The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-06-12

THIRD CENTENNIAL JuBILEE,-The
Third Centennial Jubilee OF the Evan.
gelicAl Lutheran Church was celebrated
in the st. Jacobns Church last night,
ReyS. Brecht and 10y preaching.
Rev. BreCht took for bis text IA. Is,
II, and after an appropriate introduc'
ton took for his subject The Coneordia
Peace, referring the word TO tho last
and noblcst Of the confessions Of the Lu.
Lheran Church. He pointed out, ]. lis
history; .. lis contents 8. LtJ Gdnlonttton.
Among other facts Of importance he mem
toned that many who bear the Lutheran
name accept the confessionsoi the church
only In so far Ms they agree with the Word
Of God, by which is indicated that they
do not in!evGry respect agree with that
Word. A true Lutheran accepts them
because they agree with the Word oil God.
Prof. NJ. 10y preached on Rev. 8, II:
"HOld that fast which thou hast, that no
man take thy crown" lie said IN sub
stance: God has done great &hings,
whereof we are glad. When We Chris
tians Of the Lutheran confession rejoice
in remembrance OF our confessions we
know that many do not rejoice with us.
The form OF Concord seems to have no
mark in history, and 10 have been OF lit
tie importance to the church or world.
When the bold truth was first proclaimed
by Luther, it seemed n very insignificant
thing, But after all II was the great
truth that in Jesus alone there Is saliva
tion. After Luther closed his eyes various
attempts were made 10 put aside this
truth. These attempts seemed in many
places successful. Even in the hearts Of
those who protested to believe Satan be-
gan his work.
Serious troubles arose in tho church.
II was necessary that something be done
that our crown he not taken from us. The
Formula Of Concord il tho result Of the
work that was done. We like to know
truth even in science and philosophy.
But what il we should err in this. Ii We
prile physical truth, how much more
should we prize that truth upon which
ones salvation depends? This truth is
expressed in this confession. II certainly
concerns all ChristendOm; yea, it con.
Germs all the world. Some might say that
il treats Of only secondary matter. Is il
80? Ia II 40 that it is a matter Of no
importance whether We say that
sin is the substance Of man,
and thus 10 say that man is the work OF
the devil, or whether we say that sin is a
mere accident, 10 that man il the work Of
God and ain was only added by the devil?
Is il n matter Of unimpOrtanCe TO know
that we cannot by our own reason or
other natural powers believe in Jesus
Christ, but that by the grace Of God alone
we can believe in Him and cling to Him?
Errorists hate clearness Of thought and
clcarness Of expression. They love con-
fusion, that they may the easier inslill
error into the minds Of the people. We
want cIearness-.plain declarations Of the
truth. The Lutheran Church has made
such plain declarations in her confessions.
There arc men who are willing TO re-
cGivc this truth, but shrink back when
troubles rise, It's easy to talk when the
enemy is not before us, but you must not
fight for the truth in your own strength,
for | well know that you would tremble
as the leaves trcmble when the storms
arise. In the name OF the God Of hosts we
must lift up our banner. What we are
concerned about is not that we may be
something, but that the name OF Our lord
Jesus may be magnifed. Let US hold
fast that which We have. Let us hold it
fast with all charity, that charity which
is first pure, then pcaceable; that charity
which surreuders nothing Of the truth,
never llinching from the truth nor yield
ing one jot or tittle'Of Gods truth. Yes,
"Hold that fast which thou hast, that no
man take thy crown"