Eighth, nobody can deny that we praise and honor marriage as a divine, blessed, and well-pleasing ordinance of God’s creation for the procreation of children and the prevention of carnal unchastity. We have not newly invented it, nor have we of ourselves newly devised it, much less have we forbidden it, like innovators. But just as God from the beginning instituted it, and Christ confirmed it [Matt 19:4–6], and the apostles and the ancient church honored and taught it, so have we remained in this same ancient rule and ordinance of God. In this we have been like the ancient church and have indeed been its true and proper members. So you can see that here again the papists accuse us falsely of innovation. (Luther’s Works, v.41, p.197)
Picture: Olivia gets a chance to play the organ at History Trinity Lutheran Church, Souland Market, St. Louis MO