Jerusalem - The English Anthem

 

‘Jerusalem’ is a beautiful hymn by choral trailblazer Sir Hubert Parry, and a favourite for England’s national anthem.

‘And did those feet in ancient time’ – also the hymn’s first line, and alternate title – is a poem written by William Blake around 1808. Taken from the preface to his great work Milton: A Poem in Two Books, the poem was inspired by the legend that Jesus might have travelled, with Joseph of Arimathea, to England – to Glastonbury, in Somerset.

According to its most common interpretation, Blake’s poem suggests that a visit from Jesus will create heaven in England, in contrast to the ‘dark Satanic Mills’ of the Industrial Revolution.

The tune to ‘Jerusalem’, written much later in 1917, was composed by Parry, who also wrote the choral favourite ‘I Was Glad’.

Lutheran Librarian - Alec Satin - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry

 

The Koran's Testimony to the Truth of Christianity by Sir William Muir “The Mindr ul Hakk is a treatise designed to show the evidence in support of Christianity contained in the Koran - a ‘beacon pointing to the faith of the Gospel’… exhibiting the style of dogmatic reasoning and thought prevalent among theologians of the East.” - from the Introduction. Level of Difficulty: Intermediate: Some subject matter knowledge helpful. Book Contents About the Lutheran Library Cover Page Contents Introduction by the Translator Preface 1 The Koran Says: Mohammed showed ... Read more Manual of Sacred History: Understanding the Divine Plan of Salvation by John Henry Kurtz “If you ever wondered if believers in the Old Testament period were saved in the same way as those in the New, this is a book worth perusing. The author, John Henry Kurtz, was considered one of the greatest Church Historians of his time in any language.” Level of Difficulty: Intermediate: Some subject matter knowledge helpful. Book Contents About the Lutheran Library Title Page Epigraph Translator’s Preface Contents Introduction 1 Definition of Sacred History 2 The Being of God 3 The ... Read more The Columbus Theological Magazine Vol 7 ed by Matthias Loy Articles in this issue include Church Authority by Matthias Loy, Reason: Its Place in the Kingdom of Nature and Grace by M H Hockman, Martha and Mary by C H L Schuette, and The Doctrine of the Real Presence in the Ante-Nicene Church by C H L Schuette. A Lutheran periodical devoted to theological discussion has long since been needed…We have the firm conviction that a periodical faithful in all respects to the symbolical books of the Ev. Lutheran Church, setting forth the old doctrines of ... Read more 📨 Contact Form Fixed If you have tried to get in touch with us and haven’t received a reply, please try again. It looks as if a half-dozen messages were “eaten”, never to be seen again. The contact form is now fixed. You can also use a direct email address, if you prefer the reliable “old school” way. That email is Lutheran2025 “at” runbox “dot” com. (Replace “at” with @ and “dot” with .) Thanks as always for your prayers and support for our e-book ministry. God’s grace be with you now and always. Alec (The ... Read more The Columbus Theological Magazine Vol 2 ed by Matthias Loy “Our Magazine was designed to meet a want that existed aside from the controversy on predestination. A Lutheran periodical devoted to theological discussion has long since been needed…We have the firm conviction that a periodical faithful in all respects to the symbolical books of the Ev. Lutheran Church, setting forth the old doctrines of the Reformation, endeavoring to make English readers acquainted with the treasures of learning and thought contained in old German and Latin folios, ... Read more The Six Pointed Star by O J Graham “The author is a Christian journalist of Jewish ancestry with earned doctorates in ministry and theology. Here, this lover the Jews gives startling truth concerning the origin and historical uses of the hexagram, or six-pointed star.” - From the Back Cover Level of Difficulty: Primer: No subject matter knowledge needed. Book Contents About the author Title Page Dedication Acknowledgement Contents Preface 1 Sudden International Popularity 2 What? No Jewish Origin? 3 Star of Which David? 4 ... Read more

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Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Quinquagesima Epistle - "We hold, and unquestionably it is true, that it is faith which justifies and cleanses, Romans 1:17; Romans 10:10; Acts 15:9. But if it justifies and purifies, love must be present. The Spirit cannot but impart love together with faith. In fact, where true faith is, the Holy Spirit dwells; and where the Holy Spirit is, there must be love and every excellence."

