We know that he who raised Christ from the dead and placed him at his right hand is strong and faithful enough to be a Lord over all things, without a doubt also over sin, death, devil, and hell, to say nothing of the papistic swine’s bladders with their threatening, noisy snapping.9 They will not quell this boast in us. And as long as that remains our boast, we will gleefully scorn them and see whether they can gobble up this Christ as easily as they think and replace him with another about whom the Father knows nothing. Therefore I hope that Christ will not only rectify matters again for us—even if they should subsequently devise something worse—but let these redound to our benefit and growth, in accord with the abundant riches of his wisdom and goodness, especially if you too assist with your intercession and your trust. (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.65-66)
Picture: Art. V Das Gott durche wort und Sacramenta den Glaube in uns wircket.
“That God says through the Word and Sacraments faith works in us.”
Rom. 10, v. 17 ; So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Tit. 3. v. 5 ; Not by woks of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]