Little Journeys with Martin Luther

Little Journeys With Martin Luther 1 Also Available from LutheranLibrary.org Life Reminiscences of an Old Lutheran Minister by John Gottlieb Morris The First Free Lutheran Diet Edited by Henry Eyster Jacobs Walther and the Predestination Controversy or The Error of Modern Missouri by Schodde et al 2 Martin Luther 3 Four potentates ruled the mind of Europe in the Reformation: the Emperor, Erasmus, the Pope, and Luther. The Pope wanes, a power for all time. His image casts itself upon the current of ages, as the mountain mirrors itself in the river that winds at its foot — the mighty fixing itself immutably upon the changing. — Krauth. 4 About The Lutheran Library The Lutheran Library is a non-profit publisher of good Christian books. All are available in a variety of formats for use by anyone for free or at very little cost. There are never any licensing fees. We are Bible believing Christians who subscribe wholeheartedly to the Augsburg Confession as an accurate summary of Scripture, the chief article of which is Justification by Faith. Our purpose is to make available solid and encouraging material to strengthen believers in Christ. Prayers are requested for the next generation, that the Lord will plant in them a love of the truth, such that the hard-learned lessons of the past will not be forgotten. Please let others know of these books and this completely volunteer endeavor. May God bless you and keep you, help you, defend you, and lead you to know the depths of His kindness and love. 5 Little Journeys With Martin Luther A real book wherein are printed divers sayings and doings of Dr. Luther in these latter days when he applied for synodical membership in the United States. Carefully set down in writing at that time by Brother John, of the order of poor brethren commonly known as Lutheran pastors By William Nicholas Harley Columbus, Ohio HANS LUFFT © 1916 / 2019 (CC BY 4.0) LutheranLibrary.org 6 7 Original Title Page 8 Dedication Dedicated to the pieces of the Church of today for the sake of the peace of the Church of tomorrow. 9 Contents Also Available from LutheranLibrary.org About The Lutheran Library Dedication Contents List of Illustrations Collect By Way Of Explanation 1. I Rub My Eyes 2. Luther At Church 3. Getting Acquainted 4. The Doctors Disagree 5. Over The Mountains 6. Unequally Yoked Together 7. The King’s Business Requires Haste 8. Brethren Bland And Otherwise 9. At The Barber’s 10. The Pope Gets A Pelting 11. A Tale Of Mine Host And The Sequel 12. Everything Is Lovely 13. A Fly In The Ointment 14. The Mending Of A Bachelor 15. Where I Stop And You Begin The Remedy: An Interview Copyright Notice How Can You Find Peace With God? Benediction More Than 100 Good Christian Books For You To Download And Enjoy 10 List of Illustrations ◊ Martin Luther ◊ Original Title Page ◊ Luther Seal The Remedy: An Interview Title Page 11 Collect O GOD, Who restorest to the right way them that do err, Who gatherest them that are scattered, and preservest them that are gathered: of Thy tender mercy, we beseech Thee, pour out upon Thy Christian people the grace of unity, that, all schism being healed, Thy flock, united to the true Shepherd of Thy Church, may worthily serve Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 12 By Way Of Explanation I will smite this devil with a quill. — Luther. THE WORK HERE PRESENTED to the public came into our possession with a large number of manuscripts as a legacy from the pen of a deceased clergyman — a legacy to one next in friendship if not next in kinship. Owing to the engrossing duties which attend the editing of a daily newspaper, several months elapsed before we were enabled to undertake the work involved in examining and classifying these papers. The larger number of the manuscripts proved to be sermons, which, for the most part, were incomplete — some lacking the peroration, others having one or the other part merely in outline, and most of them, good as they were, in no shape for print. The smaller number of manuscripts comprised attempts at different kinds of English composition — poems, proverbs, speeches, editorials, sketches, serials; in short, attempts at almost every species of writing, but, like the sermons, by far the larger portion was made up of unfinished efforts. Our friend must have belonged to that class of men who can use their pens effectively only when under the stress of excitement, like the artist who lays on telling and talking colors bright and sombre while his soul glows with the inspiration of an ideal, but tosses aside palette and brush the moment the vision begins to fade, or like those who try their hand at various things for the mere pleasure of the work. While thus endeavoring to classify the papers left in our hands, and having almost arrived at the conclusion that our friend had not entertained the remotest thought of making us his literary executor, we came upon a somewhat bulky manuscript, which was securely wrapped and tied. On opening the package, we found a note which set forth the character of the work and expressed the author’s wishes with reference to it. A hasty examination showed that this manuscript was finished. Our curiosity was aroused by the title, and we started at once to read the work. No more classifying was done that night. So absorbing did the story grow that we 13 read on till broad daylight, stopping but once, and that was to readjust the gaslight. We forthwith resolved to execute the wish which the deceased author expressed in the note and “publish the work after the lapse of some years, just for the good it will do.” Why he desired its publication delayed, we cannot say; but his directions in this respect have been scrupulously complied with, and the work is now given to the Church with the conviction not only that it will prove interesting and instructive, but also that it is timely and has a mission of no little moment. Whether this production is what it purports to be or is an invention pure and simple, it is none the less a remarkable piece of work, if not an altogether unique one. The note found with the manuscript states that every phrase and sentence uttered by Luther in the course of this narrative is to be found in the Walch edition of his works; and since we have verified this in all the important passages, by means of the extensive index to that edition, we are convinced that the statement is absolutely true, and that in the entire volume there is not a single expression credited to Luther which cannot be found in any standard edition of his works. This is a remarkable coincidence and also a psychological phenomenon of some importance, if the work is what its author claims for it; and if it is not what the author claims for it, if the whole, including the claim as to its nature, is to be taken as an invention, it is a noteworthy production notwithstanding, exhibiting an extensive knowledge of Luther’s writings or a prodigious amount of labor and patience. While the work may wear the aspect of a polemic in the guise of a romance, it was no doubt intended to be an irenic, and is such in fact, if viewed in any other light than that of narrative. Its author was a man of singularly sweet disposition and of mystic turn of mind. He would rather nestle on the bosom of his Master than enter the lists of debate and strife; and yet, when the provocation was sufficient, he could be like his prototype — a veritable Son of Thunder; but it was never thunder for thunder’s sake, nor for the sake of war, but it was to make peace more certain on the foundation of truth. If, therefore, he had in mind any other object than that of recounting a singular experience or relating an interesting story, it was only that which he tacitly avows at the close of the tale, where it is evident that he is under the impression that he has contributed his mite towards a real union of Lutheran forces by exhibiting, in a novel and striking manner, the folly, shame and sin of schism, discord and contention. If such was one 14 of his objects from the outset, he has not gone wide of his mark in the execution of the plan. The folly and sin of schism and withal the foibles of bodies ecclesiastic, have been set forth in a telling and ludicrous manner. No matter how he intended it, he has dealt the devil of schism an effective blow with his pen. And for that we say, God bless his memory. There are, however, some things in the work which one might wish eliminated or amended. Among these is the odor of tobacco which clings to some of the descriptive passages. Yet the self-drawn portrait of the author would not be complete without his chubby little meerschaum, and the only wonder is that he did not succeed in putting a pipe into Luther’s mouth before their travels came to an end; but, though he found pleasure and even a sort of inspiration in the habit, that will hardly lead anybody astray, for the best of men have habits which it is wise to shun. Among the portions which might be toned down those stand foremost in which foibles are dealt with.

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