Luther's Sermons - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Quinquagesima. The Sunday before Lent

4. That is, though I had ability to teach and to preach with power beyond that of any man or angel, with words of perfect charm, with truth and excellence informing my message — though I could do this, “but have not love [charity],” and only seek my own honor and profit and not my neighbor’s, “I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.” In other words, “I might, perhaps, thereby teach others something, might fill their ears with sound, but before God I would be nothing.” As a clock or a bell has not power to hear its own sound, and does not derive benefit from its stroke, so the preacher who lacks love cannot himself understand anything he says, nor does he thereby improve his standing before God. He has much knowledge, indeed, but because he fails to place it in the service of love, it is the quality of his knowledge that is at fault. 1 Corinthians 8:1-12. Far better he were dumb or devoid of eloquence, if he but teach in love and meekness, than to speak as an angel while seeking but his own interests. “And if I have the gift of prophecy.”

5. According to 1 Corinthians 14, to prophesy is to be able, by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, correctly to understand and explain the prophets and the Scriptures. This is a most excellent gift. To “know mysteries” is to be able to apprehend the spiritual meaning of the Scriptures, or its allegorical references, as Paul does where ( Galatians 4:24-31) he makes Sarah and Hagar representative of the two covenants, and Isaac and Ishmael of the two peoples — the Jews and the Christians. Christ does the same ( John 3:14) when he makes the brazen serpent of Moses typical of himself on the cross; again, when Isaac, David, Solomon and other characters of sacred history appear as figures of Christ. Paul calls it “mystery” — this hidden, secret meaning beneath the primary sense of the narrative. But “knowledge” is the understanding of practical matters, such as Christian liberty, or the realization that the conscience is not bound. Paul would say, then: “Though one may understand the Scriptures, both in their obvious and their hidden sense; though he may know all about Christian liberty and a proper conversation; yet if he have not love, if he do not with that knowledge serve his neighbor, it is all of no avail whatever; in God’s sight he is nothing.”

6. Note how forcibly yet kindly Paul restrains the disgraceful vice of vainglory. He disregards even those exalted gifts, those gifts of exceeding refinement, charm and excellence, which naturally produce pride and haughtiness though they command the admiration and esteem of men. Who would not suppose the Holy Spirit to dwell visibly where such wisdom, such discernment of the Scriptures, is present? Paul’s two epistles to the Corinthians are almost wholly directed against this particular vice, for it creates much mischief where it has sway. In Titus 1:7, he names first among the virtues of a bishop that he be “non superbus,” not haughty. In other words that he do not exalt himself because of his office, his honor and his understanding, and despise others in comparison. But strangely Paul says, “If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

LOVE THE SPIRIT’S FRUIT RECEIVED BY FAITH.

7. We hold, and unquestionably it is true, that it is faith which justifies and cleanses, Romans 1:17; Romans 10:10; Acts 15:9. But if it justifies and purifies, love must be present. The Spirit cannot but impart love together with faith. In fact, where true faith is, the Holy Spirit dwells; and where the Holy Spirit is, there must be love and every excellence. How is it, then, Paul speaks as if faith without love were possible? We reply, this one text cannot be understood as subverting and militating against all those texts which ascribe justification to faith alone. Even the sophists have not attributed justification to love, nor is this possible, for love is an effect, or fruit, of the Spirit, who is received through faith.

Martin Marty Died February 25, Age 97

 

 Born in 1928, he attended the earlier version of the now-fading Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. He gave lectures at Notre Dame and helped get my dissertation published with a positive review. The family behind A. D. Mattson wanted to publish the book via Augustana College. LSTC claimed the money was all spent from the Mattson funds. Too bad. I told the daughter, "Say these words softly and politely - 'I already talked to my attorney about this.'
     She said, "But I don't have an attorney."
     She repeated the words and soon had all the Mattson money needed.

PS - I almost forgot. I went to the Mattson book meeting with Christina, but she forgot to pack my entire suit. She realized close to the dinner that I needed slacks, too. We raced to some place where the problem could be resolved. That left the seamstresses rocking with laughter. "Mr. Jackson, could you just stand behind the podium when speaking?" 
     The story was shared, wherever and whenever possible, for some time after that.
   

Reformation Seminary Lecture - John 18 - Part 2

KJV John 18 Part 2

19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.

26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:

32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Quinquagesima Epistle - "At the same time he affects deep humility, great self-abasement, and preaches of love and faith. But he would take it hard had he, in practice, to touch with his little finger what he preaches. This explains why the world is so filled with fanatics and schismatics, and why every man would master and outrank all others."

 

Luther's Sermons - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Quinquagesima. The Sunday before Lent

SUNDAY BEFORE LENT


TEXT:

1 CORINTHIANS 13. 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; 6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. 13 But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

PAUL’S PRAISE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE.

