However, this noble word naturally brings with it a burning hunger and unquenchable thirst that can never be filled. Even though many thousands of people believed in it, we would still desire that no person would want for it. Such thirst is ever active and knows no rest, but impels us to speak, as David states in Psalm 116 [:10], “I believe, therefore I speak.” And (as St. Paul declares in II Corinthians 4 [:13]), “We have the same spirit of faith, therefore we, too, speak,” until we include and incorporate everyone with us and make them one communion with us, wherever this is possible. (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.62)
Picture: At the top of each of the seven branches is a burning candle.
[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.]