For I fear that the German nation is going too far, so that it will finally meet the fate described in the last chapter of the Fourth Book of Kings.  Those people killed the prophets so long that God forsook them and they found themselves beyond help. Thus I am afraid that the German nation will also receive its just deserts in the end. It condemned the gospel first in Constance, where it shed the innocent blood of Huss and Jerome; then in Worms and in Heidelberg, that of Dramsdorf and several others; also in Mainz and Cologne.  The entire Rhine is bloody and will not be cleansed of the blood, but unceasingly fetes the murderers of Christians, the inquisitors, until God intervenes, and then the time of help will be past. The nation is tempting God too often. At present it again stands condemned at Worms in me. Even if they did not shed my blood, they did not lack the will and determination to. In their hearts they are continually murdering me. You unhappy nation! Why must you more than others be the Antichrist’s jailer and his hangman of God’s saints and prophets?  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.69)

Art. XIIII  Das in der kirchen niemand offentlich ohne beruff lehren od Sacrament reichen sol.
“That no one in the church should provide the sacraments or teach publicly without a calling.”
Rom. 10, v. 15 ; And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Heb. 5, v. 4 ; And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

[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.]

Thus we must pray first of all that God may impart more and more strength to us and our friends and let his dear child Jesus grow in our hearts from day to day that we may praise, glorify, and confess him with a zealous and happy heart before the hardened and blind shepherds of this coarse and stilt-necked sect of papists. And then we must help to bear the common guilt of the German nation, asking God not to regard the vices of the base multitude; nor to make the poor souls suffer for their wickedness; not to withdraw the saving word, so long suppressed, again; nor to permit the reinstatement of the Antichrist;¹⁹ but, in accord with the prayer of King Hezekiah, that there be peace and truth in our time. Indeed, such a prayer and such concern are necessary.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.68)

Art. XIII  Das die Sacramëta zeugnus seyë durch welche der Glaub in unß erwecket und gestarckt wirt.
That the Sacraments are testimony through which faith is awakened and strengthened.
Marc 16, v. 16 ; “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
1st Cor. 11, v. 28 ; “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”

[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.]