1 Paul’s purpose in this chapter is to silence and humble haughty Christians, particularly teachers and preachers. The Gospel gives much knowledge of God and of Christ, and conveys many wonderful gifts, as Paul recounts in Romans 12 and in 1 Corinthians 12. He tells us some have the gift of speaking, some of teaching, some of Scripture exposition; others of ruling; and so on. With Christians are great riches of spiritual knowledge, great treasures in the way of spiritual gifts. Manifest to all is the meaning of God, Christ, conscience, the present and the future life, and similar things. But there are to be found few indeed who make the right use of such gifts and knowledge; who humble themselves to serve others, according to the dictates of love. Each seeks his own honor and advantage, desiring to gain preferment and precedence over others.

2. We see today how the Gospel has given to men knowledge beyond anything known in the world before, and has bestowed upon them new capabilities. Various gifts have been showered upon and distributed among them which have redounded to their honor. But they go on unheeding. No one takes thought how he may in Christian love serve his fellow-men to their profit. Each seeks for himself glory and honor, advantage and wealth.

Could one bring about for himself the distinction of being the sole individual learned and powerful in the Gospel, all others to be insignificant and useless, he would willingly do it; he would be glad could he alone be regarded as Mister Smart. At the same time he affects deep humility, great self-abasement, and preaches of love and faith. But he would take it hard had he, in practice, to touch with his little finger what he preaches. This explains why the world is so filled with fanatics and schismatics, and why every man would master and outrank all others. Such as these are haughtier than those that taught them. Paul here attacks these vainglorious spirits, and judges them to be wholly insignificant, though their knowledge may be great and their gifts even greater, unless they should humble themselves and use their gifts in the service of others.

3. To these coarse and mean people he addresses himself with a multitude of words and a lengthy discourse, a subject he elsewhere disposes of in a few words; for instance, where he says (Philippians 2:3-4), “In lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.” By way of illustration, he would pass sentence upon himself should he be thus blameworthy; this more forcibly to warn others who fall far short of his standing. He says, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels.” 

A Mighty Fortress Is No More

 

The Big Five Apostates - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) are so saturated with their errors and corruptions that even their Father Below is a bit choked up.

They deny Justification by Faith - so does he.

They love every Bible paraphrase except the King James Version - so does he.

They reject the efficacy of the Word - so does he.

They repudiate the Means of Grace - so does he.

They usurp authority - so does he.

"A Mighty Fortress is Our God"

by Dr. Martin Luther, 1483-1546

Composite Translation from the Pennsylvania Lutheran CHURCH BOOK of 1868

1. A mighty Fortress is our God,

A trusty Shield and Weapon;

He helps us free from every need

That hath us now o'ertaken.

The old evil Foe

Now means deadly woe;

Deep guile and great might

Are his dread arms in fight;

On Earth is not his equal.

2. With might of ours can naught be done,

Soon were our loss effected;

But for us fights the Valiant One,

Whom God Himself elected.

Ask ye, Who is this?

Jesus Christ it is.

Of Sabaoth Lord,

And there's none other God;

He holds the field forever.

3. Though devils all the world should fill,

All eager to devour us.

We tremble not, we fear no ill,

They shall not overpower us.

This world's prince may still

Scowl fierce as he will,

He can harm us none,

He's judged; the deed is done;

One little word can fell him.

4. The Word they still shall let remain

Nor any thanks have for it;

He's by our side upon the plain

With His good gifts and Spirit.

And take they our life,

Goods, fame, child and wife,

Let these all be gone,

They yet have nothing won;

The Kingdom our remaineth.

Hymn #262

The Lutheran Hymnal

Text: Psalm 46

Author: Martin Luther, 1529

The ELCA Female Bishop Percentages Seem Muted

 

RNS, 2018

An ELCA male bishop decided to follow the number of female bishops in his local synod, starting with one - April Larson - in 1995. ELCA began on January 1, 1988. He stopped counting once they reached the 55% female mark in 2023. Partnership ratios seem to be obscured rather than promoted. "Scholars are divided."

The Big Five Apostates - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - might not want to emphasize the four Watherians, the sects who worship and adore Bishop Martin Stephan STD. The Tiny Two (ELS-CLC sic) are going away soon.

That leaves ELCA-LCMS-WELS cuddling in the arms of Thrivent Insurance and its Irrevocable Charitable Annuities. I dabbed my eyes just thinking how a wobbly business, no longer Lutheran in name, could work the synods in harmony with one another, almost as if ELCA absorbed Missouri and WELS.

The advantage of the Top Three (ELCA-LCMS-WELS) is sharing the same resources, the same mega-projects in Church Growth (big flops), the same female bishops and staff executives.

Will Missouri and WELS join the happy throng?

