Thus we see that the Jews, who willfully condemned God’s Son, were consigned to such hardness of heart that they blaspheme him with the greatest complacency and impudence. They cannot cease, and thus they fulfill the Scripture, Psalm 109 [:17], “He did not like blessing; therefore it shall be far from him.” The same thing has happened to our papists. At Worms they also made bold to hate and to revile Christ. And now it is their fate that they cannot stop hating and reviling. Neither plea nor admonition avails with them, they only grow worse. Righteous are your judgments, heavenly Father! It seems to me that this is what it means to be afflicted with the real St. Vitus’ dance {Note: a possible reference to epilepsy}.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.67)

Art. IX  Das auch die kinder Tauff nötig seÿ durch welche sie Gott uberantwortet und gefälleg werden.
“That child baptism is necessary, through which they are handed over to God and supported.”
Job. 3, v. 5 ; May darkness and the shadow of death claim it; May a cloud settle on it; May the blackness of the day terrify it.
Tit. 3, v. 5 ; “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,.”

[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.]

Unfortunately, my dear Hartmut, this is what the German nation has deserved for serving the pope at that fatal diet. They who today rant and are hardened are to blame for this, because at the time they were spinning the wheel and held the dice in their hand and imagined that Christ did not see them playing. O terrible and stern Judge, how mysterious, how dreadful are your judgments! How secure and safe Pharaoh always feels before he is drowned in the Red Sea!  He does not see that his own sense of security is evidence of the real and earnest wrath of God over him. O how unbearable it is for God to see his precious word reviled! [It is so unbearable] that he expended the blood of his dearest Child [for his word’s sake]. Meanwhile men will sit and jest and smile as they condemn and persecute it.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.66-67)

Picture: Art. VIII  Das in d’ sichtbarlichen kirchen frome und heuchler gefundë werden.  
“That it is well known in the visible church are found pious and hypocritical men.”
Matt. 7, v. 21 ; “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
2nd Tim. 2, v. 20 ; “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.”

[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.]

#15 The German Nation’s Sin of Rejecting the Gospel at Worms

For you know that the sin committed at Worms, where the divine truth was so childishly scorned, publicly, wantonly, and consciously condemned without a hearing, is indeed a sin incurred by the entire German nation, since its leaders were involved in this and no one opposed them. That encumbered the nation with such a vast guilt before God that he might well withdraw the precious word entirely or permit such an offense to arise that no one would regard it as God’s word, and that they [the Germans] would, as they deserve, be impelled to blaspheme and persecute as the devil’s doctrine what they had first willfully and basely denied and condemned.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.66)

Picture: Art. VII  Das Allezeit eine Kirch seÿ welche ist eine versamlung d’ glaubigë.
“There is always a church where believers are gathered.”
Matt. 16, v. 18 ; “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Eph. 5, v. 27 ; “that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

[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.]

Our cause has not dropped to as low an ebb as did that of Christ in his own day, when even Peter denied him, when all the disciples fled from him, and when Judas betrayed and captured him.  Even if matters were to become that bad, our cause will not perish and Christ will not turn to dust. But I know and am convinced that this and anything else that may still come, happens as a general test and trial in which the strong will be confirmed, the weak strengthened, the confirmed praised, the false believers revealed; the enemies and those not worthy of recognizing and regarding it as God’s word are offended and hardened, as they indeed have deserved.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.66)

Picture: Art. VI  Das der Glaub sol gütte werck bringë, doch de wir nicht auff solche werck verfrawen.
“That faith should bring good works, but we do not rely on such works.”
Jac. 2, v. 17 ; Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James)
Luc 17, v. 19 ; And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

[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.]

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.]

