Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-29
THB REFORMATION.
YESTERDAY FHE DAY OBSERVED By TIE
LUTHERAN CHURCHES
As Reformation Sunday - Synopsis Of a Sermon
Delivered BY Rev. Samuel Schwarn.
Other Church News

October is observed by the Lutheran
churches all over the world as Reiorma-
tlon Sunday. 1t celebrates the mailing
OF the ninety-fve theses against the sale
of indulgences to the door OF the Castle
church in Wittenberg, Germany, by
Martin Luther, which marks the begin
ming Of the Reformation Of the six
tenth century. The following is a
synopsis Of sermon By Rev. Samuel
schwarm, pastor OF the English Lulh'
eran church Of this city, on the subject
of Luther and the Reformation. II
has been condensed from the works OF
Luther and writings on the Rsforma'
ton By noted authors.
1T is by no mere accident Of contro-
versy that the uineJy.hye theses mark
the beginning Of Lutber's career as a
reformer. The subject with which they
dealt was DO: only In close connection
with The center OF Christian truth, but
IL touched
THE CHARACTERISTIC THOUGHT
of the middle ages. From beginning 20
end these ages had been stern school
OF moral and religious discipline, under
what was universally thought 10 be the
divine authority of the church. The
tneol0gy OF ST. Thomas, Aquinas,
and OF st. Bernard is a type Of the age.
Dante, perhaps, forms with
his pictures Of the Inferno the most
vivid representation Of that age His
visions OF terror, dread and suffering
had stamped themselves on the imGKIu.-
zion or tie meoisyal world. In their
origin they vm0ouied profound truth.
II was a high aud divine coucep; on
thai the moral and spiritual with which
we are encompaSsed has greater heig hts
aud lower depths than are genera "
apUrehended in the visible experience
of life and Dante has been felt 70 be In
q unique degree the part of OF righte-
ousness. It was irro q world
OF spiritual terrors that Luther was
born, ana be was in an eminent de-
gree a legitimate child Of the Middle
Ages.
''THE TURNING POINT
TO his life is that the awful visions Of
which we have spoken, viz: the pic
lures OF hell and purEatOry, as de-
sCribed Oy Dante, were brought home
70 him by some Of the solemn accidents
OF life, and checked him IN career
which promised sll worldly prosperity
aod drove him into a monastery. Luther
10 the course OF his spiritual struggles
in the monastery, found the true de-
uverance from what he ventured to call
the Deadlock 20 which this grand
vision of righteousness had led him. lie
realized that the straight gate was i'm
passa6le by shy human virtue, out be
also
FOUND THE SALVATION
In the promise OF a supernatural deliv.
erance which was offered TO faith. "
IL Is evident that a most powerful
instrument Of reformation vas placed
in the hands OF man by the prinCip es
and teachings of Luther Every Chris
tian man by the virtue of the promise
OF Christ was proclaimed free so far as
the external necessities of his soul
we're concerned for all external aud
human conditions, whatever. 10 was
not the intention OF Luther 20 overthrow
the existing order OF things, but that
proved 10 be the result of his teach
inEs. To is the mission of the Chris
tiau ministry 20 convey the promises Of
God 10 the soul IS Luther strOve to do,
and 20 arouse CORES bonding faith,
for the only invsriable rule is that the
just shall live by faith. by this priu-
cipe the vague fear Of the supposed
spiritual power Of the Pope was re-
moved aud men were endured with that
Christian liberty.
This principle OF Christian liberty
went still further, for II indicated for
the people in general as we'll as the
priests; the possession OF spiritual fac
u.ties aud powers, the same i'm kind as
those possessed by the priests. AL
Christian men are admitted TO the priv
ilege Of the priesthood, and are worthy
To APPEAR BEFORE GOD
aud pray for others and 20 teach one
another mutually the thnss which are
Gods. Ia a case Of necessity baptism
and the Lords supper could even be ad-
ministered by the laiJy, hence the
priesthood was not absolutely necessa-
~ TO salvation. God had committed
his word 20 the church, l. C 20 the
whole body of believers and not 20 any
special order Of men. In the new dis
pensation men were set apart 20 the Of
fee OF the gospel ministry as matter
OF convenience and order, and not as an
absolute necessity, hence, Luther by
his principles Of ChiStian liberty dispens-
cd with the whole papal system
as necessity 90 salvation
Other refOrmerS, WiCUtt' HuSs, ct. al,
had taught many Of these truths, but
they did not assert with sufficient clear
ness the principle without which all re.
form was impossible, viz, the equal
rights OF clergy aud laity and Of the
souls Independence OF all human power
through justification by faith.
"Luther'S doctrine Of Christian lib
orty was the emancipation alike OF in
djviiuals aud OF the people at large. 1t
vindlcated for all ranks ana conditions
Of life a spiritual dignity aud place in
the spiritual life Of the church. II re
stored a sense Of
INDEPENDENT RESPONSIBILITY
to all natural authorities aud 10 reas-
serted the sacredness Of all natura. re-
lauons. Luther oy placing
al, men on the same sDiritua lisJlC stand
ing ground gave them as clear a con
science, aud as great a sense Of
Stf-itu~I 'Icnitv the or
ma duties Of marriage aRdi, q tie COM
D ou life as 10 any eCclesia -
tia er. Now, this GOctrine Of
ca SJian liberty through Justification
~ faith, brought forward by Luther,
sSwep ay, to- -"o> vho received IL,
he uecess. Y Of the sacrament Of pen
! r.a md u iasrLn ahsnLmL-.n- OF Inas.aa