2023 – 36 of 66 ELCA bishops are female (55%)

1. Wilma Kucharek (2002)
2. Elizabeth Eaton (2007)
3. Shelley Wickstrom (2012)
4. Ann Svennungsen (2012)
5. Tracie Bartholomew (2013)
6. Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt (2013)
7. Patricia Lull (2014)
8. Katherine Finnegan (2017)
9. Deborah Hutterer (2018)
10. Patricia Davenport (2018)
11. Idalia Negrón (2018)
12. Laurie Skow-Anderson (2018)
13. Sue Briner (2018)
14. Lorna Halaas (2019)
15. Laurie Larson Caesar (2019)
16. Shelley Bryan Wee (2019)
17. Regina Hassanally (2019)
18. Constanze Hagmaier (2019)
19. Laurie Jungling (2019)
20. Susan Candea (2019)
21. Leila Ortiz (2019)
22. Ginny Aebischer (2020 SC)
23. Amy Current (2020 SE IA)
24. Tessa Moon Leiseth (2020 E ND)
25. Amy Odgren (2020 NE MN)
26. Joy Mortensen-Wiebe (2020 SC WI)
27. Laura Barbins (2020 NE Ohio)
28. Anne Edison-Albright (2020 E Central WI)
29. Brenda Bos (2021, SW CA)
30. Paula Schmitt (2021, Allegheny)
31. Dee Pederson (2021, SW MN)
32. Staci Fidlar (2022, Northern IL)
33. Clair Burkat (2022, Interim Bishop in the Sierra Pacific Synod)
34. Meggan Manlove (2023, NW Intermountain)
35. Becca Midweek-Conlin (2023, Arkansas/Oklahoma)
36. Phyllis Milton (2023, Virginia)

Not exactly what you are thinking.

Important To Know How the Denominations Fell Apart - On Purpose

 

Rauschenbusch is the litmus test in the Social Gospel Movement. Reading denominational literature can easily disclose the Rauschenbusch agenda, the leadership, and the goals. He delivered the Social Gospel lectures at Yale Divinity School in 1917.

I was offered a box of books at a small, worn out Lutheran university - Wittenberg in Ohio, once the home of Hamma Seminary. The librarian thought I could use them, because my doctoral dissertation was on the Social Gospel Movement and A. D. Mattson. 

A major theme, even before the Great Depression, was using the Christian Church for changing the culture. Walther Rauschenbusch was the key figure, a litmus test about who was hugging up to Marxism.

Like Europe, America embraced rationalism to replace the divinity, miracles, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To this day, the Good Samaritan is not portrayed as the Savior but as the social activist earnestly trying to make the road to Jericho safe. Very few realize who the Good Samaritan is, which is sad if not pathetic.

Following the European impulses, the American theological leaders - influenced by the big, ancient universities - embraced what they learned at German universities and other centers of learning as well. The "best" American professors impressed their seminary students with a much more "scientific" and socialistic understanding of the Bible.

Brief pause - the 1881 Revision of the King James Version of the New Testament was dishonestly corrupted by Westcott, Hort, and other polecats. The Greek text was corrupted and the big Bible societies joyously  - with the help of Rome - manufactured their brand new baby.

This group of ELCA bishops claimed the Holy Spirit was "in the closet." They chanted "Let her out! Let her out!" to accomplish their nonsense with clever smirks and cloven tongues.

The fermentation was slow but steady in its growth. The 1960s in America were loaded with traditional congregations ordered to revive the poor areas, change the Bibles used, alter the hymns, and ravage the liturgy. The Biblical and liturgical liberals slowly leveraged the women pastors, and the feminist pastors soon insisted on female bishops.

Rev Doctor Osage Professor Guy Erwin was rushed into the pastoral office, raised to the bishop's chair, and promoted to president of Gettysburg-Philadelphia's seminary.

Linn Tonstad, Yale Divinity Professor

Biography 

Professor Tonstad is a constructive theologian working at the intersection of Christian theology with feminist and queer theory. Her first book, God and Difference: The Trinity, Sexuality, and the Transformation of Finitude(link is external), was published by Routledge in 2016 and was named both as a best new book in ethics and a best new book in theology in Christian Century in the spring of 2017. Her second book, Queer Theology: Beyond Apologetics (link is external)was published by Cascade in 2018 and translated into French in 2022. She joined the Yale Divinity School faculty in 2012. Her teaching interests include Christian theology, queer theory, philosophy of religion, and theological method. Professor Tonstad has made contributions to various journals, including Modern Theology, International Journal of Systematic Theology, and Theology & Sexuality. She is co-chair of the Theology and Religious Reflection unit of the American Academy of Religion. She is currently working on her third book, tentatively titled The Impossible Other: Theology, Queer Theory, and the Politics of Redemption. 