But be that as it may, whether we sinned or did right, we must for all of that be undaunted and unafraid. For just as we do not boast of our good deeds, neither do we despond in our sins. Bather do we thank God that our faith transcends both good deeds and sins. For the Father of all mercy has granted us faith, not in a wooden but in a living Christ, who is Lord over sin and over innocence, who can support and preserve us even if we fell into many thousands of sins every hour. Of this I have not the slightest doubt. And even if Satan would tempt us still more sorely and severely, he will not weary us, unless he succeeds in tearing Christ from the right hand of God. But so long as Christ remains enthroned there, we will also remain lords and masters over sin, death, devil, and everything. Nothing can undo that.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.65)

Picture:  Art. IIII  Das wir ohne unser verdinst durch den glaubë Gerechfertiget werdë. 
“That without our merit, through faith we are justified.”
Rom.  3, v. 24 ; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Gal. 2, v. 16 ; Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law : for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

[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.]

Alas, I ask myself if this is not happening in punishment of some of my chief patrons and of me. Of my patrons, because, though they believe that Christ is risen, they still wander about in the Garden [looking] for him along with Magdalene, and he has not yet ascended to the Father for them [John 20:17]. Of me, because, as a concession to good friends, I was so subdued at Worms lest I appear stubborn, and so did not make a more explicit and a bolder confession before the tyrants, although since that time these unbelieving heathen have accused me of replying arrogantly. They judge as heathen (that is what they are), who have never sensed a bit of the spirit of faith. I have often regretted my humility and deference.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.65)

Picture:  Art. III  Das Christu Gott und Mensch anser Erlöser und Heÿland seÿ. 
“That Christ God is our Savior and Redeemer of men.”
Jere. 23, v. 6 ;  “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely : and this is his name whereby he shall be called.  THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
1 Tim. 2, v. 5 ; “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

[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.]

Recently our faith was put to a still harder test. Satan, who always mingles with the children of God [Job 1:6], has made fine sport of us, mainly of me, in Wittenberg.  He has permitted our adversaries to indulge their hatred against us. He opened his mouth wide to vilify the gospel. All my foes, including all devils, no matter how viciously they (often) attacked me, have never hit me as hard as our own people did now. I must confess that the smoke sorely smarts my eyes and makes me heartsick. Here, the devil thought, “I will depress Luther’s courage and break his strong spirit. He will neither understand nor overcome what is done.”  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.64-65)

Picture:  Revelation 14:6-7, “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’”

[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.]

I ask you and yours to commend him to the Lord in your prayer (for it is our duty to be kindly and sincerely disposed to our adversaries, even though they resent our being so). Perhaps he may be snatched from the jaws of the dragon and be changed from a Saul into a Paul.  The perishing of such miserable people is not to our advantage. I would exhort you to write him such a letter, but, at the same time, I do not like to see that which is holy cast to the dogs, nor pearls to the swine [Matt. 7:6]. For he will not lend an ear to it nor give it a thought, so that I know of nothing else to do in his behalf than to pray for him. He is destroying many souls and storing up a great treasure for himself for the great day of wrath [Rom. 2:5]. However, I shall leave [the decision as to writing him] to your discretion. We will live even if they kill us and inflict every kind of woe upon us.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.64)

Picture: Revelation 18:4-5, “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”

[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.]

Our wretched foes do not know such happiness and joy in Christ. And they are angry with us because we want to communicate this joy to them and offer it to them. They would give us death in exchange for life. O God, the almighty resurrection of Christ is surely too strong a bulwark for them to intimidate and frighten Him with the momentary power of their straw and paper tyranny! One of the principal foes is that bladder {Duke George of Saxony).  He challenges heaven with his big paunch. He has renounced the gospel. He also plans to devour Christ just as a wolf eats a gnat. He even imagines that he has already bitten more than just a little wound into His left spur, and he rants more than all the others. Certainly I have prayed for him with all my heart, and I felt very sorry for him because of his dreadful attacks. I hear however that his long-deserved judgment is making itself felt.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.63-64)

Picture: Art. II  Das nach Adams Fall alle menschen in Sünden gebohren. 
“That after Adam’s fall all people are born sinners.”
Ps. 51, v. 7 ; “Purge me with Hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Rom. 5, v. 12 ; “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin : and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

[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.]