Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-01-24

"aS ihsututed ana our Saviour spoke
those words, il was impossible that they
should have been literally true. OF
these men also named several, such as
DIR. Kahnis OF the Leipsic University in
Germany, DIR. Julius Mueller of the
University of Halle, Germany, and DR..
Meyer. the celebrated commentator.
Than these three, ] would ask my friend
TO name any more learned or promiu en- t
ones In the Lutheran communion. In
proof Of these stAtemen nts, reicr him
TO Lange's Commentary on the oath
chapter Of Matthew. also distinctly
added, in order not to be misuudersiood,
that these men did not mean or profess
10 give UP the general truth OF Luther's
doctrine OF the Lords Supper. but only
that part Of it, Scriptural basis. This j.
all said, and am surprised that my
friend failed 20 understand, AMI al.o
that he does not keep himself better
posted on these very significant changes
in the bosom of his own denomination.
And now before di-ni.-ing this topic.
must be permitted TO say, that can
only rejoice II the Lutheran church
holds fast 20 the general truth Of Luther.
sacramentalpoetion for my own church
bAs never adopted and has no sympathy
with, the somewhat lyw and empty views
of Zwingli. a. liluc a. with the some.
what gross and carual conceptions Of
Luther. And who doe not know that
bot few year. ago. there seemed 80 be-
great danger tha, the Lutheran church
IN Centre county and some other parts
of our country. would not only adopt
Lwingh, bat even follow the Wild fanati
cal Carlstadt IN preference to the great
RcioHn,r. All IL l. but
40 II it had been yesterday. when th.
Reformed church was cried down and
prosecuted most freely by many .o-called
Luthrranz. because. for-ooth, IL con
tiuucd faithfully and peFsistontly "to
walk in the old path. Of Luther,
Zuingli, Calvin and all the Reformers
over against current aud popular new
Yet these are the men nos
who have become ~ Ecalou. al si once
9tid szAil us to accousi and ahuscsa gaf
not honoTing tho grea. Luther "Ob
thou art jewel"
3. In speaking Of Luther's refusal %
the hand of Zvingli and Of his hateful
conduct toward the Swiss generally. !
.aid that he did not recognize and make
proper account Of the distinction be-.
tween Saving faith" and "docirinal
faith" between that faith which consist
In q humble. irusiiul. child like surrcn-
der Of ones self to personal Saviour.
and that faith which consist in the &C.
cepiance Of certain doctrinal propo~i.
tions. For this ! am told not to have
read Luther Alright. But not only re
affirm the fact. but must also tell my
friend that II he had even smatiering
with the progress Of theo-
logic thought in the church since the
Reformation. he would not have com.
mitted the ignorant blundcr of DENYING
n. Luther made absolute doctrinal
the boundary line og christian
brotherhood Take the discussion of
the Lords Supper st the Marburg con
ference a. an example. That Christ IA
supernaturslly present in the Lord :
supper. and communicates himself
therein to the believer a. the bread Of
life, is a Divine promise and Divine
fact which challenges my faith. The
denial Of this would seem not only to
imply inward opposition to Christ's say
ing presence and power in the sacra-
mcnt. but would also seem to make it
impossible for me 20 approach the sscra.
mental altar in that humble expcctant
frame Of heart on which it. saving hene-
fit depends. This, then. is a religious
fact or truth which challenges my faith,
my heart, the inner man. And this
Zwingli admitted, as the articles drawn
up by Luther himself clearly testify
Bat what the manner, mode or form oi
Christ's presence in the sacrament may
he. whether spiritual only though real
~ ANUAHN FtHiHit~1s Vt bfHfiiN also hs
LutheT contended, this is a question
which does not challenge my faith,
which Is Of no practical account for my
inner life, and which, whether answered
by me in one way or the other. does nui
in the least affect my inward attitude
and bearing toward the sacrament and
through this toward Christ. II is a qucs.
tion which addresses INV intellect, and
in the answer TO which the scicnce oi
Metaphysics always has, always will and
always must play prominent part. Yet
for answering this metaphysical question
enormously, "a Luther thought. he re
fused TO regard Zwingli and his followers
as brethren in Christ. For this supposed
error, which is not Of faith but ~ theo
logy, and for this alone he denied that
they were christians, hated and perse
cuted them as 'children Of the devil.
ten times worse than che papists." &c
This, as even my critic ought to see, In
wolves confusion of faith and doctrine
and q tyranny over the minds of other.
not q whit better than what we are &c
cnstomed % hear from Papal Rome
Want of space forbids my quoting au
thorities, but if nay friend wishes e
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