christians and for non-,christians1 in either instance unlike what they know on earth4 ,possibly one of the chief reasons why ,god permits ,christians to suffer on earth is to make plain the distinction between their reward and that of the ungodly4 ,in the sufferings of believing ,christians1 and in the wickedness1 tyranny1 rage1 and persecution directed by the unrighteous against the godly1 is certain indication of a future life unlike this and a final judgment of ,god in which all men1 godly and wicked1 shall be forever recompensed4 #d4 ,notice1 ,paul means to say here when he speaks of the tribulations and sufferings of ,christians3 ,these afflictions are the indication of ,god's righteous judgment1 and a sign you are worthy of the kingdom of ,god for which you suffer4 ,in other words3 ,o beloved ,christians1 regard your sufferings as dear and precious4 ,think not ,god is angry with you1 or has forgotten you1 because he allows you to endure these things4 ,they are your great help and comfort1 for they show ,god will be a righteous judge1 will richly bless you and avenge you upon your persecutors4 ,yes1 therein you have unfailing assurance4 ,you may rejoice1 and console yourselves1 believing without the shadow of a doubt that you belong to the kingdom of ,god1 and have been made worthy of it1 because you suffer for its sake4 #e4 ,whatever the ,christian suffers here on earth at the hands of the devil and the world1 befalls him simply for the sake of the name of ,god and for his ,word4 ,true1 as a baptized child of ,god the ,christian should justly enjoy unalloyed goodness1 comfort and peace on earth2 but since he must still dwell in the kingdom of the devil1 who infuses sin and death into human flesh1 he must endure the devil4 ,yet all ,satan's inflictions and the world's plagues1 persecutions1 terrors1 tortures1 even the taking of the ,christian's life1 and all its abuse1 is wrought in violence and injustice4 ,but to offset this1 the ,christian has the comforting assurance of ,god's ,word that because he suffers for the sake of the kingdom of ,christ and of ,god he shall surely be eternally partaker of that kingdom4 ,certain it is1 no one will be worthy of it unless he suffers for it4 #f4 ,if so be that it is a righteous thing with ,god to recompense affliction to them that afflict you1 continues the apostle4 ,it is impossible it should continue to be1 as now1 well with the world and evil with you4 ,god's righteousness will not admit of it4 ,just because he is a righteous judge1 things must be eventually different3 the godly must have eternal good1 and the wicked1 on the other hand1 must be punished forever4 ,otherwise ,god's judgment would not be righteous2 in other words1 he would not be ,god4 ,now1 since this is an impossible proposition1 since ,god's righteousness and truth are immutable1 in his capacity of judge he must perforce1 in due time1 come from heaven1 when he shall have assembled his ,christians1 and avenge them of their enemies1 recompense the latter according to their merits1 and confer eternal rest and peace upon his followers for the temporal sufferings they have endured here4 ,,god ,,does ,,not ,,forget ,,his ,,children4 #g4 ,christians should certainly expect this and comfort themselves in the confidence that ,god will not permit the wrongs of his people to continue unpunished and unavenged4 ,we might think he had forgotten were we to judge from the facts that godly ,abel was shamefully murdered by his brother1 that ,god's prophets and martyrs--,john the ,baptist1 ,jeremiah1 ,paul and others--suffered death at the hands of bloodhounds like the ,herods1 ,neros and other shameless1 sanguinary tyrants of the sort1 and this when ,god had1 even in this life1 given glorious testimony to their being his beloved children4 ,a judgment must be forthcoming that tyrants may suffer pains and punishments1 and that the godly1 delivered from sufferings1 may have eternal rest and joy4 ,let all the world know ,god does not forget1 even after death4 #h4 ,this is the consolation the future judgment at the resurrection of the dead holds1 that1 as ,god's righteousness requires1 the saints shall receive for their sufferings a supremely rich and glorious recompense4 ,paul seems to present as the principal reason why ,god must punish the world with everlasting pain1 the fact that the world has inflicted tribulations on ,christians4 ,apparently his words imply that the perpetrations of the devil and the world--their supreme contempt and hatred of ,god's name and ,word1 their blasphemies of these1 their wickedness and disobedience in other respects1 whereby they bring upon themselves everlasting pain and damnation--that for these sins against himself ,god is not so ready to punish as for their persecution and torment of his poor1 believing ,christians4 ,this truth is indicated where we read that ,christ on the last day shall say3 ,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels 444 inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least1 ye did it not unto me4 ,mt #be1 #da and #de4 #i4 ,paul's further observations1 concerning the manner of the judgment to come and the painful punishment of the ungodly1 is sufficiently clear as rendered1 and is also explained in the sermon on the ,gospel text4 ,further explanation here is unnecessary4 ,twenty ,seventh ,sunday ,after ,trinity ,text3 #b ,peter #c1 #c-g4 ,,to ,,the ,,reader4 ,when the year has twenty-seven ,sundays after ,trinity1 which seldom occurs1 substitute the text of #b ,peter #c1 #c-g for the twenty-sixth ,sunday and use the text of the twenty-sixth ,sunday for the twenty-seventh ,sunday4