Read more

• Linn Tonstad: unmasking the tyranny of exclusion

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Quinquagesima - "He also freely confesses Christ and fears no one; his need constrains him to the point that he inquires for no one else. For it is the nature of true faith to confess Christ to be the only one who can and will help, while others are ashamed and afraid to do this before the world."

 

Quinquagesima Sunday. Luke 18:31-43. Christ’s Passion and the Faith and Love of the Blind Man

II. THE FAITH AND LOVE OF THE BLIND MAN.

9. The second part of our Gospel treats of the blind man, in which we see beautifully and clearly illustrated both the love in Christ to the blind man and the faith of the blind man in Christ. At present we will briefly consider the faith of the blind man.

10. First, he hears that Christ was passing by, he had also heard of him before, that Jesus of Nazareth was a kind man, and that he helps every one who only calls upon him. His faith and confidence in Christ grew out of his hearing; so he did not doubt but that Christ would also help him. But such faith in his heart he would not have been able to possess had he not heard and known of Christ; for faith does not come except by hearing.

11. Secondly, he firmly believes and doubts not but that it was true what he heard of Christ, as the following proves. Although he does not yet see nor know Christ, and although he at once knew him, yet he is not able to see or know whether Christ had a heart and will to help him; but he immediately believed, when he heard of him; upon such a noise and report he founded his confidence, and therefore he did not make a mistake.

12. Thirdly, in harmony with his faith, he calls on Christ and prays, as St. Paul in Romans 10:13-14 wrote: “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed.” Also, “Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

13. Fourthly, he also freely confesses Christ and fears no one; his need constrains him to the point that he inquires for no one else. For it is the nature of true faith to confess Christ to be the only one who can and will help, while others are ashamed and afraid to do this before the world.

14. Fifthly, he struggles not only with his conscience, which doubtless moves him to think he is not worthy of such favor, but he also struggles, with those who threatened him and urged him to keep quiet. They wished thereby to terrify his conscience and make him bashful, so that he should see his own unworthiness, and then despair. For wherever faith begins, there begin also war and conflict.

15. Sixthly, the blind man stands firm, presses through all obstacles and triumphs, he would not let the whole world sever him from his confidence, and not even his own conscience to do it. Therefore he obtained the answer of his prayer and received Christ, so that Christ stood and commanded him to be brought unto him, and he offered to do for him whatever he wished. So it goes with all who hold firmly only to the Word of God, close their eyes and ears against the devil, the world and themselves, and act just as if they and God were the only ones in heaven and on earth.

16. Seventhly he follows Christ, that is he enters upon the road of love and of the cross, where Christ is walking, does righteous works, and is of a good character and calling, refrains from going about with foolish works as workrighteous persons do.

17. Eighthly, he thanks and praises God, and offers a true sacrifice that is pleasing to God, Psalm 50:23: “Whoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his way aright will I show the salvation of God.”

18. Ninthly, he was the occasion that many others praised God, in that they saw what he did, for every Christian is helpful and a blessing to everybody, and besides he praises and honors God upon earth.

19. Finally, we see here how Christ encourages us both by his works and words. In the first place by his works, in that he sympathizes so strongly with the blind man and makes it clear, how pleasing faith is to him, so that Christ is at once absorbed with interest in the man, stops and does what the blind man desires in his faith. In the second place, that Christ praises his faith in words, and says: “Thy faith hath made thee whole;” he casts the honor of the miracle from himself and attributes it to the faith of the blind man. The summary is: to faith is vouchsafed what it asks, and it is moreover our great honor before God.

20. This blind man represents the spiritually blind, the state of every man born of Adam, who neither sees nor knows the kingdom of God; but it is of grace that he feels and knows his blindness and would gladly be delivered from it. They are saintly sinners who feel their faults and sigh for grace. But he sits by the wayside and begs, that is, he sits among the teachers of the law and desires help; but it is begging, with works he must appear blue and help himself. The people pass him by and let him sit, that is the people of the law make a great noise and are heard among the teachers of good works, they go before Christ and Christ follows them. But when he heard Christ, that is, when a heart hears the Gospel of faith, it calls and cries, and has no rest until it comes to Christ. Those, however, who would silence and scold him are the teachers of works, who wish to quiet and suppress the doctrine and cry of faith; but they stir the heart the more. For the nature of the Gospel is, the more it is restrained the more progress it makes. Afterwards he received his sight, all his work and life are nothing but the praise and honor of God, and he follows Christ with joy, so that the whole world wonders and is thereby made better.